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HOT STUFF p36

10 The Hot Four
Samsung Galaxy S8
Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45
Sonos Playbase
Philips 55POS9002
16 Vital stats Amazon Fire TV Stick
Alexas found a home in your TV remote
18 Gigapixel MSC Meraviglia
The boat that rocked the tech world
20 Apps
Tinder-swiping for your favourite flicks
22 Icon Ressence Type 5G
The watch that helps fish tell the time
25 Best of Geneva Motor Show 2017
Coming to your drive soon, if youre lucky
26 Games
90s nostalgia and bouncing in virtual space
28 Choice Bags
Carry your lunchbox in jaw-dropping style
30 Smart menu
A gym bag that cleans itself (within reason)
32 Your month
VR meerkats in a ball pit, anyone?
Handsome
TESTS
handsets 58 First test Nintendo Switch
Does Nintys new one have your PS4 worried?
65 Group test Fitness trackers
Survival of the fittest wrist-huggers
66 Tested BeatsX
AirPod wireless tech meats Dr Dre branding
68 Group test Budget 4K TVs
Up with the pixels, down with the prices
74 Versus Games controllers
Which pad will get the call of duty?
p68 86 Group test Compact cameras
Sub-600 The best little cams for summer snapping
stunners 89 First test Tesla Model X
Save the world in style (and at 155mph)
94 Tested Oppo UDP-203
Do discs beat flix for the best 4K picture?
95 Tested Sega Mega Drive Arcade Classic
Flash from the past at Sonic speed
98 Tested Huawei Watch 2
Smartwatches have gained independence
102 Tested Games
p89 The best Zelda yet, and a metal Jurassic Park
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76 Gadget Doctor
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78 Stuff picks Coffee machines
Find a brewer that will make you excited to
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106 Media hoard
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109 The Stuff Top Ten of everything
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111 How to buy... a smartphone
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 Making Stuff up
Editor
Rob Leedham I SHOT SOME I GAVE MY CATS
Deputy Editor BEARS IN BAVARIA 20 SECONDS
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Features Editor out my wildlife photography skills, and this to navigate around obstructions and pick up
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 H O T S T

Over the Edge

Both this S8 and the
S8+ will have curved
screen edges, meaning
the Edge name has been
trundled into a siding. This
will mainly annoy web
devs, as + is a poor
search term.

Finger prints
One problem sorry,
exciting opportunity for
change is where to put the
biometric sensor if the front
is all screen. Samsung has put
it here, next to the 12MP
camera. Keep a lens
cloth handy.

10
U F F
21 PAGES
OF THE BIGGEST
STORIES FROM
PLANET TECH

MORE ON
THE S8, AND
ALL 2017S
PHONES
p36

HOT
FOUR
#1
INS8TIABLE APPETITE FOR DRAMA
SAMSUNG GALAXY S8
Companies the size of Samsung dont
do meek. If the track ahead is looking bumpy
they tend to stoke the fire, open the valves and
blast through. It is in such a conflagration of
fire and steam that the S8 arrives. And it looks,
we think, rather good. It continues the current
trend for smartphone displays (see also the
LG G6 and Xiaomi Mi Mix) to be judged not by
size, but by screen-to-body ratio. The S8s
5.8in screen expected to be AMOLED, with
a tall 2960x1440 pixel layout is curved at
the edges, where it nearly meets a matching
glass panel on the back. Theres also a larger
version, the S8+, with an even bigger 6.2in
screen. Now, if only Samsungs confidence
in adversity wasnt such that the price tags
are likely to drive an express train through
our poor bank accounts.
As hot as a runaway steam engine
tba (due late April) / stuff.tv/GalaxyS8

11
 H O T S T U F F

Time of
the century
The Android Connected
module comes in lots of
colours and finishes, but this
tourbillon-driven analogue
module will be the big
eyebrow-raiser.

HOT
FOUR
#3
GIVE YOUR
TV A RAISE
SONOS PLAYBASE
Top tip: a stack of Stuff magazines makes a
handy way to raise your TV up over the top
of a soundbar an oft-complained-about
design flaw. If thats too lo-fi a solution,
then good news! The Sonos Playbase is
a solid oblong of sound engineering, upon
which sits your TV. Within the Playbase
are 10 speaker drivers for expansive and
bass-rich treatment of your TVs sound
output, or as part of a Sonos multiroom
system, or for streaming the likes of Spotify
and TuneIn radio. You can even add a couple
of smaller Sonos speakers and a Sonos sub
to make a 5.1 system. Top tip: a big pile of
Stuff magazines makes an extremely
ill-advised surround speaker stand.
As hot as... cranking up Countryfile
699 / stuff.tv/Playbase

12
H O T S T U F F

HOT
FOUR
#2
TWO-FACED
SON OF A WATCH
TAG HEUER CONNECTED
MODULAR 45
If you were to ask a chicken whether it
came before the egg, itd give you one of
those looks. If you then asked it whether
Tags newest smartwatch is expensive
because its modular, or modular because
its expensive, itd probably throw you out
of the hen house. Either which way, the
Swiss companys second scratch at a
premium smartwatch is worth clucking
about: swappable straps and lugs are one
thing, but the ability to swap out the entire
Android Wear 2.0 module for a mechanical
movement is a first. But why would you?
The electronic option has Intel brains, a
1.39in AMOLED screen, 4GB of storage and
GPS, all of which sounds to us like the kind
of thing youd want to keep on hand.
As hot as snakes, when you ask them
about the chicken/egg thing, because
they were laying eggs before chickens
had even been invented, dammit
from 1400 / stuff.tv/Tag45

13
 H O T S
HOT
FOUR
#4
MANY LEDs MAKE AMBILIGHT WORK
PHILIPS 55POS9002
Youre a canny lot, so youve probably been
waiting to buy a new TV until this years
new TVs have knocked loadsamoney off
the prices of last years TVs. Thats savvy
shopping. But it means youre now faced
with the very real temptation of this years
TVs, including the new swathe of OLED
models such as this Android-powered
Philips. Its the companys second OLED:
a 55-incher with HDR in both HDR10 and
HLG standards. (Dolby Vision isnt currently
14
T U F F
supported but may well be unlocked later
if we all kick off.) But the best thing about
Philips tellies like this and the reason youre
now going off that 2016 LG you were about
to pull the trigger on is the LED-driven
Ambilight cleverness that only accentuates
the smashing 750-nit brightness and 99%
DCI-P3 colours of the main panel. Maybe
wait another year for this one to get cheap?
As hot as perpetual trigger finger
tba (due summer) / stuff.tv/55POS9002
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V I T A L S T A T S

STICK FIT TO BURST

Amazon Fire TV Stick
40 / amazon.co.uk

Amazon has taken its As well as

tiniest streamer and given plugging the Fire
it a makeover fit for 2017 Stick into your TVs
(but it still looks like a stick) HDMI port, youll need
to connect it to the
You can talk to it power via microUSB.
Its still a small black rectangle A mains adaptor is
that you plug straight into an included.
HDMI port on your telly, but the
Fire TV Stick now also comes with
voice control skills. No laborious
cursor shunting you can just
hold down the microphone button
and say the name of what it is
youre after. Its pretty smart:
if you say games it will show
matching movie and TV results
at the top (starting with Game of
Thrones and The Hunger Games),
followed by games you can
download and play on the TV
underneath. Its not afraid to
suggest a change of platform
either, showing content thats
on Netflix as an alternative to
Amazons own Instant Video.
Other voice commands, such as
skip back two minutes, are also
dead handy after a kitchen run.

And someones listening

The Fire TV Stick has got Alexa
trapped inside too, so you can
ask her all the same stuff as you
would your Echo, complete with
on-screen visuals to go with
your answers about things like
weather and traffic. Got your
house smarted up? Your TV is
now your servant for temperature
and lighting tweaks. It might
feel weird at first, but soon
youll be wondering why other
home appliances are so stupidly
single-minded.

Its 30% faster

The new Stick has a quad-core
processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB
of built-in storage. Its not yet
up to 4K but, come on its 40.
What it does do is breeze happily
through its new interface this
is quite Netflixy, with rotating
carousels of personalised choices
and categorised selections. It
launches on 6 April and will be
the first of Amazons various
apps and gadgets to get the
new interface.

16
 H O T S T U F F

YOUR TV IS
NOW YOUR
SERVANT FOR
TEMPERATURE
AND LIGHTING
TWEAKS

Every heartbeat is a moment burned

FITBIT ALTA HR
Sometimes life is like listening to the dead air between an albums last
track and the hidden track. At least youre doing something, even if
nothing is happening. And theres the promise of an event, if you can
just hold it together for a while longer. There are, however, aspects
of life you can control, using tech, and one of those is activity. Fitbits
Alta tracker has just got a huge upgrade in the form of an optical
heart-rate sensor, which makes data such as calorie burn much more
accurate. Everything is still ultimately pointless, but it passes the time.
130 / fitbit.com

ALEXA IN JUST
ONE ROOM?
YAWN
WONDRWALL
If you ignore the groansome
name, this is a chance to get
voice control of Alexa in every
room of your house. The
Wondrwall smart home system Has a work suit and a play suit
replaces all your light-switches
with 13-sensor smart boxes
LENOVO TAB 4
that also respond to motion, Tablets, right? Old news. But actually, its not that you prefer using your
light and temperature . phone, its just that youre in the habit of using it to do things for which a
However, you should think tablet is better suited. Shopping and watching TV are both easier on a
about money. Not just because big screen. A kid given a tablet to play with can do way less harm than
the kids will be able to order with your work phone. And that brings us to Lenovos Tab 4 range, which
an Uber from their own rooms, comes in 8in or 10in sizes, with higher-spec Plus versions. You can get
but because Wondrwall says a Kids Pack, with a rubber case, screen protector and stickers, and/or a
a typical three-bedroom house Productivity Pack that has a Bluetooth keyboard but, sadly, no stickers.
installation will cost over 1200. from 169 / lenovo.com
499 (starter kit) /
wondrwall.co.uk

17
 The bigger picture in tech

THE SMART SHIP

One doesnt really want to go
somewhere on holiday. Its all
one can do to remain the right way
up in ones own town! But a cruise,
now that seems like a controllable
experience. After input from
Deloitte, HP and Samsung, MSC
Meraviglia launching in June
will be fitted with 9000 tonnes
of electronics. All guests wear
a Bluetooth/RFID bracelet which,
through interactive screens or an
app, allows one to locate oneself
(or ones irksome children) in
an instant. Dinners, shows and
excursions can be booked without
talking to a single person. Bliss.

18
 H O T S T U F F

NEWS FEED

0 TO SHOPS
IN 3.2 SECONDS
To celebrate its success
in Formula E, Renault has
shoehorned a load of race
tech into its ZOE electric
city car. The e-Sport
Concept generates
460bhp, can reach 130mph
and accelerates faster than
the Tesla Model X weve
tested on p89.

PAPER MAKER
Epson has created a
machine that takes your
unwanted or confidential
papers, mushes them up
and spits them back out
as blank paper. PaperLab
is office-sized at the
moment, but is a home
recycling revolution in
the making once the tech
begins to smallerise.

TINY PI GOES WI-FI

In a marvellous feat of
miniaturisation, Raspberry
Pi has managed to
squeeze a wireless chip
and antenna onto its tiny
Pi Zero board. Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth LE should open
up a load of new projects
for amateur coders
and builders and the
Pi Zero W is only 9.60.

19
 B E S T O F
GENEVA MOTOR
SHOW 2017
Geneva is the show for car geeks. Well, apart from CES in Vegas.
And Goodwood Festival of Speed. Oh, and Truckfest
YOU MIGHT
Ford Fiesta ST
Theres a sort of rule that engines with
an uneven number of cylinders sound
ace. Just in case, Ford has given the new
turbocharged three-cylinder ST the
Mustangs active exhaust valve kit.
And then, just for larks, its wired up
the ST with Sport and Track modes
that tweak the traction, stability and
torque-vectoring widgetry. As show
cars go, this is one you might actually
buy, for under 20k, this year.
tba / ford.co.uk
20
YOU CAN?
Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e
Before you get carried away imagining
yourself all over that retro-futuro
interior, the 6e is a concept. But, given
that its based on the EXP 10 coup
concept from a few years back, and that
Bentley has often expressed its desire
for both an all-electric and a two-seater
sports car, and given that reports from
the show floor were that this car was
way too neatly finished for a concept
well, maybe its worth a dream or two.
tba (concept) / bentleymotors.com
YOU WOULD
Alpine A110
Electric? No. Self-driving? Certainly
not. But it is blue, and French, and it is
an iconic brand reborn with Renault
doing the delivering, which is entirely
proper and correct for an Alpine. Now
it just needs to go like a rally-winning
A110 from the 70s and all the bits are
in place: mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive,
with an all-aluminium chassis that will
give it a better power-to-weight ratio
than a Porsche Cayman come 2018.
50,000 (approx) / alpinecars.com
 H O T S T U F F

Multiple ports
mean it can charge

DECIPHER
three phones at
once at ultra-high
speeds.

ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN

#21 HDMI 2.1

Fraser Macdonald
You know that 4K TV
More power than just power you bought? Well dont
RAZER POWER BANK worry. Its not obsolete
quite yet.
As any geek knows, arriving at a coffee shop is a performance. Everyone But, refracting rather
else is watching, because theyre bored. You must decant your laptop prettily through the horizon are some
onto the table with mild disdain. But next you must plug something into of the technologies of tomorrows TVs.
your laptop that has no clear purpose. In this case, its a 12,800mAh How far hence are we talking? The Tokyo
USB-C powerpack that will extend the life of a USB-C laptop up to 20V, Olympics in 2020 is an obvious waypoint,
2.25A but also rapidly refuel other devices, with its Qualcomm Quick as 8K broadcast coverage has often been
Charge 3.0 credentials. But for your onlookers, this nondescript black mentioned for what has been billed from
aluminium box could be anything. It could be an encryption device, theyll the start as a hi-tech Games.
think. Is it making a noise? Who is this guy? Why is my life so dull? Which means yay! we need a new
145 / razerzone.com HDMI standard for all our AV connections.
Now, 2.1 doesnt sound like a massive
upgrade over the existing 2.0, but there
are some big numbers to ponder.
First up is the classic: bandwidth.
Ye olde HDMI 1.4 had a throughput
of 10.2Gbps, then HDMI 2.0 jumped
to 18Gbps. Now, with the seemingly
incremental change to HDMI 2.1, were
getting a huge increase to 48Gbps.
Need something relatable to illustrate

HDMI 2.1 WILL BRING

A HUGE INCREASE
IN BANDWIDTH FROM
18GBPS TO 48GBPS
the difference? OK, lets say the old
HDMI is a cat. The new HDMI is a much
faster cat.
Its not really about speed, though,
but volume. A 48Gbps cable is good for
Not just a pretty button 8K video (7680x4320) at 60fps, or 4K
B&O PLAY BEOLIT 17 at 120fps. So Tokyo shotputting in 8K will
be fine, with enough data space to have
B&Os battery-powered Beolit Bluetooth boombox isnt new, but it in HDR. Theres even room for Dolby
this is a new version of the Beolit. It looks like the previous Beolit 12 Atmos to open up your sound system.
and 15, but while those chaps had three buttons, this one has an And then theres gaming: those high
exciting extra button, which might do one of several extraordinary frame rates are just what VR headset
things. It might change the ToneTouch equaliser preset, set or devs have been clamouring for to up
snooze an alarm or simply, and perhaps surprisingly, play the last the immersion ante.
song you Spotified. You dont get to decide. Well, unless youve HDMI 2.1, then what a difference a
downloaded the app. Then you do get to decide. 0.1 makes. Though, yes, you are going to
449 / beoplay.com need all new AV hardware and cables.

21
 I C O N

RESSENCE THE HANDS ARE

TYPE 5G SUSPENDED IN OIL,
MAKING THEM EASY
31,500 / ressencewatches.com TO SEE UNDERWATER
Ooh, weird. Analogue or digital?
Magical, isnt it? At first you think
it might be a screen because of
the sheer two-dimensionality
of the display and because
some of the hands dont seem
to make any sense. Well, pick up
your jaw off the floor and chew
on this: its analogue. There are
real spinny widgets in there.

Does it wobble like jelly?

There is an element of viscosity to
Ressences watches what youre
seeing is the hands suspended in
oil. This kills internal reflections to
make them legible from all angles
down in the briny depths for this
watch is being pitched at divers.
The hand-wound mechanical
movement, which wouldnt like
being immersed in oil, is separated
from the gloop by a titanium plate,
and exerts its force on them via
the witchcraft of magnets.

But that hands painted on!

A-ha! The whole dial rotates,
giving you your minutes, along
with a sub-dial for hours. The
other two dials are diagnostic:
the temperature of that oil,
showing its within its operating
margins, and a 90-second
running hand thats required
for diver safety standards. And
theres a rotating bezel on the
outside for measuring dive time.

Earlier, you mentioned Ressences

watches, plural?
This Belgian maker launched its
first models back in 2010, and the
Type 5 diving watch as recently
as 2015. But the original Type 5
had a white-on-black design that,
while just the thing for not making
mortal miscalculations under
the sea, wasnt so desirable for
the majority of potential Ressence
buyers who lets be honest
spend a lot more time swanning
around at the boat club. Hence
the Type 5G, designed to look a
little classier. It costs the same:
a dont-forget-this-is-a-marvel-
of-engineering 31,500.

22
 H O T S T U F F

VS

Eye wide shut Eye wide open

PANASONIC KX-HNC800
Theres something a little unnerving in the blink-less
stare of a home camera but theres also something a
little unhinged in being paranoid about your own security
devices. Still, this Panasonic has a privacy shutter that
can be slid up to cover the camera and the microphone if
you dare to reach out and do it. Theres no creeping up on
it either, as the HNC800 which works on its own or
with Panasonics Smart Home system has a rolling
two-second buffer to its motion-activated recording.
160 / panasonic.com
D-LINK OMNA 180 CAM HD
Should you be one of the planets elite supergeeks who
have their homes wirelessed up for Apple HomeKit, then
the Omna 180 is up for anything. You can set its motion
detection to trigger other parts of your smart home
setup, such as flashing the lights (obvious) or shutting
the blinds (creepy). You can also talk to your burglars
using your iPhone, but be sure not to tell them that the
Omna only records its 180-wide footage to an internal
microSD card.
200 / dlink.com

DROP EVERYTHING
AND DOWNLOAD...
Facebook 360 for Gear VR free / Android
Time was, getting a 360 experience meant
going outside, picking a spot to stand in and
simply turning around. What a chilly waste
of time. Now, with the advent of stellar
smartphone cameras and nifty stitching
software, 360 photos and videos are
ten a penny.
Panoramic effects dont seem quite
so astounding on a flat little phone screen,
though which is precisely why Facebook
has announced the Facebook 360 app
for Samsung Gear VR. Yippee! In short,
download the app and youll get a
streamlined carousel of 360 content
from your timeline some of it is going
to be quite ropey, of course, but access
like this can only pave the way for better
video content to come.

23
The best
wireless headphones
in the world
are now ofcially
the best
wireless headphones
in the world.

P5 Wireless 229.99
Buy from bowers-wilkins.co.uk/P5Wireless

Also available from John Lewis, Amazon

and independent specialist retailers
 A P P S
This months mobile must-downloads
1 2 3
APP
MATHS

Super Stickman
Golf is mobiles
craziest golf
game. So what
happens when
you mash it into
a hard-as-nails
platformer?

4 5 6

SUPER
STICKMAN
GOLF 3
free /
Android, iOS
Thwocking
a-plenty as you
hole-in-many
on a range
of bonkers
golf courses. 7 8 9

SUPER
MEAT BOY
10.99 / various
formats
Help your meaty 1 Popcorn 2 Yarn - Chat Fiction 3 The Gruffalo Spotter
hero jump from free / iOS free (IAPs) / iOS free / Android, iOS
wall to wall, This sort-of Tinder for films has If you spend too much time in If youve a youngling who loves
dodging death, you peruse lists, flicking left to messaging apps, you might like a furry beast with a poisonous
death and yet heartlessly discard, or right when fiction presented that way too wart at the end of his nose, this
more death. you love something enough for although, if you get stuck into app is Pokmon Go with Gruffalo
your watchlist. Then gaze at trailers, this app, subscriptions will rack characters. Ish. It only works at
with moony eyes. up bigger bills than a ton of texts. Forestry Commission sites, though.

4 Airplane Window 5 Dashy Crashy 6 Mini Metro

free / iOS, tvOS free / Android, iOS 4.29 / Android 4.99 / iOS
On planes, you get that tiny telly Out Run vibes permeate this Marrying resource-juggling,
on as soon as possible. With this multitouch swipey endless survival beautiful animated underground
app, you can turn your actual telly game. Zoom along like a maniac, maps and generative audio, Mini
GOLF ZERO (or iPad) into an aeroplane window. dont crash, and discover the Metro was already superb. But now
free / iOS Why? Weve no idea. And yes, you horrific tailbacks that UFOs would it relieves stress too (unlike actual
Leap about like a can pull the shade down. cause if they belted along the M1. subways) with a new endless mode.
lunatic dodging
saw-blades and
spikes, and 7 Blin.gy 8 Hidden Folks 9 Slayaway Camp
wall-jump like free / Android, iOS 3.99 / iOS, tvOS 2.99 / iOS
a ninja, all before Find a blank wall, insert yourself into Hidden object games are usually a Fancy a killer puzzler? This blends
unleashing a trio a famous pop video, upload, and bit rubbish, but this one bucks the Sokobans sliding puzzles, blocky
of balls in slow instant fame beckons. Or possibly trend with hand-drawn scribbles Crossy Road visuals and lashings
motion aiming just the odd titter from the few and amusing mouth-derived sound of 1980s horror. Youre the bad
for a hole in one. friends who havent disowned effects as you peer at the screen to guy, hacking your way to victory
you for miming so terribly. find needles in haystacks. in a shower of pixelated gore.

25
 G A M E S
FIRST PLAY YOOKA-LAYLEE PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Once upon a time, video games
were a very different beast. They
were bright and colourful, and
starred wise-cracking animals
instead of grizzled anti-heroes
with a frown lines as deep as the
Grand Canyon. Yooka-Laylee
harks back to those days with
rib-tickling panache, which is no
surprise given the team behind
it made many of the games it so
[ Words Rob Leedham ]
cheerfully riffs off.
You see, Playtonic Games
is stuffed full of former Rare
staffers who worked for that
much-loved developer during
its imperial phase on the
26
Nintendo 64. Most importantly,
they had a big hand in making
Banjo-Kazooie the smash hit
it was almost 20 years ago.
Now theyre back with another
platforming romp featuring a
new adorable critter coupling.
From what weve played so far,
its shaping up very nicely.
Originally Kickstarter-funded,
the game sees you jump, race
and smash your way across
several worlds in order to collect
Pagies: golden book pages that
unlock even more larks to get
involved with. From the very off,
it feels like a love letter to Super
OUT
11 APR
Mario 64, Spyro the Dragon
and all those other chirpy
collectathons that proved
the foundation of many a
happy childhood.
Of course, to stand alongside
the games it so adoringly pays
tribute to, itll need to succeed
on its own merits rather than
those borrowed from others.
After a couple of hours spent
messing around with giant
arcade machines, carnival-style
shooting galleries and an odd
spot of gardening, this game
certainly has the potential to
be a modern kind of classic.

FIRST PLAY WE ARE FLOATING IN SPACE
LONE ECHO Oculus Rift
Outer space and VR have more in common
than youd think. For starters, both are
tricky to move around in. That makes
Lone Echos zero-gravity setting perfectly
suited to the Rift and its Touch controllers,
particularly with the movement mechanic
that goes with the game.
Playing as the android companion to a
human astronaut on a space station, you
get around your weightless environment
COMING SOON MORE VR GAMES
THE MAGES TALE
Oculus Rift
The Mages Tale has you casting a
barrage of VR spells, from fireballs
to confetti lightning. Its teleportation
movement system is a little clunky, but
solving its Tomb Raider-like puzzles and
using your shield to block attacks from
the frog-like enemies make up for it.
by grabbing hold of anything that takes
your fancy and slingshotting yourself
towards other objects. You also have
a booster on each arm, should you find
yourself out of reach of a handle.
Its hard to communicate just how fluid
this feels without playing it its almost
like scuba diving in fast-forward, but the
connection it creates between you and
the environment is profound, with the
BRASS TACTICS
Oculus Rift
This puts you above a tabletop medieval
battlefield with regiments of clockwork
warriors and archers at your command.
By grabbing and dragging with the Touch
controllers you can traverse the warzone,
capturing territory and unlocking more
powerful weapons.
H O T S T U F F
neverending backdrop of deep space only
adding to the sense of immersion.
Lone Echo developer Ready at Dawn
made the beautifully conceived but
structurally flawed The Order: 1886
for the PS4, so you can expect its story
mode to deliver drama in spades, while
a multiplayer mode promises to offer a
manic, arena-based zero-G sport to play
against your Rift-rocking pals.
ARKTIKA.1
Oculus Rift
Dystopian shooter Arktika.1 solves the
problem of movement in VR by only
allowing you to switch between fixed
firing positions: blue for safe, yellow for
risky. Addictive duckncover gameplay,
neat reload mechanics and excellent
graphics will hook you in minutes.
INCOMING
MAY
PREY
RIME
JUNE
TEKKEN 7
DIRT 4
FINAL FANTASY XIV: STORMBLOOD
CRASH BANDICOOT N. SANE TRILOGY
AUGUST
MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR
27
 C H O I C E

BAGS 1 2
Kit out and about with
six distinct flavours
of strappy portage

1 Cote & Ciel Isar S

Back when Cote & Ciel devised
its unusual, organically shaped
Isar bag, the future looked big. But
whaddaya know: the futures here
and its small, and so a mini-Isar is
born. Its called Isar S, for Small.
265 / coteetciel.com

2 Pacsafe 3
Ultimatesafe Z15
The Z15 is more of a cage than
a bag. Ostensibly its steel mesh
stops slash n grabs but it also 4
makes this a handy place in which
to keep your fantastic beasts.
170 / pacsafe.com

3 Trakke Cuillin
Handmade in Scotland using only
British materials; if the bag feels
light, thatll be gaseous karma
holding the waxed cotton aloft.
Should you do something evil, itll
suddenly get much heavier.
140 / trakke.co.uk

4 Manfrotto
Windsor Reporter
That name pretty much posts a 6
handwritten note to you that its
a lush camera bag. But actually, its 5
trying to Snapchat you to tell you
itll also fit a DJI Mavic Pro drone.
120 / manfrotto.com

5 Udee
This Kickstarted rucksack is a
funfair of features, from light-up
LED straps and USB battery to
an insulated drink cooler section.
Could have been awful, but its
actually really solid and useful.
from US$199 / myudee.com

6 Thule Subterra
Carry-On 40L
[ Picture RGB Digital ]

Oh, what a carry-on! they said

about their previous bag. This one
is a Scandinavian dream-sack,
with hiding straps and separate
shoe and laptop sections.
155 / thule.com

28

Treads the line between fun and edutainment
JIMU TANKBOT
TankBot is the latest in UBTechs Jimu range, and were excited about it
because, while the other bots were equally cute one was a penguin
with a bow tie, for pitys sake their skills were limited to servo-based
leggy wombling. TankBot has tracks for scooting about on uneven
floors, plus an IR sensor that enables it to sense and grab things with its
clutching arms. Scoot, see, grab and drop if thats not an adequately
fun scenario for learning to code, well eat our PiHat. Theres an app
that guides you through the building and the coding, and a big
community of Jimu users out there for mod suggestions.
145 / jimurobots.com
If everyone was listening
DENON HEOS AVR
Seems like chest-high speakers, a lounge linguine of wiring and a
fuse-blowing AV receiver arent hip any more. And yet, have you seen
a childs face light up as a surround sound effect whisks around them?
No, neither have we, but in theory surround sound is awesome and
should be encouraged. This latest addition to Denons HEOS wireless
audio portfolio attempts to do just that. Its got 4K-ready HDMI ports
and physical speaker connections like a proper AV amp. But its
app-controlled and you can use HEOS wireless speakers for your 5.1
system. The cost will mount up, and youll still need mains power for
them all, but imagine the delighted face of our fictional, marketing child!
799 / denon.co.uk
H O T S T U F F
WTF IS
SONY XPERIA
TOUCH?
Hang on, havent I seen this before?
If you were paying attention to Stuffs
coverage of last years Mobile World
Congress show, then yup. Sony showed
it off in concept form, but it wasnt quite
ready for the prime time. This, though?
Its the real deal. Sony has decided theres
enough interest to roll its portable projector
into full production, so youll be able to buy
one by the summer. Or at least you will be
if you dont mind splashing out a whopping
1499 on one.
Ouch it had better be the stuff of my
sci-fi dreams for that kind of cash.
If youve ever wanted to turn your kitchen
table into a giant tablet screen, youre
sorted. Its basically a tiny Android box
that beams a touch-sensing display
onto any flat surface. The projector can
see where youre tapping and transform
that data into inputs. Itll recognise pinch
gestures too, so it essentially works just
like a regular tablet. Turn it round and itll
project onto a wall instead, so you can
watch any on-demand or catch-up app
available from the Google Play Store on
a giant screen. Its got built-in speakers,
and is packing batteries so you wont even
need to plug it in.
Has it got enough juice to get me
through a Netflix marathon?
Afraid not itll probably only manage
around an hour of video playback away
from the mains. Thats still enough for a full
episode of House of Cards, but youll want
to plug it in to binge on an entire season.
Got any more sweet, sweet specs?
If its details youre craving, Sonys going to
be leaving you hungry. Everything was very
much under wraps when we got to see one
in person, with no word on the hardware
inside or even the resolution. But were
not expecting anything better than 720p,
which is lame when you see how much it
costs. Still, theres no denying its a dapper
little piece of kit. Tread a few popcorn kernels
into the carpet, pop one of these on and itll
feel like youre at the local cinema.
29
 S T A R T M E N U
The latest startups, crowdfunded projects and plain crazy ideas

TE -
R
AR K
ST KIC

Wi-Fi whiteboard
JOTO
Draw a picture in the app and its
re-drawn by your wall-mounted
Joto, whether its in the same
room or across the world. Its
a process that looks a lot cuter
with some actual art involved:
Joto has commissioned some
press-and-play illustrations
for the device from the likes of
Fred Deakin, Ben the Illustrator
and Will Scobie. But you can
also set this Alexa-compatible
gadget to draw out the name
of the currently playing Spotify
track, the weather forecast or
a to-do list. Or, should you let
your teenage nephew anywhere
near the app, you can watch it
produce endless puerile drawings
of male anatomy.
165 / joto.rocks

BACK IT

STACK IT

SACK IT
GOE-
TE -
TE -

TE -
R
R

R
AR K
AR K

AR K
GONDI
ST KIC
ST KIC

ST KIC
I

Wall in one place Light workout Sticky bricks Air bag

FETCHITGO
Watched everything on
Netflix? Well, theres still
the last four buttons of your
wall-mounted smart home
controller to programme! Its
compatible with lots of things,
such as Hue, Spotify, Logitech
and the all-encompassing
IFTTT, so the options for
multi-command macros
are pretty much limitless.
from US$49 / tantiv4.com
BLAZEPOD
Without a personal trainer its
difficult to self-motivate for
exercise. The body just doesnt
want to spool up unless its in
trouble or competing. Enter
BlazePod, or rather, several
BlazePods that link to an app
featuring a number of games
that demand you hit the
light-up Pods as directed.
You might even have fun.
from US$99 / blazepod.co
NIMUNO LOOPS
You can just imagine the
feverish dream of the engineer
who dreamt this up: Lego
Lego everything is awesome
everything is awesome with
Lego everything! And then
he or she woke up and invented
Lego-compatible sticky tape
that means you can turn
almost anything into a Lego
surface. Awesome indeed.
from US$11 / nimuno.com
PAQSULE
He thinks his gym bags
a washing machine, said
a mum, yesterday, rolling her
eyes like the 1600rpm spin
cycle of domestic ennui. Yeah,
but it is, says her tech-savvy
friend. It blasts the stuff inside
with UV light and oxygen to kill
smelly bacteria. Mum sighs.
Shut up, Carla. When you have
kids youll understand.
from US$229 / paqsule.com

30
 H O T S T U F F

Yes, its 85,

but you wont be
endangering the
giant panda while
you juice up your
tablet.

FUTURE STUFF
ROBOT POST
Chris Rowlands reckons Ford
is a better bet than Amazon
for autonomous deliveries

Delivery drones weve

When the wind blows all seen them. Well, the
concept of them at least.
TEXENERGY INFINITE AIR Amazon UK has been
running extensive tests
Although solar panels are now lighter and more efficient than ever, of its flying post-bots in Cambridge for
the makers of this turbine are based in Britain and its an optimistic a while, but this new idea from Ford is
engineer indeed who sits spannering solar panels while the wintry something different.
maelstrom batters the workshop windows. Texenergy reckons that in The dodgily titled Autolivery is a
wind speeds of 15mph upwards the Infinite Air will output 5V at 1.5A to system of self-driving vans, robots and
2A. Thats enough to juice up your phone, your GoPro, or even an iPad. drones that will operate in urban areas
Not bad for something that weighs under 500g and breaks down into to make package processing simple and
parts small enough to fit in your pocket. Electric car charging? That entirely people-free.
might have to wait for Infinite Air 2. (Tagline: This Time Its More Infinite.) See, like the rest of us, Ford is bored
85 / texenergy.co.uk of being stuck in traffic and it reckons
that by automating the process itll be
able to beat the queues and drop your
orders right on your doorstep even if
thats in the middle of the night. Robots
dont need time and a half for the night
shift, and dont stop delivering.
Unless, that is, you live somewhere
awkward. Ford has admitted that the last
15 metres are the trickiest. Getting your
boxes from planes to vans to drones is

FORD WILL BE ABLE TO

BEAT THE QUEUES AND
DROP YOUR ORDERS
ON YOUR DOORSTEP
simple, it seems; trudging it up the
garden path, or getting access to flats?
HDR in your handbag Not so easy for a robot.
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S3 Thats why it has also crafted a clutch
of concepts to solve the urban mobility
Apart from its combustible personality, we miss Samsungs Note problem. Carr-E, for example, is a little
series of phablets and were rather hoping that the companys new round bot the size of a spare wheel that
Tab S3 tablet might include a mildly pocketable 6in or 7in version. will happily carry boxes around your
It doesnt, but were not disappointed: the S3 is in fact a big-screen neighbourhoods roads and paths.
iPad-smashing powerhouse. It runs Android 7.0 through a 2048x1536 Fords reasoning for all this hard graft
HDR-compatible 9.7in screen and comes with a stylus for on-screen is to reduce congestion and pollution.
note taking. Theres a microSD card slot, it charges by USB-C and Its pledged to have autonomous
therell be a 4G version. Sounds ace but since it costs more than the commercial vehicles in circulation by
similar-sized iPad Pro, it might struggle to trump Apple. 2021; and given its work with self-driving
from 599 / samsung.com cars and ride-sharing schemes, were
inclined to believe it.

31
H O T S T U F F

28th
Play
Gravity Galaxy
(Android, iOS)

NORTH NOW
ATLANTIC The Sky at Night
FLUX: SOUNDS first broadcast
FROM SMOKY BAY
North Atlantic Flux sounds
like a digestive complaint
but is, in fact, a four-day
60
YEARS
Nordic music festival AGO
NEXT curated by (and including)
ISSUE bearded groover John
June Grant. Where? Hull, of
Top-end course, as part of its duty
smartphones as the UKs City of Culture
battle it out for 2017.
On sale

APR
04/05/17

YOUR MONTH

21st
SYBERIA III
PS4, XBOX, PC
Its quarter past 2017 already
You decide to make a
follow-up to Syberia II.
After a year or so, you
come up with the name
Syberia III. Then, two
years of sticking Post-its
to walls with funny names
for NPCs. By the time
Syberia III is ready, 13
years have passed. Its
easily done.

7th 14th
INSOMNIA60
BIRMINGHAM NEC
And all around that place,

40
the rivers ran orange from
the barely processed
YEARS outflow of supermarket-
AGO brand energy drinks as
Silver a mass of gamers of all
Anniversary NOW WITH ages spent the entire
MUSIC! Easter weekend in the
buses in Wretch 32 NEC: gaming, watching,
10th London Years & Years
Chase &
tournamenting, shopping,
camping, dancing
GOING IN STYLE
Old geezers getting up to
360 DEGREE ZOO
EDINBURGH
NOW Status multiplying.

mischief us Brits have Meerkats in a ball pool.

seen it all, via endless Need we continue? That
Last of the Summer Wine DONT MISS: phrase alone should have
episodes. But this remake Wolf & Watch: you booking tickets to
of the 1979 film is directed Gattaca Edinburghs International
by Scrubs/Garden State A cult film, Science Festival, even if Play Bus
man Zach Braff, with enhanced by said meerkats are in VR. Simulator 16
Michael Caine, Morgan weird food and The festival runs from with the
Freeman and Alan Arkin. booze thats 1-16 April, and includes (silver) Merc
Hope they slide down a consumed at all sorts of geeky fun for Citaro DLC
hill in a bath. key moments big yins and little yins.

32
Developing the
next generation of
Sport Scientists
and Coaches.

Sam Lawson, UCS Sport Science Graduate.

Now Director of Performance Analysis in the US.
Be bold. Be brave. Go far.
www.ucs.ac.uk/football #UCSgofar
 W I N

WIN A SAMSUNG 49-INCH 4K TV &

UHD BLU-RAY PLAYER FROM AO.COM
Before 4K Ultra HD there was HD, and before that
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35
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

36
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S T E
B E O N 1 7
H E P H 2 0
T O F 37
 BEST PHONES OF 2017
PREVIEW
SAMSUNG
GALAXY S8
After the Note 7 palaver, Rob Leedham believes Samsung has made
the hottest phone in the world again. Only not literally this time
onsidering its last big
C
phone was prone to
explosions, Samsung
needs the S8 to be
spectacular. Not
just quite good or
kind of alright, but amazing enough
to eradicate the memory of that
combustible catastrophe. Heres why
we reckon it might just do the job
ARE YOU BEING CURVED?
As per usual, Samsung is making two
versions of its top phone. This time,
both Androids have an enormous curved
screen. The standard Galaxy S8 has a
5.8in display, while its even more massive
brother the S8+ gives you 6.2in. Thanks
to new screen technology that allows for
smaller bezels than ever before, neither
handset will be a faff to wedge into one
of your jeans pockets.
If youre looking at the S8 and
wondering where its home button
is, then squinting aint gonna resurrect
it. Its been replaced with a virtual
home button on the touchscreen and
a fingerprint scanner that sits next
to the camera on the back. Thanks to
the S8s always-on and iris-scanning
smarts, using it shouldnt be too taxing.
Anyway, you should get used to this
button-free visage Apple is set to pull
off the same trick next time out.
38
I used to be appalled
at the thought of owning
a phablet. Now Ill take the
biggest phone I can get
my hands on. The S8s
gorgeous screen gives me
yet another excuse to
Netflix on my way to work
not that I needed one.
Rob Leedham,
Editor
STRAIGHT SHOOTER
Despite Apple, Huawei and LG all
jumping on the dual-lens bandwagon,
Samsung is sticking with a single 12MP
affair with super-accurate dual-pixel
autofocus. That means no optical
zooming or wide-angle shenanigans,
but you should still be getting one of
the best cameras around. A year on
from its launch, the Galaxy S7s pictorial
prowess is only rivalled by Googles
Pixel and the iPhone 7 Plus. We expect
the S8 to be just as impressive. tba
stuff.tv/
HOT CHIPS GalaxyS8
If you live in Europe, the S8 will feature
Samsungs new Exynos 8895 processor.
Elsewhere its likely to come with the
latest Snapdragon 835 chip. With such
a huge screen to power, both processors
will have to be efficient to serve up
a respectable amount of battery life.
About a day and a half is the standard
for top-end phones.
Clearly, with a beautiful curved
screen, a camera thats expected to
compete with the very best and a
super-fast processor, the Galaxy S8
will be a standout phone in 2017. Oh, and
its keeping the headphone jack, so you
wont have to splash out on Bluetooth
buds. Thats just as well, given the S8 is
all set to be one of the most expensive
phones you can buy.
BANG
AND BLAME
In order to make sure
its Note 7 nightmare never
recurs, Samsung has
introduced a new 8-Point
Battery Safety Check to
strenuously test all
its devices.
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

STRONG
UP FRONT
With an 8MP front-
facing camera, the S8
should be a dab hand at
selfies thats quite a
significant leap forward
from the S7s
5MP unit.

RIVALS
Huawei iPhone 7 Sony Xperia
P10 Plus Plus XZ Premium
The bigger Apples most After years in
version of premium iPhone the smartphone
Huaweis latest is the one to get. wilderness,
flagship comes Not only do those Sony has upped
with a 5.5in QHD dual lenses give its efforts with
screen, better it optical zoom the XZ Premium.
quality dual skills, but its With a gorgeous
lenses and an battery lasts design and ace
IR blaster. Its about half a day camera, it should
a clear step longer than the go toe to toe
up from the bog-standard with Samsungs
standard P10. iPhone 7. latest. See p42.

39
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

THE KEYS
ARE KEY
The 2.4in QVGA
display isnt a touchscreen,
so youll be using the
keypad to do everything
from playing Snake to,
er, playing Snake
again.

NOKIA SELF OUT

The 3310 has a 2MP You cant pull the fascia The 3310 is so
rear camera with flash, off and replace it with shamelessly functional
meaning you can take new colours like with the and plastic but the
shots and video to be old Nokias, but you can bright-coloured styling
uploaded to social media take the back panel off actually makes a neat
later. Theres no selfie and replace the battery counterpoint to the
camera, but what would if you so desire. Not that boring black/metal
be the point without youre likely to need to finishes of more
access to Snapchat? replace that powerhouse. premium phones.

40
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

Im a buffalo in an
antiques shop no glass
phone is safe with me.
Gimme that dumbphone: let
me eat iced gems, play Snake
and remember pre-adult bliss. HANDS ON
Natalya Paul,
Social Media Editor

NOKIA 3310
Guy Cocker takes a dose of nostalgia with Nokias rebooted 3310. Can this
two-decade-old phone live up to the hype? (Dont worry, its got Snake on it)

ostalgia is a powerful

N
weapon. First Brexit
promised to bring our
country back, then
49 Donald Trump claimed
hed make America
stuff.tv/ great again. Now Nokia is taking us
Nokia3310 back to the days when your mobile
battery lasted days rather than hours
and you could drop it without fear of
smashing it to smithereens. But is it
The one all its cracked up to be? HANDS
thats got ON
Snake FOREVER & ALWAYS
The new 3310 might not look identical
to its ancestor but you can certainly
see the resemblance and it feels like
itd probably survive an unintended
meeting with the floor too. On standby
itll last a month, or if you can find
someone to chat to for long enough
itll do 22 hours of talktime.
Of course, managing such amazing NOKIA 6 from 229
battery-based feats means theres
a lot that it doesnt do. Theres no The Android-powered Nokia 6 first
touchscreen, no Wi-Fi, no proper appeared in China last year but when
app store, and the cameras only 2MP it arrives here soon itll come with an
(although it does have a flash). But it improved 8MP front-facing camera to
does do Snake. go with its 5.5in 1080p display, 3GB of
It also supports dual SIM cards, has a RAM, 32GB of storage and Snapdragon
headphone socket (and Bluetooth if you 430 processor. Clearly those arent
want to use wireless cans instead), plus Galaxy S8 specs but the version of the
theres a microSD slot that will take OS it runs is untouched, which is good
cards up to 32GB, and an FM radio, news if you prefer pure Android.
so its not a terrible for entertainment Nokias reputation for making
either. A calendar, notes and contacts reassuringly sturdy phones hasnt
will also help you keep up with your disappeared while your heart will
OS Series 30+ smartphone-owning friends. still likely skip a beat if you drop it in
Processor While the Nokia 3310 certainly isnt the street, its hefty chassis, carved
Not specified for the Snapchat generation, its Opera from a solid block of aluminium, feels
RAM browser means you can check Twitter a lot more solid than other Android
Not specified and Facebook etc, plus it automatically phones at this price.
Screen optimises pages. Thats just as well,
2.4in QVGA because the 2G connection isnt going Android 7.0 Snapdragon 430
Storage 16MB, to set any speed records. Still, those 3GB RAM (4GB on Arte Black version)
ZING A expandable via Snapchatters never owned the original, 5.5in 1920x1080 32GB (64GB on
RAINBOW microSD so that pull of nostalgia wont be as Arte Black version), expandable via
At 49, you could buy Camera 2MP strong as it is for us fogies. microSD 16MP front, 8MP rear
13 new 3310s for the price
of one iPhone 7. It comes in
four colours red, yellow,
grey and blue so you
could build a phone 41
mosaic.
 BEST PHONES OF 2017
The one
with 4K
and HDR
tba
stuff.tv/
XZPremium
HANDS
ON
SONY XZ PREMIUM
Who needs a 4K TV? Tom Morgan hangs Sonys latest flagship phone on the wall instead
ack in 2015,
B Sony was the
first maker
to cram a 4K
display into a phone. Two
years later, the 5.5in XZ
Premium is the first to do
both 4K and HDR.
To see this tech in a
smartphone is seriously
impressive. Admittedly
youve got to get close to
spot all that detail, but with
both Amazon and Netflix
bringing 4K and HDR support
to their mobile apps later
in the year youll be able
to make the most of the
deeper contrast, brighter
42
whites and richer colours
wherever you go. HDR and
4K are no longer exclusive
to your living room.
SLOW COOKIN
Its not the XZ Premiums
only world first either. Most
phones can only manage to
shoot slow-motion video
at 240 frames per second
but this 1/2.3in 19MP camera
sensor is Sonys fastest
yet, able to cope with a
DSLR-matching 960fps.
Its all thanks to some extra
high-speed memory thats
been added directly behind
the sensor, and the result is
that even clips of rain hitting
Im going to
have a lot of fun
with this super-slow-mo
camera. With enough
training, I might even land
the directors job for
the Matrix reboot.
Ryan Jones,
Staff Writer
a puddle become smooth,
moody vignettes.
And youd better believe
the XZ Premium has the
OS
Android 7.0
hardware to back up that Processor
screen. Sony has managed Snapdragon 835
to bag Qualcomms new RAM 4GB
Snapdragon 835 CPU, which Screen 5.5in
makes it the most powerful 3840x2160
phone around today. Storage 64GB,
The mirrored finish, expandable via
chamfered corners (which microSD
double as antennae) and Cameras
2.5D glass curving slightly 19MP rear,
at the edges mean the 13MP front
design hasnt evolved much;
but if you want the latest and
greatest screen and camera
tech, there are few phones
that can compete.

HANDS
ON
LG X POWER 2
This LG will give the Energizer Bunny
a run for its money, says Tom Parsons
Nokias 3310 reboot isnt
the only long-life mobile
heading our way this year.
LGs 5.5in X Power 2 packs a
whopping 4500mAh battery
into a surprisingly svelte
chassis, albeit one thats
slightly too plasticky.
Its chunkier than some of its
rivals, sure, but this is hardly
a bloater. Besides, where
do you expect it to store all
that extra oomph? After all,
4500mAh is over a thousand
more than the OnePlus 3T.
Even the bleeding-edge
Sony XZ Premium on the
The one
that just HANDS
wont die ON
ZTE
BLADE
tba V8 MINI
stuff.tv/
XPower2
Tom Morgan fancies
this phone for its
cheap taste of Nougat
tba / stuff.tv/ZTEV8Mini
Normally you have to shell out
for a flagship phone to get the
latest version of Android, but
ZTEs new sub-200 member
of the Blade family has its own
skinned version of Nougat.
Its still as different and divisive
as it was on Marshmallow, so
Google purists arent going to
be happy, but lots of Nougats
features make it across,
including the battery-saving
Doze Mode 2.0.
The ZTE has a 13MP/2MP
dual camera system. It wont
add a significant amount of
detail or give you wide-angle
panoramas, but it does do a
convincing bokeh. With a 5in
screen, Mini doesnt seem to
mean what it used to, but it is
only 720p maybe thats just
as well with a 2800mAh battery.
Combined with a Snapdragon
435 processor and 2GB RAM, it
should get you through the day.
Android 7.0 Snapdragon
435 2GB RAM 5in
1280x720 16GB, expandable
via microSD 13MP and 2MP
rear, 5MP front
opposite page only comes
with a 3230mAh cell.
The downside? A 720p
screen, a 13MP camera thats
not likely to be great and a
1.5GHz processor that wont
set any records but the end
result is enough juice for 18
hours of web browsing, 15
hours of video or 14 hours
of sat-navving.
Android 7.0
Cortex-A53 1.5GB
RAM 5.5in 1280x720
16GB, expandable via
microSD 13MP rear,
5MP front
BEST PHONES OF 2017
REVIEW
SAMSUNG
GALAXY
A5
This cut-price Galaxy
keeps most of the best
bits, says Tom Morgan
369 / stuff.tv/GalaxyA5
Theres no doubt the S8 will
steal all the headlines, but
if you like high-end features
without high-end prices, the
A5 is an intriguing proposition.
The 5.2in A5 is not far off an
S7 in disguise: a Full HD screen,
1.9GHz octa-core processor,
16MP cameras front and back,
and 32GB of memory thats
expandable up to 256GB with
a microSD card. Did we mention
its also waterproof?
While wireless charging
skills have been ditched it does
come with a USB-C port. But
its the build quality thats most
surprising many people will
think this is a phone that costs
twice as much as it does.
Android 6.0 Cortex-A53
3GB RAM 5.2in
1920x1080 32GB,
expandable via microSD
16MP rear, 16MP front
STUFF SAYS
Specs might not quite
match the OnePlus 3T,
but the design is on point
43
 BEST PHONES OF 2017
SELFIE
ESTEEM
The front camera is a
top-spec 8MP f1.9 job
with Leica glass. Combine
it with Portrait Mode and
youll look cuter than
youve been since
you were three.

SAY CHEESE TWICE

The P10s two cameras They also let you Low-light pictures are
add up to more than the get creamy blurred also better as a result
sum of their parts: they backgrounds in shots. of the two cameras
let you zoom up to 2x This trick works in both working in tandem,
with almost no loss of the Wide Aperture and and even your everyday
quality. You dont just Portrait modes and outdoor snapshots will
get 1x and 2x either unlike on some other be sharper as a result.
you can zoom to any phones, it never looks The monochrome cam
point in between. fake and gimmicky. takes lovely pictures too.

44
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

Our handset was

the graphite black
model, but its dazzling blue
that I want. As well as having
the diamond-cut finish,
it matches my beloved REVIEW
Coventry Citys colours.
Marc McLaren,
Stuff.tv Editor

H UAWEI P 10
Theres no 4K screen on the P10, nor sides that curve into nothingness
but, says Marc McLaren, great phones dont need a load of gimmicks

he Huawei P10 is an resolution would be nice, but otherwise

T
iPhone in Android
form. It looks like an
iPhone, behaves like
an iPhone, and often
549 rivals an iPhone. Its
stuff.tv/P10 far from a mere clone the P10 has
its own charms and foibles. But the
similarities are there, from the zooming
dual cameras to the way it looks. Even
the so-so battery life is very Apple.
The one
thats like ANDROID IN DISGUISE
an iPhone Theres certainly no denying that the
P10 looks like an iPhone. It has the same
slim body with metal back, the same
subtle curves, and in truth it resembles
an Apple phone far more closely than it
does a Samsung, HTC or LG.
Still, its really well built and, if youre
lucky enough to pick it up in one of the
special colours or finishes, also quite
distinctive. Two of the eight colours
(greenery and dazzling blue) were
designed in conjunction with colour
specialists Pantone, and both stand
out from the sea of black, silver and gold
handsets youll see on your commute.
SUN SCREEN
Most Android flagships these days have
QHD screens, but the P10 has to make
do with a 5.1in 1080p effort. A higher
the P10s display is excellent.
Colours are superb, and while youre
given full control over the tone and
colour temperature, we never needed
to tweak it from the defaults. Viewing
angles are also good and it can go really
bright youll have no problems using it
in sunshine, should we ever get any. Its
sharp too so while the P10 isnt quite
built for Netflix binges in the way that
the 5.5in, QHD-packing P10 Plus will be,
this is a far from disappointing screen.
JUST A NORMAL DAY
Speed is another big bonus here: the
P10 is so fast it almost seems to be
defying time. Theres no lag anywhere,
whether youre waking it up with the
fingerprint sensor or getting in a few
games of Clash Royale. You also get a
whopping 64GB of storage and can add
more via microSD. This phone is more
powerful than you need it to be.
We wish the same could be said of
its battery life, though its very much
an all-day rather than all-day-and-
all-night-and-some-of-the-next-
morning phone. But at least it charges
quickly: youll get up to about 50% in
just half an hour, which will be more
than enough to get you through your
next Clash Royale session.

OS Android 7.0
Processor Theres nothing massively distinctive about it no
Kirin 960 wondrous bezel-less display, no massive 4K screen,
RAM 4GB
Screen 5.1in
and no intriguing curved glass. Instead, this Huawei is
1920x1080 just quietly, efficiently excellent.
Storage 64GB,
expandable via
microSD STUFF SAYS
ONE-CLICK
Cameras
20MP and 12MP Style, speed and a superb camera add up
WONDER rear, 8MP front to an all-round top smartphone
The P10s fingerprint
scanner and home button
has a nifty trick: you can set
it to function as all three
Android shortcuts 45
in one.
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

HANDS
REVIEW REVIEW
ON
XIAOMI MI MIX

Tom Morgan still cant get over this

monster screen. Wheres the bezel?

At first glance, you might should last longer than you

think the Mi Mix was just
one big screen. Not only is
it an absolute whopper, but
the tiny bezel makes it look
even bigger than it is.
Xiaomi has managed to draw
out impressive brightness,
contrast and colours from
this monster. It hasnt found
a way to stretch the pixels
out enough to fill all 6.4in,
though, so sharpness will
drop off noticeably when
you get up close. Still,
the slightly lower screen
resolution means the battery
HTC U NUU
P L AY MOBILE X5
might expect.
Theres a lot to like about
the Mi Mix but a pair of
average-at-best cameras,
limited availability and a high
price mean only the truly
dedicated should bother.
Android 6.0
Snapdragon 821 4GB
RAM 6.4in 2040x1080
128GB, non-expandable
16MP front, 5MP rear
STUFF SAYS
A giant phone thats let
down by minor quibbles

Its big on design, but Sam Kieldsen reckons

Andrew Williams isnt this is a decent option
left feeling impressed for globetrotters

399 / stuff.tv/HTCUPlay 200 / stuff.tv/NuuX5

Take HTCs U Ultra (see p52),
remove the fancy second
screen, knock 250 off the
price and youve basically got
the U Play instead.
With that same pearlescent
finish as the Ultra it doesnt feel
any less expensive, but you will
have to be careful to make sure
it stays that way.
The 5.2in screen is a good
size for just about anyone.
Its not really powerful enough
for the price youre paying,
though, and a 2500mAh
battery just isnt good enough
for a phone with a 1080p
screen. Still, lay it face-down
on a desk and youve got a
lovely paperweight.
Android 6.0 Mediatek
Helio P10 3GB RAM
5.2in 1920x1080 32GB,
expandable via microSD
16MP rear, 16MP front
Nuu Mobiles X5 might look 550
like a nondescript 5.5in Android stuff.tv/
mid-ranger from a company MiMix
youve never heard of, but it
comes with one very special
feature: its the first phone to The one
have Konnect global roaming. with the
bezel-free
Essentially, theres a virtual screen
SIM inside that keeps you
constantly connected to a
local 4G network, no matter
where you are in the world (it
works in over 100 countries).
And not only that itll find the
cheapest one, so you wont
arrive home saddled with a bill
that forces you to subsist on
sardines and sawdust.
You also get 3GB of RAM,
an octa-core processor, 13MP
rear and 5MP front cameras,
a fingerprint sensor, dual SIM
slots and 32GB of expandable
storage nothing to phone
home about, but at least it wont
cost a fortune if you do.

STUFF SAYS Android 7.0 MediaTek

octa-core 3GB RAM
Classy and glassy on the 5.5in 1920x1080 32GB,
outside but its performance expandable via microSD
doesnt match its price 13MP rear, 5MP front

46

BLACKBERRY KEYONE
Every keyboard warriors favourite emailer is back from the brink (again), says Marc McLaren
lackBerry has
B returned from
the dead more
times than the
baddie in a B-movie but is
it back for good this time?
The KeyOne is very clearly a
BlackBerry and has almost
everything a BB addict would
want from a phone in 2017: a
hardware QWERTY, premium
build and decent specs. The
difference is, this phone
is running Android with
a couple of BlackBerrys
enhancements rather than
its bespoke OS, so youll get
the same access to apps as
any Samsung or HTC owner.
The one
with the
keyboard
PHOTO
COPY
The KeyOne has the
same 12MP Sony camera
as the Google Pixel. Thats
good news, because the
Pixel takes very nice
photos and this one
should too.
THE KEY DIFFERENCE
That keyboard, while not
exactly spacious, is big
enough, and the keys have
a nice clickiness to them. The
smart features are a bonus
too, allowing you to swipe
upwards to select spelling
suggestions, set shortcuts
on letter keys, or navigate
within apps by tracing a digit
across the keyboard. The
space bar also doubles as
a fingerprint scanner.
In order to squeeze in a
full QWERTY without making
the phone a foot long, the
4.5in screen has an odd 3:2
aspect ratio and 1620x1080
resolution. This has plus and
499
stuff.tv/
KeyOne
BEST PHONES OF 2017
minus points: websites and
apps look great when youre
typing on them, because
theres no onscreen keyboard
OS
Android 7.0
taking up space; but the
problem is that most of the
Processor
Snapdragon 625
HANDS
internet isnt designed for a RAM 3GB ON
screen that shape. Stick on Screen 4.5in
a YouTube video, for example, 1620x1080
and youll get black bars at Storage 32GB,
top and bottom. expandable via
Inside you get 3GB RAM, microSD
a Snapdragon 625 processor Cameras 12MP
and 32GB of built-in storage. rear, 8MP front
Thats competing in the upper
mid-range but if a proper
keyboard is your dream, the
KeyOne could knock a few
recovering BlackBerry
addicts back off the wagon.
47

BEST PHONES OF 2017
CAMERA TRICKS
The 360 panorama
mode uses both front
and back cameras at
the same time. It cant
completely capture the
entire scene, cutting off
your feet slightly, but its
much quicker than those
that only use one camera.
48
EASY
REACH
The power-up
fingerprint sensor is on the
back but it sits where your
finger naturally rests, so you
dont need to fish around
for it to unlock
the phone.
The 5MP selfie camera You can summon an
has a 100 wide-angle on-screen exposure
lens. This is great for graph when shooting
getting a friend or two stills, and mic volume
into the frame, but levels when recording
it tends to warp the video handy for any
features of anyone bedroom vloggers
whos near the edge looking to up their
of the shot. game and go viral.

I love how LG has
rounded off the corners
of the G6s screen, making
it look as though the pixels
themselves are curved. In fact,
you cant see a single right
angle anywhere.
Tom Morgan,
LG G6
Reviews Editor
The G5s modular make-up is ditched in favour of skinny bezels and a
knockout dual camera Tom Morgan thinks the move has paid off
ast years modular
L
G5 was an interesting
experiment but it
never really gained
steam with the wider
tba world even if we
stuff.tv/LGG6 loved the idea here at Stuff. So while
you might not be able to bolt on a better
camera or hi-fi amp any more, the G6
is a stunning sealed sandwich of metal
and glass.
The one
thats gone TAKE THE EDGE OFF
all classy The 5.7in screen stands out for two
reasons: the novel 18:9 aspect ratio
(thats 2:1, maths fans) and ludicrously
slim bezels around its four sides. The
80% screen-to-bezel ratio means it
utterly dominates the front, but despite
being a little chunkier the phone doesnt
actually take up any more room in your
hand than the 5.3in G5.
Extra space means extra pixels,
so the resolution gets a bump up to
2880x1440. It might not have the
blackest blacks or the most vibrant
colours (you need OLED for that)
but it is certified for Dolby Vision HDR
OS video and the difference is genuinely
Android 7.0 noticeable. The brightest of whites can
Processor appear at the same time as the deepest
Snapdragon 821 of blacks, with all the subtle gradations
RAM 4GB in between.
Screen 5.7in
2880x1440 ITS ONLY SLEEPING
Storage 32GB, The G5s always-on notifications
expandable via return, keeping the time, battery status
microSD and icons for any inbound alerts on
Cameras screen whenever you flick the phone
Dual 13MP rear, into standby, so you dont need to wake
5MP front it up quite so often. Thats good because
POUR BOY
The G6 is IP68
dust- and water-
resistant, and you dont
need to cork the USB-C
port on the bottom or
the headphone jack on
the top before you
get wet.
BEST PHONES OF 2017
HANDS ON
the bigger screen will put more strain
on the 3300mAh battery.
With a Snapdragon 821 CPU on board,
the G6 feels incredibly quick, even with
LGs UX 6.0 sitting on top of Android
Nougat. That gives you access to
Googles Assistant. This AI helper
isnt quite up to Alexas standard yet
but it can dig into your Google account
to find calendar appointments, plot
directions in Maps and beam YouTube
videos to a Chromecast.
PRETTY FLY FOR A WIDE GUY
With twin 13MP sensors, there should
be no difference in clarity when you
switch from the 71 standard lens to the
125 wide-angle one its just about
how much of the scene you want to
fit into your snap. Give it good light and
the G6 can take fantastic photos using
either lens, although only the standard
one has optical image stabilisation,
which makes it a better be when things
get a bit gloomy.
Theres ample detail, colours look
natural and everything is exposed
correctly when using auto-HDR. Youve
got to really zoom in to spot where
noise reduction and smoothing starts
stripping out detail.
While the super-slim bezels and
front-filling display are sure to turn
heads, the G6 doesnt really do anything
daring but thats not a bad thing. With
a swathe of features that people really
want plenty of power, a gorgeous
screen and a great camera plus bonus
additions such as waterproofing and
microSD expansion, this is probably the
most complete phone LG has ever made.
49
 BEST PHONES OF 2017
The
ones for
thrifty
sorts
169
stuff.tv/
MotoG5
HANDS
ON
MOTO G5 & G5 PLUS
Motos new phone seems more premium than its price tag suggests, says Chris Rowlands
or a long time,
F Motorolas G4
has been our
bang-for-
not-much-buck phone
of choice. But with the
well equipped OnePlus 3T
showing you can get top-
end specs for mid-range
prices, its probably time
Moto upped its game.
Enter the G5.
Pick up the G5 and youll
immediately feel the
difference from the G4.
This is still a rectangle with
a screen, but its metal back
gives it the cool-touch
sensation usually associated
50
with premium mobiles,
while its subtle curves and
uncluttered front set it apart
from most budget blowers.
G FORCE
Boot up the G5 and it
immediately feels zippy.
A 1.4GHz octa-core
Snapdragon 430 chip and
2GB of RAM take care of
business with no noticeable
lag. We certainly cant see
this handset struggling
to deal with Androids new
split-screen mode.
Throw in a 5in 1080p
panel, a 2800mAh battery
with 10W fast-charging and
a 13MP camera with an f/2.0
259
stuff.tv/
MotoG5Plus
There are
new Moto Gs and
theyve kept the prices
down thats the only
smartphone news I need
to hear this year.
Richard Purvis,
Production Editor
aperture and phase-detect
autofocus, and the G5 feels
like a phone thats worth a
lot more than 169.
OS Android 7.0
Processor
Dont go thinking weve Snapdragon 430
forgotten the G5 Plus. The (G5), 625 (Plus)
G5s bigger sibling with a RAM
5.2in screen looks similar 2GB (G5),
to the G5, but carries a few 3GB (Plus)
tricks that set it apart. With Screen
a 2GHz Snapdragon 625 chip 5in (G5), 5.2in
and 3GB RAM for a speedier (Plus); both
performance, a 3000mAh 1920x1080
battery and TurboPower Storage from
charging, the Plus gives 16GB, expandable
you a lot more power to play via microSD
with. In fact it feels less like Cameras
an upgraded G5 and more 13MP (G5), 12MP
like a phone for a whole (Plus) rear; both
different kind of user. 5MP front

S O N Y X A1 U LT R A
Sonys XZ Premium not big enough? Guy Cocker suggests looking at a 6in whopper
ow big is too big?
H What difference
does half an
inch make?
When does a phone become
a tablet? These are all
questions youll ask yourself
when you pick up Sonys
whopping XA1 Ultra.
Theres no getting around it:
the XA1 Ultra is huge but its
definitely still a phone. The
size issue is exacerbated
slightly by the vast bezels on
the top and bottom of its 6in
screen, making one-handed
use either impossible or an
accident waiting to happen.
If you do like large screens,
The one
with the
ginormous
screen
DARK
FORCES
The clips weve
watched on the XA1 Ultra
all looked detailed and
contrast-heavy, although
a bit more brightness
wouldnt go
a miss.
though, theres plenty here
for your YouTube browsing
and Netflix gorging.
BIG DEAL?
Its a shame the resolution
only reaches 1080p Full HD.
Stretched across all six
inches of the screen, that
works out at a pixel density
of 367ppi its not going to kind of mid-range specs
look super-sharp when you
press your nose to it.
The MediaTek octa-core
CPU, while not the latest and
greatest Snapdragon, is still
not to be sniffed at, and 4GB
of RAM keeps it up to pace
with LGs G6 but a slightly
measly 2700mAh battery
tba
stuff.tv/
XA1Ultra
BEST PHONES OF 2017
could struggle to power that
screen all day.
Theres more to picture
quality than megapixels,
OS Android 7.0
Processor
but the snapper on the back
of the XA1 Ultra is a 23MP
MediaTek
Helio P20
HANDS
monster. Given Sonys RAM 4GB ON
camera pedigree thats very Screen 6in
promising, particularly when 1920x1080
most phones with these Storage
32/64GB,
make do with similarly expandable
mid-range cameras. via microSD
As long as it does end up Cameras
being priced to reflect all of 23MP rear,
this, and youre happy to 16MP front
sacrifice battery life for a
larger screen, the XA1 Ultra
could be a pounds-per-inch
bargain to consider.
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

JACK OF
NO TRADES
HTC has ditched the
headphone jack and the
bundled USB-C buds arent
great, so youre probably
better off investing in
some decent Bluetooth
earphones.

NURSE, THE SCREENS!

The U Ultras Its 1040x160 When your U Ultra is
secondary screen isnt resolution ensures you unlocked, the second
always on it wakes can always read whats screen will show you
up when you get a on screen, and HTC has upcoming calendar
notification or flip your designed it to work with events, reminders
phone up. That means WhatsApp, Facebook youve set yourself
you can read short Messenger, Gmail and, and a 12-hour weather
messages without well, pretty much any forecast in your area,
unlocking the phone. app youd want. among other things.

52
 BEST PHONES OF 2017

Im a
sucker for shiny
things, so naturally Ive
fallen hard for the U Ultras
ionised glass backside. The
way it shimmers differently
according to the light youre
REVIEW
standing in makes my
heart go all aflutter.
Rob Leedham,
Editor

H T C U U LT R A
HTCs dual-screen smartphone is seriously pretty, as long as youre careful
not to drop it... Rob Leedham says the glass finish is worth the shatter gamble

TC used to be famous treated to visuals with plenty of punch

H
for its metal phones.
Then everyone else
decided to make them
649 too. Wanting to be
a unique snowflake,
stuff.tv/ HTC went and made one thats almost
HTCUUltra entirely glass instead and it looks
awesome. How long, do you think, until
everyone goes glass too?
The one
with two BIT OF A PANE
screens With glass that curves out to its four
corners, the slender U Ultra is a uniquely
handsome phone but it wont be for
everyone. Its ridiculously prone to
smudges and newsflash! glass
shatters. HTC says itll survive a fall of
about a metre but do you really want
to be the one to test that out?
Its the first phone you can buy in the
UK with two screens: one gigantic 5.7in
affair, the other a thin 2.05in strip for
instant notification gratification.
DOUBLE DUTY
The main screen is quite something,
even if it lacks the wow factor of
Xiaomis bezel-less Mi Mix. Since
its LCD rather than AMOLED the
contrast could be better, but a generous
2560x1440 resolution means youre
and vibrancy. While the second screen
is by no means essential, youll find
yourself using it more than expected
(see panel opposite). Its a bit like having
a smartwatch, only it wont cost you an
extra 300.
Under the hood its pretty much
the same as the Pixel (minus Googles
Assistant, although you do get HTCs
Sense Companion). Theres a nippy
Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB
of RAM. We pummeled its 3000mAh
battery with some hefty downloads,
video streaming and games, and it still
managed to muster a full day.
SNAP JUDGEMENT
Where it does lose out to the Pixel is
on camera performance. The U Ultras
pictures are good but not great and
considering were pretty sure its using
the same 12MP camera as the Pixel,
that can only be down to the software.
Selfies are better: the 16MP front sensor
delivers spot-on skin tones.
With no headphone socket youre
forced to use either USB-C or Bluetooth
buds. HTC has bundled a pair of the
former but its USonic ear-analysing
tech managed to suck all the life out
of everything we listened to.

OS Android 7.0 The HTC U Ultra is a gorgeous smartphone to behold. If all

Processor you want from a phone is for it to look good in your hands,
Snapdragon 821 then you cannot do better than this device. Beyond the
RAM 4GB
Screen 5.7in physical, theres not a huge amount that makes the U Ultra
2560x1440 distinct so its a good job were so damned superficial.
Storage 64GB,
expandable via
microSD STUFF SAYS
MAGIC Cameras
12MP rear, HTCs glass smartphone is a stunner to look
TOUCH
The fingerprint scanner 16MP front at and almost as lovely to live with
is front-facing, sitting just
under the phones screen,
and works a treat. Its fast
and accurate, and thats
all you need 53
from it.
 BEST PHONES OF 2017
The
one thats
rock hard
550
stuff.tv/
TrekkerX3
REVIEW
C R O S S C A L L T R E K K E R-X 3
Need a phone to survive the ski slopes? The X3 is a proper toughie, says Chris Rowlands
or many
F people, the
most extreme
environment
they need their phone to
survive is a night down the
Dog & Wombat. But what
if your commute takes in
rocky pathways, punishing
blizzards or the occasional
violent sandstorm?
If your life is extreme, you
need a Trekker-X3. Itll take
a dunk in 1m of liquid be it
chlorinated, salty or oily as
well as fending off dust, dirt
and drops. Oh, and itll keep
working all the way down
to -10C. Theres nothing slim
54
Its rugged
but it feels
premium. Even the
included waterproof
earphones have no right to
sound as good as they do.
Chris Rowlands,
Staff Writer,
Stuff.tv
or light about it, but a svelte given the photo-worthy
number would hardly fill you
with confidence in its tough
credentials, would it?
situations anyone using this
phone might find themselves
in, and the processor isnt
OS
Android 6.0.1
blisteringly quick but thats Processor
A TOUGH CALL not what you buy a phone Snapdragon 617
Despite its chunky build, it like this for. RAM 3GB
doesnt feel cheap, and while If youre going backpacking Screen 5in
many a rugged mobile has in Thailand an X3 is overkill, 1920x1080
faltered when it comes to but if youre often outdoors Storage
usability, the screen is highly and want a smartphone that 32GB,
responsive, even if youre wont wimp out at the sight expandable via
wearing gloves. of water, its a consummate microSD
Extreme weather is often off-the-grid performer. Cameras
the enemy of long battery 16MP rear,
life, but with 3500mAh STUFF SAYS 8MP front
inside, the Trekker can do
two days off a single charge.
The Trekker-X3 is an
Its 16MP camera is pretty outdoor specialist and
rubbish, which is a shame seriously good at its job

REVIEW
APPLE iPHONE 7
Whats left to say about the iPhone?
About 120 words, as it goes...
Yes, we know the iPhone 7
came out in 2016, but it didnt
disappear off the face of the
earth after the Christmas
lights came down, did it?
For many (and we dont just
mean Apple fanboys) its still
No1, even without a 3.5mm
headphone socket.
Newly water-resistant,
despite looking hardly any
different to the iPhone 6,
and with a new home button
thats not actually a button
at all, its a case of evolution
rather than revolution but
thats been the Apple way
The
ones we
still love
579
apple.com
for a while now. Sure, on
pure specs alone its eclipsed
by more powerful phones,
but the finely tuned A10
processor, improved screen
a fine camera make for an
irresistible package.
STUFF SAYS
Who needs a headphone
port when everything
else is this good?
Whats next for the iPhone?
All glass New colours
Curved AMOLED screen
No home button at all
REVIEW
GOOGLE
PIXEL
Googles own-brand
blower is just lacking
the X-factor
599 / madebygoogle.com
Googles first made by phone
failed to make a real dent in
the competition when it was
released last year but the
Nexuss successor still has
a lot going for it.
For starters the cameras an
absolute belter, with speedy
autofocus and excellent low-
light performance thanks to
electronic image stabilisation
tech shared by no other phone.
A 5in 1080p screen doesnt
sound like much but this ones
sharp and full of detail.
Theres 4GB of RAM and it
does 15-minute charging but
with that rapidly becoming the
norm, and a processor thats
beginning to be outpaced, the
Pixel will start to show its age
soon enough. Expect a refresh
around October.
STUFF SAYS
Some standout features
but the Pixels all a little
predictable
Whats next for the Pixel?
Snapdragon 835
Waterproof Android 8
No headphone port
BEST PHONES OF 2017
REVIEW
ONEPLUS
3T
Can the bargain of
the century still hold
onto its title?
399 / oneplus.net
OnePluss 3T update didnt add
all that much to the 3 but it
was already the best, so why
try harder?
What do you get for your extra
70? A Snapdragon 821 CPU
that should make it about 10%
faster than its predecessor,
nippier RAM, more storage,
a bigger battery and a 16MP
front camera. Not the kind of
specs worth upgrading for but
enough to keep it ahead of the
pack, despite the price bump.
The 5.5in AMOLED has been
tweaked and it now shoots
4K video too. Its ultra-clean
version of Android is still a
joy to use and it hasnt lost
anything in the build quality
stakes. This still feels like a
phone that should cost a hell
of a lot more than it does.
STUFF SAYS
Not quite the bargain it
was, but still incredible
value for money in 2017
Whats next for the OnePlus?
Snapdragon 835
6GB RAM 5.3in AMOLED
Ceramic body Dual lenses
55
 TEST APPS
App:roved
FOR
TRICKSY
TEXTERS
Text Mess
A former Pixar animator wanted
more beautiful text messages,
and Text Mess is the result.
Living inside Messages, the
app lets you select a shape,
palette, font and arrangement,
before it mashes your word or
phrase into a lively word balloon.
If you think words are so 2010,
you can use emoji instead. Hate
Messages? Then export your
creations to Photos and hurl
them at Facebook, Twitter or
(if you print them out) random
passers-by in the street.
Stuff says
1.99 / iOS
56
FOR
PODCAST
PRIMPERS
Overcast
Plenty of podcast players faff
about with managing downloads
and Overcast does this too,
with smart playlists and filtering.
Mostly, though, this apps
concerned with improving
what you hear. You get options
to remove gaps and speed things
up without distortion, and a
voice boost for talky shows.
This latest update adds queues,
a widget, notifications and 3D
Touch support, and its still free.
Cant stomach little banner ads?
Stump up 8.99 for premium.
Stuff says Stuff says
from free / iOS
FOR
GALACTIC
GAMERS
Voyageur
Classic space trader Elite by way
of an interactive novel, Voyageur
finds you aboard a craft powered
by alien technology, hurtling
towards the centre of the galaxy.
Your journey is punctuated by
stops on colonised worlds to
trade, recruit and undertake
smuggling shenanigans. Its all screens and colour separations,
procedurally generated, and text
and options do quickly repeat;
but theres loads to discover and
an oddly meditative feel to the
game well, up until the moment
pirates take your face off.
Stuff says
3.99 / Android, iOS 1.99 / iOS
FOR
WOOZY
WARPERS
Oblique
A new way to mangle your
photos, Oblique is a camera
app that eschews faux art for
something more obviously digital.
The results are akin to TV show
effects that try to depict what
its like to be off your face. You
get grids, wibbly patterns, split
many of which can be pleasingly
messed around with by dragging
a finger. Separately, you can
adjust brightness, contrast and
colour settings. The main snag?
No photo import but its coming.
 TEST APPS

Mini meme

DIGITAL
Adobe Illustrator
Draw FINGER Procreate
Its packed full of features for

This version of Illustrator has
barely any resemblance to its
desktop cousin. Rather than
pens, Bzier curves and lots of
complexity, Draw just gives you
some brushes and a canvas, and
sets you off crafting sketches
from vectors. The style is sleek
and clean; grids and stencils
further aid with precision.
Stuff says
free / Android, iOS
PAINTING
digital painting, but whats most
striking about Procreate is its
elegance. You get customisable
brushes, layers and effects, but
thats just background when
youre working, almost tricking
Dont mess up your carpet dabbling with yourself into thinking youre
the real stainy stuff be an artist on your using real tools. Just be mindful
that the iPhone version is
phone or tablet instead (just remember somewhat stripped back.
to wash the paint off your fingers first)
Stuff says
5.99 / iPad 2.99 / iPhone

Pixly Graphic Adobe Photoshop Linea

Want to art it up like the 1980s
never went away? This apps all
about pixel art, offering loads
of tools for crafting tiny retro-
infused images and animations.
For stills, there are shapes, layers,
tiling and grids; for animations,
theres onion-skinning and a
timeline. Its free, but do donate
if you like it (and you will). On iOS?
Try Pixure instead.
Unlike Adobes own Draw app,
Graphic more or less is Adobe
Illustrator for mobile. For
precision illustration its great,
but Graphics also interesting
for freehand drawing. Not
only is this app responsive,
but Graphics take on vector
art provides the advantage that
you can later edit every stroke
and shape individually.
Sketch
A focused satellite app rather
than full-fat Photoshop, Sketch
is about quickly getting ideas
down using natural tools. From
pressure-sensitivity through to
shape stencils, its a fab freebie
for finger-painting dabblers. Its
the watercolours that impress
most, colours slowly bleeding
into the virtual canvas.
One for speedy scribblers,
Linea doubles down on simplicity
at the expense of realism.
Sketches have a distinctly
digital sheen, but the app setup
is superb, with palettes at the
edge of the screen cleverly
getting out of your way when
you venture near them. Linea
might feel pared back at times,
but its a joy to sketch with.

Stuff says Stuff says Stuff says Stuff says

free / Android 8.99 / iPad 2.99 / iPhone free / Android, iOS 9.99 / iPad

57
 FIRST TEST NINTENDO SWITCH

SPLITS THE
DIFFERENCE
Plug in and play or divide and wander: Nintendos
new console is a game changer, but can it
compete with Xbox and PlayStation?

280 / stuff.tv/NintendoSwitch

58

1 Easy does it
A push of the power button
and the Switch will instantly
boot up. It runs much quicker
than the Wii U, so you dont
have to wait to load up Zelda.
FIRST TEST NINTENDO SWITCH
hats the difference
W between a PS4 and
an Xbox One? One
plays Uncharted,
the other Halo. One your mates
might own, the other they
probably dont. One is a big
black box that sits under your
TV, the other is also available in
white. Nintendos Switch is not
like those consoles, and that is
what makes it so special.
The idea behind the Switch is
simple: a gaming machine that
plays as well at home as it does
on the go. One console to rule
them all, if you like. Its what the
Wii U was aiming for and fell so
spectacularly short of. But this
time, Nintendo has got it spot-on.
The hardware is immensely fun to
handle and the games so far are
stellar but a few niggling doubts
about the Switch remain. Well, of
course they do. This is a Nintendo
console after all.
So what about that slim launch
line-up of games? Really, we dont
think its something you should
fret about. One of those games
is the enormous The Legend
of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,
and the rest are pretty good
too (see below).
For those of us who bought
a Wii U at launch, third-party
BEST GAMES OUT NOW
Fast RMX
This F-Zero-inspired sci-fi
racer has sped ahead of Mario
Kart Deluxe 8 for release, and
will satisfy the need for speed
right now for Switch buyers.
2 Stand-out feature
A flip-out kickstand enables
you to prop your Switch up
on a table so your friends
can gather around for some
multiplayer action. 1-2-Switch
From a cowboy shootout to
milking a cow, there are plenty
of crazy mini-games here
that will have you laughing
with your friends.
support in 2018 and beyond is a
far greater concern. Will things be
different this time around? Were
cautiously optimistic. A slew of
developers and publishers are
said by Nintendo to be working
on the console, with the people
behind everything from Call of
Duty to Dark Souls to Rocket
League all included. Even
more significantly, Nintendo
is expected to be pooling the
majority of its Wii U and 3DS
development teams into one
to ensure a steady stream of
Switch exclusives.
Until the annual E3 games
show in June, when Nintendo
and third-party developers will
be unveiling more about their big
titles for the rest of the year, we
wont know if that is actually the
case. You can either take a leap
of faith now, or hold on to your
money and find out later.
Segas Dreamcast proved that
making a great console doesnt
guarantee that people will make
lots of great games for it, but the
fact remains that the Switchs
hardware really is brilliant. More
than just a machine that nails
Nintendos play anywhere
concept, its exceptionally well
made and the kind of console
you want to spend time with.
The Legend of Zelda:
Breath of the Wild
Already heralded as one of the
best games Nintendo has ever
created read our full review
on p102.
Shovel Knight:
Treasure Trove
The NES-styled 2D platformer
is available on Switch, and
includes the new expansion
Specter of Torment.
59
 FIRST TEST NINTENDO SWITCH

BEST GAMES COMING SOON Portable design

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Wii U owners might be familiar
with this port, but theres
endless fun to be had with the
crazy karting racer, especially
since it includes all the DLC.
Skyrim
This open-world fantasy is so
old that its outlived the Wii U,
but how can you ever grow
tired of looting dungeons and
slaying dragons?
A large part of the Switchs (or 398g with the controllers)
pick-up-and-play appeal is the Switch doesnt weigh
down to its classy build. Rather down your hands, while its
than sticking with the Wii Us battery life of between three
cheap all-plastic form, this and six hours can handle a
console is made from glass, long-ish journey.
matt plastic and metal.
Design-wise its laid out
in the same manner as the
PS Vita, with its controllers
slapped on either side of a
6.2in touchscreen. Despite
not being capable of Full HD
resolution, this 720p display
is an absolute delight. At 297g

Splatoon 2
Online shooter skirmishes,
but swapping life-threatening
bullets for brightly coloured
paintballs. Can you get any
more Nintendo?
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario games are always
fantastic, but the plumber is
looking to jump to new heights
in this 3D platformer. Get it on
your Christmas list now.
The Dock
Even though the Dock is the
least sexy part of the Switch,
its where most of its magic
comes from. Pop the Switch
tablet into it while turned on
and your TV screen will pop
into life in a matter of seconds.
The same happens when
you try things the other way
around. The whole process
couldnt be easier or more
fuss-free. Its just a delightful
piece of techy wizardry.
Beyond changing how titles
are rendered, from 720p in
handheld mode to Full HD
while connected to your TV,
theres not much else the Dock
does. Pop the console in and it
takes up an astoundingly small
amount of real estate.

Controllers
The Joy-Cons are the controllers
that usually sit on either side of
the Switchs screen in handheld
mode. Their buttons are smaller
than what you get on a standard
controller, and they have less
travel. Each has several motion
sensors built in, so they can be
used as mini-Wiimotes.
For playing in console mode,
the Joy-Cons can slot into the
included Grip for a traditional
controller setup. But because
the buttons are squashed
together and the Grips handles
are relatively shallow, we much
prefer to use the Pro Controller
(60). Essentially a remake of the
Xbox One Ss pad, this gives you
bigger buttons with more travel.
Its also rechargeable, with a
claimed battery life of 40 hours.
But since the Pro Controller isnt
included with the console, the
added expense is a pain.

60

1 Nothing to show
Your TV will automatically flick
to the correct source when
you connect the Switch. If
youre not a fan of this feature,
it can be turned off in settings.
2 Rumble of Joy
Youll discover one of the
Joy-Cons best tricks when
the HD Rumble kicks in. It
allows you to differentiate
between subtle vibrations.
User interface and online
The Switchs operating system
gives you a series of large tiles
to choose a game from. Its a
neat, uncluttered setup thats
quick to work around.
The consoles online service,
on the other hand, is a bit of
a shambles. Streaming apps
such as Netflix and Amazon
Prime are currently absent,
while voice chat is expected
to be introduced via a mobile
app in the future.
And while online multiplayer
is currently free, Nintendo is
planning on introducing a paid
subscription later this year.
Whether Nintendos updated
online service will be any good
remains to be seen, but for
now it feels like a mess.
FIRST TEST NINTENDO SWITCH
By going all-in with
a 2-in-1 machine,
Nintendo has captured
peoples imaginations
Tech specs in a way it hasnt done
since the Wii. To hold onto that
Display attention, itll need to ensure
6.2in 1280x720
multi-touch
the Switch doesnt burn out in
screen, 1920x1080 its first 12 months of existence.
max resolution So should you buy one? For
Hard drive Nintendo fans, its a no-brainer.
32GB, expandable For everyone else, wed give it
via microSD
Processor a few months. But the Switch is
Nvidia Tegra brimming with promise and well
Battery life 6hrs max worth celebrating. @robleedham
Connectivity
USB-C, HDMI, Wi-Fi
Dimensions (with STUFF SAYS
Joy-Cons attached)
239x102x28.4mm, Nintendos flexible
398g console is the real deal,
but time will tell if it gets
the games it deserves
61
 UPVOTED
COMMUTING
The versatile bargain
Vitus Razor VR
A perfect first road bike, the Razor VR
combines a lightweight alloy frame with a
carbon fork to hit the sweet spot between
price and pothole-absorption. For
commuting, theres a relatively upright
riding position and enough wheel
clearance for adding mudguards.
495 / chainreactioncycles.com
OFF-ROADING
The wallet-friendly workhorse
Boardman CX Team
Boardmans are renowned for offering
cracking value, and this all-rounder for
roads and trails is no different. It has
hydraulic brakes, which self-adjust for pad
wear, plus a single-ring, 11-speed drivetrain
that gives you the same gear range as a
two-ring setup but with less weight.
1000 / boardmanbikes.com
LONG RIDES
The modern classic
Genesis Equilibrium Disc 30
This Kermit-green Equilibrium will help you
stand out from the Sunday pack, while
giving you mudguard mounts and rack
eyelets to see you through the day in
comfort. With Shimano Ultegra gears and
hydraulic disc brakes too, this could be the
reliable bike for life youve been looking for.
2000 / genesisbikes.co.uk
1 Buy for your terrain
A road bike with drop handlebars is great for
HOW TO speedy Sunday rides, but light cross-country
bikes can be just as fast while giving you
DECIDE suspension for off-road jaunts.
62
The bike in shining armour
Brompton Nickel Edition
Bromptons limited-edition stunner will
turn heads faster than your pedals. The
nickel-plated finish acts like a force field
against corrosion and it folds down in a
matter of seconds, which means more
time to lecture everyone in your train
carriage about British engineering.
1470 / brompton.com
Say, thats a nice bike
Mark Wilson picks the
steeds thatll impress both
the T-1000 and your
cycling friends
The British beast
Whyte Wessex
As if tired of hearing British people banging
on about changeable weather, Whyte has
made a stunning road bike that can handle
all conditions. The Wessex packs hydraulic
disc brakes, a carbon fibre frame and
mudguards that blend in so well that it
still looks like a sunny-day speedster.
2250 / whyte.bike
The fuss-free adventurer
Charge Plug 1
Need a two-wheeled friend thats as
happy on gnarly towpaths as it is on the
commute? The Charge 1 has big tyres to
soften pothole judder, and an aluminium
frame thatll happily take mudguards.
Its single-speed too, which means less
maintenance and more free-spirited riding.
530 / chargebikes.com
The all-terrain chameleon
Mason Bokeh Force 1x 650b
We havent just chosen this adventure bike
for its photographic name the Bokeh Force
might just be our dream all-rounder. Its 650b
wheels let you run much higher-volume
tyres for off-roading comfort, but pop in
some thinner tyres and itll easily go as fast
as your mates tarmac-eating road bike.
3100 / masoncycles.cc
The steel panther
Fairlight Strael 105
[ Photography Pete Gardner ]
Steel is real, claim the biking traditionalists,
and its hard to disagree when you see a
handsome British machine like the Strael.
Its so-called proportional geometry, disc
brakes and Reynolds steel frame will see
you knocking out the long road miles in
supreme comfort.
1849 / fairlightcycles.com
2 Sweet-talk your wallet
If this is your first bike, dont be tempted to cut
corners a budget bike might kill your cycling
passion, or leave you craving a better bike just
a few months down the line.
 UPVOTED

The super-smooth ride

Specialized Roubaix Expert Di2
Give a
Whether youre barreling down the cobbled
little bit
streets of Arenberg or your commutes
The spring in the
boulevard of potholes, the Roubaixs Future
head tube provides
Shock system will keep you safe from judders.
20mm of suspension
And with this version also packing Shimanos
for absorbing road
fancy electronic gear-shifting, itll feel like youre
chatter.
riding a flying unicorn among packhorses.
4200 / specialized.com

3 Take a test ride 4 Know who you are

Theres no substitute for heading to a bike shop For a tailored fit try using the Size My Bike app
and trying out different rides to find your match. (from 1.99 / iOS, Android). It uses six of your
Youll get to feel the relative merits of frame body measurements to give you the perfect
materials and gearing systems. geometry for your road or mountain bike.

63

Fitness trackers Strap yourself into the right wearable and, just maybe, youll be
able to make your body-blitzing efforts count from now on
BEST
FOR
BARGAIN
BASICS
Misfit Shine 2
Whats the story?
How clever can you make a screenless coin on
a strap? With Misfits Shine 2, one of the best
budget fitness trackers around has been
transformed into a bare-bones wearable
that supports smartphone notifications
via an array of multi-coloured LEDs. Plus,
its waterproof for tracking your swims and
has a battery that lasts six months.
Born to run?
The Shine 2s alerts are basic its LEDs
will light up green for phone calls and blue
for texts. More importantly, this trackers
app lets you record your efforts across six
different sports. Without GPS or a heart-rate
sensor it can only do so much the estimated
distance for one run we went on was out by
half a mile. But for swimming and sleep, the
Shine 2 is truly impressive.
Price 80 / stuff.tv/Shine2
Stuff says
Does an incredible amount for a wearable
coin, even if its not perfect for all sports
GROUP TEST FITNESS TRACKERS
3 OF THE BEST
BEST
FOR
SMART
STYLE
Huawei Fit
Whats the story?
The Huawei Fit is a simple fitness tracker one
that does basic notification alerts and general
tracking without an excess of statistics. Its
one of the better-looking trackers out there,
with a bezel-to-display ratio thats close to
that of a traditional watch, a bundled rubber
strap thats comfortable to wear, and a
waterproof build.
Born to run?
Its LCD touch-screen is just too small to be
intuitive, and youll struggle with the clunky
software. Things are a little better when it
comes to actually tracking, but you only get
modes for running, cycling, swimming and
walking; the lack of a generic tracking mode
feels like an especially odd omission. And while
the addition of a heart-rate tracker seems like
good value, its not particularly accurate.
Price 160 / stuff.tv/HuaweiFit
Stuff says Stuff says
A pared-back tracker that looks the part, but
Huaweis disc is the wrong side of reliable
BEST
FOR
SPORTY
STATS
Samsung Gear Fit2
Whats the story?
Wearing the original Gear Fit was like having
Fallouts Pip-Boy strapped to your wrist. This
sensor-packed successor adds GPS location
tracking to a style-savvy wearable thats
already adept at heart-rate tracking and
step-counting. Yet the Fit2 is a much more
comfortable tracker one with a gorgeous
AMOLED touchscreen built in.
Born to run?
All the Fit2s many features are designed
so you can leave your phone at home while
you exercise. On returning home youll get a
shedload of stats, while GPS will map out your
route. This tracker isnt just for jogging and
gym work, though: pair it with your phone and
itll vibrate every time you get a text, email or
Facebook notification. The only drawback of
that is a three-day battery life.
Price 179 / stuff.tv/GearFit2
Welcome upgrades have made this smarter
than the average Gear a fine tracker
65
 T E S T B E AT S X

Shout out to my X
Apples W1 wireless chip means the BeatsX will
always hear when theyre called, but can that
make up for sonic mediocrity? Well, no

130 / stuff.tv/BeatsX
Mix the tech-savvy AirPods with
the fashion-focused Beats and
youd expect to get the perfect
earphones. In reality, this doesnt 3
hold up. Sure, the W1 chip gives
the BeatsX wireless smarts
and they look a lot better than
the AirPods, but these Beats
stumble at the most important
job: sound quality.
On the positive side, theyre a
sturdy, comfortable and durable
pair of phones that you can wear
all day. In fact, theyre designed
to be worn almost as a fashion
item, with the two earbuds
clicking together like a necklace
using magnets.
But its difficult to see how
these earphones can beat away
the competition. If its tech
powers youre after, the AirPods
are for you. Bit of an audiophile?
The JBL Everest will serenade
you for far less money. Perhaps
youre just determined to get
some headphones with Beats 2
emblazoned upon them? Then
the Solo3 cans are easier to
recommend. These just dont
have that killer selling point.

1
1 Two of us
These earphones are wireless,
but unlike the AirPods theyre
strung together by a cord. Sitting
on the cable either side of your
neck are two smooth plastic units
one houses the USB Lightning
socket, the other the power and
pairing buttons.
2 Dont leave me now
Thanks to the W1 chipset
the wireless range is fantastic,
and will cover a three-bedroom
house with only a tiny amount of
breakup. Pairing is simple too: turn
the headphones on near an Apple
device and a pop-up will appear
on your screen asking to connect.
3 Illogical song
The audio in Beats headphones
has come a long way since the
Apple acquisition. Its a shame,
then, that these feel like a sonic
step backwards. Theres a lot
of bass, but its detached from
the rest of the presentation and
lacking in punch.

24 hours with
ur

the BeatsX
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[ Words Guy Cocker ]

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2mins 6mins 10mins 30mins 1hr 3hrs 5hrs 8hrs 10hrs

66
 T E S T B E AT S X

Tech specs
Features In-line remote,
microphone, noise isolation
Connectivity Bluetooth,
USB Lightning
Colour options Blue, white, grey, black
Battery life Up to 10 hours

Pod the difference

4 The BeatsX and AirPods might share the W1 chip,
but they have more differences than similarities

Best buds Case value

With four different-sized
pairs of tips in the box,
youll likely find these buds
comfortable regardless
of the shape of your ears.
The wings will further
ensure that they stay
secure in your lugholes.
The included pocket-sized
carrying case wont charge
your BeatsX youll have
to ensure theyre juiced
up before you leave the
house. But it is is useful
for keeping them free
from dirt.

Buttoned up Just pause

4 Hide in your shells
While they never sound harsh,
theres a serious lack of sparkle
to the treble and clarity to the
mid-range. You do get an isolating
fit that blocks outside noise, but
the design of the BeatsX means
the cable will amplify any bumps
and bangs as you move about.
5 Take the long way home
Battery life is great, going beyond
the promised eight hours they
actually lasted 10 during our
testing. They charge quickly
too five minutes connected
to the power gives you around
two hours of playback, and a full
charge takes about 45 minutes.
-
to
ss
e
Along the left side of the These earphones dont
cable is an easy-to-use automatically pause your
inline remote, which will be music when you take one
a massive boon to those of them out of your ear
frustrated by the AirPods like the AirPods. But since
lack of physical buttons. theres a physical pause
Theres no Siri nonsense button here, thats not a
for changing tracks here. massive issue.
We get that Beats has a kudos that
other companies cant buy, and
that the styling of the AirPods
makes them a no-go for many
a wireless buds buyer. And if you
choose the BeatsX headphones for those

. re
au

reasons, you wont find them unpleasant.

le
rg

es e a
ire
ha

f. t

.N
of sn

tiv er
w
ll c

ns

But if sound quality matters, you can do just

na th
m oe
he
fu

ri. to

er ut
he d
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Si but
ra

as well for far less money. @guycocker

alt , b
i
ug chi

ke us
fo

ng ne
ith al
ta m
es

w ic
y 1

di fi
t
tt W

ff s
ut

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re e
h
. in

he e t

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nt m

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r- ats
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STUFF SAYS
ei st

us sh

no ng

tte Be
ng k
de t
is bou

ra an

pa a

an vi

be e
s

The W1 chip is as great as ever,

Lo
Th

Th
It
A

but the BeatsX are otherwise

decidedly disappointing
17hrs 19hrs 21hrs 22hrs 24hrs

67
 G R O U P T E ST B U D G E T 4 K T Vs
4K for less
For under 600 you can get a TV with the extra pixels needed
to show Ultra HD content in full here are three of the best
LG 49UH668V
499 / currys.co.uk
Were opening with what is
probably the biggest bargain
of the bunch. The specs are
obviously exciting 4K, HDR
and a 49in screen but there
was always going to be a
suspicion that in action the
UH668V would be a letdown.
Well, hooray for nice surprises!
The big picture
Unlike some affordable HDR
TVs, this is a proper 10-bit panel
that can handle millions more
colours for a punchier picture.
Plug in your PS4 Pro, load up
Horizon Zero Dawn, and you
have a picture thats great for
the money.
A non-HDR telly will get
flustered by an image that
[ Words Tom Parsons, Rob Leedham Photography Roger Stilman ]
contains both very bright and
very dark elements, but the LG
does a superb job of combining
the two so that Horizon hero
Aloys hologram scanner
punches brightly through
the blackness of a ruin. Its
also got enough detail to reveal
the freckles on Aloys face, the
vibrancy to do her flame-red
hair justice, and an input lag of
19.1 milliseconds when game
mode is enabled. This is a great
TV for gamers.
Thats not to say that its a
one-trick nag, though. Switch
to something real, whether
STUFF SAYS
You can buy better if you spend a lot more,
but for 499 this is an unbeatable bargain
68
thats from the built-in tuner,
a set-top box or one of the
myriad supported smart
services, and you get a picture
thats natural, clean and subtle.
Behind the screen
The fact that this TV also gets
LGs wand-like Magic Remote
BIT OF A BLUR
and excellent, friendly webOS
(which brings with it almost Theres an issue with
every on-demand streaming TruMotion mode, as it
service you could desire, in introduces a touch of
4K and HDR where available) the blurred-motion
underlines what a superb soap opera effect, but
bargain it is. turning it off leaves
It even sounds half-decent, you with a little judder.
producing a wide and solid
sound. Dialogue emerges
clearly, even before you start
dabbling with clear voice or
virtual surround modes.
And its all wrapped up in a
chassis that looks way more
expensive than the TV actually
is. In short, no-one will know
how little you paid for this
LG youd probably forget
it yourself if you werent feeling
so smug.
Tech specs
Screen 49in 3840x2160 LED
with HDR OS LG webOS 3.0
Connectivity HDMI (x3), optical
out, USB (x2), headphones,
Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth
Dimensions 70x111x28cm,
13.7kg (including stand)
 G R O U P T E ST B U D G E T 4 K T Vs

THE AUDIO BOOSTER

MAGIC WAND
You dont have to rely
on buttons with LGs
Magic Remote. With
motion and voice
controls, navigating
is made considerably
less fiddly.

Q ACOUSTICS M3

299 / qacoustics.co.uk
The best budget soundbar
around is an affordable
model from a manufacturer
with high-end hi-fi pedigree.
What that means is a slick
design and plenty of big,
TES booming audio for your
WI T money. Thats thanks to
NN the dedicated subwoofer
ER and separate stereo drivers
that have been packed
inside the M3, alongside
an added HDMI port thats
been plonked on its backside.

Is it any good?
If you like your sound on
the bassy side, then this
soundbar delivers. The talky
bits of movies and TV are
certainly clear enough,
but blockbuster effects
are slightly muddled. Still,
you cant fault the M3 for
room-filling presence. Its
also a good-looking bit
of kit that can live under
the most expensive of TVs
without shame.

STUFF SAYS
An ultra-affordable way to
give your TV a sonic leg-up

THE BONUS BUY

XBOX ONE S

from 204 / xbox.com

Microsofts premier games
console trumps Sonys
PlayStation 4 Pro with a
built-in 4K Blu-ray player
and Ultra HD streaming
capabilities. Naturally, itll
play the latest Halo, Gears
of War and Forza Horizon
games as well.
STUFF SAYS

69
 G R O U P T E ST B U D G E T 4 K T Vs

Panasonic
TX-40DX700B
569 / johnlewis.com
It can be difficult to find a small
4K TV, not to mention one that
will also handle HDR, which
is why the 40in Panasonic
TX-40DX700B will be so
appealing to people looking for
a telly for a small lounge, spare
room or bedroom.
The big picture
Not all HDR is born equal;
and while the DX700B will
handle HDR signals, it lacks
the contrast and brightness
to make them truly sing.
Not that this is in any way
a bad picture. Whatever you
feed it is displayed with natural,
balanced colours, oodles of
detail and lovely sharp edges.
Its particularly adept when
it comes to bright outdoor
scenes, which look realistic,
organic and three-dimensional,
especially when theyre being
streamed in 4K/HDR. Its just
a shame that when its asked
to reproduce a scene with both
dark and light a flaming torch
in a cave, for instance the light
is sacrificed for the dark.
But the Panasonic digs up
plenty of detail and renders
everything very crisply. And
while the input lag of 50ms in
game mode isnt going to set
any records, its fast enough
for all but the most sensitive
LIGHTEN UP
The skies of gaming
worlds can look a little
of gamers. If you can live over-exposed and
without that extra HDR punch, lacking in definition.
the Panasonic is a fine choice Compared to the LG
for a compact gaming display. the sunlight is less
sparkly too.
Behind the screen
The DX700B has a fairly thin
design, making it easy to find a
home for. And while the angled
feet that act as a stand give
this TV a slightly bandy-legged
appearance, they also help to
keep its footprint down.
The Panasonics built-in
speakers are reasonable,
producing a fairly full-bodied
sound by flatscreen standards,
and one that doesnt leave
voices muffled.
Mozillas Firefox OS is a
pleasant, stripped-back and
intuitive way to interact with
your TV. Its just a shame that
Panasonics own menus are
rather ugly and cluttered. But
thats nit-picking, and the
Panasonic is a very likeable
little TV. Just bear in mind that
you can do better if you spend
more or buy bigger.
Tech specs
Screen 40in 3840x2160 LED
with HDR OS Mozilla Firefox OS
Connectivity HDMI (x3), optical
out, USB (x3), headphones,
Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Dimensions 56x90x20cm,
12.5kg (including stand)

STUFF SAYS
A good option if youre looking for a more
compact 4K telly, but dont buy it for HDR

BEST 4K TV SHOWS

Planet Earth II Stranger Things Sneaky Pete

Life is beautiful. With a second Premise: if Phoebes
Well, some of it at season coming out brother from
least. Rather than this Halloween, its Friends doesnt get
dwelling on Staines time to reintroduce $100,000 in a week
town centre on a yourself to the best from Malcolm in the
Friday night, the new TV show in Middles dad then
second season yonks. The Upside his own brother will
of Planet Earth is Down looks extra have his feet cut off.
dedicated to more terrifying in Ultra Why wouldnt you
wondrous fare. High Definition. want to watch?

70
 G R O U P T E ST B U D G E T 4 K T Vs

DOWN STREAM
The remote control
THE AUDIO BOOSTER
is a pretty standard
affair, but it does
have a Netflix button
so you can get into
streaming with a
single click.

CANTON DM55

329 / cantondm.co.uk
While its not the most
eye-catching of gadgets,
the DM55 soundbase is
practical perfection. Its
compact size is ideal for
anyone with a modest living
room and its a fit for most
TVs: it will accommodate any
set weighing up to 40kg, just
so long as the stand fits on
its sleek glass top. If not, just
pop it on another surface.

Is it any good?
PUCK FOR COVER When you sit back and listen
Lost the remote to the DM55, it easily fills the
again? With the room with its meaty sound.
Chromecast Ultra Impacts and explosions
(see below right), have that satisfying thwack
you can navigate and rumble, while the top
the likes of Netflix end has just enough bite to
with your phone. keep you on edge without
making you wince. Unlike
the Q Acoustics M3, theres
a decent amount of subtlety
to this soundbase, with
plenty of detail to keep you
hooked into any action film.
Even if Nicolas Cage is in it.

STUFF SAYS
A fantastic soundbase for
space-savers on a budget

THE BONUS BUY

CHROMECAST
ULTRA

69 / google.com
All these TVs have a suite of
4K streaming apps, which
makes a big part of the Ultra
redundant. But if you fancy
casting home-shot footage
or the odd Chrome tab from
a phone or tablet to the TV,
this is still a decent buy.
STUFF SAYS

71
 G R O U P T E ST B U D G E T 4 K T Vs

Philips
49PUS6401
499 / argos.co.uk
Thought the LG looked
spectacular for the money?
How about the same headline
figures and features, but with
Ambilight thrown in too?
The big picture
Ambilight is a unique Philips
technology that involves strips
of LEDs built into the TVs rear
edges, projecting colours onto
the wall behind as an extension
of the on-screen action. It
sounds like a gimmick, but
pick the right setting and the
effect isnt just beautiful it
also makes the picture deeper
and more dramatic.
But in practically every other
way, the Philips 49PUS6401 is
outshone by the LG. Thats not
to say that this is a bad TV. On
the contrary, it produces a very
insightful picture. Obviously its
at its best when fed 4K, but it
makes the best of practically
every type of source.
Its got a vibrant and vivid
colour palette too. True, its
not the last word in neutrality
or realism, but if you like your
colours lush and dont mind a
touch of over-saturation, youll
appreciate this telly.
At the same time, this is an
8-bit panel that falls short of
the contrast capabilities of the
LG, which means its colours are
A LOSING GAME PLAY AWAY
less subtle and it struggles to
make the most of HDR signals. Play Horizon Zero You can plug in a
But view this TV in isolation and Dawn on this set universal USB games
youre unlikely to grumble. and the image is that controller to play the
bit flatter and less large library of Android
Behind the screen dynamic, appearing games on this TV
One neat feature of the Philips a little washed-out in without the need
is that its powered by Android comparison to the LG. for any other device.
Marshmallow, which means its
essentially got a Chromecast
built in so you can cast video
from your phone to your screen
like a multimedia ninja.
Android TV obviously carries
plenty of its own apps as
well, including Netflix, Amazon
Instant Video and most of
the usual catch-up suspects,
so youre going to have no
shortage of things to watch.
And while the sound is a bit
thin, its also clear and perfectly
passable if youre not able to
add a soundbar.
All told, this is a decent but
unspectacular option if youre
in the market for a budget 4K
screen. Unspectacular, that is,
except for the Ambilight.
Tech specs
Screen 49in 3840x2160 LED
with HDR OS Android 6.0
Marshmallow Connectivity
HDMI (x4), optical out,
USB (x3), headphones,
Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Dimensions 70x110x21cm,
11.3kg (including stand)

STUFF SAYS
A decent performer thats elevated by that
sweet, sweet Ambilight technology

BEST 4K MOVIES

Fantastic Beasts The Revenant Pacific Rim

and Where to Watch Leonardo This preposterously
Find Them DiCaprio have a silly and vastly
From ill-tempered hellish time in the underrated
hippogriffs to elves great outdoors blockbuster sees
with self-esteem while stuffing giant robots duke
issues, the Potter yourself with tasty it out with even
films werent short snacks in your bigger monsters
of magic effects. warm, comfy home. in order to save
This prequel is no Because, hey, you the world or
different. dont own an Oscar. something.

72
 G R O U P T E ST B U D G E T 4 K T Vs

EASILY LED THE AUDIO BOOSTER

Philips uses intelligent
LED lighting to project
colours behind the
TV, creating the
impression that the
action is bursting off
the screen.

POLK AUDIO
MAGNIFI MINI

350 / polkaudio.com
Soundbars tend to be long
and fat, which means they
dont look great sitting
next to a slinky modern
TV. That makes Polk Audios
diminutive MagniFi Mini quite
an attractive proposition.
Claiming huge sound from
a mini soundbar, it should
deliver the goods in a form
factor thats no bigger than
your lunchtime baguette.

Is it any good?
While theres plenty to
admire about the MagniFi
Mini, its performance cant
beat a full-sized soundbar,
especially when you
consider its price. That
said, you do get a spacious
sound from this thing with
its side-firing drivers, and its
competent enough handling
treble. Plus, theres built-in
Google Chromecast for
streaming audio from your
smartphone or tablet via
Spotify, Tidal and the like.

STUFF SAYS
An innovative design matched
with only so-so sound

THE BONUS BUY

NVIDIA
SHIELD TV

190 / nvidia.co.uk
For PC gaming addicts with
a high-end TV this is pretty
much a necessity. Why? The
Shield TV will stream games
in 4K resolution with HDR
from your PC to your telly, so
you can play while slumped
on the couch.
STUFF SAYS

73
 VERSUS GAMES CONTROLLERS

Trigger
happier
Still using the controller that came bundled with your console? Dont be
such a n00b join the gaming l33t with one of these pro upgrades

Xbox Elite Razer Raiju

Wireless Controller Whats the story?
Now that the arrival of the PS4 Pro has
Whats the story? given PlayStation gamers a taste of
The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller is upgrade fever, it may be time to take
the best gamepad ever made. There, one step further. Of the new pads that
we said it. If youre sick of using standard Sony has licensed, the Razer Raiju is
controllers where the buttons stick, the one you want. Brought to you by
triggers squeak or thumbsticks wear
out, then the Elite is for you.
the purveyor of all things black and
LED-illuminated for PC, the Raiju is
PLAYSTATION
Its built for three things: performance, a serious upgrade over the standard PLATINUM
durability and customisation. It feels great DualShock 4. And its got a seriously WIRELESS
for gaming, itll last years without the high price to match. HEADSET
components wearing out, and it can be Will paying a small fortune for one of
tweaked to the nth degree to give you the these really catapult you to the top of the
edge over the competition. It also comes online leaderboards? Not quite, but its Price 130 /
with a carry case, a 9ft USB cable and packing a feature list thats guaranteed playstation.com
a variety of optional pads, sticks and to make the Raiju the weapon of choice
buttons for particularly pro gamers. for PS4 obsessives. The gaming world
might be losing its
Is it any good? Is it any good? collective mind over
The Elite Controller exudes quality from Unless youre regularly in podium position 4K, but lets not
top to bottom. Every stick, button and when you play online, the Raiju might not forget the audio
trigger is incredibly responsive, and if you be enough of a leap from the standard PS4 side of the equation.
dont like them, you can swap them out. controller to justify spending 150 on one. Dont have the
The package includes convex and concave After all, thats the same amount of cash money and space
sticks, circular and square D-pads and as three full games. for a home cinema
optional paddles that sit down by your And its not the perfect controller either. setup? Get some
fingers its quicker to press these than The D-pad is made up of four separate surround sound
it is to squeeze the triggers, and that could buttons, rather than one single pad, which headphones.
be life or death in Call of Duty. makes it tricky for fighting games. Still, the Sonys official
If you are wedded to the triggers, you Raiju is filled with neat little touches, such Platinum Wireless
can also set the hair trigger lock to a as the replaceable thumbstick covers Headset does
halfway point. You can even download thatll stop your sticks getting worn from an awesome job,
presets for games including Battlefield 1, constant use, and volume controls that particularly with
Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3. wont force you away from your game and games such as
This controller is already cheaper than into a menu. Uncharted 4 that
the PS4s Razer Raiju pad, and if you shop If a DualShock 4 just isnt cutting it any are designed to take
around enough you might even pick one more, this could give you the edge youve advantage of its 3D
up with a free game like GoW4 bundled in. been waiting for but dont expect it to audio mode.
Not too shabby, eh? turn you into a gaming god overnight. Its comfortable
to wear, although
[ Words Tom Morgan ]

Price 120 / xbox.com Price 150 / razerzone.com the glossy finish and
fiddly switches feel
Stuff says Stuff says less than premium.
If youre a serious gamer or just want to Pros will like the tweaks, but this pricey and Stuff says
have the best, treat yourself to the Elite bulky controller wont be for everyone

74
 VERSUS GAMES CONTROLLERS
2

1
1 Fingers in the kill
The Raiju adds a pair of
triggers to the underside
of the controller, right
where your ring fingers
rest naturally.

2 Aint nobody but me

Unlike the Elite Wireless
pad, though, it doesnt
have any interchangeable
thumbsticks or D-pads to
mess about with.

3 Appy custom(is)er
Use the Xbox Accessories
app to customise
TEST NER

thumbstick sensitivity,
WIN

button assignments and

trigger activation points.

4 Paddle do nicely
This pad comes with
three thumbsticks plus
a cross and circular D-pad.
Optional paddles can also
be snapped into the base.

75
 GADGET DOCTOR
Help!
I want
to be
a vlog
star
READER IN NEED Michael Atherton
Aspiring YouTube celebrity
Apparently, if you want to be rich
and famous these days you need
a YouTube channel, so Im giving
up juggling and taking up vlogging.
Problem is, I dont know where to
start. I dont want to just sit in front
of a camera talking to it I fancy
myself as more of an auteur. Have
you any tips for me, Stuff?
THE EXPERT Tom Wiggins Deputy Editor
76
1
Use your
phone
Phone it in
The first thing to keep in mind is that you dont need any
fancy equipment. As long as youre not still using a Nokia
3310, chances are your phone shoots Full HD and
probably slow-mo, timelapse and 4K too. Thats more
than enough tools to be getting on with. Oh, and whatever
you do, make sure you shoot in landscape mode.
Use manual controls
Auto modes fine for photographing your dinner, but youll
need to be comfortable with manually adjusting exposure
and picking your focus points if youre going to shoot
decent video. On Android you may have to download
a third-party app, but on an iPhone its as simple as holding
your finger on your chosen focus point and then dragging
up or down to adjust exposure.
Go steady
To minimise shake, youll need to make sure youre resting
your phone on a totally stable (and level) surface. Otherwise,
youre looking at some sort of mount. Shoulderpods
G1 (25, shoulderpod.com) lets you attach any phone
to a tripod, while its modular X1 rig (120) can either be
mounted or held in two hands for extra steadiness.
 GADGET DOCTOR

WERE
ALWAYS
ON CALL

@stuffTV

2 3 facebook.com/
joinstuff

Get some Invest in a

add-ons camera
google.com/
+stufftv

stuff@
haymarket.com

OR
TRY
THIS

Wait a
second
Dont know
what to film?
Just shoot
a second of
video every
day and the
1 Second
Everyday
app (from
free / iOS,
Android) will
squidge
them all
Get wired for sound Go full 4K together and
The mic on your phone is fine for calls, but if youre trying That Manfrotto light is compatible with the hotshoe on churn out a
to record sound from a bit further away youll need a proper the top of most DSLRs, so if you think youre ready to 365-second
one. Rodes SmartLav+ (50, rode.com) is nothing to do upgrade to a proper camera you can carry on using it. review of
with toilets its a lavalier lapel mic that plugs into your Panasonics G80 (from 629, panasonic.co.uk) is basically your year.
headphone port. Sennheisers ClipMic Digital is a Lightning a miniature DSLR but its 4K video skills set it apart from Sure, you
option for iPhone but its costly (199, sennheiser.com). others at this price, plus it has an input for an external mic. could do that
yourself, but
this takes
Dont forget the lights Take it up a notch the effort
Lighting does wonders for phone cameras. Illuminate your Want to take things one step further? Panasonics GH5 away, water-
subject properly and the sensor will really show what it (1699, panasonic.co.uk) looks like a stills camera but marking
can do. That could be using a selfie-inspired case with its one true love is actually shooting video. The GH5 can each clip
built-in lights such as the LuMee Duo, (70, lumee.com), capture Ultra HD footage at 60 frames per second, with with the date
or something like Manfrottos Lumimuse 8 (100, 10-bit colour depth and, after a firmware update arrives and allowing
manfrotto.co.uk), which comes with a set of filters later in the year, High Dynamic Range. Theres also Wi-Fi, you to fire
and can be mounted on the Shoulderpod X1. NFC and Bluetooth on board. it onto
Instagram
with little
Change your view Get a GoPro more than
You cant unscrew the lens on your phone but you can Most people think GoPros are only for people who jump off a tap.
stick a different one over the top. ExoLens uses Zeiss really tall things for fun, but think about how one could offer
glass for its Pro range, so you can slip a wide-angle (160), a different perspective on what you shoot. The Session 5
2x telephoto (200) or macro lens (160) over your (250, gopro.com) is so small it opens up all kinds of unusual
iPhones camera opening using the mounting bracket. shooting opportunities, plus its voice-controlled and
Its compatible with iPhones of 4.7in or larger. waterproof and shoots 4K.

77
 Stuff Picks

COFFEE
MACHINES
Still drinking instant? Even though it tastes
like something youve scooped from a
puddle? Allow Stuff to fix that for you
[ Photography Mitch Payne ]

Nescafe Dolce
Gusto Eclipse
Tom Parsons, Deputy Editor, Stuff.tv

Fancy having your morning
cup served up by a giant
plastic doughnut? Look
no further than the Dolce
Gusto Eclipse: a monolith
built from creativity, sophistication and
some parts that are significantly easier
to shift around than others.
While the quality of its coffee pods
will please your tastebuds to varying
degrees, I do have a soft spot for the
chococino option. Plus and I think
this bears repeating you get to serve
up these drinks from inside a massive
doughnut. Perhaps its best to think
of the Eclipse as less of a coffee maker
and more of a conversation starter: Ill
give you 20 questions to guess what
the hell this thing is.
130 / dolce-gusto.co.uk

EXTRA SHOTS ACCESSORIES FOR CAFFIENDS

Bodum Bistro Electric Dualit Electric Contigo West Loop
Coffee Grinder Milk Frother Travel Mug
Insist on beans but This standalone Theres nothing sexier
sick of the daily grind? steamer will create than a flask. This one
This mains-powered the perfect froth for auto-seals between
beast will happily do comedy cappuccino sips and keeps coffee
the hard work for you. moustaches. hot for up to 5hrs.
110 / bodum.com 60 / dualit.com 35 / mycontigo.com

78
STUFF PICKS

MIGHTY MORPHIN
POWDER RANGES
The Dolce Gusto system
uses twin pods one of
coffee, one of powdered
milk to create its
various milky options.

79
 STUFF PICKS

FOR INFUSIASTS
The Duo-Temp Pro
uses low-pressure
pre-infusion to ensure
that not a micro-slurp
of flavour is left behind
in the filter.

SUPER TAMP
The combination of an
integrated tamper and
Sages Razor trimming
tool means youll always
get your caffeine dose
just right.

Sage Duo-Temp Pro

Rob Leedham, Editor

Theres an easy way to plenty of washing up to whip yourself

do coffee and theres a
hard way. Being a proud
masochist, Ill happily dive
into the messy business
of bean-crushing and milk-frothing if
I can taste the difference. Thankfully,
the Sage Duo-Temp Pro delivers in a
big way. It takes a bit of practice and
up a decent brew, but with a steamer
and espresso filter built in youve got
the right tools at your disposal. It isnt
even very fiddly to set up just fill
up its water tank, wash and slot in
its filter gear and youre pretty much
good to go.
300 / sageappliances.co.uk

80

Nespresso Creatista Plus
Richard Purvis, Production Editor
George Clooney gets
mistaken for me a lot.
Imagine the confusion
if I also started promoting
Nespresso! But if they
carry on putting out machines like this
screen-controlled marvel, its going to
be tough to keep turning them down.
Nespressos capsule system has
MY KIND OF LATTE
Use the menu to select
coffee type then tweak
size, temperature and
milk froth texture. And
dont forget to recycle
those capsules, kids.
STUFF PICKS
already proved itself a must for people
who like proper coffee but dont like
having to deal with grainy brown
splatch that gets all over the bastard
kitchen. The Creatista Plus has an
integral milk steamer with adjustable
frothiness, and the coffee it produces
is smooth, creamy perfection.
449 / nespresso.com
ITS RAINING AGAIN
Once youve wiped
down the milky tip of the
slightly phallic steamer
wand, it cleans out its
own innards with an
extra blast of steam.
81
 STUFF PICKS

Smeg ECF01
Chris Rowlands, Staff Writer, Stuff.tv

Proper coffee doesnt long to clean as it does to drink your

come out of a pod. Proper
coffee takes a sink clogged
with brown gunk, foamy
milk all over the place, and
patience. Lots of patience. So it is with
Smegs retro machine: with a shell
straight out of the 50s, its the sort
of counter-top device that takes as
joe but what fine joe it is. Simple to
learn but hard to master, the ECF01 is
perfect for budding baristas. It heats
up both quickly and quietly and if you
cant be bothered to do things properly
it will take those teabag-like pouches
too, using the included adaptor.
280 / smeguk.com

GOOD CUP BAD CUP

Giant commemorative
Princess Diana mug
wont fit under the
Smegs spout? Remove
the front of the base and
use the lower plate.

PIPE DOWN
Twist this shiny number
and youll unleash a jet
of steaming, well, steam.
Its a little short, but its
still mighty good at
frothing milk.

82

MOCHA SPANIEL
The J6 funnels cold milk
from any container and
transforms it into hot
froth or steamed milk,
then delivers it directly
to your cup.
Jura J6
Natalya Paul, Social Media Editor
This bean-to-cup beast
looks like a gleaming white
Stormtrooper and is every
bit as fearsome. I set it up
in the office and it was the
coffee equivalent of swinging into the
car park in a Ferrari after previously
driving a 10-year-old Ka (supermarket
own-brand instant). There are six
STUFF PICKS
CRME DE LA CREMA
In my Stuff office
pop-up coffee stop, one
customer described
his espresso as utter
catnip. The crema was
syrupy and sultry.
default options, but as you turn the top
dial it unlocks new possibilities you
can even perfect your favourite setting
and save it to the home screen. Plus,
you can to operate it with your phone
(with the help of a dongle), and its
self-cleaning too! All of which youd
expect for that Ferrari price.
1695 / jura.com
83
STUFF PR O M OTI O N

L E
E M P
L
S I

S T
Te
Y
c h ,
t
d
h
e sign,
i n g yo
p
uw
e r f
a
o
n
r
t
... T h e P
m a n ce w i t h o u t a w
i n a ca
r,
OT
ho
2 0
k
E U G E l e h o s t o f co
E
n
d i t
8 B l ac f usin g o pti
s
ion ha ns
o

e ve r y

T
heres a real art to simplicity. Think about the
bits of tech you really love: theyre normally
bursting with features and incredibly powerful,
but still an absolute breeze to use.
The PEUGEOT 208 Black Edition balances simplicity
with purpose: its stylish and sporty; packed with
intuitive technology and comes with an energetic and
efficient petrol engine. And even buying and owning a
208 Black Edition is, well, simple.
Theres no need to spend hours browsing spec sheets
to pick options: PEUGEOT has done that for you. The
three-door Black Edition has all the kit youll want. All
you need to do is take your pick from three stylish
colours: Nera Black, Bianca White and Hurricane Grey.
The 208 Black Edition is priced from 14,595 OTR*,
making it simply great value. And buying one is just
as simple from age 18 thanks to PEUGEOTs Just Add
Fuel with Telematics finance scheme.
 Discover your new PEUGEOT 208 BLACK EDITION
peugeo
peugeot.co.uk/208/blackedition/

How Just Add Fuel works

PEUGEOTs Just Add Fuel with Telematics
scheme is available for drivers aged
years and older, with the addition o
Telematics box in their car. As well
covering the cost of the car, one m y
payment covers the following:

Three years insurance**

for up to three drivers

Three years warranty

Three years servicing

Three years car tax**

Three years roadside assistance

All you need to do is add the fuel

e o f the features
k o u t s o m E d i t i o ns
c k
e l l , che 208 Blac
W EOT
P E U G
Comfort and style Smart performance
Enjoy a driving experience like no The PureTech 3-cylinder petrol
other with PEUGEOT i-Cockpit. engine combines efciency with
The compact leather sports steering cutting-edge technology, delivering
wheel sits lower to reduce fatigue an energetic performance and
and offer precise steering. excellent fuel economy.

Connect your way Distinctive personalisation

A 7 multifunction colour touchscreen All three colours come with 16 gloss
provides access to the cars audio black alloy wheels with white laser
equipment, with DAB Digital radio, engraving; equaliser grille with gloss
Bluetooth, Apple CarPlayTM, black nisher; and fog light nishers
MirrorLink and androidauto. with laser engraved colour accent.

Terms and conditions *All On The Road prices include delivery to the Dealership, number plates, 12 months Government Vehicle Excise Duty and 55 Government First Registration Fee. Just Add Fuel: Terms and conditions
apply, participating Dealers or visit peugeot.co.uk. PEUGEOT Motor Company PLC is acting as a credit broker and is not a lender. To nance your purchase we will only introduce you to PSA Finance UK Ltd. A guarantee
may be required. Finance provided by PSA Finance UK Ltd., Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill RH1 1QA. ***The rst year Road Fund Licence (RFL) is provided with the car. Where vehicle tax is payable after the rst year
the Dealer will provide customers with a cheque for the value of years 2 and 3 RFL (based on current rates). The customer must always apply for years 2 & 3 RFL. Just Add Fuel is subject to status. **Minimum age 18,
maximum age 75. Drivers are required to install the Telematics Box and consent to Data capture and transmission to qualify for insurance. All drivers must hold a full UK licence & meet eligibility criteria including
limits on driving convictions & claims. Insurance subject to cancellation if you receive four warnings for poor driving. Excesses apply. 3 years motor insurance is provided and underwritten by U K Insurance Limited,
which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Payments will vary according to age, postcode and annual mileage. The
costs of insurance, servicing and Roadside Assistance are included within the monthly cost of Just Add Fuel Passport but are provided on a monthly pay-as-you-go basis and can be cancelled at any time without penalty or
aecting the remainder of the Just Add Fuel Passport contract. Routine servicing included only. Excludes wear parts. This is a Personal Contract Purchase agreement. Ocial Fuel Consumption in MPG (l/100km) and CO2
emissions (g/km) for the 208 Black Edition are: Urban 51.4 (5.5), Extra Urban 72.4 (3.9), Combined 62.8 (4.5) and CO2 104 (g/km). MPG gures are achieved under ocial EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative
purposes only and may not reect actual on-the-road driving conditions. Information correct at time of going to press. For current pricing and specication detail visit peugeot.co.uk
 G R O U P T E S T C O M PA C T C A M E R A S

Snap, travel & crop

Thought the compact was dead? Slip one of these
holiday-ready gems into your pocket and think again

TES
WI T
NN
ER

Sony RX100 MkV

1000 / sony.co.uk

The latest edition of the 315-point autofocus

RX100 continues Sonys will rapidly lock onto
legacy as the king of its target. Full HD video
premium compacts. It recording has been given
spoils you with a flash, a faster 1000fps rate for
OLED viewfinder and LCD silky-smooth slow-mo,
screen, 2.9x optical zoom, and a 24fps continuous AT FULL TILT GONE HOLLYWOOD BIT OF A LONG SHOT
4K video and 20.1MP shooting mode makes The 180 tilting LCD High frame rate mode The RX100 MkV can
1in sensor. this one of the fastest screen will help you get enables you to record shoot continuously at
Though the MkVs compacts on the market. those awkward angled video at 40 times 24fps for a maximum
updates are small, they shots. Or maybe you the normal speed for of 150 shots, so you
are blisteringly effective. STUFF SAYS want to take a little Matrix-style slow-mo wont miss that perfect
Sonys fast hybrid tech This might be the perfect selfie? Thats also playback. It can also picture. Itll also stay
means this cameras point-and-shoot compact possible with this record clips for twice focused on your target
high-resolution screen. as long as the old MkIV. with AF/AE tracking.

86
 G R O U P T E S T C O M PA C T C A M E R A S

THE BEST
CAMERA
PHONES

Canon PowerShot G7 X MkII Fujifilm X70

Apple 576 / canon.co.uk
iPhone 7 Plus
The dual-lens The PowerShot G7 X MkII
setup of the stakes out the middle
7 Plus not only ground in both price and
gives you a fine build. Its 1in sensor is big
12MP camera, but not huge, and the
but also hands same applies to its 4.2x
you a 2x zoom optical zoom.
that really We do love the chunky
delivers for feel of this camera, which
close-ups. weighs in at a sturdy
319g and includes a
host of manual controls.
Compared to the original
G7 X, this versions burst
500 / fujifilm.eu
mode has been bumped So hipster-friendly it may
up to 8fps and Canons as well come with a trilby,
new Digic 7 processor has the Fuji X70 oozes class,
been bundled in. despite its fixed-lens
Otherwise the new setup forcing you to get
model has the same stuck right into the action
20.1MP sensor and instead of framing your
variable aperture of f/1.8 shots from afar.
to f/2.8, and again lacks The pocketable body
an optical viewfinder. packs in the same 16.3MP
APS-C format, X-Trans
STUFF SAYS CMOS II sensor and EXR STUFF SAYS
A compact thats only a few Processor II as Fujifilms
features short of greatness excellent X100T. That
means colours are bold,
vibrant and well saturated
but display a good level
of accuracy.
A slew of control dials
and wheels for aperture,
shutter speed, exposure
and more will give the
impression you mean
photographic business.
Small but mighty is the
X70s modus operandi

Samsung
Galaxy S7 Edge
The S7 Edge
might be old BE
now but that S
doesnt mean VA T
its camera is LU
past its sell-by
E
date. For sharp,
detailed photos
this is still a
winning pick.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II Panasonic Lumix TZ100

3449 / sony.co.uk 550 / panasonic.com

This might be a ludicrously
Google expensive camera, but
Pixel XL the RX1R II carries some
As a whole, we serious heft for a tiny
dont rate the compact. Thats thanks
Pixel as highly to an all-metal build, a
as the 7 Plus or stack of manual controls
S7 Edge. But as and a crazy-high-res
a camera, there 2.65m-dot viewfinder
are few better to top it off.
alternatives But the combination of
to this Android a 35mm Zeiss lens (with
flagship. fixed focal length) and
a 42MP sensor is what
makes the RX1R II so The TZ100 is an all-round
special. Add to that an camera that will leave
aperture that scales from your smartphone sobbing
f/2.0 down to f/22 so at its own inadequacy.
you can set your depth It squeezes a 1in sensor,
of field anywhere from 10x optical zoom, 4K
blurry bokeh to pin-sharp video and an electronic
focus all over and youve viewfinder into a point-
got yourself a beast of and-shoot body.
a camera. More than anything,
its the viewfinder that
STUFF SAYS raises this Lumix above
Overkill for most but we its rivals. For the money
still want one you couldnt ask for much for those travelling light
more, especially since it
also looks so dapper.
Snaps arent quite up to
the standard of the more
expensive models here,
but thats to be expected.
When youre getting 4K
video at this price (along
with a Full HD option) itd
be churlish to complain.
STUFF SAYS
This is a brilliant camera

87

JOULEY
GREEN GIANT
It only took six years of waiting, but Teslas all-electric SUV has reinvented the
family car. If this is what life looks like post-petrol, you wont hear us moaning
T
here are many
things we dont
yet know about
the future. Will there
be life on Mars? How long until
monocles are back in fashion?
[ Words Tom Morgan ]
When will The Rock win his
Academy Award? The answers
to these questions are all
a mystery, but theres one
thing that were certain will
continue for years: humanity
will keep multiplying.
Given the need to keep Earth
hospitable, the days of buying
a huge petrol-powered SUV
to ferry around your sprogs
are numbered. Thats why
Teslas Model X has completely
rewritten the rulebook for big
cars. Somehow it takes the
seven-seater and transforms
FIRST TEST TESLA MODEL X
it into a sleek, luxurious object
of automotive desire.
Its fast enough to embarrass
supercars at traffic lights once
you add the Ludicrous mode
upgrade, and manages to make
gull-wing doors practical an
incredible achievement for a
company thats been rolling
cars off the production line for
barely more than a decade. And
112,600 / stuff.tv/TeslaX
with unrivalled all-electric
range, a tech-filled interior
and an AI-controlled Autopilot,
theres a lot more to get excited
about beyond sheer speed and
bonkers bodywork.
While we got to try out this
custom-built 112,600 model,
there are cheaper options from
just 83,700. Going high-speed
electric isnt quite affordable yet.
89
90
Evil
Meh
Good
1 View to a thrill
W

Tesla Model X
yo ho

1min
ur a!
av Th

24 hours with the

er is l
ag oo

With an enormous panoramic

windscreen that bends into its

jealous glances. Theres hardly

e L ks

been hidden away, but you can

anything obscuring the drivers
view. Even the sun-visors have
roof, the Model X is sure to draw
an a

swing them into place in seconds.

d R bit
An ov dif
m d er fer
ak th

5mins
e D os . en
oc fa e tt
o
Br lco
ow n-
ns wi

2
S De ng
FIRST TEST TESLA MODEL X

wa om Lo doo
tc eo re rs

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h m ne an w
e o s ju je ou
alo ld
pe st us
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 FIRST TEST TESLA MODEL X

Tech specs
Engine Lithium-ion battery pack
with twin electric motors
3 Transmission Single-speed automatic
Power 464bhp 0-60mph 4.8 seconds
(2.9 with Ludicrous upgrade)
Top speed 155mph Range 290 miles

2 Party in the back
You can spec this car with five,
six or seven seats although
youll probably reserve those
back ones for younglings. The
quality of the plastic, leather and
chrome is impressive, and you
get USB ports in front and back
for juicing up smartphones.
3 Not like other birds How does it drive?
Tesla calls the double-hinged As well as being jam-packed with innovative tech,
rear doors falcon-wing. Theyre the Model X is a delight to scoot around town in
fitted with ultrasonic sensors
that measure exactly how much
space they have to open in. Even
when flanked by two parked cars,
youve plenty of room to access
the rear cabin.

1 Speed to spare King of the road

4 Mad dash
This SUV hands you a giant 17in
touchscreen to control just about
everything the car can do. It didnt
5 take us long to work out how
to jump quickly from sat-nav
to Spotify. Plus, it turns into a
high-res rear-view camera when
you flick into reverse gear.
It might be a family car,
but the Model X is capable
of doing the 0-60 in
a hot-hatch-bothering
4.8 seconds and has a top
speed of 155mph. Turn on
Ludicrous mode and youll
hit 60mph in 2.9 seconds.
It doesnt have the same
rugged, go-anywhere
looks as its rivals, so its
no surprise that the Model
X is best suited to tarmac.
Air suspension does let
you raise the ride height
if things get bumpy.

5 Smog off
The Model X has an air filter 10
times bigger than the one youll
find in a regular car. Thats so
you can use its bioweapon
defence mode yes, you read
that correctly to pressurise
the cabin and filter out any
nasties outside.
Handling messiah
Thanks to its low centre
of gravity and stiff
suspension, this Tesla
handles like no other
SUV. It corners brilliantly,
although the stability
control tends to err on
the safe side of exciting.
Brake it up
Since this is an electric
car, acceleration is linear
with no interruptions
from gear changes.
Another neat addition
is the regenerative brakes
that top the battery up
whenever you slow down.

Theres no question the Model X

is the ultimate people-carrier. Well,
at 100,000-ish, should you expect
any less? Eventually Tesla will make
a more affordable version, but how
long youll have to wait for one remains a
s

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this is the family car to get
6hrs 7hrs 8hrs 17hrs 24hrs

91
 FIRST TEST TESLA MODEL X
The alternatives:
3 more eco-friendly SUVs
So you want to help save the planet and cart the family around in luxury?
BEST FOR
SPEED
Audi Q7 e-tron
from 66,675 / audi.co.uk
What is it?
A hybrid version of Audis standard Q7,
this car packs in a 202kg battery under
the boot that robs it of the ability to seat
seven. Despite its size, this is still only
enough to provide a maximum electric
range of 34 miles. But with 369bhp and
516Ib/ft of torque, theres performance
here to make many a hot hatch blush.
Time to go green?
Increase your speed and theres barely
a murmur from beneath the bonnet. As
for the interior, the dash is a wonderful
piece of minimalist design, the seats are
comfortable and theres plenty of space
for rear seat passengers. Plus, 650 litres
of load capacity is more than enough for
most families.
Tech specs
Engine 2967cc V6 diesel, plus
electric motor
Transmission 8-speed auto
0-60mph 6.2 seconds Top speed 143mph
Economy 156.9mpg (combined)
Stuff says
The short electric-only range wont
suit anyone who covers big mileages
92
BEST FOR
ECONOMY
Volvo XC90 T8
Momentum
from 61,715 / volvo.com
What is it?
If youve got a commute of under 24
miles, you can make it using this Volvos
electric motor alone. When you need to
travel a little further, the XC90s batteries
can be recharged by plugging it into the
mains, while its petrol engine is more than
capable of getting a shift on.
Time to go green?
Because of its 2343kg weight this
sometimes doesnt feel like a 401bhp
vehicle, but it always delivers a quiet
and refined drive. Plug it in to charge up
every night, drive to the station every
day and you might barely use a drop
of fuel. Thats not half bad for a vehicle
of this size.
Tech specs
Engine 1969cc 4-cylinder supercharged &
turbocharged petrol, plus electric motor
Transmission 8-speed auto
0-60mph 5.9 seconds Top speed 140mph
Economy 134.5mpg (combined)
Stuff says Stuff says
Our favourite big SUV, thanks to its
economy and all-round excellence
BEST FOR
COMFORT
Land Rover
Range Rover Sport
from 75,200 / landrover.co.uk
What is it?
The hybrid edition of one of Land Rovers
most popular cars is a very nice vehicle
indeed. Crafted out of aluminium for a
lighter profile, it makes for journeys that
feel as simple and relaxing as in almost
any other car. Steering is extremely
accurate, and handling is spot-on.
Time to go green?
Given this electric/diesel versions added
expense over the base model, a combined
economy of 45.6mpg isnt all that great.
You also lose a bit of towing weight, with
3000kg available instead of 3500kg, but
unless you own a monster caravan this
wont be a problem. Whats more of an
issue is the fiddly infotainment system.
Tech specs
Engine 2993cc V6 turbocharged diesel,
plus electric motor
Transmission 8-speed auto
0-60mph 6.4 seconds Top speed 140mph
Economy 45.6mpg (combined)
An extremely impressive car that
will handle any job you throw at it
 Join the Stuff
Tech Panel!
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We want to know what you think. What you like (or hate) Why join?
about our magazine, our website, and the tech we write
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no
 TEST OPPO UDP-203

Raysre sharp
Streaming might be the future, but this
4K Blu-ray player proves theres still
nothing better than getting physical
649 / stuff.tv/UDP203
Stop fretting about streaming
bit-rates if you really care about
how your films look at home, then
4K Blu-ray is still the best way to
watch them and Oppos UDP-203
is the machine to buy. It lavishes
your senses with oodles of detail
and super-sharp sound.

Design-wise, the UDP-203

looks just like a normal Blu-ray
player albeit one thats housed
inside a sleek metal chassis with
clean lines, a brushed aluminium
front panel and a dinky display.

Theres nothing normal about

the picture, though. Watching Life
of Pi is almost as jaw-dropping as
it was on the big screen every
ounce of detail is etched out with
superb clarity and subtlety.

Audio performance is similarly

stellar you really get that
blockbuster oomph when glass
shatters and explosions boom.
If youve kitted out your TV
with a decent soundbar or
surround-sound setup, youre
sure to hear the benefit.

Dont worry about having to

upgrade to a new player in a couple
of years. With the latest HDCP 2.2
spec ensuring it sticks to the
UHD Alliance-approved BT.2020
colour gamut and support for
HDR10, this Oppo is well equipped
for the future of 4K. Plus, theres
a firmware update for Dolby Vision
(the other HDR standard) that may
have already arrived by the time
you read this.

Tech specs Pluggy well right Bright as a button

On the Oppos rear panel, you get
Max resolution 4K with HDR, two HDMI 2.0 outputs for video
lossless hi-res audio and audio, and an HDMI 1.4 for old
Formats supported 4K and standard audio receivers. Three USB ports,
Blu-ray, 3D, DVD, DVD-A, SACD, CD 7.1 analogue outputs and two
Dimensions 430x311x79mm, 4.3kg digital inputs also feature for
plenty of connectivity.
The included remote is pleasingly
chunky and easy to use, with
a backlight that comes to life
through motion sensors. This
means that when youre not
hitting buttons youll be saving
the world by conserving power.

STUFF SAYS This is the ultimate 4K Blu-ray player for serious cinephiles

For cinematic The Oppo UDP-203 is definitely not for everyone especially given just how
nirvana in your expensive it is to own. But if you do have a fancy UHD TV and sound setup, theres
lounge, this Oppo little point in feeding them anything less than the best content possible. And on that
is a must-have front this Oppo delivers by the barrel-load. Thats why its our number one 4K Blu-ray
Rob Leedham player and, really, the only one you should bother shelling out for.

94

Shut up and Drive
Pad memories
The controllers which look
almost identical to the original
Mega Drive pads are clunky,
but in a way that only adds to
the challenge as you grimace
through round after furious round
of two-player Air Hockey.
STUFF SAYS With a load of 90s classics on board, this is a retro gaming bonanza
The 50 price is
right for the hours
of fun youll get
from this Classic
Chris Rowlands
TEST SEGA MEGA DRIVE ARCADE CLASSIC
At last, you can stop rambling on
about those great old Sega games
and start playing them again
50 / stuff.tv/SegaClassic
For some gamers, the 90s were
the halcyon days and the Sega
Mega Drive was the console of the
decade. Rub the nostalgia from
your eyes, though: this reborn
Mega Drive is no high-end piece
of hardware. It feels plasticky and
oddly hollow, and doesnt even
look like the original console. Still,
its the games that really matter
Among the 80 pre-installed
titles, there are some true classics
to get into. Sonic is the obvious
choice, but theres also a host of
endless runners and fighters, from
Ristar and Golden Axe to Columns
and Streets of Rage.
Sixteen-bit graphics spread
across a big screen make your
eyes work hard, but its worth it
for the button-bashing thrill of
hearing that Sonic Ring ping in
your living room again. Sound
quality is low, with soundtracks
that feel as if theyve been put
through a distortion box, but this
is genuine old-school gaming.
The Arcade Classic ships with
a power adaptor and an AV cable
with one jack for the picture and
one for mono audio and all you
have to do is plug them in. Theres
no HDMI, so youll need to check
your TV has an AV input.
The two bundled gamepads
work via IR, which means you
get cable-free gameplay, but the
connection is ropey. Youll need a
direct line of sight to the receiver,
and you cant really sit more than
a metre away or things get glitchy.
Home again
Two physical ports on the base
mean you can stick your original Tech specs
Sega controllers in for a dose Included Two wireless controllers,
of authenticity and if youve 80 games built-in
got a shoebox full of Mega Drive Connectivity AV input
cartridges hidden away, youll be Dimensions 105x275x380mm
able to play those too.
The controllers are a bit patchy, the box feels like something you might get free
with a takeaway and the sound quality could be better, but youre also getting 80
old-school games thatll take you right back. Thats basically 60p per game. Whats
more, the ability to use your old game cartridges and controllers gives the Mega
Drive Arcade Classic more value than a mere novelty purchase.
95
 BETA YOURSELF
Its time to turn YouTube from a cat video emporium into
your favourite TV service Esat Dedezade reveals the
best tools, tricks and customising tweaks for the job
THE BASICS
Set up alerts. First up,
create alerts to make sure you
dont miss any episodes of
your favourite channels. Head
to settings, then notifications.
Choose the kind of alert you
want, then go to manage all
subscriptions to fine-tune.
Save for later. One lunch
break is never enough to get
your fix of cute animals. Save
a video to a playlist by tapping
the + button in the top corner
of the player. Or, if youre
browsing, hit the three-dot
menu button.
Banish autoplay.
One day, YouTube decided
to be helpful and started
automatically playing videos.
Thankfully you can kill this off
in a flash by flicking a disable
auto-play switch, which youll
96
find on the upper right-hand
side of the page, above the
related videos column.
Straight to TV. If youre
rocking a Google Chromecast,
smart TV, console or PC, then
you can easily control what
you watch straight from your
tablet or smartphone. Just hit
up youtube.com/pair, enter
the code, and youre on your
way to big-screen video town.
Share the highlights.
Theres no point sharing a
video of a dog playing the
piano if the first 30 seconds
are just the owner setting up
the camera. To share videos
and specify what time they
start playing, just hit the
share button then specify
the time you want in the
start at box.
Think of the children.
If you want to save your little
tykes from night terrors, scroll
down to the bottom of any
YouTube page, turn restricted
mode on, and enter your
password to lock down the
device. If they own a tablet
or smartphone, download
the YouTube Kids app this
automatically does away with
all the nasty stuff.
CLEVER TRICKS
Cure your earworm.
Need to find out what that
background music is? Head
over to mooma.sh and paste
the YouTube URL.
Find the right bit.
YouTube has some handy
keyboard shortcuts. Press
j or l to jump backwards or
forwards 10 seconds, or use
numbers to jump to a certain
percentage of a films duration.
Make a gif. Add gif to the
start of any YouTube URL and
youll be taken to gifs.com.
This online editor lets you
select a chunk of video up to
15 seconds and immortalise it.

TUBE TWEAKING
Take control. Fancy
an extra menu of YouTube
controls? Download the
excellent Chrome extension
Magic Actions (free,
chrome.google.com).
Get YouTube Lite. If
youre browsing on a laptop,
regular YouTube can be too
fiddly and cluttered. Go to
youtube.com/tv for a cleaner
version of the site.
See the future. Head to
youtube.com/testtube to
use unreleased features that
Google is still tinkering with,
including new control options,
and 4K 60fps video playlists.
FIX THE
COMMENTS
Plug into Reddit. YouTube
comments arent known for
their searing insight or mature,
stimulating debate. Reddit is
normally a significant step up,
so automatically import its
comments for each video
by installing the AlienTube
Chrome extension (free,
chrome.google.com).
Silence the trolls. Tired
of getting into flame wars
with teenagers? Avoid the
temptation by clearing all
YouTube comments from
your screen with the
Chrome extension Hide
YouTube Comments (free,
chrome.google.com).
Watch with friends.
To get live comments from
friends for the YouTube video
youre watching (or any web
page), broadcast it by using
the Rabb.it app or extension
and inviting them to the page.
TURN IT INTO SPOTIFY
On iOS. YouTube music
vids tend to stop playing when
you press your smartphones
lock button, but there is a way
around it. Open Safari, go to
youtube.com, play anything
you fancy and then press
the Home button. Now slide
up Control Center, hit play, and
tunes will commence.
On Android. Download
and install Firefox (free,
play.google.com). Now go to
the YouTube site, start a song
and minimise the app. The
audio will keep playing when
the screen is off, although
youll need to open the app
to change tracks.
SUBSCRIBE
TO THESE...
KURZGESAGT
YouTube is just a modern
version of Youve Been
Framed plus a few cat
videos, right? Not if you
dig deeper. Kurzgesagt
(German for in brief)
is a series of beautifully
animated monthly videos
that explain complex
subjects like quantum
computers and gamma
ray bursts.
GAME MAKERS
TOOLKIT
Journalist and game
designer Mark Brown
explains the mechanics
behind video game
designs in this insightful
series. Youll find out how
Jonathan Blow designs
puzzle games and why
regenerating health
systems are so popular
in first-person shooters.
PRIMITIVE
TECHNOLOGY
Watching a modern-day
caveman building mud
huts might not sound like
the biggest thrill for tech
fans, but this channel is
a great example of how
to tell stories without
speech and a brilliant way
to unwind before nodding
off into your dreams.
97
 T E S T H U AW E I WAT C H 2

Talk to the hands

With Android Wear 2.0 and a 4G option,
this is the listening smartwatch that
thinks its a smartphone 1

from 280 / stuff.tv/HuaweiWatch2

Is there a good reason to own a
smartwatch? That relatively few
people have bought one suggests
many of us still struggle with that
head-scratcher. Exercise tracking
and wrist notifications are the 2
main excuses to buy but just
having something cool-looking
to wear is another. Its strange, 2
then, that the Huawei Watch 2
actually looks worse than the
first Huawei watch.
Its also pricier. The Huawei
Watch 2 starts at 280 the
4G version costs 325 and the
fancier (but non-4G) Watch 2
Classic is 340. And while the
Watch 2 does have GPS, NFC and 3
heart monitoring to elevate it into
the top bracket of smartwatches,
they dont work especially well.
GPS reliability is the stinger, with
tracking fidelity much worse than
that of a good phone.
If you dont mind your watch
looking like a bit of a lump on 1
your wrist, though, this is still
probably the most advanced
Android Wear watch yet thanks
to the new Wear 2.0 software
and the option of 4G.

1 Tick-tock tacky? 2 The face fits

The Huawei Watch 2 has the look
of a watch from a street market,
or the clearance section of TK
Maxx. Its only visual, though.
This isnt some flimsy wrist waif:
the shiny bezel up top is real
smoky-looking ceramic and
the casing is incredibly tough
thermoplastic polyurethane.
The screen is perhaps a little
smaller than you might expect
given the overall size of the watch,
but its still one of the best around.
Its a fully round screen with no
weird cutouts like the Moto 360 2,
and it uses an AMOLED panel of
390x390 pixel resolution, which
is sharper than an Apple Watch.

24 hours with the

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2mins 8mins 15mins 30mins 45mins 1hr 4hrs 6hrs 9hrs

98
 T E S T H U AW E I WAT C H 2

3 Dont go tracking my heart 4 Its a long road Tech specs

While this Huawei is part of
a new generation of Android
Wear watches, it has the same
borderline-useless scanner as
most older models. Stay still and
it can tell you your resting heart
rate within seconds, but as soon
as you start moving it will refuse
to give you a reading.
The battery lasts somewhere
between 1.5 and 2 days with
normal use. Were pretty pleased
with how long it lasts when using
GPS too you might expect this
to make the battery level drop like
a stone, but it should get through
a marathon even if youre not
particularly fast.
Display 1.2in circular 390x390 AMOLED
Sensors Accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, heart-rate
monitor, barometer, ambient light OS Android Wear 2.0
Other features NFC, GPS, 4G (exclusive to 4G model)
Connectivity Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Battery life Up to 2 days
Weight 40g (excluding strap)
Better for Wear
One of the Huawei Watch 2s main strengths is Wear
2.0, but what benefits does the new OS provide?

The awkward type Ridin solo

You can now search for Previously, most Wear
and download apps right apps of any substance
from the watch, and have been little more than
type in search terms second screens for the
on a minuscule virtual version on your phone.
keyboard. But typing on With Wear 2.0, the likes of
a 1.2in screen can be a Runkeeper and Strava can
will-draining experience. now run independently.

Wrist in peace Casual conversations

5 All is not as it SIMs
Not only does the Watch 2 have
GPS the 4G model also has
internet access. Simply detach
one of the bands and insert
your SIM card in the tray. Your
smartwatch will finally have
the independence it deserves,
and youll be able to stay online
without a phone in your pocket.
da h
o it
.
.
Notifications are much The new Google Assistant
less annoying. Post-its is packed into this OS.
have been replaced by Its meant to be a wrist
plainer notifications, and version of the Siri-a-like
you can choose whether introduced with Google
they pop up until you read Pixel phones. Its nowhere
them, appear for five near as cool as Amazons
seconds or not at all. Alexa yet, though.
Huaweis sequel is not as pretty
as the original, and many of its
sensors simply dont work as well
as they should. Yes, it has the basics
down including decent battery
life, a sharp screen and overall performance

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A great way to experience Wear

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2.0s new tricks, but its fitness

features need to work better
14hrs 16hrs 19hrs 21hrs 24hrs

99
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 TEST GAMES

Switch, Wii U / stuff.tv/Zelda

The Legend of
Zelda: Breath
of the Wild
Just as Nintendo switches up the console
concept, Zelda abandons its 30-year-old
blueprint in favour of an open-world adventure

ow do you plan on dying
H first in Breath of the Wild?
Maybe your wooden club
will shatter at the wrong moment
and a Bokoblin will shank you into
an early grave. Or perhaps youll get
stuck in a thunderstorm, step into a
pond of water and be electrocuted.
Whatever the details, your biggest
enemy in the latest The Legend of
Zelda is Hyrule itself.
Despite being quite enormous,
the latest incarnation of Zeldas
storied realm never feels populated
at random or sprawling for the
sheer sake of it. Every corner
has been crafted to reward your
curiosity. Step off the track and
you could be greeted with a new
power-up, weapon or material for
crafting. Or there could be a giant
beastie that you have to leg it away
from at high speed.
Its the refusal to hold your hand
that marks Breath of the Wild
as the Zelda series finest game
for quite some time. Certainly, it
stands up to Ocarina of Time and
A Link To The Past in a way that few
recent instalments have. Despite
its initial learning curve, Breath of
the Wilds harsh cycle of trial and
error has a point and that is to
create a story thats unique to you
and no one else.
Of course, this Zelda does have
a plot of its own and its a good
one, filled with intrigue and genuine
emotion: Link must defeat the all-
powerful Calamity Ganon before it
destroys the world. How you avert
this apocalyptic catastrophe is
up to you. You can chase the main
quest line with relentless haste,
doss about for ages trying to cook
up the perfect fish stew, or face
Calamity Ganon from the moment
you step off the Great Plateau.
Actually, dont try that last one.
It wont end well.
Once youve set aside the
changes from Zeldas of old,
adjusted to the initial challenges
and got your first foothold in
this new-look Hyrule, youll
be hooked for good. The Switch
needed a game of this quality
to carry its launch, and boy has
Nintendo delivered.
Rob Leedham

STUFF SAYS The Legend of Zelda goes open-world in sublime fashion

102

To be successful in combat,
you must learn each
enemy types attack style. you for solving puzzles.
TEST GAMES
Child of visions
Such is the quality of the latest
Zelda that youre often too
busy charting a course across
Hyrule to notice just how
sumptuous it looks. And then,
just when you think youve
had your fill of fantastical
vistas, itll floor you with
another one.
The cell-shaded art style
works an absolute treat and
makes the most of the Switchs
graphical oomph. While the
PS4 and Xbox One S may have
Shrines are mini- oodles more power, Links
dungeons that reward latest romp is the aesthetic
equal of Forza Horizon 3 and
Uncharted 4.
Combining all that with an
engrossing soundtrack that
swells in moments of high
tension and otherwise recedes
into a gentle hum of nature
noises, this game has been
made to leave you slack-jawed
in wonderment.
Yet, as fabulous as this
window-dressing is, it only
works because it frames your
story so well. When youve got
halfway up a mountain only to
spot a distant village, the scale
of the task before you has that
much more impact. It really is
you against a colossal world.
103
 TEST GAMES
Horizon Zero Dawn
Whoever said post-apocalyptic worlds had to be ugly and full of yucky old
zombies? Certainly not this beautiful, mecha-dinosaur-infested action RPG
emember Zoids, those
R plastic robo-dinosaur
things from the 80s? You
dont? Well someone at Guerrilla
Games must do, because well be
damned if Zoids havent inspired
the attention-grabbing enemies
in Horizon Zero Dawn.
These beasts are brilliantly
realised a perfectly threatening
blend of the biological and
mechanical but its not this
that keeps you playing. Its not
the ace bow-and-arrow mechanics
either. Its the story.
The mythology of Horizon
revolves around the Children
of Metal, an ancient civilisation
long since reduced to ruins and
buried structures. Humanity has
regressed to hunter-gatherer
tribes, and you play as Aloy,
a young outcast who returns
to her tribe just as it suffers a
devastating attack then finds
herself sent off to track down
those responsible. Hunting down
these assailants isnt all that
compelling, but being sent out
into the wider world gives you
the chance to search for answers
STUFF SAYS A brilliant, beautiful game with a story that will have you hooked
104
PS4 / stuff.tv/ZeroDawn
to two questions: Who is Aloys
mother? And what happened to
the Children of Metal?
At this point youre free to go
wherever you fancy, following The world of
the thread of your main quest or Horizon is a
allowing yourself to be distracted thing of beauty,
by the many extra activities especially
available. Along the way youll
when played
need to level up, buy and upgrade
weapons and armour, and chat on a PS4 Pro.
to loads of other characters but
dont go into Horizon expecting
a full-blown RPG. This is more
streamlined than The Witcher 3
or Skyrim.
The gameplay cherry-picks
some of the best elements of
the greatest games of the last
five years: the stealthy archery
of Tomb Raider, the superhuman Bigger enemies
senses of The Witcher 3, the have huge
landscape-surveying climbs health bars, so
of Assassins Creed. So there youll need to
might not be a lot thats genuinely target their
new, but Horizons mechanical
weak points.
beasts, stunning scenery and
superb storytelling allow it to
stand above the vast majority
of modern games.
Tom Parsons
 REVIEWS
Media hoard
Scarper, it s the rozzers! But first,
lets just catch up on this months
best film and music releases
The Hatton Garden Job_cinema
hen thieves stole 200m
W in cash and bling from
a vault beneath central
London in 2015, it had all the
hallmarks of a meticulous operation
pulled off by a group of highly
organised super-thieves. So
when a posse of pensioners were
arrested for the heist, it was hard
not to be vaguely amused.
The film of the robbery takes
this Last of the Summer Wine
meets Oceans 11 idea and runs
with it: all freeze frames, rhyming
slang and Phil Daniels. With
a semi-fabricated backstory
involving the Hungarian mob
(complete with slightly puzzling
accent from queenpin Joely
Richardson) and crooked
ex-coppers, its pretty light
on the deeper details of the
106
WATCH
plan, but this was never meant
to be a documentary.
Not enough is really made
of the ageing leads, who are
entertaining but never quite
funny enough, while the ex-con
leading the job (played by Matthew
Goode) is fairly forgettable,
despite being inspired by a
mysterious mastermind known
only as Basil. Perhaps that was
the point.
It pulls off a neat twist right at
the end, but The Hatton Garden
Job feels a little one-dimensional.
If nothing else, at least it does
prove you can (almost) get away
with anything as long as youre
wearing a hi-viz jacket.
Tom Wiggins
STUFF SAYS
Allied_Blu-ray,
DVD, VOD
Gone Girl meets Tinker
Tailor Soldier Spy is a great
pitch for a WWII movie, but
Allied never lives up to its
ambitions. Brad Pitt and
Marion Cotillard are badly
misused over a muddled
two hours that swerves
from frothy spectacle to
high-tension whodunnit.
Still, fans of preposterous
sex scenes will enjoy the
car-in-a-sandstorm romp.
Rob Leedham
STUFF SAYS STUFF SAYS
Swiss Army
Man_Blu-ray,
DVD, VOD
Youd think a film that
starts with a man riding
Daniel Radcliffes farting
corpse through the sea
like a jet ski had peaked too
early, but this frequently
bonkers tale of friendship,
death, life and various
bodily functions is full
of surprises. In a world
of formulaic sequels, its
totally, bizarrely original.
Tom Wiggins
WANT
MORE LIKE
THIS?
 REVIEWS

STREAM LISTEN

Thief_Netflix Pure Comedy_Father John Misty

James Caan is Frank, a
used-car salesmen by
day and a safe-cracking
diamond thief by night.
With a new woman by
his side, Frank has set his
sights on settling down
in the suburbs but after
an accomplice is killed
with a pocketful of Franks
money, he must pull off
one last major job before
he can afford to leave his
life of crime behind.
Michael Manns debut is
very much a sign of things
to come, full of stylish grit,
hushed conversations
in all-night diners and a
synth-tastic soundtrack
by Tangerine Dream. Like
Drive? Sit back and find
out where it got all its best
ideas from.
Devilishly erudite and
blessed with an uncanny
knack for grandiose hooks,
Father John Misty seems
to exist in a world removed
from his contemporaries.
Who else could get away
with a line like Bedding
Taylor Swift every night
inside the Oculus Rift?
And yet Pure Comedy is
not the triumph you might
imagine. Truth be told, its a
bore at times. Packed with
wisecracking in-jokes and
indulgent polemics that all
boil down to modern life
being a bit rubbish, trudging
through its hour-long
run time is a challenging
experience. And not in the
intellectually stimulating
kind of way.
There are some real
gems in the likes of Total
Entertainment Forever and
Ballad of the Dying Man,
but as a whole it feels too
much like hard work.
Rob Leedham
STUFF SAYS

Jackie Brown_Netflix
MUSIC
HEIST Chances are you havent seen Jackie Brown since the late
MOVIES
FILMS 90s but its arguably Tarantinos most underrated movie,
and gets better with repeat viewings.

The Usual Suspects_NowTV

Known for one of the most famous twists in film history,
The Usual Suspects is a story thats so well told its just as
Emperor of
gripping even if you know exactly whats coming. Sand_Mastodon
Theres not enough evil
Triple 9_Amazon Prime chuckling in popular music
any more. The sinister
Despite a cast including Kate Winslet, Woody Harrelson, mirth here comes at the
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Aaron Paul, Triple 9 cant quite live up end of crazy eight-minute
to the promise of its blood-pumping start. closer Jaguar God a song
that starts out like Nothing
Else Matters and ends up
proving that the scale of
Mastodons vision is bigger
than ever. Its just a shame
more of the riffs dont
quite match it.
Tom Wiggins
Love in the 4th
Dimension
_The Big Moon
The 90s revival is well and
truly on, and the Big Moon
are here to soundtrack it.
Almost every song on this
debut harks back to the
loud-quiet-loud formula
perfected by the Pixies
and Breeders, as well as
channelling Elastica and
Sleeper. Is that a problem?
Not when the tunes are
this infectiously exuberant.
Marc McLaren

STUFF SAYS STUFF SAYS

107
Everywhere you are
Read it, like it, share it

facebook.com/joinstuff
youtube.com/stuffmagazine
twitter.com/stuffTV
Apple News
plus.google.com/+StuffTV
instagram.com/stuffmag
 TOP
NEW

HOT
BUY
TEN
This gadget has
leapt straight
outta testing
and into our
rankings.

BARGAIN
OF EVERYTHING
Time changes
everything,
including Stuff
Top Ten placings.

BUY
UPDATE
Searing with
techy genius,
a product thats A solid gold
set our hearts bargain.
aflame. Worth owning,
regardless of
cashflow.

HOW
TO USE
Smartphones 110 The big question: 119
How to buy... 111 Learn a new language
a smartphone Hi-fi 120
Tablets 112 Consoles 122
& headphones
TVs
Smartwatches
& fitness trackers
114
116
Games
Home cinema
& drones
System cameras
123
124

125
THEM
Playlist: Watch apps 117 Budget buys 126
Laptops 118 5-minute hacks 127
TOP TENS SMARTPHONES
TIPS &
TRICKS
Worried about your
battery life? You can
customise the level
indicator to show a
precise percentage.
The 3Ts Night Mode
will gradually crank
up the displays
orange warmth as
the evening goes on.
If youre not a fan
of the 3Ts simple
Android interface,
we recommend
Nova Launcher.
2 3
Samsung Galaxy S7
499 / samsung.com
The Galaxy S7 looks a lot like the
old S6 but has been improved all
round, not least with an excellent
camera. The Edge edition offers
enhanced battery life, but pound
for pound this model is actually
the better buy. The incoming S8
has a lot to live up to.
Stuff says Stuff says
An imperious update of our
favourite phone from 2015
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW PHONES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTPHONES
110
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
from 699 / apple.com
The 7 and 7 Plus look almost
identical to the previous iPhones,
except for the glossy jet black
option and Lightning headphone
output. But theyre waterproof,
processing power and battery life
have been improved, and the Plus
gets a tasty dual-lens camera.
The best iPhone camera, screen and
battery: theres no better iOS choice
OT B RGAIN
BUY BUY
OnePlus 3T
399 / oneplus.net
This phone is just like the OnePlus 3, aside from
its higher price and a few little extras that dont
really change how it is to use or, crucially,
where it sits relative to its pricier rivals. In other
words, it remains a bargain. If you could still
get the original OnePlus 3, wed advise you
to save your 70 but when the only genuine
Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated
alternatives to the 3T cost over 500, this
continues to be the best smartphone choice
for shrewd buyers.
Stuff says
Its not quite as bargain-tastic any more,
but the 3T still packs great performance
NOW ADD THIS Anker PowerCore+
The massive 20,100mAh capacity
gives you enough juice to charge
the OnePlus 3T more than five times
over while youre on the go.
28 / anker.com
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
4 569 / samsung.com
Basically the same phone as the standard S7, but
with a nifty curved screen and superior battery life.
Apple iPhone 7
5 from 579 / apple.com
Forget the headphone furore; the iPhone 7 is a slick
update packed with worthwhile new features.
HOT
Huawei P10
6
NEW BUY
tbc (649) / huawei.com
The latest Huawei is a stylish and speedy phone, and
a genuine contender in the flagship market.
Google Pixel
7
UPDATE
from 599 / madeby.google.com
Not the slam dunk wed hoped for, but Googles Pixel
still delivers some standout features.
Wileyfox Swift 2 X
8
NEW BARGAIN
BUY
219 / wileyfox.com
A 1080p display, a bigger battery and a still-appealing
price make this the Wileyfox to go for.
HTC U Ultra
9
NEW
from 649 / htc.com
HTCs glass smartphone is a stunner to look at and
almost as lovely to live with.
Xiaomi Mi Mix
10
UPDATE
645 (imported from China) / mi.com
Its not easy to buy in the UK, but the huge screen is
guaranteed to give your friends serious tech envy.
 111 HOW TO BUY TOP TENS

HOW Everyone has a phone, but

since they became so multi-
TO BUY A talented its hard to keep track

SMARTPHONE
of whats important. Allow us
to help you make the right call

AMOLED
Screen tech that
uses an active matrix
of pixels its like
JARGON
OLED, but more
BUSTER
suited to portable
devices.

CPU NFC
The central Near-field
processing unit is communication
your phones brain; tech allows you to
its processing speed use your phone
is measured for contactless
in GHz. payments.

JUDGEMENT CALL SPECIAL ABILITIES

1 Google 2 Leading 3 Dont jack 4 Make it 5 Full speed

vs Apple lights it in yet snappy ahead
The first question: Your phones display Many feared the The latest trend in the The Sony Premium XZ
iOS or Android? is crucial if you intend headphone jack smartphone world is and Samsung Galaxy
Apples iOS is to use it for YouTube was as good as dead to double up on the S8 offer unrivalled
arguably the more binges. You have two when the likes of camera, with the speeds with the latest
user-friendly OS, but options: LCD and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and Snapdragon 835 chip.
it lacks customisation AMOLED. The former HTC U Ultra ditched Huawei P10 both But any Android with
options compared relies on a backlight it. Would this mean using dual lenses. at least a Snapdragon
to Android and as the only light wed have to pay for With their impressive 820 will satisfy your
its exclusive to source, while each wireless cans and/or zoom quality, theyre thirst for speed.
those pricey iPhones. AMOLED pixel can settle for low-quality able to get clear Get this:
Android is available emit various colours audio? Fortunately, images of faraway OnePlus 3T
on all sorts of phones, or even be turned off. new flagships such as subjects. Mind you, 399 / oneplus.net
from cheap Motos to This results in vivid the Huawei P10 and the single-lensed
swanky Samsungs. colours and unrivalled LG G6 have shown Sony Xperia XZ
But to get the purest contrast but, theres a future for Premium is no less
form of Android, predictably, it also the old jack after all, tempting with its
youre best off with comes with an added so you can keep your 19MP camera and
Googles own Pixels. cost over LCD. wired buds for now. 960fps video.
Get this: Get this: Samsung Get this: Get this:
Google Pixel XL Galaxy S7 Edge Huawei P10 Apple iPhone 7 Plus
719 / google.com 569 / samsung.com 649 / huawei.com 699 / apple.com

NOW A SPARE BATTERY A MEMORY CARD

ADD
Modern phones can barely last
a day before running out of juice.
THESE The Anker PowerCore 10000 is a
10,000mAH battery that will refuel
most phones up to four times on
a single charge, and its only 20.
Most flagship smartphones have
at least 32GB of storage, but now
you can download Netflix shows
to your phone that might not
be enough. For 18, you can add
a 64GB SanDisk Ultra SD card.

SAVE UP TO 53% BY SUBSCRIBING AND GET STUFF DELIVERED FOR FREE: THEMAGAZINESHOP.COM/STUFF
TOP TENS TABLETS
1 HOT
BUY
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
from 549 / apple.com
The iPad Pro 9.7 takes everything we loved about Apples
original 12.9in Pro tablet, makes it a lot more portable, and
then even adds in a few cool extras of its own. The True Tone
display, for example which changes intensity and colour
balance automatically based on ambient conditions is an
absolute marvel, while the 12MP shooter is frankly overkill
for those brave enough to use it out and about. Its expensive,
yes, but quality comes at a price.
Stuff says
Incredible power, superb features and flawless
design: the iPad Pro 9.7 is pure tablet perfection
Apple iPad Mini 4
2 2
from 379 / apple.com
Just the right size for a great portable
entertainment hub, while subtle display
tweaks do great justice to games and
graphic novels alike. Plus it will easily last
three days on a charge.
Stuff says
The best small tablet you can buy right now
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
3 from 330 / samsung.com
A top 8in Android tablet that packs loads of
fab features into a small, lightweight design.
Its ace for reading magazines, playing games
and watching films, while still being easy to
hold in one hand.
Stuff says
Small but mighty, this is a seriously good tab
Google Pixel C
4 from 479 / store.google.com
Turns out the future of laptops looks a lot
like Googles Android hybrid tablet.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
5 5
399 / samsung.com
With a brilliant screen and serious stamina,
this is our favourite full-size Android tablet.
FOR THE FULL TOP TENS AND REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/TABLETS & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HEADPHONES
112 HEADPHONES TOP TENS
1 HOT
BUY
BARGAIN
BUY
SoundMagic E10C
40 / soundmagicheadphones.com
With the SoundMagic E10Cs you get fantastic sound for
the money, a quality cable and plenty of ear tips and unlike
the old E10Ss, you dont need to tell these buds whether youre
plugging into an (old) iPhone or an Android phone. In truth,
theres still nothing out there that can topple SoundMagic as
the king of cheap headphones, but the E10Cs prove that it is
still possible to improve on something good without hammering
up the price at the same time.
Stuff says
Our budget champions are a phenomenally good pair
of headphones for the price
AKG K451
BARGAIN
BUY
55 / uk.akg.com
These on-ears offer agile and punchy sound
in a stylish foldable design. Add standard and
three-button control cables for maximising
compatibility, and theres no excuse for not
getting brilliant sound from your phone.
Stuff says
Fantastic sound for minimal cash
Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wireless
3 320 / bowers-wilkins.co.uk
B&W has built a pair of Bluetooth
headphones that have stunning sound
quality, elegant looks, premium comfort
and slick, user-friendly controls. Quality
like this doesnt come cheap, though.
Stuff says
B&W hits the high marks weve come to expect
AKG Y50BT
4 109 / uk.akg.com
The AKG Y50BTs are proof that good wireless
sound doesnt have to cost the Earth.
HOT
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless
BUY
229 / bowers-wilkins.co.uk
The brands first foray into wireless brings
luxury for your ears inside and out.
 S T O R E S N AT I O N W I D E

D E M O N S T R AT I O N R O O M S

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OPPO UDP-203 649.00

NEW 4K UHD Blu-ray Player
The OPPO UDP-203 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player provides an
unmatched AV experience to home cinema enthusiasts. Drawing
from over a decades worth of experience in advanced imaging
processing technology and high fidelity audio performance, the
UDP-203 is the ideal source to complete the ultimate home cinema
and sound room.

ARCAM FMJ AVR390 1999.00

NEW AV Receiver
As one of the very few audio specialists in the world to design AV receivers,
Arcam has developed a reputation for balancing a finely honed technical
specification with world class audio performance. Whether you are
listening to music, movies, television shows or playing your favourite video
games, Dolby Atmos & DTS:X deliver the full impact of the entertainment
experience.

NAD M32 3499.00

NEW DirectDigital Amplifier with DAC
An elegant, top-of-the-line, BluOS ready integrated amplifier with a host
of features that offer maximum flexibility, excellent efficiency, and reduced
noise and distortion. Also includes a phono input and a headphone output
to accommodate music lovers of all kinds. With the optional MDC BluOS
module, you can centralise your digital music libraries and streaming
requires optional MDC module services, and control playback from your smartphone or tablet.

SOME BRANDS/PRODUCTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL STORES. SPECIAL OFFERS ARE NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER (NICWAOO). ADVERT VALID UNTIL 03/05/2017. E&OE

click & collect available 24 STORES NATIONWIDE WWW.SSAV.COM

TOP TENS TVs
TIPS &
TRICKS
Magic Zoom lets you
magnify anything
on the screen, and
pause to screenshot
if you see fit.
2 BARGAIN
BUY
Samsung UE55KS7000
999 / samsung.com
This set sprinkles extra stardust
on top of its 4K and HDR brilliance
in the form of Quantum Dot tech,
which claims to offer over a billion
colours. The result? An impressively
refined performance, and most of
the benefits of a top-of-the-range
TV at a fraction of the price.
Stuff says
A real winner, and significantly
cheaper than some of its rivals
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW TELEVISIONS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/TVs
114
You can connect
your phone to the
telly via LGs TV
1 HOT
BUY
Plus app with Magic
Mobile Connection. LG OLED55C6V
1999 / lg.com
A truly stunning television. LGs OLED panel
can go blacker than most TVs and will dazzle
your senses with its brightness; it offers sharply
etched detail, excellent viewing angles and solid
HD upscaling. It also boasts support for both
HDR standards HDR10 and Dolby Vision so
youll be able to watch compatible content from
Amazon, Netflix and UHD Blu-rays regardless
of which format wins out in the future. If youve
got the money, this is the 4K TV to own.
Stuff says
Packed full of tech, with jaw-dropping
performance to send you into TV reverie
NOW ADD THIS Sky Q
Once youve got a 4K TV, youll want
access to the best 4K content. Sky Q
is a good bet for watching and recording
all your favourite shows and films.
from 15 + 22/month / sky.com
LG OLED65E6V
3 4 3699 / lg.com
A regal TV that excels across the board. There
are few better you can buy at any price.
Samsung UE55KS9000
5 1599 / samsung.com
Stunning performance for the money,
proving theres plenty of life in LCD yet.
HOT
Samsung UE43KS7500
6
NEW BUY
849 / samsung.com
Looking for all the 4K and HDR trinkets in a TV
thats not gigantic? This 43in Samsung is for you.
LG 49UH668V
7
NEW BARGAIN
BUY
499 / lg.com
A 4K HDR TV for less than 500? Sounds too
good to be true, but this LG is a genuine bargain.
Panasonic TX-58DX802
8
Sony 55XD9305 1289 / panasonic.com
1300 / sony.co.uk One of most stylish tellies weve seen in ages,
with a great 4K HDR picture and punchy sound.
This Sony ticks every box for a
thoroughly modern TV. You get
Panasonic TX-65DX750
9
the full 4K and HDR package in a
set thats large but not ridiculous 1499 / panasonic.com
for the average living room. Indeed, This 65in Panasonic is tempting, but falls slightly
for a 55in TV, its as svelte as we short on brightness and colour bit depth.
can imagine. It looks great and
performs, if anything, even better.
Sony KD-65ZD9
Stuff says
A whole lot of superbly performing
4K HDR TV for your money
10 3499 / sony.co.uk
Stylish and slick with a stunning picture, but
there are rivals that perform even better.
 115 SHOULD I UPGRADE? TOP TENS

Pick it up cheap
JBL BOOST TV
Soundbars are like Nutella: you can get by
without, but your toast (or TV watching) Little voice
will be nowhere near as tasty. Take your At 38cm, this
first step into the world of soundbars with soundbar wont
the bargain JBL Boost TV. It lacks the boom dominate the
Should I upgrade? of the best, but its a serious upgrade from lounge like
VIRGIN TV V6 your TVs scratchy audio. Plus, its compact
size and Bluetooth connectivity mean it can
also double up as a wireless hi-fi speaker.
some.

149 / jbl.com

Ryan Jones DO IT!

Staff Writer

You may have noticed that 4K

has been one of the biggest
buzzwords in tech lately. Virgin has certainly
noticed, and so has made it the headline Speedy
feature of its new TV box. power
Unfortunately, this headline is just as

Everywhere
hyperbolic as one youd find in a red-top
tabloid. Its not a false claim the TV V6
does run 4K on Netflix and YouTube, but
Record six
you are
thats all for now, which is a disappointment
when those apps are already available on at once
most UHD TVs. Virgin has promised its
working on providing more 4K content, but
its way behind Sky which already offers
sport, films and box-sets in Ultra HD.
HOLD
Skys your limit?
We could end the debate now and say that
OFF! Read it, like it, share it
Sky Q is the better option, but theres a
possibility that the reason you currently
own a Virgin TiVo box is to take a stand
against the Murdoch empire. If so, then Lacks 4K
upgrading to the Virgin TV V6 actually
makes sense. Its much faster than its
content
predecessor, can record up to six shows
at once, and will support HDR and Dolby
Atmos when the required software
becomes available. And while it isnt Outdated
quite up there with Sky Q, youll be able
to keep on slagging off Rupert without
interface
being accused of hypocrisy.

PLUG YOURSELF INTO STUFFS SOCIAL NETWORK AT FACEBOOK.COM/JOINSTUFF & TWITTER.COM/STUFFTV

TOP TENS SMARTWATCHES
1 HOT
BUY
Apple Watch Series 2
from 369 / apple.com
The original Apple Watch was already the best smartwatch
to date; now its found its focus. The Series 2 devices come
with an array of upgrades more power, a brighter screen
along with a greater emphasis on fitness functions without
a phone in tow. Both GPS and waterproofing make this a far
more compelling gadget for exercise obsessives. No alternative
is as fast or as well made, or has the same quality and quantity
of bespoke apps.
Stuff says
Apples small tweaks and renewed sports focus add up
to make the Series 2 a watershed wearable
Withings Steel HR
2 2
170 / withings.com
Combining style and functionality in a way
few other smartwatches manage, the Steel
HR is a fantastic all-round wearable. If youve
not liked smartwatches before, be prepared
for this one to change your mind.
Stuff says
A smartwatch that wins big on style points
HOT
Samsung S3 Classic
3 3
BUY
349 / samsung.com
This is one of the most well-rounded
smartwatches around and not just
because of that circular screen. A few
more apps and Samsung might just beat
Android Wear at its own game.
Stuff says
A superb smartwatch it just needs more apps
Apple Watch Series 1
4 4
from 269 / apple.com
Not as sporty as its successor, but the first
Apple Watch still gets the basic idea right.
Garmin Vivomove
5 5
140 / garmin.com
Free up a space on your wrist this is
everything you need from a fitness watch.
FOR THE FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTWATCHES & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/FITNESS-TRACKERS
116 FITNESS TRACKERS TOP TENS
1 HOT
BUY
Garmin Vivoactive HR
180 / garmin.com
Garmin has a frankly bewildering array of fitness trackers and
outdoorsy GPS watches, but the Vivoactive HR is the one you
really want. Its packed to the gills with long-lasting, easy-to-use
and rewarding fitness cleverness. That means it contains the
daily step and sleep tracking that you can get in other bands
costing under a ton, but also the optical heart-rate monitor,
touchscreen display and smartphone notifications that youd
normally pay more for.
Stuff says
Not super-stylish, perhaps, but crammed with sensors,
sports and stamina: a fab all-round fitness tracker
BARGAIN
Moov Now
BUY
50 / moov.cc
Since its cheaper than the Fitbit Flex 2 and
basically does the same stuff, the Moov Now
has been elevated up this list. Thanks to its
guided workouts with voice coaching, it also
does a better job of getting you in shape.
Stuff says
Our favourite bargain fitness tracker
Apple Watch Nike+
369 / apple.com
In terms of specification this is identical to the
standard Apple Watch Series 2, but it does
get a couple of Nike-flavoured exclusive
faces. The sporty strap alone makes this
Watch the one to buy for the energetic type.
Stuff says
Small tweaks make the Series 2 even sportier
Garmin Vivosmart HR+
NEW
160 / garmin.com
A superb tracker packed with features; its
just a little bulky for wearing 24/7.
Samsung Gear Fit2
NEW
179 / samsung.com
GPS tracking helps the Gear Fit2 keep up to
speed with the competition.
 117 PLAYLIST TOP TENS

PLAYLIST If youve bought a wearable,

youll be wanting it to do a little
SMARTWATCH more than tell you the time

APPS
try these apps for wrist-based
tweeting, navigating and more

BEST
DOWNLOAD
FOR JOLLY
JOGGERS

Runkeeper
If you like to get your
legs pumping more
often than the odd
occasion youre late
for the bus, then
Runkeeper will keep
you motivated by
setting goals. More
of a cyclist or fast
walker? The app will
still monitor your
progress and keep
track of the calories
youve burned.
free / watchOS,
Android Wear

PixtoCam Twitterrific Citymapper Wear Messenger Fantastical 2

Sure, you could just The official Twitter Every urban dwellers Most smartwatches This has some
use this app to act as Watch app is an favourite app is will restrict your natural language
your phone cameras oddball, showing also available in texting to shortcut smarts, meaning you
remote viewfinder you your entire feed smartwatch form. responses. Are your can say something
for taking on-point and current trends. And as youre looking conversations really like Lunch with Mark
photos. But a better Twitterrific is a at your watch instead so bland that you next Wednesday
use for it is to see lot smarter. Its of your phone screen, can pre-plan them? at 12 for two hours
where your phones focused on letting people might think Wear Messengers and the event will
hiding, as long as its you respond to youre just really award-winning be correctly created
in range. Be warned: notifications, reply interested in the time keyboard makes on your schedule.
if its in a darkened to messages or follow rather than being an responding properly Beyond that well,
drawer youll only back new followers inept navigator. via text possible its a calendar for
see black. on your watch screen. free / watchOS, from your wrist. your smartwatch.
1.20 / Android Wear free / watchOS Android Wear 1.66 / Android Wear 4.99 / watchOS

THE GAMES POKMON GO PAPERCRAFT RUNEBLADE

YOU NEED
The craze is long gone, Think Space Invaders, It might not be Skyrim,
but that doesnt mean but with papercraft but this adventure game
TO PLAY ON you cant play it. And shapes. Navigate your has somehow been

YOUR WRIST
now there are 80 more little rocket as it fires crammed inside your
critters to catch. cute squiggles of death. Apple Watch.
free (IAPs) / watchOS free / Android Wear free / watchOS

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TOP TENS LAPTOPS 118

TIPS &
TRICKS
Who needs a Touch
Bar? You can log into
your Mac with your
The universal
clipboard lets you
copy text on your
1 HOT
BUY

iPhones Touch ID
using the MacID app.
iPhone and paste it
directly to your Mac. Apple MacBook Pro
from 1449 (13in) / apple.com

It can be easy to focus on what this entry-level

version of the MacBook Pro doesnt have: its
missing the new Touch Bar for a start, and is
down on ports and power compared to the next
model up. But its also 300 cheaper, and has
the same diminutive form and truly gorgeous
screen. It also has the brilliant second-gen
butterfly keyboard. In fact, youre better off
sparing your wallet and forgetting about the
Touch Bar. Its just not worth the extra cash.

Stuff says
The standard 13in Pro is beautiful,
compact and a pleasure to work on

NOW ADD THIS

Satechi Type-C USB 3 Hub
Two ports not enough? This hub adds
loads more and sits snugly against
the MacBook Pros side.
31 / satechi.net

HOT
Apple MacBook
2 3 4
BUY
BARGAIN from 1249 / apple.com
BUY Aside from an extra hours battery life, the current
MacBook isnt that different to the previous one.

HP Spectre 13
5 from 949 / hp.com
One of the worlds thinnest laptops but this
machine still has serious power to spare.

Razer Blade Stealth

6 from 1000 / razerzone.com
This jet black slab of laptop loveliness is
purpose-built for on-the-go gamers.

Apple MacBook Air 13in

7 from 949 / apple.com
If a portable road warrior is what youre after,
this slinky MacBook remains a great choice.

Microsoft Surface Book

Dell XPS 13 (2016)
from 1149 / dell.co.uk
The original XPS 13 was already
a great lightweight laptop, then
Dell gave it a Windows 10 refresh.
With improved battery life and
performance, its the thinking
persons Ultrabook and a whole
lot more. We cant wait to try the
new hybrid version.
8
Asus ZenBook UX310UA from 1299 / microsoftstore.com
from 586 / asus.com Shorn of its initial bugs, the Surface Book is
a lustrous Windows hybrid with luxe appeal.
Asus has hit that price sweet spot,
undercutting the competition and
Apple MacBook Pro 15in with Touch Bar
9
making potential MacBook Air
buyers think twice before hitching from 2349 / apple.com
their wagon to Apple and macOS. A flawed masterpiece, but one thats packed
Theres little else out there thats with power and is fantastic to use.
better without spending a whole
lot more money.
BARGAIN
Lenovo Yoga Book (Android)
10
BUY

Stuff says Stuff says from 450 / lenovo.com

An excellent Windows 10 Ultrabook, MacBook styling, but not A gorgeous hybrid packed with ideas, including
small in size and great in stature for MacBook money a keyboard that doubles as a drawing pad.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW LAPTOPS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/LAPTOPS
 119 THE BIG QUESTION TOP TENS

OTHER
OPTIONS
THE BIG HOW CAN I LEARN
QUESTION A NEW LANGUAGE?
FOR
SIMPLE Subscribe
STEPS 1
to a podcast
Perhaps your
DUOLINGO ears are better
at learning than
your eyes? The
free / duolingo.com LanguagePod101
Want to leave Britain after the podcast series
Brexit shenanigans, or because offers a range
you cant cope with the ever- of languages for
increasing price of a Freddo? you to learn for
Well, unless youre willing to brave nothing. Download
Trumps America, youll likely need the app and you
to learn a new language. can listen on your
Duolingo is one of the best commute.
platforms around for expanding
your international vocabulary.
There are over 20 languages
available to learn, from French youll unlock more courses until SPECIAL SKILL
to Vietnamese, and even Klingon youre learning how to converse COMPLETELY FREE
is due for future release. on more complicated topics such
Simply select a language, the as politics and religion. Theres no premium service or
intensity of your daily goals and All you need to do is put aside a hidden costs with Duolingo. Its
whether youre a beginner or an few minutes each day, and before all free, including the community, 2 Get yourself
advanced learner, and youll gain you know it youll be singing opera where you can talk to other a pen pal
access to a series of courses. in Italian and watching French films learners and get advice from When it comes to
Theyll start you with the basics, without subtitles. For on-the-go fluent speakers. You can even languages, theres
such as greetings and days of the tutoring, you can download the link up with Facebook friends no substitute for
week, and if you pass the tests app on either iOS or Android. for motivational competition. old-fashioned
talking. HelloTalk
is a free app that
connects you with
FOR native speakers
HAPPIER of your chosen
language. This way
HOLS you can learn the
lingo and make a
friend so youll have
a sofa to crash on.

SPECIAL SKILL
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Busuu encourages the native
speakers of the sites community
to correct learners work. This
means you wont just be taught
by an automated programme.
You can even live-chat with
other users for extra tutoring.
BUSUU
FOR
from free / busuu.com LINGO
Need a more comprehensive LOLZ
language course to get you ready
for that big holiday? A Busuu MEMRISE
course will teach you every word
you need to know. from free / memrise.com 3 Watch a
Or perhaps youre already a If you prefer to learn through foreign film
competent speaker but just need audio and flashcards rather than Watching a movie
to crack down on your grammar? trawling through text, Memrise can be a great way
Busuu provides exercises, as well might just be the best option. to get immersed in
as a vocabulary trainer and an The courses are created by the a language. Netflix
offline mobile app for learning community, so as well as the has a wide range
during your commute. standardised textbook lessons of international
While the above features are you can also test yourself with titles, from Pans
exclusive to premium subscribers, more creative quizzes. If youre Labyrinth (in
there are few other services that a fan of memes, youll be happy Spanish) to Battle
offer such a complete package for to know that theyre frequently Royale (Japanese).
picking up a new language. used to make learning more fun. You know how to
turn the subtitles
off, right?

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TOP TENS HI-FI
TIPS &
TRICKS
With iPhones and
Android devices,
you can control your
Sonos speakers from
your lock screen.
2 3
Naim Mu-so
995 / naimaudio.com
How much for a wireless speaker?!
Well, yes, but what a wireless
speaker it is. Naim has ploughed
all of its high-end hi-fi experience
into delivering a beautifully made,
great-sounding device with
AirPlay, Spotify Connect and
aptX Bluetooth all on board.
Stuff says
A wireless speaker that can make
a valid claim to be genuine hi-fi
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW HI-FI, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HI-FI-STREAMING
120
Sonos speakers
use a feature called
Trueplay that tunes
the sound to your
rooms acoustics.
BARGAIN
BARGAIN
KEF Muo
250 / uk.kef.com
The KEF Muo sounds as good as
it looks, which is very nice indeed.
It may be the size of a beer can
but it creates a room-filling sound,
brilliantly balanced and packed
with vim and vigour. The Muo has
the audio solidity of the B&W T7,
but with even greater detail.
Stuff says
Portable Bluetooth at its best,
with premium sound and design
1 HOT
BUY
Sonos multiroom
system
from 199 / sonos.com
If you want to pretend your favourite band are
playing in your living room, theres no better
option than a Sonos wireless speaker. They
look great, work with your smartphone and,
most importantly, boom out your tunes with
dazzling finesse from the compact Play:1
(199) to the flagship Play:5 (499), a speaker
redesigned from the ground up in 2016.
Stuff says
Infinite music in every room without the
need for custom installers? Sign us up!
NOW ADD THIS Spotify Premium
Sick of playing your iTunes library
on repeat? Sign up to Spotify for
more new music than you could
ever possibly listen to.
9.99/month / spotify.com
Naim Mu-so Qb
4 649 / naimaudio.com
Complements its big brothers more refined
character with a confident presentation.
Google Chromecast Audio
5
BUY
30 / google.com/chromecast
Stream Spotify to your old hi-fi with this smart
and highly affordable dongle.
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless
6 499 / bowers-wilkins.co.uk
This is the ultimate wireless speaker for the
streaming-savvy audiophile.
Bowers & Wilkins T7
7 300 / bowers-wilkins.co.uk
There are a million portable Bluetooth speakers
in the world, but few better than the B&W T7.
Cambridge Audio Go
8
BUY
90 / cambridgeaudio.com
It sounds awesome, its really well built and
its battery lasts a massive 18 hours.
Bluesound multiroom system
from 299 / bluesound.com
A Sonos-style multiroom system but with
better-than-CD-quality hi-res audio.
UE Boom 2
10 99 / ultimateears.com
It may look like a sporty water bottle but this
speaker sounds great and is mighty tough.

YOUR
STREAMING
ESSENTIALS
NETFLIX
Better Call Saul (S3)
Every time Better Call Saul has a
Breaking Bad reference, we point at
the screen excitedly. Well, prepare for
more pointing, as Gus Fring will make
an appearance in season three, while
Jimmy embraces his dark side.
Bill Nye Saves the World (S1)
Anyone who says science is boring
hasnt seen MythBusters or Brainiac.
But if the closest youve got to
scientific TV is The Big Bang Theory,
Bill Nyes here to save you with his
new boffinry-based talk show.
Ex Machina
Love your Amazon Echo? Wait until
you see this philosophical sci-fi thriller
about artificial intelligence. Youll either
want to free Alexa from her cylinder
prison, or lock her in the cupboard
where she cant hurt you.
SAVE UP TO 53% BY SUBSCRIBING AND GET STUFF DELIVERED FOR FREE: THEMAGAZINESHOP.COM/STUFF
121 NEW TO STREAMING TOP TENS
You wouldnt know its the
golden age of television by
turning on ITVBe for shows
of the highest quality, youre
better off with the streamers
AMAZON
VIDEO
Bosch (S3)
A crime drama featuring a brooding
detective? Sounds as fresh as your
local kebab shops ingredients, but
Bosch is based on the Michael Connelly
novels, so what it lacks in originality it
makes up for with tension.
Ted
A teddy bear springing to life could be
the premise of a Disney film but with
Seth MacFarlane voicing the alcoholic,
potty-mouthed fluff-ball, Ted is not
exactly child-friendly. For Family Guy
fans, though, its hysterical.
Black Sails (S4)
When people say Its a pirates
life for me!, were not sure theyve
properly considered the reality of
seasickness, eyeball loss, etc better
just watch this Treasure Island prequel
from the safety of your home.
NOW TV
Veep (S6)
Selina finished season five getting
kicked out of the Oval Office following
shock election results. In the new
season, well get to see how she copes
with the disappointment. Maybe she
can get a few tips from Hillary Clinton?
The Leftovers (S3)
Imagine if 140 million people suddenly
disappeared from the planet at the
same time. Well, queuing in Alton
Towers would be a thing of the past.
But according to this HBO drama, not
everything would be so rosy.
Guerrilla (S1)
Guerrilla is a love story set in 1970s
London. But instead of strolling
dreamily through the park, this couple
end up liberating a political prisoner
played by Idris Elba. Not our definition
of the perfect date.
TOP TENS CONSOLES 122

1 HOT
BUY
GOT EARS?
THEN CHECK OUT THE

PlayStation 4 Pro
350 / playstation.com

As a gaming platform, PlayStation 4 is the best around which

makes the PS4 Pro the best of the best. Games optimised
for the new console look stunning on a 4K HDR TV, and are
substantially improved by the extra grunt inside this slightly

YOUR ESSENTIAL
bigger machine. If youve already splashed out for a 4K HDR
screen and you enjoy video games at all, its well worth the
upgrade. The missing 4K Blu-ray drive means it isnt a perfect

AUDIO GUIDE TO
entertainment system, but streaming converts wont care.
Stuff says
The system for console gamers who have a 4K TV
and want the best gaming experience possible
WHATS HOT IN
Xbox One S GADGETS
2 from 204 / xbox.com
Microsoft dumps Kinect, the 400+ asking
price and the fugly power brick to create a
supremely enticing console that also has
a 4K Blu-ray player. It remains a serious
alternative to the PS4 Pro.
Stuff says ONE-MINUTE REVIEWS!
A fine console with some big exclusive titles TECH NEWS! (BAD) JOKES!
ARGUMENTS!
PlayStation 4 Slim
3 200 / playstation.com

NEW EPISODE
This is the old PS4 squeezed into a 20%
smaller package, and it still delivers an
awesome console gaming experience.

EVERY FRIDAY
But if you see a 4K TV in your future, youre
better off saving for the PS4 Pro.
Stuff says
Better than the old PS4 in almost every way

Nintendo Switch
4
NEW
280 / nintendo.co.uk
Nintendos genius console can also be used
as a handheld device.
FIND IT ON iTUNES, SOUNDCLOUD OR
HTC Vive
YOUR PODCAST PLAYER OF CHOICE
5 759 / vive.com
Our VR headset of choice offers a completely
new way to experience gaming.
SIMPLY SEARCH FOR STUFF GADGET

www.stuff.tv/news/stuff-gadget-podcast
FULL REVIEWS: STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES-MACHINES

TIPS &
TRICKS
Mark your map
when you find
a recognisable
landmark. Its
easy to get lost.
Hoard your preferred
type of weapon, as
they will end up
breaking at the
worst possible time.
Its worth toying with
concoctions to find
new recipes for
health potions
and power-ups.
BARGAIN
2 3
BUY
Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End
23 / PS4
The flagship series of the
PlayStation 3 swings its way
onto the PS4, and boy is this
a successful landing. As Nathan
Drakes story finally comes to a
close youll be sad to say goodbye
to this seminal gaming series, but
also satisfied with its conclusion.
Stuff says
A fittingly epic send-off for one of
gamings most thrilling series
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW GAMES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES
123 GAMES TOP TENS
1 HOT NEW
BUY
The Legend of Zelda:
Breath of the Wild
48 / Switch, Wii U
Not only is this the best video game available
right now, but its also probably the best Zelda
game of all time, which is no small feat. This is the
first time Link has had an open world to explore,
and its full of hidden treasures, delightful puzzles
and stunning landscapes. Youll get lost in the hills
of Hyrule for hours upon hours long enough to
justify your Switch purchase.
Stuff says
The Legend of Zelda goes open-world
in sublime fashion
OR PLAY THIS Bastion
Dont own a Nintendo console but
want some Zelda-esque action?
The charming fantasy adventure
Bastion probably comes closest.
10.99 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
Forza Horizon 3
4
35 / Xbox One, PC
A thrilling open-world racer that nails the sweet
spot of being fun but not silly.
XCOM 2
5
BARGAIN
BUY
15 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
Its your job to save humanity from aliens
in this thrilling turn-based strategy game.
Battlefield 1
6 32 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
A bombastic shooter that really makes the
most of its bloody World War I setting.
The Division
7
BARGAIN
BUY
15 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
The Division wraps up the best bits of multiple
genres into one action-heavy package.
Horizon Zero Dawn
8
NEW
Overwatch 44 / PS4
36 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
HOT
Take down robot dinosaurs with a bow and
BUY arrow in this open-world adventure.
Forget Call of Duty and Battlefield
this is the best multiplayer
9
shooter. Full of crazy characters Titanfall 2
with a range of powers, Overwatch 28 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
is one long party that youd Loads of giant mech carnage and a gripping,
be mad to miss so grab your planet-hopping campaign to boot.
controller, pick up a hero and
dive in you wont regret it.
The Last Guardian
Stuff says
Blizzards chaotic shooter is as good
as multiplayer mayhem gets
10 24 / PS4
Seriously flawed in some ways, but The Last
Guardian is a feathery masterpiece.
TOP TENS HOME CINEMA
1 HOT
BUY
Sky Q
from 15 + 22/month / sky.com
Sky Q works flawlessly and could change the way you watch
TV especially now 4Ks arrived. With Sky Movies huge range
of films and Sky Sports weekly dose of football now both in
stunning Ultra HD, theres something for everyone to treat their
eyes with. And 2TB of storage means you can record 350 hours
worth of entertainment, so youre unlikely to be sweating over
which show needs deleting. Factor in its multiroom skills, and
Sky Q is undoubtedly the best TV experience you can get.
Stuff says
Youll have to cough up for a subscription, but this is the
best box for watching both live and recorded shows
HOT
Q Acoustics Media 4
2 2
BUY
329 / qacoustics.co.uk
This soundbar has won awards two years in
a row from our friends at What Hi-Fi? The
Media 4 combines subtle detail with precise
surround effects to be the best-sounding
and best-value soundbar you can buy.
Stuff says
A whole lot of under-telly hi-fi for the money
Amazon Fire TV 4K
3 80 / amazon.co.uk
Its slipped down our rankings for the simple
reason that many modern televisions can
now stream their own 4K, but this is still
the best option for Ultra HD Netflix if your
TV lacks the smarts.
Stuff says
The most complete streaming box available
Canton DM55
4 4
329 / weybridge-audio.co.uk
This soundbase is as practical as they come
for those with modest-sized living rooms.
Google Chromecast
5 5
BARGAIN
BUY
30 / google.com/chromecast
Chromecast lets you search multiple
streaming services from one app.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW HOME CINEMA TECH, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HOME-CINEMA
124 DRONES TOP TENS
1 HOT NEW
BUY
DJI Mavic Pro
1089 / dji.com
Despite the tiny proportions, DJI hasnt needed to make any
sacrifices when creating the Mavic Pro. In fact, its got more
tech packed inside it than the Phantom 4 and the foldable
arms and compact controller add to its portability. While this
is an expensive drone, it will fulfil the needs of most enthusiasts
with enough manoeuvrability for racing, enough camera quality
to take fantastic photos and videos, and enough simplicity for
even the most inexperienced pilots.
Stuff says
A real marvel of miniaturisation, the Mavic Pro is the
ultimate hobbyist drone
DJI Phantom 4
999 / dji.com
The autonomous modes make this a fine
choice for anyone looking to make their first
flight as a drone pilot. That doesnt mean
its solely for beginners, though pros will
appreciate the extra tech too.
Stuff says
A quadcopter that anyone can fly
Yuneec Typhoon H
3 999 / yuneec.com
The Typhoon H is a fantastic hexacopter
that nails nearly everything: its easy to
fly, has a lengthy flight time, takes great
footage and folds up to a fairly portable size.
Pity it takes two whole hours to charge.
Stuff says
A great drone let down only by slow charging
BARGA N
Parrot Bebop 2
BUY
440 / parrot.com
The price is right, but camera quality and
connection troubles hold this Parrot back.
Yuneec Breeze 4K
449 / yuneec.com
No aerial acrobat, this drone is more
concerned with simplicity. And selfies.

TIPS &
TRICKS
For aperture-priority
shots, set shutter
speed to auto and
turn the lens ring to
the desired f-number.
Pressing the Q
button will open a
custom menu, giving
you quick access to
loads of settings.
Tapping an area on
the 3in touchscreen
will let you set the
focus point or take
an instant shot.
2 HOT
BUY
Sony A7R II
2299 / sony.co.uk
Sony has made a compromise-free
camera that combines impeccable
build quality with a class-leading
full-frame sensor, 5-axis image
stabilisation, huge ISO range, fast
autofocus, an excellent viewfinder
and 4K video recording. And its far
more compact than a DSLR.
Stuff says
A no-compromise compact system
camera for well-heeled enthusiasts
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW CAMERAS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SYSTEM-CAMERAS
125
3 4
Fujifilm X-T2
1377 / fujifilm.eu
The X-T2 is an excellent lesson in
how to upgrade an already great
gadget. The X-T1 was itself a
brilliant camera, so Fuji gave it
superb video and autofocus
skills to go with the already top
weatherproof build. Sure, its pricey,
but its also worth every penny.
Stuff says
A dream of a camera that barely
strays from perfection
SYSTEM CAMERAS TOP TENS
1 HOT NEW
BUY
Fujifilm X-T20
799 / fujifilm.eu
Coming with the same 24.3MP APS-C sensor
and processor as the X-T2, plus a touchscreen
(which its sibling lacks), the X-T20 will leave
you with a lot more spare cash in your account.
And for most people, the new model will deliver
results that are just as good as its pricier big
brothers. With well laid-out controls, a huge
viewfinder, excellent autofocus and access
to superb lenses, the X-T20 is just one more
fantastic mirrorless camera from Fujifilm.
Stuff says
The X-T20 nails the sweet spot between
price and performance
NOW ADD THIS
Manfrotto 190 Go! Carbon Fibre Tripod
You no longer have an excuse for
wobbly photos with this carbon-fibre
tripod. It weighs just 1.65kg.
235 / manfrotto.co.uk
Canon EOS 80D
1049 / canon.co.uk
The 80D is so easy to use that even a toddler
would get some great shots with it.
Canon EOS 5DS
5 2799 / canon.co.uk
A fantastic piece of kit that any pixel-peeping
DSLR fan will get heaps of enjoyment out of.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
6 743 / olympus.co.uk
The second coming of the E-M5 smashes
it on both design and performance fronts.
Nikon D5
7 5099 / europe-nikon.com
This is the pro-level camera to go for if you
spend a lot of time on the sports field.
HOT
Olympus PEN-F
8
BUY
949 / olympus.co.uk
An immensely desirable piece of design and
an immensely capable all-round camera.
Sony A6300
9
849 / sony.co.uk
A camera that delivers on all fronts: compact
size, great photos and excellent video.
Nikon D750
10 1599 / europe-nikon.com
Its big and bulky, but this is one of the most
comfortable, intuitive DSLRs money can buy.
TOP TENS BUDGET BUYS
TIPS &
TRICKS
Plonk that Pi camera
you bought on a
birdfeeder and youll
be able edit your
own Springwatch.
The free, open-source
Kodi will turn a Pi into
amedia centre for
watching your locally
stored films and telly.
Planning on turning
your Pi into a SNES
emulator? Legally,
you must own the
games to play them.
2 BARGAIN
BUY
Google Chromecast Audio
30 / google.com/chromecast
This disc doesnt just transform
the streaming capabilities of your
speakers its lossless hi-res
audio option can also boost their
sound quality. This is an infinitely
superior alternative to streaming
via Bluetooth, with less battery
drain and no interruption from calls.
Stuff says
If youve not got a Sonos setup,
thisll do roughly the same job
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THESE GADGETS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
126
3 HOT
BUY
OT
BUY
Moov Now
50 / moov.cc
You know youre onto a winner
when your fitness gadget isnt
just a tracker but a personal trainer.
The Moov is a honeycomb-covered
workout guide with voice coaching
and rep-counting. And yes, it
still tracks your daily steps and
auto-detects your sleep.
Stuff says
The best budget tracker gives
most Fitbits a run for their money
10
1 HOT
BUY
BARGAIN
BUY
Raspberry Pi 3
33 / raspberrypi.org
You dont have to be big on coding to enjoy
the Raspberry Pi. With some basic tweaking,
you can turn this 33 tiny-puter into a
very respectable desktop PC, retro gaming
machine or media centre and thats just
the start. The Pi 3 is also the perfect update
to its predecessor: you get loads more power
(about the same as a mid-range smartphone),
integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it still costs
less than a PS4 game.
Stuff says
Opens up a world of tech possibilities for
what is a positively diddy asking price
NOW ADD THIS
Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2
Not every Pi 3 project has to be a
homage to your childhood console.
This adds smartphone photo-pizazz.
18 / raspberrypi.org
Amazon Echo Dot
4 50 / amazon.co.uk
This smart home assistant is a lot smaller than
the full-size Echo, but its a much bigger bargain.
SoundMagic E10C
5
40 / soundmagicheadphones.com
SoundMagic is royalty when it comes to budget
buds. For the cash, these are stupendous.
Amazon Fire TV 4K
6 80 / amazon.co.uk
If youve bought a 4K TV, fill it with lovely content
from Amazons Ultra HD media streamer.
Philips Hue Starter Kit
7 from 60 (white) / meethue.com
Start your smart home with two bulbs and a
bridge before turning it into a palace with more.
Amazon Kindle
8
60 / amazon.co.uk
Top of our holiday packing list, the basic Kindle
is thinner and lighter than its predecessor.
Google Chromecast
9
30 / google.com/chromecast
Cheaper than the Ultra and it essentially does
the same job, just without 4K.
Google Daydream View
69 / madeby.google.com
An inexpensive headset that works with your
Google phone to deliver VR experiences.
 127 5-MINUTE HACKS TOP TENS
IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF
ACCESS THE STEAM
STORE WITH OCULUS
The battle of VR is likely to
be won on games. But now
that Rift users have access
to SteamVR, they can nab
all the Vive exclusives.
Heres how to do it:
Enable Unknown Sources.
Within the Oculus desktop
app, enter Settings by
clicking on the gear icon.
Then click General on
the left, and Unknown
Sources will appear at
the top of your screen.
Click the adjacent
slider to turn it on, and
confirm your selection
by clicking Allow.
Install SteamVR. If
youve yet to download
Steam, do so now. If its
already installed, launch
the app and you should
be prompted to install
SteamVR. If not, do it
manually by selecting
it in Library > Tools.
Get stuck in. Once
installed, SteamVR
should recognise your
Rift and youll now have
access to its library of
titles. You can bring it up
or dismiss it by pressing
the back button on the
Xbox gamepad.

S8 vs iPHONE:
THE SHOWDOWN

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 NEXT BIG THING?
Alexa for your inbox
ot another new email client.
N We know but you mean not just
another new email client, right?
And its more than that. Astro (free,
helloastro.com), which currently works on Macs
and iOS, with Android support coming soon,
has all the usual grouping and snoozing skills
but with an extra shot of AI. Its home to Astrobot,
a chatbot who sniffs through your Gmail or Office
365 inboxes and asks you want you want to do
with whatever it finds. It understands normal
language, so you can talk to it as if youre just
WhatsApping a particularly helpful/nosy friend.
DONT MISS THE NEXT ISSUE! ON SALE 4 MAY
So its like Alexa for my email?
Kind of, although Astro will soon work with
Alexa too, so you can chat with Astrobot via
your Echo and get your inbox in order while
you make dinner. As well as asking if you want
to archive all emails older than a certain age,
suggesting you just unsubscribe from that
bog-snorkelling mailing list you never read and
reminding you not to ignore your boss, itll also
pick up on your habits so if you always put
off reading personal emails during the day (how
conscientious of you), it will automatically mute
them until after work.
Sounds like just another distraction.
Astrobot is easy to ignore if youre busy, plus
the more it learns about the way you work, the
more it should be able to do without tapping you
on the shoulder while youre in the middle of
something. Its compatible with cloud services
such as Dropbox, Google Drive and iCloud, can
tell you all you need to know about people in
[ Words Tom Wiggins ]
your contacts list, and can schedule emails to
be sent when youre out on the golf course
so itll look like youre still beavering away at
your desk. Good job, Astrobot take the rest
of the day off.
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