Inhoudsopgave van March 2025 - Stuff UK

Hello! There’s much excitement around this issue, as Nintendo has finally revealed what the Switch 2 will be like. We don’t know everything about the upgraded hardware inside the new console just yet, but there is a decent amount we do know, so we’ve brought you the lowdown in Hot Stuff, starting on p6. Headphones can be tricky to choose depending on what you want them for, so we’re here to help as we guide you through loads of our top picks for noise-cancelling, fitness, gaming and more – all star-rated in our cover feature. Indeed, this issue is packed with tests. We’ve got a bunch of state-of-the-art laptops in our main group test, in addition to a triple-header of dash cams and a pair of rival retro speakers –…

£tba / go.stuff.tv/Blade16 The dark knight of the gaming laptop world is back with a slim new look and intimidatingly beefed-up insides… Cool thrummer Razer has a reputation for building the stealthiest gaming laptops around, and that’s in no danger of changing with the arrival of the 2025 version of the Blade 16. At 14.9mm, it’s a considerable 32% thinner than last year’s model and officially Razer’s skinniest gaming PC ever, which is largely down to the cooling system. Its dual-fan approach uses thinner fins, more heatsinks and a new ‘thermal hood’ that’s better at getting rid of hot air. Blank pace The 2024 Blade 16 runs on Intel silicon, but this one can be fitted with up to a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with 12 cores of Zen…

from £799 / go.stuff.tv/S25 ■ The 6.2in S25 looks dinky next to pretty much any other Android flagship. Samsung really is the compact class-leader by default, which I guess is how it gets away with so few changes between generations. There’s almost nothing to tell this from the S24. ■ The three rear snappers have been carried over wholesale from the S24. The 50MP lead lens can still compete with pricier rivals, but the 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide are now more middle-of-the-pack for clarity. ■ More has changed underneath, including a worldwide switch to Qualcomm and 12GB of RAM as standard. So this is a performance monster… but 128GB is still the storage starting point. ■ The battery remains a weak point, with just 4000mAh and charging speeds that…

BOWERS & WILKINS Pi8 Bowers & Wilkins has a phenomenal track record with wireless earbuds, at least as far as sound quality goes. The firm hasn’t always hit a bullseye on comfort, though – which is why they took advice from human body researchers for the Pi8 in-ears. These sit at the upper end of the true-wireless spectrum and are an evolution of the Pi7 S2 model, with a thorough redesign meant to sit securely in a wider variety of ear shapes and sizes. These in-ears are much more comfortable to wear than the Pi7s – I happily kept them in for entire working days without needing to take a break. It’s all change on the inside too, ditching the dual-driver setup for a single speaker using carbon cone tech…

DALI IO-8 You can’t really call one pair of headphones a ‘range’, can you? And a company like Dali really ought to offer a range of headphones – so finally there’s a second option to sit below the pricey IO-12s. The IO-8s are here to take the fight to the more mainstream area dominated by the likes of Bose, B&W and Focal. And the good news is, they’re more than up for the contest. These are beautifully built and flawlessly finished headphones that look good no matter if you choose the all-black or caramel/white finish. The tactile combo of brushed metal, memory foam, leather and hard-wearing fabric only adds to the appeal… and the specification is just as thorough as the construction, starting with the 50mm dynamic drivers. These have…

AUSTRIAN AUDIO THE COMPOSER No area of the headphones market, it would seem, is off-limits to Austrian Audio. The company hasn’t even been around for a decade yet, but since its inception (naturally enough in Vienna), it’s proved that age is just a number. Until now, though, its products have been aimed at the mainstream. But these ’phones are different. With The Composer, it wants to take the fight to the big names who might have thought they’d sewn up the ‘luxury’ market before Austrian Audio was even a thing. As you’d expect at the price, these are beautifully built and finished from premium materials, and are so carefully constructed that they remain comfortable for hours on end. All the contact points feel as good as they look, and the…

£649/go.stuff.tv/R3S ■ The Ruark R3S tries to cater for everything the modern music world has to offer. It supports Spotify Connect, Amazon Music and Deezer (for others you can just connect to it over Bluetooth); it offers a vast array of DAB and internet radio stations; and there’s even a CD player like it’s 1998 all over again. ■ You can control it with your phone, the remote, or the chunky dial on top, which is surrounded by important buttons and is ideal for when you can’t be bothered to fish out either of the other two. I was happily spinning the dial to blaze through settings and lists, wistfully recalling my old iPod. ■ The app is better for quickly getting to podcasts or radio stations – and also…

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1 Honor Magic V3 £1443/go.stuff.tv/MagicV3 The Magic V3 is the first foldable we’ve used that’s like having a normal phone in your pocket – and that feels like a big deal. It’s almost unbelievably thin and seems superbly made. There are still some areas that could be improved, most obviously the limited multitasking powers; but along with its superb main camera and all-day battery life (further enhanced by wireless charging), the V3’s real achievement is that it makes carrying a foldable phone feel normal. Stuff says A major step up from the previous model, the Magic V3 will change how you think about foldable phones 2 OnePlus Open £1199/go.stuff.tv/Open The Open’s camera system is the best of any folding phone, taking impressive photos in all conditions. Neither of the two…

1 Sony WH-1000XM5 £276/go.stuff.tv/WHXM5 Nobody could knock the WH-1000XM4s off the top of this list for two years… yet Sony’s latest model manages to be even better. The new carbon-fibre composite 30mm drivers are key: they bring even greater clarity than the previous generation, and the sound reproduction is beautifully precise. The fact is that these are the best noise-cancellers around by almost every measure. You really won’t regret buying them. Stuff says Sony ties up top spot with an unrivalled combo of great sound, ANC and comfort TIPS & TRICKS • Adaptive Sound Control auto-adjusts the ANC to suit your location – ideal for public transport. • Speak-to-Chat pauses playback and activates ambient mode if you start talking. • A firmware update means you can now use LDAC and…

1 Apple MacBook Air 13in (M3) from £1180/go.stuff.tv/MBAirM3 With its super-powered M3 processor, the latest version of Apple’s ‘basic’ laptop breaks new performance ground for a thin-and-light. It once again puts Windows machines to shame for battery life, and SSD speeds have taken a welcome step up from the M2 model. There’s also a 15in version with the same innards if you need extra screen space. TIPS & TRICKS • Don’t want to pay for peak power? The M2 Air is still available, and it’s no slouch. • Forgotten your power brick? It can also charge over USB-C with your iPhone’s adapter. Stuff says The best everyday ultraportable is also the Mac most Apple fans should buy NOW ADD THIS Belkin 4-Port GaN Charger 108W This brick lets you charge…

1 Sky Stream from £15/m/go.stuff.tv/SkyStream It’s hard to find fault with this little puck. The basic package includes the ad version of Netflix as well as Discovery+ with Eurosport – and while Sky Sports and Sky Cinema are a pricey upgrade, Sky’s Entertainment OS makes the Stream a bit of a doozy if you want to have a monthly sub rather than using Now (which is more of a dip-in job for when you just fancy the football or films for a brief period). Sky Q remains excellent, but if you can’t/won’t have a dish, this is the ideal solution. Stuff says Making it more affordable and accessible than ever, this is the best way to watch Sky TV 2 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K £60/go.stuff.tv/TVStick4K The latest version of…

1 GoPro Hero12 Black £269/go.stuff.tv/GoPro12 The Hero13 Black is here, and we’ll have our verdict next issue… but the Hero12 remains a fantastic first action camera and a solid upgrade for anyone with a Hero9 or earlier. GoPro brought back the same sensor first introduced on the Hero11 Black but made it even easier to use, adding HDR video, a 1/4in tripod thread and Bluetooth mic recording to the mix. While this isn’t a low-light champ, its class-leading stabilisation, upgraded audio and pro features make it supremely accessible. Stuff says An iteration rather than a revolution, this is a seriously powerful and intuitive camera 2 DJI Mini 4 Pro from £689/go.stuff.tv/DJIMini4Pro This is definitely the best sub-250g drone we’ve reviewed, and its safety features, auto flight functions and image quality…

There’s a bird in Central and South America called the potoo that is a phenomenal master of disguise. It spends its days pretending to be a tree stump or a broken branch, and its nights feeding on beetles and moths. Well, LG’s PF600U is the potoo of the gadget world. By day the PF600U lurks in the corner of your living room, playing music over Bluetooth through its stereo speakers, but it’s when the light starts to fade that it really comes alive. Its tilting head also includes an LED mood lamp, with nine colour options and five brightness levels… but that’s just one of its nocturnal talents. There’s also a built-in projector that’s capable of beaming a Full HD picture of up to 120in onto the wall, with support…

I’m a semi-retired pro athlete. I used to run in college and university – our team was quite good, but I was never going to make it anywhere big. While I was working in the media, at Paramount, I found some free time to get my licences as an Ironman and USA Triathlon triathlete, and trained professionally for a little bit. When I was still an amateur I would get up at 4am. We had a newborn son, so I would get up at 4am, feed him, get on the bike trainer, then I would bike up to the pool and do a master swim session, bike back and have breakfast, bike to work… and then at midday I would do a recovery session. In the evening I would come…

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ARM ASSESSORS The forearm friend Wahoo Tickr Fit To smash tennis balls across the court, use your forehand. To wear this optical HRM, complete with 30hr battery life and dual-band connectivity, try your forearm. Worn between wrist and elbow, Wahoo’s mid-limb tracker works with more than 50 fitness apps. £65 / uk.wahoofitness.com The colourful coach Coospo Realzone HW9 Reckon your Massive Gym Beats playlist gets you in the zone? This armband will tell you for sure. Its five-colour LED tells you which intensity level you’re at: light blue says you’re going easy, while green means you’re right in the window. If it turns red, you might want to ease off. £60 / coospo.com The statement strap Coros Heart Rate Monitor Wearing your heart on your sleeve will make you sensitive;…

MARSHALL MONITOR III The follow-up to 2020’s (you’ve guessed it) Monitor II wireless headphones, the Monitor IIIs share a similar design but with completely new internals. Indeed, they have a remarkable trick up their sleeve: a crazily impressive 70hrs of playback time – and that’s with the ANC on. Marshall has incorporated dual batteries to achieve these figures (it’s 100hrs with ANC off, in case you were wondering), but they’re placed inside the cups rather than the headband – and that helps the band feel light on the head even though it isn’t particularly well cushioned. The soft faux-leather earcups are light on the ears too. These cans weigh just 250g, and are genuinely comfortable to wear for long periods. Marshall has introduced spatial audio technology of sorts, which it…

SUUNTO SONIC Suunto is pretty new to the headphones game. But the Finnish brand recently dipped a pinky toe into the audio world, adding a couple of pairs of Shokz-style bone-conductors to its GPS watch game. The open-ear Sonics are its latest comfortable and capable option for soundtracking workouts, runs, rides and outdoor exploits. They follow a classic bone-conducting format that’s ideal for whacking on tunes without tuning out totally. A flexible neckband/earhook design links two transducers that vibe on your cheekbones to create sound, leaving your ears open to the world. The minimal styling and small but simple controls are great – some rivals can feel cheap but these are well built. I love the light yet secure fit that virtually disappears when you’re running, cycling, walking and doing…

THE BASICS ■ Don’t waste time Unless you’ve plenty of time or no other option, avoid selling items that will collectively make you mere pennies. Charities or ‘freebay’ groups are better options. And don’t waste other people’s time either: start by making listings succinct. No one wants to read the life story of your Atari 2600. ■ Be honest Carefully check items and highlight even small flaws, so they don’t come back to bite you. Explore how each site determines item condition, and label accordingly. Don’t list an item as new if it isn’t, and don’t spam keywords in listing titles – people will hate you. ■ Price it right Listing on many sites is free, so experiment with pricing. But be mindful that, if you list something for a…

Garmin Dash Cam X210 What’s the story? The smart-looking X210 is Garmin’s newest 2K dash cam, smaller brother to the 4K X310. Its tiny matchbox frame comes loaded with a 2.4in display, an anti-glare polarising lens, voice control and driver alerts. You can subscribe to Garmin’s Vault (£10/m) for phone-free uploads of large video files, and light up your socials with the timelapse feature. Is it any good? The X210 is surprisingly diddy, so you can tuck it almost anywhere. I was impressed with its chic design and tactile, responsive buttons, while its display is colourful and vibrant. I did encounter issues maintaining connectivity with the companion app, but image quality is commendable during the day – with some graininess creeping in at night but no more than you’d expect.…

NEW Straight outta testing and into our rankings. BARGAIN BUY A proper steal, worth owning regardless of cashflow. UPDATE Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten entries. HOW WE RATE Always fair and accurate, our reviews are scored from 1 to 5 and might get one of these awards too: For selected products that are rated with four stars but stand out from the pack. A step up in approval, this can only be awarded to five-star products. Our highest accolade is given out just a few times a year in each key category. FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE PRODUCTS IN OUR TOP TEN LISTINGS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10…

1 Google Pixel 8a from £499/go.stuff.tv/Pixel8a In recent years, Google’s cheaper ‘a’ models have dominated the mid-range phone market. They’ve delivered outstanding value by including many of the brand’s flagship features (think amazing cameras and slick software) and cutting corners where you’re less likely to notice. And the good news is, that’s still true of the Pixel 8a, which looks almost identical to the full-on Pixel 8 and performs almost as well. It’s astonishing how good the cheaper Google phones are for photography. Stuff says Once again Google proves you don’t need to spend over £500 to get a great phone 2 OnePlus Nord 4 from £409/go.stuff.tv/Nord4 If you don’t want a Pixel 8a with its excellent camera, this is the next best thing. That’s not the whole story, though,…

1 Apple Watch SE from £199/go.stuff.tv/AppleWatchSE The SE is easily the best-value Apple Watch. It tracks sleep and all the exercise you need, supports Apple Pay, works great with your iPhone and… what more do most people require? The user experience is broadly identical, and while the screen bezels are a bit larger than on the Series 10 it’s hard to tell them apart without getting up close. Note also that your SE will be carbon-neutral if you take it with a Sport Loop (unless you choose one of the fancy multicoloured options). Stuff says Offers most of the full Apple Watch experience for a whole lot less cash 2 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra £499/go.stuff.tv/GWUltra There are no prizes for guessing what inspired the Galaxy Watch Ultra: this is the…

Samsung QE65S95D £1989/go.stuff.tv/SamsungS95D The Samsung S95D raises the bar of what’s achievable with an OLED television, delivering brightness and saturation beyond what was previously possible, while the glare-free screen is a revelation. Add the elegant design, immersive sound, capable smart features and extensive gaming skills, and this gogglebox becomes almost impossible to resist. TIPS & TRICKS • Got a modern-ish Samsung soundbar? Q Symphony tech can add the telly’s speakers to the mix. • This Tizen smart TV can tailor its suggestions to different family members. Stuff says Classy looks, ace image quality and great sound: a near-perfect package NOW ADD THIS Samsung HW-Q990D Wireless rear satellites and a 11.1.4 setup create amazing spatial sound. £939/amazon.co.uk 2 Philips 65OLED959 £3999/go.stuff.tv/Philips959 The 65OLED959 introduces a different design to Philips’ older big-sounding…

1 Apple iPad Pro (M4) from £999/go.stuff.tv/iPadProM4 The latest iPad Pro gets incredible processing power, while being slimmer than before. The performance gains are quite staggering… and the only question is, why has Apple bothered to upgrade this tablet quite so much? It offers a level of capability that most people won’t ever need – so this is really a powerhouse for the 1% who edit or design with the stylus. And for them, the talented Pencil Pro is also a serious upgrade on the standard Pencil. Stuff says This really takes iPad power to the next level, even if iPadOS still needs more multitasking clout 2 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra from £1299/go.stuff.tv/TabS10Ultra The Tab S10 Ultra raises the bar for Android tablets yet again… just not by a…

1 Sonos Move 2 £449/go.stuff.tv/SonosMove2 The ‘2’ means our favourite speaker is now even better. Sonos has upgraded the Move in the areas that matter most: sound quality and battery life, the latter of which has more than doubled. Our only criticisms are about the high price and the weight – and the Sonos app, which has been a pain for years now. Line-in is also a little bit of a faff with the extra adapter… but if you’re in the market for this box, you’re probably beyond cables. Stuff says Beefed-up audio and a longer-lasting battery – a winning combo TIPS & TRICKS • You can control your Move 2 with the touch controls on top, the Sonos app or Alexa. • Auto Trueplay adapts the sound to different…

1 Fujifilm X-T50 £1149/go.stuff.tv/XT50 This is a wonderfully compact mirrorless camera with a distinctive top plate covered in control dials – including one dedicated to Fuji’s excellent film simulations. On paper it should deliver identical image quality to the flagship X-T5 (both have the same sensor and image processor), and that is absolutely the case: the 40MP sensor captures amazing detail, noise is well maintained at all ISO levels, and sharpness is on point across the frame. TIPS & TRICKS • With film simulations on a dedicated dial now, it’s worth setting a custom button to adjust ISO. • Switch from mechanical to electronic shutter and you can rattle off shots at 20fps. • Fuji’s XApp phone companion is slick, with features such as shot counts for each film simulation.…

Ilove photoshopping! Just today, I used my phone to photoshop my face onto a baboon! Firstly, probably avoid admitting that kind of thing in public. It’s a bit weird. Secondly, avoid using ‘photoshop’ as a generic verb, unless you want Adobe’s crack team of assassin lawyers to pay you a visit. Because (uppercase) Photoshop is Adobe’s prize possession – a 35-year-old app that’s the software equivalent of a slot machine that won’t stop showering its execs with gold coins. So they don’t want its name sullied with your cheapo phone app antics. Thirty-five years? Weren’t computers steam-powered back then? Two brothers created the app, initially to display greyscale images on a Mac, and then to edit them. There were familiar tools that let you quickly crop, clone and ‘airbrush’ pics……

In case you’re wondering why so many drones weigh exactly 249g, it’s because a sub-250g drone can be flown in more places with less red tape… but there’s not much point in owning a flyer the weight of a hamster with fully stocked cheeks if its camera is trash. The DJI Flip weighs “under 249g”, yet thanks to its 1/1.3in CMOS Quad Bayer sensor it should be able to capture much more impressive stills and video than any hamster (well, their paws are too small to hold a camera). It’s mounted on a three-axis gimbal and shoots 4K HDR video at up to 60fps (and 100fps in slow-motion mode) as well as 48MP photos, with special modes enabling human users to shoot panoramic photos, hyperlapse videos or auto-piloted mini-sequences. There’s…

$89,900 / shm-afeela.com NEWS DASHBOARD SHM? Afeela? What are these strange words? Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), which is actually separate from both Sony and Honda, has been developing the Afeela 1 for the last few years. The car made its debut at the 2024 CES show in Las Vegas; a near-ready-to-go edition followed at this year’s expo, and it should be delivered to the mainstream market by the middle of next year. Can I order one, then? Well, not exactly. SHM is taking reservations for the all-electric saloon, but it’ll only be available in California to begin with. Built in Ohio, the Afeela 1 will come in two trims, Origin and Signature, starting at $89,900. Any geeky highlights? As you might expect given its pedigree, the Afeela 1 comes packed…

BANG & OLUFSEN BEOPLAY H100 When it comes to design, there are very few audio firms that can compete with Bang & Olufsen. For decades, the company has been turning out high-performance equipment that appeals almost as much visually as it does sonically. Headphones are a tricky one, though: form must follow function, so there’s little room for manoeuvre when it comes to design. Or so you might have thought… The Beoplay H100s could only be a B&O product. They mix aluminium, titanium, leather, toughened glass and memory foam in a product that looks, feels and, yes, even smells like a premium proposition. The way the headband adjustment mechanism operates, and the way it’s concealed, is just one example of the supremely satisfying nature of the way these cans are…

MEZE AUDIO ALBA Meze is no stranger to wired headphones that demand four-figure sums, but at just €159 the Alba in-ears are chump change in comparison. On paper it doesn’t seem any corners have been cut: the glossy zinc alloy buds are more distinctive than some costing much more; and while there’s only a single dynamic driver inside each one, that alone isn’t an indicator of sound quality. You also get a comprehensive set of accessories included, most notably a slim USB-C DAC that connects to the end of the cable and lets you plug into devices that don’t have a 3.5mm socket. Meze says it tuned the Alba’s 10.8mm drivers to deliver more warmth than its usual neutral sound profile – and there’s no reason to doubt that. The…

RAZER KRAKEN V4 PRO Ahigh-priced smorgasbord of everything you could ever want from a gaming headset, the Razer Kraken V4 Pro is quite the investment… but one you won’t regret. Perhaps the biggest highlight is its THX Spatial Audio, which provides 7.1 surround-sound so you hear everything just like you were there for real. That means exploring the jungles of Far Cry 6 can feel amazingly vibrant – and alarming when you come across wild animals and rebels. That extends well to multiplayer too, giving you an edge in Black Ops 6 or Fortnite, where listening for signs of battle can make the difference. It’s possible to connect the Razer Kraken V4 Pro through four different means – Razer’s HyperSpeed Wireless format, Bluetooth, USB or 3.5mm – so no device…

01 GOPRO HERO3 BLACK This is arguably the most iconic of GoPro’s action cameras. It marked a huge technological leap over the HD Hero2 and confirmed the brand’s status as the one to buy (or beat). With the waterproofing and mounting options we’ve come to expect from GoPro, it became a tool for a huge range of consumers: something you could take on family holidays or use to capture your most exhilarating sporty moments. Recognising that it had garnered such a diverse audience, GoPro offered three levels of the Hero3 lineup: White, Silver and Black editions. Each had a different megapixel count and framerate, and it was the Black that led the charge with a 12MP sensor capable of capturing better low-light footage and 30fps bursts of images. It wasn’t…

10 iPhone 3G This model brought a major evolution of the original iPhone’s design, while adding the crucial feature of 3G data support. For a phone that was so focused on web usage, that was a dramatic upgrade. The iPhone 3G also ushered in the App Store, surely the most important feature addition in iPhone history. 2008 09 iPhone 12 Pro Max While the standard iPhone 12 delivered the best balance of price and features, the whopping 12 Pro Max provided a welcome array of extra enhancements… if you could stomach the extra outlay. The cameras received extra love: not only did you get a 2.5x zoom lens, but the main camera also had a much wider sensor for low-light and night photography. 2020 08 iPhone 4 Damn, the iPhone…

1 Apple iPhone 16 from £799/go.stuff.tv/iPhone16 This year’s iPhone Pro lineup is a mighty fine selection to choose from (see the 16 Pro at No6 on this list), but it’s the standard model that does more to impress. The camera control button and the 2x telephoto zoom are great to have in particular, while the battery life is excellent. The 6.1in screen’s refresh rate is fixed at 60Hz, which is a bit disappointing, but Apple clearly believes most people don’t care about that. Stuff says A pleasing update that’s much more appealing than spending more to go Pro TIPS & TRICKS • Flick upwards in Control Centre to see the new layout; tap-hold and you can tweak controls. • Lightly press the camera control button twice to change settings for…

1 Sony WF-1000XM5 £198/go.stuff.tv/WFXM5 The WF-1000XM5 in-ears are significantly smaller than the XM4s, which were already a lot more compact than their predecessors. And yet Sony has still squeezed even larger drivers inside each earbud, along with the firm’s best noise-cancelling yet. The feature list is as extensive as ever, and they’re priced to compete with Bose’s best. Add in decent battery life and a strong app, and you won’t find anything more well-rounded for less. Stuff says Excellent noise-cancellation, a comfy fit and simply stellar audio TIPS & TRICKS • Sony’s eartips are great, as long as you use the right size. Be sure to try all four included in the box. • 360 Reality Audio upmixing can add a sense of space to tunes, but not every track…

1 Wahoo Elemnt Ace £500/go.stuff.tv/WahooAce At first glance the Ace might not seem too far removed from previous Elemnt cycle computers, but Wahoo has changed almost every aspect under the hood – and entirely for the better. Setup and syncing are a breeze, tracking is spot-on, and this is the first to take wind resistance into account when measuring your metrics. If you want to analyse your rides like a pro, no mainstream tracker does it better than this deceptively smart little box. Stuff says Wahoo’s overhauled bike computer is about as comprehensive as they get, but still easy to use 2 Theragun Pro Plus Gen 6 £549/go.stuff.tv/ProPlus6 Theragun is the biggest name in massage guns – and the Pro Plus wants to be the cure for your aching body…

1 Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max £2199/go.stuff.tv/AmbeoMax Utterly convincing Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D sound, ample power and lots of inputs mean no other soundbar currently available can perform sonic feats with the solidity and confidence of this Sennheiser. The sheer room-filling scale of its sound is remarkable – and the more affordable (but still hugely powerful) Plus version is also worth a look. Stuff says The Ambeo Soundbar Max is a big unit but the sound it makes is bigger still 2 Sonos Arc Ultra £999/go.stuff.tv/ArcUltra It’s scarcely believable that such high-quality sound can come from such a diminutive form. The Ultra is about as big as upgrades get, with much more quality on offer than you get from the standard Arc. Stuff says Incredible for movies, music and more…

1 Meta Quest 3S from £290/go.stuff.tv/Quest3S On price alone, the Meta Quest 3S looks hard to fault. You’re getting the same internals, same controllers and same colour passthrough cameras as the full Quest 3, just with last-gen optics. The built-in speakers envelop you in positional audio, the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 brings much faster load times than the Quest 2, and the graphics have taken a dramatic step up. Rivals can’t compete with Meta’s range of games, and the level of immersion is up there with the best PC-based VR. Stuff says This is as well-rounded as affordable VR gets, making it a fantastic entry point for the tech 2 Sony PlayStation VR 2 £530/go.stuff.tv/SonyPSVR2 As long as you have the PS5 needed to use it (or the optional adapter…

1 Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) £53/go.stuff.tv/EchoDot5 The latest Dot offers improved sound quality over the 4th Gen model. Not surprisingly given its size, it still doesn’t have the heft of a full-scale Echo, but this Dot is more than good enough for bedside table or kitchen listening. The only pity is that Amazon has discontinued the better ‘with Clock’ variant in favour of the Echo Spot. TIPS & TRICKS • Alexa’s voice can work like an intercom with connected Echo devices. • Alexa Voice Shopping lets you order from Amazon; add a ‘voice code’ to keep the kids off. • Dot at your bedside? Saying “Alexa, turn on whisper mode” will stop it waking up sleepyheads. Stuff says The 5th Gen brings a nice upgrade to an already excellent…