TESTED! Meta’s spytastic Ray-Ban specs OnePlus Open:foldable gold? Bose QC Ultra Headphones Three ofthe best airfryers TESTED! Meta’s spytastic Ray-Ban specs OnePlus Open:foldable gold? Bose QC Ultra Headphones Three ofthe best airfryers POWER UP YOURRIDE MACBOOK PRO M3 Six e-bikes on test Is ittime to upgrade? BESTGEAROF THE YEAR Our pick ofthe totally toppermosttech from the past 12 months Our pick ofthe totally toppermosttech from the past 12 months GADGETS / GAMES / GEAR £5.25 Xmas 2023 www.stuff.tv KELSEYmedia POWER UP YOURRIDE MACBOOK PRO M3
3 www.stuff.tv facebook.com/joinstuff @stufftv @stuffmag @stuffmag Dan Grabham, Editor-in-Chief / @dangrabham Hello and welcome to this special Awards issue of Stuff. We’ve picked out the year’s finest tech and brought it all to you in a special roundup that begins on p35. There are some surprising winners this time around, as well as a few you might be able to guess if you’ve keenly followed the key gadgets that have flowed through these pages during 2023. Should our 23-page special not sate your thirst then you can also go to stuff.tv/awards to check out some extra categories, as well as in-depth write-ups on the highly commended entries. Elsewhere, the new releases definitely haven’t stopped for the holiday season and as usual we bring you the pick of the latest gear. In our group tests we’ve looked at six great e-bikes, plus three of the best air fryers (ideal for Christmas in the kitchen), while Upvoted has the latest in wireless keyboards. We’ve also got full reviews of Bose’s top-end QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Apple’s latest MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip. On p29, our First Test is of the superb new folding OnePlus Open. Is 2024 set to be the year of the foldable? We shall see, but it’s one hell of a phone either way. There are also some cracking games for the Christmas holidays, with Mario, Sonic and Spider-Man all in action from p78. Enjoy the issue! Welcome SUBSCRIBE NOW AND GET STUFF DELIVERED! Discovered the joys of staying in? Turn to p26 forthis month’s subscription offer and getStuff to come toyou. This mag is also available in digitalform –go to shop.kelsey.co.uk/stuff,Readly, Pocketmags orAppleNews+, or download the StuffiOSapp. Advertising HeadofCommercial NeilTillott (01732442244) [email protected] Production Production Executive NadiaWojcik (01732447007) [email protected] Management Chief Executive SteveWright ChiefOperatingOfficer PhilWeeden PublishingDirector OswinGrady Subscription Director Kevin McCormick OperationsDirector GillLambert RetailDirector SteveBrown PrintProduction Manager GeorginaHarris PrintProduction Controller HayleyBrown SeniorSubs Marketing Manager NickMcIntosh •Volume 27 issue 13 • ISSN:1364-963 •On sale 24Nov2023 Subscriptions 13issues ofStuff are published per annum. UKannual subscription price:£68.25 Europe annual subscription price:£82 USAannual subscription price:£82 Rest ofWorld annual subscription price:£88 DistributioninGreatBritain SeymourDistributionLimited,2East PoultryAvenue,LondonEC1A9PT Tel:02074294000 www.seymour.co.uk DistributioninNorthernIreland andtheRepublicOfIreland Newspread Tel:+353238863850 KelseyMedia2023©Allrightsreserved. KelseyMediaisatradingnameofKelsey PublishingLtd.Reproductioninwhole orinpartisforbiddenexceptwith permissioninwritingfromthe publishers.Notetocontributors:articles submittedforconsiderationbythe editormustbetheoriginalworkofthe authorandnotpreviouslypublished. Wherephotographsareincluded,which arenotthepropertyofthecontributor, permissiontoreproducethemmust havebeenobtainedfIknwwedromthe owner ofthecopyright.TheEditorcannot guaranteeapersonalresponsetoall lettersandemailsreceived.Theviews expressedinthemagazinearenot necessarilythoseoftheEditororthe Publisher.KelseyPublishingLtdaccepts noliabilityforproductsandservices offeredbythirdparties. KelseyMediatakesyourpersonaldata veryseriously.Formoreinformation onourprivacypolicy,please visit www.kelsey.co.uk/privacy-policy/ Ifatanypointyouhaveanyqueries regardingKelsey’sdatapolicyyoucan emailourDataProtectionOfficerat [email protected]
P35 WIN! p25 4 P6 MAKING STUFF UP Editor-in-Chief DanGrabham Deputy Editor Tom Morgan-Freelander CommissioningEditor RachaelSharpe Contributors RebeccaBland, RobClymo, CraigGrannell, Sam Kieldsen, BasilKronfli, Simon Lucas, RossPresly, RichardPurvis, CaramelQuin, ChrisRowlands, MichaelSawh, MattTate, AlanWen, TomWiggins Contact us [email protected] UKsubscription and back issue orderline:01959543747 Overseas subscription orderline: 0044(0)1959543747 Toll-freeUSAsubscription orderline:1-888-777-0275 UKcustomer service team: 01959543747 Customer service email address: [email protected] Customer service and subscription postal address: StuffCustomerServiceTeam, KelseyPublishing Ltd, TheGranary,DownsCourt, YaldingHill,Yalding, Maidstone, Kent ME186AL CONSXMAS HOT STUFF TESTS FEATURES THE LEGENDARY STUFF TOP TENS P83 06TheHotFive AppleMacBookPro(M3) WindowsPCdiehard?Let’shave a lookatwhatyoucould’vewon… TransparentTurntable Hearusoutonthisone: it’s a turntable,butit’s transparent LeicaM11-P Andallthis timeyouthoughtit was a realelephant… LegoDuneOrnithopter Comeflywithme(insidemy giantplasticmecha-insect) LotusType136FirstEdition Ane-bikesolightitneedsyour flabbybuttocks toweighitdown 14 Vital statsRuarkR810 It’s theincrediblesingingdesk 16 Stream Chickens,horses,JuliaRoberts 18 IconTivoliSongBook Tunes tokeepupyourmorale 20Games Likeadragon,exceptthetail 22 Wheels MansoryDefender BlackEditionis ahandyLandy 24Stuffmeets JeffAnning Hewas, andstill is, a skaterboi 29 Firsttest OnePlusOpen “Open up your heart,” sang Pebbles andBamm-Bamm onTheFlintstones in1965.Did theyhavethisphoneinmind? 60Tested BoseQCUltraHeadphones That’s thewayloveBose 63 3ofthebest Airfryers Youhadus at‘healthier chips’ 64Grouptest E-bikes Thetoptwo-wheeledsteeds for fit-but-not-too-fit commuting 71 Tested XiaomiWatch2Pro IwantyoutoXiaomitheway 74 Tested AppleMacBookPro(M3Max) Thebest,nowevenbester? 76 Long-termtest Ray-BanMeta Hoorayfor‘slightlyless sinister’ 78 Games SuperMarioBrosWonder, SonicSuperstars, Marvel’sSpider-Man2 32 Upvoted Wirelesskeyboards You’ll need one ofthese for playingUltravox coverswhile climbingBenNevis (no, alright, notthat kind of keyboard) 35 Coverfeature The2023Stuff Awards Celebratingthefinesttechthat this past year has brought us, fromphones todrones…but still noaffordablejetpacks 59 Minimeme Gift-givingapps Alas, sometimes you really do have to buy stufffor other people.Ugh.Allowus to make it slightly easier… 72 Betayourself Digitalmemories You’ve been taking pictures and/or videos of everything that’s ever happened in your entire life.Great, butwhat next? 98 Randomaccessmemories MotoG(2013) Hands up ifthis budget beauty was yourfirst smartphone [deep,tearfully nostalgic sigh] P29
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6 Theonlypeoplewhousuallygetexcited abouttheM3arefansofFleetServices. Andwhocanblamethem?Howmany motorwayreststopsdoyouknowwith aPizzaExpressthat’sbeendescribed as“romantic”?(Notourwords,thewords ofBartKonTripAdvisor.)Foreverybody else,though,themostexcitingM3isthe rip-snortingnewprocessorgeneration you’llfindinsideApple’slatest14inand 16inMacBookPros. Bothlaptopsarefasterandmoreefficient thanbefore,buthowmuchdependson whichchipyouchoose.Themostpowerful ofall istheM3Max,whichcanbepaired withupto128GBofRAMand8TBof storage.Butthatspecwouldsetyouback £7299,soyoumightbemoretempted bytheM3Pro,whichgetsupto36GBof memoryand4TBofstorage,whileeven thebasicM3(14inonly)canbebolstered by24GBofRAManda2TBdrive. Whicheveroneyoupick,there’sabrighter LiquidRetinaXDRdisplayandabattery that’ll lastupto22hrs–whichshouldbe plentyoftimeforatriptoHampshire’s mostromanticlayby. Ashotas…adatewithBartKatPizza Express,FleetServices from£1699/apple.com M3TODO WHATIWANT, ANYOLDTIME AppleMacBookPro (M3) HOT FIVE #1 Ain’t itblack? ChooseanM3ProorMax modelandyoucanhaveit inSpaceBlack,whichwe’re toldhasaspecialseal(they don’tlikeitbeingcalled acoating)toreduce fingerprints. Read the full review p74 [ Words Tom Wiggins ]
8 Closeyoureyesandimagineavinylrecord. You’reprobablyseeingabigblackcircle withaholeinthemiddle,right?Inactual fact,thestuffthatrecordsaremadeofis naturallycolourless–theyonlyturnblack whencarbonisaddedtoreducestatic. Sothatshouldmakeyourcollectionfeel rightathomewhenyouspinitonthis see-throughturntable. Somepartsofitarecolouredtoo–youcan choosebetweenblackandwhite–butthe baseistotallytransparent,soit’llmatchthe Swedishfirm’sotherkit.Youcanhookitup toprettymuchanyactivespeakerthanks toaBluetooth5.0module,butyoucanalso turnoffthebuilt-inphonostageifyou’d prefertoconnectittoapairofpassive onesviaaseparateamp. Eitherway, itshouldsoundprettysweet thanksinparttothepre-mountedOrtofon OM5Ecartridge,whichhasastylusmade fromellipticaldiamonds.Theindividual partsareallreplaceabletoo,soyoucan upgradebitslateronifyoufancytaking yourlisteningtothenextlevel…although youmightbelimitedsomewhatbywhat’s availableinwhite. Ashotas…aglassblower’slipsafter accidentallysucking £1100/transpa.rent WORKING GLASSHERO TransparentTurntable HOT FIVE #2 Dustlike startingover Thedustcoverismadeof glasstoo;andalthoughthat makesitheavierthanthe averageplastictype,the hingesarestrongenough toholditupatany angleyoufancy.
9 Happy aptXmas Roundthebackyou’ll findstandardline-out connections,a3.5mmsocket andaUSB-Aport.Itcan convertitsoutputtoaptX LowLatency,SBC, MP3andAAC. Instant harmer Itmightlooklightand fluffybutthisbelt-driven turntableismademainlyfrom aluminiumandtempered glass–andweighs inatarelatively hefty6.5kg.
10 Inthe stare tonight The2.95intouchscreenon thebackisprotectedbytough sapphireglassandcovers 100%ofthesRGBcolour space,soyouknowyoucan trustwhatit’sshowing youtoo. Anotherpay inparadise That£8000pricedoesn’t includealens,buttheM11-P isofcoursecompatiblewith allM-Systemglass.This Summilux-M50mmf1.4 jobwillsetyouback another£4000.
11 We’vegotalonglistoficonicfilmvehicles thatwe’dlovetoseerecreatedinLego–all bodilyprotrusionsremaincrossedforthe Wayne’sWorld Mirthmobile,complete withliquoricedispenser–butthatlistis nowoneshorterafterthearrivalofDune’s insect-likeflyingmachine. Justlikeinthesci-fiepic,thisornithopter’s foursetsofwingsfoldoutfromtheback whenyoupullalever,withabuttonontop thatyoucanpumptomakethemflapup anddown.There’salsoaknobontheside thatmakesthelandinggearretract,plusa cockpitthatopensuptoallowacoupleof theeightincludedminifigstogetonboard. YougetPaulAtreides,LadyJessica, GurneyHalleck,Chani,LetoAtreides, LietKynesandDuncanIdahointhebox, plusArseneWengerinthefloor-length jacketthatoncetriedtoeathimalive(no, alright, it’sactuallythelevitatingBaron Harkonneninhislongrobe). Themodelhasawingspanof79cmand ismadeupof1369pieces,sowhileit’sno LegoEiffelTower(10,001bricks)itshould stillprovidesomewelcomedistraction whileyouwaitforDune:PartTwo tobe releasedinMarch. Ashotas…summeronArrakis £150/lego.com Whenit’seasytofindpicturesonlineofthe PopeinapufferjacketorBanjotheBelfast riotelephant, it’shardtotellexactlywhat’s realorfakethesedays–butLeica’snew camerawillatleasthelpyoutoidentify genuinesnaps. This60MPfull-framerangefinder,which comesineithermattblackorsilver, includesachipthatstampstheimages ittakeswiththephotographer’sname andcameradetails,soifyourunitthrough theContentCredentialswebsiteorLeica’s ownFotosappyoucaneasilyverifythat it’skosherandnotjustsomevirtualvandal muckingaboutwithAI.There’snothing tostoppeopletinkeringwithimagesafter they’vebeentaken,butthoseeditswillbe addedtothephoto’spermanentrecordso you’llalwaysbeabletoseetheoriginaland what’sbeenmodded. With256GBofonboardstoragethere’s plentyofroomforyourauthenticsnaps, butitalsohasaUHS-IISDcardslotifyou needmore.Eitherway,thatencrypted authenticationwillcertainlycomein handyifyou’reeverpassingthePapal Apartmentsandtheoldfelladoespopout insomefreshnewthreads. Ashotas…thePope’sA/Wcollection £8000/leica-camera.com DANCINGINTHE DUNEFLIGHT LegoDuneAtreides RoyalOrnithopter AGAINSTALL MODS(FAKER LOOKATMENOW) LeicaM11-P HOT FIVE #4 HOT FIVE #3 Believing me is easy Ironically,Leica’strademark reddotismissingfrom theM11-P–butifyouneed somereassurancethatthe camera’slegit,thelogo isinscribedonthe topplate.
12 E-bikes group test p64 UnlesstheDeliveroodecathlon(polishing offtendifferenttakeawaysintwodays)is addedtothelistofeventsforParis2024, it’sprobablytimetogiveuponyourdream ofeverwinninganOlympicgoldmedal… butatleastLotuswillstillsellyouabike that’sbasedonthosethathavewonloads. Notthatyou’dbeallowedtoraceonthe Type136,becauseLotushasfitteditwith anelectricmotor. Ofcourse,abikedesignedtogofast needstobelightweight,soitsHPSWatt AssistPromotorweighsjust300gandis pairedwithabatterythat’sdisguisedas awaterbottle.Combinedwiththecarbon fibreframe,thewholethingcomesinat just9.8kg–that’snearly8kglessthanany ofthebikesinourgrouptestonp64(mind you,theydon’tcost20grand). TheFirstEditionversionislimitedto,you guessedit,136individuallynumberedbikes, andcomesinthissharpblackandgold finish–buttwostandardmodelswill bemorereadilyavailableforafewquid lessfromnextspring,whichgivesyou sometimetocutdownonyourtakeaway expenditureandsaveup. Ashotas…ChrisBoardman’sunderpants atthe1992Olympics £20,000/lotuscars.com WHEE’SELECTRIC LotusType 136First Edition HOT FIVE #5 Don’tlook back inlanguor TheType136’smotorhas 125Wofpowerperkilogram topushyoualong,whilethe removable193Whbattery shouldgiveyouupto3hrs ofhelpwithyour pedalling. Shaper maker Lotus’shotshotaero boffinsusedavirtualwind tunneltohelpdesignthebike’s frame,resultinginV-shaped handlebars,wing-shaped forksandvaulted chainstays.
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14 V I T A L S T A T S [ Words Tom Wiggins ] Ruark R810 £3000/ ruarkaudio.com DESK-O INFERNO player),there’sloadsaboutthis newversionthatsetsitapartfrom itspredecessor. O Myfavouritedresser WheretheR7wasallfabric-clad speakersandspindlywoodenlegs, theR810hasapolishedchrome standandgrillesmadefrom sustainableex-trees.Theycover two30mmsilk-dometweeters, apairof100mmwoofersanda 200mmlong-throwsubwoofer, allpoweredbya180WClassA/B amplifier,soitshouldeasilybeable tofillthatcavernousoak-panelled billiardroomofyours.Onthefront there’sa4inTFTscreenthatshows youtheartworkofwhatever’s playing,withRuark’strademark RotoDialontopforcontrolling things,butitalsocomeswith amatchingremote. O Holdingoutforabureau Theremightnotbeaturntable,but theR810canaccommodateonevia itsphonoinputs.Youcanalsotryto kickstarttheCDrevival,butmost peoplewillbemoreinterestedinits wirelesscapabilities,whichinclude AirPlay2,Chromecast,Spotify Connect,TidalConnect,aptX BluetoothandUPnP.Itsupports hi-resfilesupto32-bit/384kHz, andthere’sDABandFMradioon boardtoo.Justremembernotto eatyourdinneroffitbymistake. Moveover,Ikea:Ruark’s furnitureplaysyourtunes andyoudon’tevenneedto buildityourself O Walkonthewildsideboard You’veheardofmusicalchairs, right?Ruarkwantstoplayanew gamecalledmusicaldesks.Well, wesay‘new’,butthisisn’tthe firsttimetheBritishhi-fibods havecreatedapieceoffurniture youcanlistento.TheR810isan “evolution”ofitsR7,whichwas firstreleasedadecadeago;but apartfromthefactthatboth aremoderntakesontheold Cholmondley-Warner-style radiogram(minustherecord IT HAS TWO TWEETERS,A PAIR OF 100MM WOOFERS AND A 200MM SUB, ALL POWERED BY A 180W AMP TheR810hasan HDMIeARCport,so youcanevenplonkyour OLEDontopanduseit asperhapsthemost over-engineeredTV standontheplanet.
15 MORENEW HI-FIKIT O MarantzCD50n Thisslabofpremiumhi-figear keepsyourCDcollectionalive butitsbuilt-inHEOStechalso letsyouuseAirPlay2,Spotify ConnectandTidalConnectto streamfromyourphone. £1600/marantz.com OGoldmundMelos Goldmundisbest-knownfor itshigh-end(andhigh-price) speakers…andthisactivepair isn’tgoingtochangethat.Each onehasasoft-dometweeter anda7inwoofer. £30,000/goldmund.com OB&WZeppelin McLarenEdition TheMcLarenversionofB&W’s popularWi-Fispeakershould pleasebothaudiophilesand petrolheads.Thepictured papayaversionisonlyavailable fromMcLarendealerships. £799/bowerswilkins.com Parkedlife NEXTBASE IQ 4K Ifyoudon’tfancypayingagangoflocalkidsto‘watch’yourcarforyou whenyouparkit,stickaNextbaseiQinsideinstead.Aswellasrecording 4KfootagewhileyoudrivefromAtoB, itcanuseitsown4Gconnection topingyourphoneifitsproximitysensorsandmovementdetectors pickupsomethingdodgygoingonaroundyourmotorwhenyouleave itunattended.Aswellascapturingwhat’sgoingonoutsidethe windscreen, italsorecordsinsidethecabin(andoutoftheback windowifyouaddthe£149rear-facingcamera),makingthisan all-seeingeyeforyourtrustychariot.Maybenowyou’llwashit morethanonceayeartoo,eh? £449/nextbase.co.uk Damn,IwishIwasyourLoewe LOEWE RADIO.FREQUENCY Youprobablydon’trememberwhatyouweredoing100yearsago,but Loewedoes.WhiletheoldWembleyhosteditsinauguralmatch,Disney wasformedandKingTut’stombwasopenedinEgypt,Loewewas makingitsfirstradioreceiver–andthis28WDAB,whichhastwo full-rangespeakersandapassivebassradiatorinside,marksacentury sinceitsrelease.Notthattheylookalike:thefabriccoatinghereisa millionmilesawayfromthequaintoldOE333,asareitsBluetooth5.0 chipand2.6inLCDdisplay–plusarechargeable2200mAhbattery thatshouldlastupto14hrsbetweencharges.Notquite100years, then,butit’lldofornow. £199/int.loewe.tv
16 DON’T MISS THIS [ Words Sam Kieldsen ] Time to accept that series seven ofGoodnight Sweetheart isn’t going to happen, and ease the pain with these new-to-streaming highlights Percy Jackson andtheOlympians RickRiordan’syoungster-friendly, Greek-myth-infusedfantasy novelsgetthelive-actionDisney treatmentinashowco-createdby thewriterhimself(whichmeansit shouldatleastbeaccuratetothe sourcematerial)andstuffedwith familiarfaces–includingthelate LanceReddickinhisfinalrole. S1 /Disney+,20Dec Obliterated Inthisaction-comedyfromthe makersofCobraKai,aspecial-ops teamfoilaplottodestroyLas Vegasandcelebrateinhedonistic style…onlytodiscoverthatthe bombtheydefusedwasadecoy. Nowtheymustbattletheirown hangoversaswellastheterrorists. Well,wedidsay‘action-comedy’, not‘innovativemasterpiece’. S1 /Netflix,30Nov SlowHorses Anewseasonofskulduggery amongLondon’sspiesandspooks isuponus,withthedenizensof SloughHouse–MI5’sdumping groundforsecond-ratesecret agents–onceagaincalledupon toprovetheirworth.We’remostly lookingforwardtothereturn ofGaryOldman’sschlubbybut sharp-as-a-tackJacksonLamb. S3/AppleTV+,1Dec ChickenRun: DawnoftheNugget Asequel23yearsinthemaking, thisfollow-uptoyourfavourite poultry-basedstop-motion movieisaco-productionbetween AardmanAnimationsandNetflix, andseesthereturnofmany familiarfowlfaces(albeitwith somerolesrecastwithnewvoices) astheyuniteagainstanoldenemy. Film/Netflix,15Dec Maestro ThisbiopicofLeonardBernstein andhiswifeFelicia,starringBradley CooperandCareyMulligan,was originallysettobedirectedby MartinScorsese.Cooperreplaced him,presumablybecauseMarty wastoobusydoingTikTokswith hisdaughter,makingthishis firstdirectorialoutingsincethe excellentAStarisBorn. Film/Netflix,20Dec TheArtfulDodger More,boy?!TheDickenssequel nobodyexpected(orpossibly askedfor),thisseriesseesThomas Brodie-Sangstertakingontherole ofOliverTwist’spickpocket.Having sufferedtheghastlyfateofbeing inAustralia,he’snowattempting toleavehiscriminalpastbehind. Butthatpast–specificallyDavid ThewlisasFagin–hasotherideas. S1 /Disney+,29Nov Leave theWorldBehind WrittenanddirectedbyMrRobot creatorSamEsmail,thisapocalypticthrillerfollows amarriedcouple(JuliaRobertsandEthanHawke)whoseholidayisinterruptedby whatappearstobeamassivecyberattack.Butwhatisthetruecauseofthisescalating disaster–andhowwilltheyandtheirchildrensurviveit?Twomysteriousvisitorsclaim tohavetheanswer…andit’snotswitchingtoVirginbroadband. Film/Netflix,8Dec
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18 £449 / tivoli.audio Is that some sort of prop from Saving Private Ryan? Bluetooth was still over 50 years away during World War 2, so this wireless speaker would’ve stuck outlike Tom Hanks toking on a Prime-flavour vape if he’d been filmed using one on aNormandy beach. Butthere’s no denying the handle, knobs, dials and switches give it a retro ‘field radio’ vibe–and the camo green colour helps too. Still, it’s also available in a cream and brown finish ifyou’re more of a Lawrence ofArabia fan… although it’d be even more anachronistic hanging off PeterO’Toole’s camel. So what do allthose buttons do? The three sliders atthe bottom allow you to tweak the EQ,the switch above them selects either Bluetooth 5.3 orthe quarter-inch aux input, and the dial atthe top controls the volume. In the bottom cornerthere are two toggles, one for power and the otherto activate the built-in preamp, which means you can also hook up a turntable or even a guitar. The 40W power amp feeds two 3.5in drivers, with a 10hr battery to keep it playing long afterthe credits ofSpielberg’s epic have rolled. Presumably it’s as tough as a US Army Rangertoo? Not quite. The SongBook is rated to IPX4, so you can splash it with water but you wouldn’t wantto expose itto too much flak. It’s only aboutthe same size as a shoebox butit weighs 3kg, so it’s probably notthe kind of Bluetooth speaker you’d wantto take into the field anyway. That’s especially true of the more powerfulSongBook Max (£599), which looks similar but adds a digital display and a dialfor tuning itsDAB/FM radio. That one weighs 5.2kg– which is a bit much to carry to any beach. TIVOLI SONGBOOK I C O N THE BUILT-IN PREAMP MEANS YOUCAN HOOK UP A TURNTABLE OR AGUITAR [ Words Tom Wiggins ]
NEWSFEED 19 Doyourememberthebursttime? SONYALPHA9 III WhenUsainBoltbrokethe100mworldrecordin2009,hecoveredthe 60mto80msectionofthetrackinjust1.6secs–that’senoughtime forthefull-frameAlpha9IIItofireoffalmost200frames,making theJamaicanspeedsterlook…well,alittlebitsluggish. It’sthanksto aglobalshuttersystemthatreadsallofthe24.6MPsensor’spixels simultaneously,while759-pointautofocusandeightstopsofin-body optical imagestabilisationshouldensureeventhenippiestofsubjects arefrozenintime.Sadlyitcanonlymaintainthatlightning120fpspace for1.6secsbeforetheBionzXRprocessingengineneedsabreather, butevenMrBoltusedtotakearestafter9.58secsorso. £6099/sony.co.uk Bandonthewalk CIRCULAR RINGSLIM Nothingmarksyououtasatouristinastrangecitylikestaringatyour phoneevery30secondsasyoutrytofollowGoogle’sguidancetoyour Airbnb. Ifyouwanttoblendinwiththelocals,Circular’snewwearable useshapticstohelpyounavigateunknownstreets,soyoucanfind yourwayaroundwithouttakingyourphoneoutofyourpocket. Ifthe journeystillstressesyouout, itcanalsousevibrationstoleadyouin guidedbreathingexercises,withawholeheapofbuilt-insensorsto monitoryourheartandrespiratoryrates,bloodoxygenlevelandskin temperature,plustrackingforday-to-daymovementandsleep.You canevenusethehapticstowakeyouupinthemorning. £225/circular.xyz DISNEY+DECIDESTOLETIT GOFORAFIVERAMONTH TheDisney+streamingservicehas launchedanewcheaperoption.The £4.99monthlytierwill letyouwatch stuffin1080pwith5.1audio,butyou’ll havetoputupwithadvertsandwon’t beabletodownloadanythingtowatch offline.Still, itcouldbeworththe£3 savingforalotofpeople. APPLEHASLOSTTOUCH, ANDTHAT’SGOODNEWS Apple’sannoyinglittleTouchBarhas finallybeensenttothebigbininthesky. WiththelaunchofthenewM3-based MacBookPros(reviewedonp74),the 13inmodel,whichwastheonlyonestill offeringthetouch-sensitivestripabove thekeyboard, isnomore.RIP,TouchBar. We’renotsureyou’llbemissed. CANUSB-CTHEDIFFERENCE INTHEBACKBONEONE? Backbonehastweakedthedesignof itsOnesmartphonecontroller(£100, playbackbone.com)soit’llworkwith anyphonesthatuseUSB-C–andyes, thatincludesApple’siPhone15range. Itnowusesmagneticadaptorsfor abetterfit,plustheD-padhasbeen reshapedtobemoreresponsive. AMAZONPREPARESTHERISE OFTHE (DELIVERY)MACHINES Mindyourhead:Amazonisplanningto launchitsdronedeliveryserviceinthe UKbytheendof2024.Startingwith atrialperiodina“lightlypopulated” suburbanarea,PrimeAirwillbeable tocarrypackagesweighingupto2.2kg andaimtodeliverthemtoyourdoorin recordtime.Andsoitbegins…
20 Aseriesthatwasonceonly popularinJapan,andknown foritsdepictionoftheseedyside ofmodernJapaneseculture,Like ADragon (akaYakuza)isnow readytoconquertheworld.And itsfirststopisHawaii. You’reherebecauseyour protagonist,therelentlessly charismaticandupbeatIchiban Kasuga,issearchingforhisbirth mother.Butwhysoserious? Youandyourpalsareinanarea modelledafterWaikikiBeach, soit’sagreattimetohopona Segwayandmakeaholidayof it.Youcangoforaswim,hitthe karaokebar,takeupadelivery job,orsayhitothelocalswhoall wanttobeyourfriend. Well,almostallofthem.You’ll alsorunintonot-so-friendly folkslookingtopickafight. Fortunately,Ichibanandhis alliesarewellequippedtodeliver abeatdown.It’snotquitethe brawlerthattheseriesstarted outas–battlesunfoldlikea turn-basedRPG–butyoucan moveyourcharacteraround asmallring,selectingnearby objectstouseasweapons, scoringextradamageifyou getyourpartymembersin closeproximitybeforeselecting anaction.Andthere’sawide rangeofhurtyoucandish out,notablybytag-teaming withanothercharacteror summoningaspecialguest viayourphone. It’sthatrarekindofgame that’sbothside-splittingly hilariousandalsosteepedin seriousmelodrama,thelatter beingespeciallythecasefor co-protagonistKazumaKiryu. You’llalsobeabletogetmore onhisbackstorywiththenew spin-offTheManWhoErased HisName. FIRSTPLAYLIKEADRAGON: INFINITEWEALTHPS5,PS4, XSX, XB1,PC OUT 26JAN G A M E S [ WordsAlan Wen ]
21 Game reviews p78-81 BLUEY: THE VIDEOGAME PC, PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, Switch Following hot on the heels of Peppa Pig, it’s time for everyone’s favouriteAussie cartoon characters to get a game. There’s a new story set across fourinteractive episodes, while a local co-op letting you play as Bluey, Bingo, Chilli and Bandit means fun forthe whole family. ASGARD’S WRATH 2 Quest Awhole newgame to launch alongside the MetaQuest 3would have been nice, butthere’s still plenty of hype riding on this sequelto one ofthe bestVR action titles on the original Rift headset. It’ll see you doing battle with gods and monsters inAncient Egypt. BATMAN: ARKHAM TRILOGY Switch Having the best Batman games in one package to play anywhere would certainly make a fine festive treatfor any Switch owner.And delaying the release to December hopefully ensures Warner Bros doesn’t botch this portlike it did with Mortal Kombat1. DECEMBER O AVATAR: FRONTIERS OF PANDORA O DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: THE DARK PRINCE O BULLETSTORM VR JANUARY O TEKKEN 8 O ALONE IN THE DARK O APOLLO JUSTICE: ACE ATTORNEY TRILOGY BESTOFCHRISTMASSTOCKINGFILLERS FIRSTLOOKGRANDSPIDERIMPACT,ANYONE? INCOMING Take the urban sprawl of Grand TheftAuto,the amazing aerialtraversal of Spider-Man and the anime charms of Genshin Impact, and you’d end up somewhere close to Project Mugen. Much like Genshin Impact, it’s a free-to-play live-service game hailing from a Chinese studio (Naked Rain), although it’s being made alongside Western studios that have experience in open-world blockbusters. Project Mugen promises a gorgeous urban cityscape thattakes in bustling streets, skyscrapers and beaches,the environment shown atlaunch taking clearinspiration from EastAsian cities (one junction looks a lotlike Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing). Of course, between allthat sightseeing you’ll also be investigating supernatural events as two worlds collide; forthis you’ll have a roster of charming characters armed with a variety of weapons, whether you wantto go rightin with melee action or keep your distance as in a third-person shooter. What’s remarkable is that, with procedural generation that allows for entire cities to be built quickly,the developer claims the game will include multiple cities overits life cycle, based on otherreal places around the globe. You can see why that working title is Mugen, meaning ‘limitless’. PROJECT MUGEN PC, PS5, PS4, iOS, Android
22 Looks,er,interesting? Mansoryisn’tanoutfitknown foritsrestraint.Thisisthelatest offeringfromtheBavaria-based extrememodders,andit’sabit ofahead-turner.Underneathall theextraclobberit’saLandRover DefenderV8,butthere’snothing elsequitelikeitontheroad. Bitshowy,innit? That’sthewholepoint…and they’vedoneasimilarlyOTT executionoftheinteriortoo. Forgetthespartancockpitof adraughtyoldLandy: inhere there’sleather,Alcantaraand lashingsofcarbontocreatea broodingambience. Allshow,nogo? Hardly!TheMansoryDefender hasasupercharged5LV8that’s alsobeenmodded,uppingthe powerto650hp.Yougetnoless than870Nmoftyre-shredding torqueontap–andpeoplewill besuretohearyoucomingthanks tofourexhaustspokingoutfrom beneaththecustomreardiffuser. Expect0-62mphin4.7secsand atopspeedof155mph. Andwhataboutthehandling? It’slikelytobebetterthanyou’d thinkforsomethingsobrick-like, thankstotheall-wheel-drive and24inalloyrimsshodwith 30-profilerubber.Presumably allthatbodykitwillhelpitstick totheroadtoo. Great,here’smydebitcard… Hangon–therearejust10of thesebeingmade,allofwhich aredoubtlessdestinedforprivate collectionsor,justmaybe,the occasionalrun-out.Andbythat, ofcourse,wemeanontarmac: itmightbe4WDbuttheMansory DefenderBlackEditionisn’tmade foroffroadaction.Well, imagineif yougotmudalloverthosewheels andtyres! KIA,THEREAND EVERYWHERE Here’syetanother concept:theKia EV4,basedonthe E-GMPplatform. Outside,thedesign isakintothatof theEV6,onlymore compact.Insideit’s aminimalistaffair thatblendsluscious sustainablefabrics withplentyoftech, includingambient lightingandtwin digitaldisplays. ApotentialTesla Model3slayer? ACROSSTHE CRATEDIVIDE Toyota’snon-curvy Kayoibakoelectric conceptisloosely basedon,ohyes, ashippingcontainer. Themodulardesign allowsittobeset upinmultipleways: Toyotareckons itcouldworkas apeopleorcargo carrier,withowners abletotweakthe layoutdepending ontheirdailyneeds. Itcouldalsowork forcitydeliveries. BRIGHTLIGHTS, BIGSETTEE Howurbancanyou get?HyperUrbanin thecaseofNissan’s latestEVconcept. Thewildexterioris nothingcompared totheinterior,with frontseatsthatfold intothebackones forasofa-style vibe.That,plusthe IntelligentCharging Management System,should makewaitingfor afullbatterymuch moreenjoyable. MansoryDefenderBlackEdition DON’TDREAMIT’SROVER £POA/ mansory.com NEWSDASHBOARD Therearemods everywhere,including frontandrear spoilers pluswidenedarchesand sideskirts.Itrunson beefy24inalloysand low-profiletyres. [ Words Rob Clymo ] W H E E L S
23 [ Words Rob Clymo ] [ Words Tom Wiggins ] Icanskiclearlynow ALECKNUNCHUCKS Everybodyknowsaprèsski isamassivepartofhittingtheslopes;and whilecombiningtheschnappswiththesnowisaskingfortrouble, there’snoreasonwhyyoushouldn’ttakesometunestosootheyour soreheadwhenyougooutthenextmorning.TheseIPX4-rated personalspeakersattachtoyourhelmetandconnecttoyourphone viaBluetooth5.2;they’vegot40mmdriversandan18hrbatteryonthe inside,andglove-friendlycontrolsontheoutside.Youcanalsousethem tochattoNunchucks-wearingpalsacrossthemountain:you’llneed cellularcoveragealongsidetheAleckapp,butthatmeanstherangeis unlimited.Shouldhelpwitharrangingthathangover-bustinglunch. £99/aleck.io Peeponmovin’ NEBULAMARS 3AIR WithNetflixcuttingdownonaccountsharing,youneedtostayone stepaheadofthePasswordPoliceandgetcreativewithhowand whereyouwatchTopBoy.Well,you’llbehardertocatchifyoukeep moving,andthat’llbemucheasierwiththisportableprojector. Ithas a400-lumenbeamandautomaticfocus,keystonecorrectionand screenfit,soit’lleasilyadjustitselftosuityourlatesthideout,plusthe 8Wspeakersshouldgoloudenoughtofill itwithsound. Itcomeswith Netflixpre-installed,meaningit’llbereadytogoasquicklyasyouare, andthere’salsoabuilt-incarryhandle,soit’seasytograbifyouhear sirensapproachingandneedtomakeaspeedyexit. £550/seenebula.com FootballManager 2024Touch £free/AppleArcade Foragamethat’snotoriouslyaddictive, havingaversionyoucancarryaround inyourpocketcouldbeabadidea–even moresoifit’sincludedaspartofyourApple Arcadesubscription. 2024Touch mightbeapared-down versionofFootballManager,butyou’d hardlyknowit.There’splentyofdepth here,withanewDynamicssystemthat allowsyoutoinstilyourownfootballing philosophy,morecontrolovertraining,and theabilitytocreateyourownset-piece routines. ItgenuinelyfeelslikeaPCgame squeezedintoaphone. The3Dmatchengine’srealismwill hardlyhaveEASportsFCworried,but thepatternsofplayfeelmoreauthentic thananythingyou’llseethere.Ah,goon then,justonemoregame… DROP EVERYTHING &DOWNLOAD
24 “IMADEATEMPLATE FROMABAKED BEANCANANDSOMECARDBOARD, ANDTOOK THIS TO AFABRICATOR” STUFFMEETS JeffAnning ELECTRICSKATEBOARDBRAND EVOLVE’SFOUNDERONPLANS, BEANCANSANDCAMPERVANS [ Interview Rachael Sharpe ] The Evolve Onirique, a collaboration with Loaded Boards, is a short board that’s designed to shred the streets. Evolvewas bornout ofmylove ofskateboarding, surfingand snowboarding…andalsoa chancesightingofaguyon anearlyelectricskateboard. IstartedskatingwhenIwas eight.Thenat10Iwatched TheSearchforAnimalChin, alegendaryskatevideo,and Iwashooked.Butitwasalways justforfun–at14Igotinto surfing,thencricket,andlater snowboarding.Icameback frommyfirstboardingtripand sawaguyskatingontheflat butnotpushing–Iwasn’tsure howhewasdoingit,buton acloserlookIsawitwasan electricskateboard.Ihadn’t evenknowntheyexisteduntil then;butIinstantlyknewthat withoneofthese, livingonthe GoldCoastwhereit’ssunnyall year,Icouldskateallthetime. Ididn’tsetouttostartmyown company–Ijustwanteda decentelectricskateboard. Iboughtoneand,whileitwasa lotoffun, itwasrubbishquality andtherewasnoauthenticity withregardtolongboardor skateboarddesign.Idecided Iwantedtotaketheelectrics offthisboardandputthemon aproperone.AtthetimeIwas astructural landscaper,sono backgroundinelectronics,but Ididhaveavisionforaconcept. Imadeatemplatefroma bakedbeancanandsome cardboard,andtookthisto alocalfabricator. IknewIneededaspecialgear thatwouldlockintothewheels. Itooksome97mmSector9 wheelsfromaboardIhadand wentfromthere.Sixweeks laterIbolteditalltogetherand itworked…muchbetterthan theboardIoriginallybrought. Whenmysurfmatessawthe newboard,thefiveofthemall askedmetomakethemone. I’mgoodatgettingshitdone, soIgotstartedstraightaway. Thefirsthurdlewasgetting enoughSector9wheelsso IcalledBillabong,whoownthe company,andaskedifIcould buy10setsatawholesale price.Icouldn’tbelieveitwhen theyinvitedmetotheirHQand saidtheywantedalook. Sector9’sbrandmanagerhad agoonmyboardandthought itwasthebestthingever. Imethisboss,andtheywere allfrothingatthemouth.Iknew nothingaboutmeetingslike this,butitdidforcemetofind electricsonabiggerscaleand lookatthenumbers–they wantedtogetcostsdownand setupalicenceagreement. Itwasakickinthegutswhen theydecidedtheyweren’t readytotakeittomarketas aSector9product. Icalledmywifeandsaid:“What doyousaywedoitourselves?” Iwasstrugglingwiththe landscapingatthetime,and wehadamortgageandcar payments.Mywifesuggested wesellourhouseandusethe moneyfromthesaletobuythe mouldsIneeded. ThedrawbacktotheUK electricskateboardscene willalwaysbetheweather, butthere’sagrowingmarket ofpassionateskaters. Theelectricmovementinthe UKseemstobeexpanding quickly,thoughI’vefoundit tobeveryseasonal.Wehave anEvolveshopattheOlympic Park[inLondon]andrunrides throughthesummer–start attheshop,aroundthepark andthenafewbeersinthe pubnextdoor–it’sprettycool. Therearealsotrackdaysonce amonthatHogHill inIlford, wherewehirethebiketrack andhavegreatfundoinglaps. Andwewererunninganevent calledtheUKOpenuntilCovid hit;we’rehopingtogetthat backupandrunningfor2024. MakingstuffisinmyDNAand I’mafanofallthingselectric. IdriveanelectricVWcombi. It’sa1955split-screenthatI’ve fittedwithTeslabatteriesand it’sjustmint.Wemakeourown stuff, it’sjustwhatwedo. RidinganEvolveboardisall aboutfunandbeinginthe moment–andanyfuture productswillhavethe sameethos. Youcanexpectanewproduct tobeannouncedsoon,with twowheelsthistime–weare justsoexcitedaboutit.
25 Part ofQAcoustics’ new 5000 stereo and home cinema series,the 5040 floorstanding speakers (RRP £999 a pair)redefine how hi-fi can look and sound. The C3 Continuous Curved Cone profile in the mid/bass driver elevates the 5000 series beyond its class with smoother high-frequency sounds and superior bass dynamics. You can also be assured these speakers will bring sophistication to any listening room thanks to their contemporary design lines. They come in a choice of Satin Black, Satin White, Santos Rosewood and HolmeOak finishes–and the winner ofthis month’s competition will be given the option to pickwhichevertheyprefer. TheQEDReferenceXT40i speaker cable,worth £130 (for 2x 2m), is the perfect partnerforthe QAcoustics 5040 speakers,rounding offthis prize with best-in-class performance and a lifetime guarantee.Visit qacoustics.co.uk and qed.co.uk for more info. HOW TO ENTER Grab your chance ofwinning this premium audio prize by heading to stuff.tv/win and answering this question: WHAT IS THE DRIVER TECHNOLOGY IN THE Q ACOUSTICS 5040 CALLED? A…C3ContinuousCable B…C3ContinuousCabinet C…C3ContinuousCurvedCone Terms & conditions:1Open toUKresidents aged 18 or over. 2 Entries close 11.59pm, 29Dec 2023. 3 Prizes are as stated. 4Prizes are non-transferable. 5Only one entry per person. Full Ts & Cs: kelsey.co.uk/competition-terms-conditions/ Promoter:KelseyPublishing Ltd, TheGranary,DownsCourt, YaldingHill,Yalding, Maidstone,Kent ME18 6AL. HURRY! COMPETITION CLOSES 29 DECEMBER 2023 WIN A PAIR OF Q ACOUSTICS 5040 SPEAKERS AND QED XT40i CABLES! TOTAL PRIZE VALUE £1129!
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29 F I RST TEST ONE P LUS OP EN We’re into the great wide Open oldable phones feel like they’re coming of age: more robust, cheaper andwithout compromises on performance. OnePlus has entered the market with theOpen… butit already feels familiar.That’s becausewe went hands-on a year ago with theOppo FindN2, a China-only foldable from OnePlus’s parent company.And while theOpen is closerto the newlyannounced FindN3,there is a lotthat carries overfrom theN2. This phone’s key rivals are, predictably,Google’s Pixel Fold and Samsung’sGalaxy Z Fold5… both of which it undercuts on price at £1599. TheOnePlusOpen is available in an emerald green finish in the UK and EU, while the US gets a smart matt black option too. The two halves clasp together nicely and sitflush with one another; this phone has quite angular styling, butitfeels nicely tactile in the hand–and there’s no unsightly gap between the two sections. What some might consider unsightly is the trio of Hasselblad-enhanced cameras housed in a chunky roundel on the rear. It’s an eye-catching arrangement, notleast because ofits sheer physical size. Butfoldable phones really are getting lighter and thinner: theOpen clocks in at11.7mm thick folded, and 5.8mm when opened out. The weightisn’t miles off oflast year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max. F [WordsDanGrabham] £1599/go.stuff.tv/Open The firstOnePlus foldable phone has finally arrived–can ittake the fight toSamsung’s mightyGalaxyZFold5?Well, it’s certainlygotthe moves…
2 1 5 30 F I RST TEST ONE P LUS OP EN Open wide The famedOnePlus alert slider comes to theOpen, which is a welcome addition.OnePlus says its size has been increased for this phone, while its position has been adjusted for one-handed operation. It sits in a module that’s smallerthan on theOnePlus 11. Open space TheOpen has 6.3in outer and 7.82in innerAMOLEDdisplays, and both are capable of120Hz refresh rates.On the main display, there is a crease. It doesn’t distractfrom what’s on there generally, but with the screen offit’s clearly visible. Open sesame The hinge is a key component of any foldable, and the difference between this patented Flexion design and early foldables is night and day: it opens smoothy and slaps shut nicely, and there’s no judderiness at all.OnePlus says this hinge has 69 parts. Open eyes This phone’s camera capabilities are really good for a foldable: it’s a flagship-worthy set of snappers. You’re getting a new-gen Sony 48MP unit with pixel stacking, a 64MP 3x periscope telephoto with 6x hybrid zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide. Open source TheOpen’s spec sheetis very impressive, including a Snapdragon 8Gen 2–which means 5Gaswell asWi-Fi 7 support out ofthe box. There’s also a large 16GBdollop ofRAM, butthere’s only one storage size available: an ample 512GB. 1 2 3 4 5 24hours withthe OnePlusOpen Good Meh Evil 1min 2mins 5mins 10mins 1hr 1hr15mins 1hr 20mins 3hrs 5hrs Theimages I’vetakenindaylight are reallycrispandclear. Thisphoneis IPX4-rated, soitwill withstandsplashes. Oooh, it’snotquiteasheavyinthe handas Iwasexpecting. Ireallylovethisgreenfinish–and there’s thealert slider! There’s a fingerprint sensorinthe powerbutton. It’snotreallyneeded. Multitaskingrequires a littlebitof learningtogetthemostoutofit. The120xdigital zoomgivesdecent results atfullwhackingoodlight. There’s still a creasedownthedisplay, whichis sometimesnoticeable. Thecameras aresuperb–whatyou’d expectfromanon-foldableflagship.
3 4 31 F I RST TEST ONE P LUS OP EN Techspecs 8hrs 10hrs 20hrs 21hrs 24hrs Stillnowireless charging,nodoubt becauseofthelackof spaceinside… I love swiping to splitthe big screen into two apps. Foldables are fun! The battery is running down fairly quickly…butIhavebeenusingit a lot. I’mstrugglingtogetgoodzoomshots inlowlight.Needa tripodorgimbal. …butthereis speedywiredcharging at67W.Emptytofull in42mins. STUFF SAYS +++++ Lower price, brilliant build: the OnePlus Open is the finest foldable we’ve seen yet There are nowa bunch ofreally brilliantfoldable phones on the market–butthey still need lower pricing to really jump into anything nearthe mainstream.WhatOnePlus has produced here is a very fine option, made without compromises: everything is fully flagship-class. The only question is,who will actually buy it? @dangrabham Q Open bar As with otherfoldables, there’s a taskbar; but OnePlus has introduced an option to get quick access to recentfiles and photos. This worksOK, but could do with having more of a universal search. Q Open system TheOpen is running OxygenOS 13.2,though an update based on Android 14 is promised soon. There are four years offeature updates guaranteed (five years for security updates). Q Open letter Typing is a little strange on the larger display, but then itis on pretty much every tablet screen too. Whatis challenging to fluid typing is thatthe keyboard splits so you don’ttype across the fold. Q Open windows OxygenOS has integrated some sweet software touches for working across the larger display. Open Canvas makes using up to three app windows pretty easy, and you can save preset workspaces. TheOnePlusOpen has some clever software touches to helpyou get more done.Here are ourfave features: Screens 7.82in 2440x2268 + 6.3in 2484x1116 120HzOLEDCPUSnapdragon 8Gen 2 RAM 16GB OSAndroid 13 +OxygenOS 13 Storage 512GB Cameras 48+64+48MP rear, 20+32MP front Battery4805mAh (USB-C)Dimensions 153x143 x5.8mm unfolded,153x73x11.7mm folded, 245g Openforbusiness
The lamplightleecher Targus EcoSmart Writing angry letters might help your eco campaign, but every keyboard recharge counts against your cause. Here’s a solar solution: cells across the top harvest energy from lighting indoors and out. Oh, and 85% ofthe casing is made from recycled materials. £100 / targus.com The quieterQWERTY Razer Pro TypeUltra Ifthe rat-a-tat of a mechanical keyboard is music to your ears,this isn’tthe instrument for you:foam damping silences the switches so you can hammer out paragraphs without deafening your co-workers. You also get backlighting, plus supportfor macros and remapping. £160 / razer.com The premium peripheral CherryKW XULP When your brain is firing at 400 words per minute, you need a keyboard that can keep up.This one is equipped with Cherry’s MX ultra-low-profile switches, giving it speedy response times that won’t delay your magnum opus. Each key is rated to withstand 50 million strokes. £250 / cherry.co.uk The call commander Dell Premier CollaborationKB900 Fumbling forthe mute button is no way to make a good impression. Keen to be the coolest suitin the Zoom room?The KB900 puts key commands under your digits: mute your mic,toggle your camera, share your screen or open the chat, all with a double tap. It’s actually Zoom-certified. £130 / dell.com The tented typer LenovoGo Wireless SplitKeyboard Keyboard warriors aren’tinvincible: lambasting thewebwith snarky comments can soon take its toll on the joints. Reduce the strain of being a pain with this wonky board: a cork support gives your wrists a rest, while the divided design matches the natural position of your paws. £100 / lenovo.com The featherweightfriend HP 350 Weight matters when you’re working out of a backpack.Need keys to match your nomadic lifestyle?This streamlined set hits the scales atjust 340g. Going easy on your baggage allowance, it keeps features trimmed to a row of shortcut keys… and has a battery life of up to two years. £40 / hp.com The wieldy wedge Logitech PebbleKeys 2K380S Your fingertips aren’t square, so why would your keys be? Rounded in allthe right places,this travel-friendly typerfeatures scooped keys that greet your fingers like a business-class seat. Wedge-shaped to give your wrists a gentle raise, it can switch seamlessly between up to three devices. £45 / logitech.com The metallic miniature Logitech MXKeys Mini Asecond Logitech on this listtells you a lot aboutthe brand’s prowess with dinky peripherals.This one’s a natty tapperin a compactformat, with allthe smarts ofthe full-size MXKeys: programmable shortcuts, proximity lighting and support for up to three paired devices. £110 / logitech.com 1 Key change Many models let you customise certain shortcut buttons via a desktop app. The best allow you to remap any key and create program-specific commands. 2 Light music Backlighting helps yourfingers find their way, butit can drain the battery–especially RGB. Smarter boards only switch on when your mitts come close. UPVOTED C O M PA C T C O M P O SER S MEC H A NIC AL M AES T R O S FULL-SIZE FIN GER B O B S 32 HOW TO DECIDE Different keystrokes for differentfolks: Chris Rowlands picks outthe best boards to replace your antique typewriter WIRELESS KEYBOARDS
3 Unplugged All wireless keyboards need electricity. Simpler types use off-the-shelf batteries for months of power, while premium options usually charge via USB-C. 4 With feeling Scissor keys tend to be slim, quiet and relatively responsive, but mechanical switches take the win when it comes to precision, customisation and tactile feedback. UPVOTED 33 The buildable board KeychronQ1 Pro Remapped keys are coolfor your average tapper, buttrue typing nerds need total control. Enterthe Q1Pro:with a machined aluminium chassis, it’s the ultimate in desktop engineering.Switches can be hot-swapped for bespoke fingertip feedback (no soldering necessary), stabilisers stopwobble on bigger keys, and a foam layer plus double gaskets reduce rattle. Feeling visionary?Buy theBarebone version (£159) and add custom keycaps. £176 / keychron.uk
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STUFF AWARDS 35 The bad news is that everything is terrible and humanity seems to be spiralling towards several different varieties of destruction at once. The good news is that some great tech has come out this year – and it’s time for Stuff to reveal the very best. See, you’ve forgotten about the bad news already…
36 STUFF AWARDS P H O N E O F T H E Y E A R APPLE iPHONE 15 PRO MAX Future nerd historians may rememberthis as the first premium iPhone to ditch the Lightning portfor USB-C (a change that brings a chunk of benefits like quickertransfer speeds and easierSSDhook-up), but we found so much more than thatto adore aboutthe iPhone 15 Pro Max. Its titanium body is a little lighter and feels a lot nicerin the hand than the previous Pro Max, andApple’s improvements to the camera–such as a new 5x telephoto zoom replacing the 3x zoom –are wonderful, particularly if you like to sneak up on badgers and take pictures ofthem when they’re minding their own business. The upgrade from the 14 Pro Max feels evolutionary rather than radical, and we might be some years from the next major design breakthrough, butthis is stillthe bestiPhone yet. from £1199 / apple.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Google Pixel 8 Pro O Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra ALSO SHORTLISTED Honor Magic5 Pro O OnePlus 11 O Xiaomi13 Pro O Sony Xperia I V Chip building The new A17 Pro chip brings a performance bump of around 10%, though you won’t see any difference with everyday use. Bump it up To get the most out of the new USB-C port’s fast-transfer powers, you’ll need to upgrade the cable in the box to a USB 3 one.
STUFF AWARDS 37 M I D - R A N G E P H O N E O F T H E Y E A R GOOGLE PIXEL 7a Whosaidmid-pricedmobiles arefull of compromiseandlackingincharacter? UpstartbrandNothingcares littlefortheold conventions, andthisyear servedupits second smartphone–abig-screenblowerthat’s effortlesslystylish,packedwithpersonalityand morethanpowerfulenoughtohandleallyour day-to-daydemands.Itsbespokeandbloat-free AndroidUI is a joytouse,theOLEDscreenis almost amatchforthebigflagships, andthe camerasholdtheirowninallbutthemost challengingconditions.What’smore,nobody will sayawordifyoupull aniPhoneoutofyour pocket,butthePhone2’s light-upchassis is guaranteedtoattractenvious comments. from £579 / nothing.tech HIGHLY COMMENDED Asus Zenfone 10 ALSO SHORTLISTED Sony Xperia 5 V O Motorola Edge 40 Pro A F F O R D A B L E P H O N E O F T H E Y E A R NOTHING PHONE 2 Despite costing less than half as much as the newPixel8Pro,Google’sPixel 7a is anythingbut bargain bin fodder.Sure,the back is made of plastic,butthere’snothingsecond-rateabout therecycledaluminiumframe,GorillaGlass screenandIP67waterproofing,whilethe6.1in 90Hz2400x1080OLEDscreen,4385mAh battery,8GBofRAMand128GBof storage aren’ttobesniffedateither.Thecamera setup puncheswell aboveitsweight,withthe64MP mainand13MPultrawidesnappersdelivering superbstills fortheprice,evenwhenthere’snot muchlight.Throwinwireless charging, andit’s prettyeasytomakeanargumentfor saving yourself a chunkof cashbypocketinga 7a. £449 / store.google.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Honor 90 ALSO SHORTLISTED Samsung Galaxy A54
38 STUFF AWARDS M I D - R A N G E T V O F T H E Y E A R TCL ROKU TV 55RC630K Whileit’s always temptingtohaveyourhead turnedbythelatest,greatesttechnological innovations, sometimes allyoureallyneedis for somethingtobedonewell–andthat’sprecisely whatyougetwiththis ‘regular’SonyOLED. Theremightbenomicro-lens arrayorquantum dotshere,butwereviewedthe55invariantof theA80LinMayandfoundits imagequalityso watchableandassured(withbothmovies and gaming)thatwehadlittleelseinmindwhenit cametochoosingourmid-rangeTVof2023. Theaudioperformanceisn’tquiteas impressive, butthere’sbarelya singletellyonearththat wouldn’tbeimprovedwiththeadditionof a separatesoundsystem.Andwhileit’s a littlebit chubbierthansome,youwon’tnoticethatwhen you’retransfixedbyits compellingpicture. £1599 / sony.co.uk HIGHLY COMMENDED Samsung QE55S90C ALSO SHORTLISTED Hisense 65U7KQTUK A F F O R D A B L E T V O F T H E Y E A R SONY XR-55A80L If a 55inQLEDfor £400 seems like a steal, itis–and with this modelthere really don’t seem to be any glaring omissions orflaws to give you pause before handing overthe readies. TCL’s 4K 60Hz panel supports all flavours of HDR,there are fourHDMI inputs available for hooking up all your gear, and you get Roku’s intuitive streaming functionality baked rightinto the set. Picture quality obviously can’t compete with the latest LGOLEDs, but atthis price it’ll still satisfy all butthe most picky viewers. Even its out-of-the-box sound quality is impressive, and it also features a clever stand that can be adjusted to sit stably on both wide and narrow units.Allthings considered,the RC630K is a triumph forthrifty telly addicts. £400 / tcl.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Amazon Fire TV 55in Omni QLED ALSO SHORTLISTED TCL 55C645
STUFF AWARDS 39 P R E M I U M T V O F T H E Y E A R LG OLED65C3 The humble gogglebox has come a long way in recent years,to the extentthat’s it’s no longer a box at all but a wide and wafer-thin slab of entertainment.Not every TVis created equal, however… and that’s perfectly illustrated by the LGC3. There’s nothing particularly envelope-pushing aboutthis 65-incher; it’s really just a slightly better version ofthe previous generation. But while it may not plough through any new ground, it simply does everything so well that we couldn’t help but hand it this year’s gong. LGis currently making a lot of the bestOLEDtellies around (the factthatit’s the only company actually producing theOLED panels probably helps), and this is a brilliantly accomplished example that’s a dab hand at everything picture-related: films, TVand gaming. Its refined webOSinterface andwide range of connectivity options are merely added bonuses. £1899 / lg.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Philips 65OLED937 ALSO SHORTLISTED Philips 55OLED907 Saviour’s play Just one of the four HDMI 2.1a sockets is eARC-enabled, but all support the tech required to maximise gaming performance. Tired for sound The OLED65C3 has a 2.2-channel speaker array that will accept a Dolby Atmos signal, but it won’t match a proper speaker setup.
40 STUFF AWARDS S O U N D B A R O F T H E Y E A R S T R E A M I N G S E R V I C E O F T H E Y E A R SENNHEISER AMBEO MINI APPLE TV+ While we absolutely loved Sennheiser’s originalAmbeo soundbar, its gargantuan dimensions made it pretty unsuitable for anyone who didn’t have a living room the size of a cinema. EntertheAmbeo Mini, a shrunk-down version (in price as well as size) that offers a similarly scintillatingDolbyAtmos soundtrack in a more practical package. It doesn’t nailthe verticality ofAtmos as well as its big brother, butit’s more than capable of going wide and expansive; and with strong buttightly controlled bass and great automatic room calibration,this thing punches well above its size and weight.Home cinema fans looking for a way to up their setup’s audio performance could do a lot worse than adding anAmbeo Mini. £699 / sennheiser-hearing.com Apple TV+ has been quietly exceeding itselffor a while now, butthis yearit became the one streaming service we’d struggle to give up. It’s always been about quality over quantity, which is a polite way of sayingNetflix and PrimeVideo have much bigger catalogues; but when there are fantastic shows like Foundation, Silo and Severance to add to longer-running must-watches such as Slow Horses (above), Ted Lasso and ForAll Mankind, it makes the affordable monthly fee look like a total bargain.Apple TV+ might not have delivered a big movie hitin 2023 like it did with 2021’sOscar-winning Coda (although Killers ofthe Flower Moon may still arrive before the end ofthe year), but we’re pretty sure this StuffAward will make up forthat. £8.99/m / tv.apple.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Philips Fidelio FB1 ALSO SHORTLISTED LG S95QR O Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre HIGHLY COMMENDED Disney+ ALSO SHORTLISTED Amazon Prime Video O Netflix
STUFF AWARDS 41 P O R TA B L E S P E A K E R O F T H E Y E A R ORANGE AMPS ORANGE BOX Itisn’tjustthe vinyl,wood,wicker and leather styling ofthis guitar-amp-inspired speaker that screams ‘retro throwback’; it also has a genuine analogue amplifierinside, allowing itto deliver awonderfullywarm and engaging sound with a subtlety of depth and tone you won’tfind in many digital-only rivals. The knobs and switches are equally old-skool, as is the lightthatflashes if you pump the volume too loud, butit does make some welcome concessions to modernity–like aptXstreaming and a battery that should last up to 15hrs between charges.Other speakers might offer more features, butthey don’t come much more likeable than this. £275 / orangeamps.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Soundcore Motion X600 ALSO SHORTLISTED Huawei Sound Joy O LG Xboom 360 XO3 W I R E L E S S S P E A K E R O F T H E Y E A R SONOS ERA 300 The Era300 makes no apologies for being a premium speakerwith a price to match–but justtwo minutes after you first hearitin action you’ll be on the blowertoNatWest begging them to raiseyour overdraftlimit soyou can stick one in every room ofthe house.What sets it apartfrom the restis its spatial audio performance,which unveils fresh details and nuance in tracks you’ve heard hundreds of times before; but don’tworry, it does a supremelyimpressive jobwhen it comes to good ol’ stereo stufftoo. That’s notto mention allthe usual multiroom brilliance that you getfrom allSonos speakers–butthe Era 300is the best ofthe bunch. £449 / sonos.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Devialet Mania ALSO SHORTLISTED Bluesound Pulse M
42 STUFF AWARDS P R E M I U M TA B L E T O F T H E Y E A R SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 ULTRA No, bigger doesn’t always mean better, especiallywhen it comes towhatis ostensibly a portable device–butSamsung’s flagship Tab is large and in charge. The firstthing you notice aboutthe Tab S9Ultra is its gorgeously bright, crisp and colour-rich 14.6in screen, butit’s not all about show:this tablet has the internals, features and build quality to match its bumper size, delivering engaging sound from its speakers, days of battery life, an IP68-rated aluminium build and beautifully optimised software. It even comeswith anSPen stylus included (take note,Apple!).This is comfortably the best premium Android tablet you can buy. from £1199 / samsung.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Apple iPad Pro ALSO SHORTLISTED Google Pixel Tablet O OnePlus Pad O Lenovo Tab Extreme A F F O R D A B L E TA B L E T O F T H E Y E A R AMAZON FIRE HD 8 KIDS PRO Anyone overthe age of12 mightfeel a tad self-conscious wielding this tabletin public owing to its gaudy anti-shock bumpers, but there’s no denying its kid appeal, practicality or value for money. The 8inHDdisplay andDolby Atmos audio will have little ones enraptured, particularly with the includedAmazon Kids+ subscription, which will keep them supplied with educational and entertainment content; and the hexa-core processor and 2GB of RAM ensure things stay ticking along nicely, with a battery that’s good for up 13hrs. There’s even a two-year warranty included, which is likely to come in very handy if your offspring ever decide to testthose bumpers to the limit… £150 / amazon.co.uk HIGHLY COMMENDED Lenovo Tab M10 Plus ALSO SHORTLISTED Oppo Pad Air
STUFF AWARDS 43 P R E M I U M L A P T O P O F T H E Y E A R M A I N ST R E A M L A P TO P O F T H E Y E A R APPLE MACBOOK AIR 15IN MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 9 While it’s difficultto pointto a single feature ofthis model and say it’s mind-blowingly new,that’s simply becauseApple has been delivering wonderful mobile Macs again and again. This supersized version ofthe MacBook Airis no exception: it’s an imperious laptop for anyone who needs a bit more screen acreage than the 13-incher, with its M2 chip capable of handling almost any non-specialisttask with ease–all you need to do is choose how much RAM and storage you want. It might notfeel like the most exciting laptop around, butthat’s just because we’ve come to expect quiet all-round brilliance like this from its makers. from £1399 / apple.com The Surface Pro name may be well worn, but the latest edition of Microsoft’s 2-in-1feels anything but outdated. We think it’s the best device ofits type (a laptop thattransforms into a tablet)in the world, even ifit might not be the besttablet orthe bestlaptop alone. That would be missing the point ofthis brilliant convertible,though. It’s a 13in productivity monster with cutting-edge hardware– max outthe specs and you’ll be getting an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage–plus user-friendly design touches, a crisp 2880x1920 120Hz touchscreen and great multitasking capabilities. If you’re looking for a brilliant do-it-all device for work and play,there’s absolutely no need to delve beyond this Surface. from £1099 / microsoft.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED ALSO SHORTLISTED Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro O Apple MacBook Pro (M2) 16in HIGHLY COMMENDED Dell XPS 13 ALSO SHORTLISTED Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
44 STUFF AWARDS G A M I N G L A P T O P O F T H E Y E A R ASUS TUF GAMING A15 Dispelling the myth that gaming laptops need to be enormous, expensive,RGB-infested desktop replacements ratherthan,y’know, actual laptops that you can carry around in a backpack,theAsus TUFGamingA15won our hearts with itsvalue and practicality. While it still might not blend in atwork, and it’s by no means the most powerful15in 1080p laptop outthere, itwill still comfortably run demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 at a steady 60fps–and it does sowithout making a load ofracket.Atrip to NightCitywill put a dentin the 9hr battery life, butthat’s still respectable for somethingwith this much grunt. Whatyouwill struggle to put a dentin is that steel chassis.Asus has puttheA15 through theUS military’s tests, so it’s more than prepared for a train journey to Coventry–andwhen you get there you can fire up theRGB backlighting.You love itreally. £1050 / asus.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Medion Erazer Beast X40 ALSO SHORTLISTED Alienware X16 O Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 Relative weighs At 2.2kg the A15 isn’t going to make a MacBook Air feel overweight, but it’s array of ports puts Apple to shame. The test will follow The fitted 512GB of storage could fill up quite quickly if you’re installing lots of AAA games, but it’s easy to add more.
STUFF AWARDS 45 G A M I N G G A D G E T O F T H E Y E A R THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS The PSVR2 had a lot stacked up againstit at OF THE KINGDOM its launch early in the year: an asking price greaterthan the PS5 console you need to run it; a lack of backwards compatibility with games forthe original PSVR; and simply a lack of new games overall. Yet Sony’s revamped virtualreality headset had us entranced with the myriad improvements it offered overits predecessor. The simple one-cable setup, grown-up Sense controllers and gorgeous 2000x2040OLEDdisplay allrepresent massive generational glow-ups–and thankfully the supply ofVR titles has already grown substantially since launch day. It’s still an expensive add-on for an expensive console, butits potential is clearly massive. £530 / playstation.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Asus ROG Ally ALSO SHORTLISTED Retroid Pocket Flip O Logitech G Cloud G A M E O F T H E Y E A R SONY PLAYSTATION VR 2 Following up a stone-cold classic likeBreath of theWild must have posed quite the challenge forNintendo.Butratherthan taking the simpler option of delivering more ofthe same,the developers embraced chaos and creativity. And kudos to them for doing so, because Tears oftheKingdom feels genuinely fresh. It’s an epic open-world adventure that challenges its players to think outside the box at every turn. By giving Link the ability to manipulate, move and combine objects,the game allows the playerto feel like both inventor and storyteller, ratherthan a mere participant, makingTotK yet anotherirresistible reason to buy a Switch. £45 / nintendo.co.uk HIGHLY COMMENDED Street Fighter 6 ALSO SHORTLISTED Baldur’s Gate 3 O Marvel’s Midnight Suns O Metroid Prime Remastered
46 STUFF AWARDS O V E R - E A R H E A D P H O N E S O F T H E Y E A R NOTHING EAR 2 Focal is no strangerto the world of high-end over-ear headphones, butthis is the French company’s first pairto come equipped with active noise-cancelling tech. They also come in at a price that makes most oftheir competitors (including models we’ve heartily recommended as the best noise-cancelling cans around)look positively bargain-buckety in comparison, so they’d have to be pretty chuffin’ specialto earn a nod from us.Needless to say,they are:these handcrafted cans offer not only glorious audio (including hi-res, thanks to a wired listening option) but also excellent battery life and a comfortable fit. Serve with yourfavourite albums and a tipple of your choice and you’ve gotthe recipe for an evening of sonic nirvana. £699 / focal.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Dyson Zone ALSO SHORTLISTED JBL Tour One M2 O Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 A F F O R D A B L E H E A D P H O N E S O F T H E Y E A R FOCAL BATHYS They might be a tad more pricey than the unbelievably cheap Ear1 model, butNothing’s Ear 2 buds are still extremely wallet-friendly for quality true wireless headphones.After all,the see-through design means they look striking and they offer properly lively sound (including supportfor hi-res, which isn’t a given on cheaper buds). TheANCis also impressive, effectively shushing passing cars and doing a decentjob of suppressing sudden loud noises, but perhaps the best improvement overthe originals comes from the app, which is more streamlined and offers more options than before, including EQ controls. Considering the competition in this price range ittakes something specialto stand out–and that’s exactly whatthese buds are. £129 / nothing.tech HIGHLY COMMENDED Soundcore VR P10 ALSO SHORTLISTED Huawei FreeBuds 5
STUFF AWARDS 47 I N - E A R H E A D P H O N E S O F T H E Y E A R SONY WF-1000XM5 For several product generations now, Sony has hogged the top ofthe tree when it comes to active noise-cancelling true wireless headphones. The WF-1000XM5s are the fifth iteration ofits best noise-killing buds–and another category-defining product that, in the face ofincreasingly tough competition, makes improvements and tweaks across the board. The new24-bit audio processor and 8.4mm drivers deliver an engaging sonic performance, with impactful bass,fantastic clarity and heaps of detail, while the reshaped buds are a betterfitthan ever, using foam/rubber hybrid tips to keep them snug for hours. The head-tracking for Sony’s 360 RealityAudio spatial sound is a neattrick ratherthan an essentialfeature, butif you’re looking for well-rounded true wireless in-ears with zero weaknesses then these are the ones to get. £259 / sony.co.uk HIGHLY COMMENDED Technics EAH-AZ80 ALSO SHORTLISTED UE Fits O Urbanista Phoenix A day in their life You’ll get about 8hrs out of the buds before they need to go back into the case – which holds two full top-ups for a total of 24hrs. Setting better Sony’s companion app is about as comprehensive as they come. It’s full of ways to adjust settings and change modes.
48 STUFF AWARDS C A M E R A O F T H E Y E A R FUJIFILM X-T5 Smartphone cameras may be improving allthe time, butthey still have nothing on a tool built specifically forthe job.And in a year of excellent camera releases,this all-rounder stood outfor us. It might be a mainstream model with an unsexyAPS-C sensor, but Fujifilm’s high-tier hybrid just does everything you ask ofitreally well–and all in a lovely retro-looking package. It excels with stills, delivering detail and dynamic range in abundance (notto mention Fuji’s beloved film simulation filters and a rapid 15fps burst speed); and it’s a dab hand at video too, offering users a choice between 6K footage at 30fps or 4K at a smooth 60fps, all in rich 10-bit4:2:2 colour. Controls, handling and battery life are all great as well, while the extensive lineup of compatible lenses means you’ve got plenty offlexibility when it comes to what you’re shooting– making this a true master of alltrades. £1699 / fujifilm-x.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Leica Q3 ALSO SHORTLISTED Panasonic Lumix S5II O Sony ZV-E1 Mysterious raise The 3in touchscreen flips up and down, and angles to one side if needed, but there’s also a sharp OLED viewfinder. Eye will follow We love the X-T5’s speedy autofocus: tap any point on the screen and it’ll keep pace while you hold down the shutter.
STUFF AWARDS 49 Completist thing There’s no microSD slot, so make sure you specify enough storage for your needs: it comes with 32GB, 64GB or 128GB. With or without glue The Go 3 is magnetic, and there are lots of other mounting options including a sticky pad, a clip and even a pendant. D R O N E / A C T I O N C A M O F T H E Y E A R INSTA360 GO 3 Ifthe goal of an action camera is to be as lightweight and portable as possible (allthe betterto be mounted on your bike, head, body, surfboard or big toe),then the tiny Insta360Go 3 is the best one around. What sets it apartfrom the GoPros andDJIs ofthis world, though, is the ability to make it bigger when required by adding theAction Pod–a separate unit that significantly boosts battery life and includes physical buttons plus a 2.2in flip-up touchscreen. You can also use theAction Pod on its own as a wireless remote with live view. Video capture maxes out at 2.7K, so there’s stillroom for improvement when it comes to outrightresolution, and it’s a pity theActionPod isn’t aswaterproof as the camera itself; but with impressive performance and unbeatable versatility,the Insta360Go 3 is stillthe first cam we’d grab whether we’re going hiking or hang-gliding. from £380 / insta360.com HIGHLY COMMENDED GoPro Hero12 Black ALSO SHORTLISTED DJI Mini 3
50 STUFF AWARDS F I T N E S S T R A C K E R O F T H E Y E A R GARMIN EDGE 1040 SOLAR Anelegantdesignandbeautifullycolourful AMOLEDtouchscreengivetheForerunner965 thelookandfeelofGarmin’spricieroutdoorsy smartwatches,butmakenomistake:this is a fitnesswatchthroughandthrough. It’sbursting attheseamswithtrackingcapabilities, including amulti-frequencypositioningmodethat ensuresdata collectionis rightonthemoney whetheryou’rerunning,ridingorhiking.While the50mwaterproofingmakes itgreatfor swimmers andcyclists, it’sdefinitelyatitsbest whenusedbypavementpounders, andwill evenanalyseyourrunningtechniqueandform withouttheneedfor anyextra sensors.Who needs apersonaltrainer? £600 / garmin.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Suunto Vertical ALSO SHORTLISTED Coros Apex 2 O Fitbit Versa 4 F I T N E S S G A D G E T O F T H E Y E A R GARMIN FORERUNNER 965 Aboonfor cyclistsplanninglengthymulti-day trips,thispremiumbikecomputer sucksupthe sun’s rays togiveit a stonking45hrsofridetime ona singlecharge(or100hrs ifyoustickitin battery-savermode).Butlongevityisn’titsonly virtue:there’s thelarge3.5inscreenandbumper 64GBof storagetoadmiretoo,nottomention best-in-class routeplanning,dual-bandGPSfor highlyaccuratelocationtracking, andtraining insights includingVO2max,recoverytimeand trainingloadviaGarmin’sConnect app. Ifyou preferyourtyresknobblyandyourtrailsmuddy it canevenrecordjumpcount,distanceandhang time, somountainbikers shouldn’tfeel leftout. It’snot cheap, certainly,butyoudoget a lotfor yourmoneyhere.Don’tembarkonyournext Girod’Ipswichwithoutone. £630 / garmin.com HIGHLY COMMENDED Nike Vaporfly 3 ALSO SHORTLISTED Bowflex VeloCore Bike O Concept2 RowErg