T3 AU 01.02 2022

RPODS 3 WHY 3D AUDIO IS A GAME-CHANGER

HOME
CINEMA
HEAVEN
Today’s best TV buys: from mini-LED
Jan/Feb 2022 / $9.95 movie marvels to 120Hz gaming greats

iPHONE 13 GOOGLE
PIXEL 6 PRO
& iPAD MINI
RATED
PS5 &
XBOX MACBOOK
PRO M1
POWER-UPS
Next-gen laptop is
Ace accessories to pure rocket fuel
upgrade your console
30
S
F TOP HOME
UPGRADES!
Ul
fol Top kitchen and
smart home tech

Stunning notebooks from Dell, Razer, AUS $9.95 INC GST NZ $10.95 INC GST
HP and more with brains and beauty PRINT POST APPROVED: 100007799 ISSN: 1445-2901

8K

X925 Series

BUILT-IN SUBWOOFER
Delivers a rich, powerful bass
experience to bring movies

and music to life.

Thousands of LEDs More local dimming Accurate A smoother
reproduction and uniform
to boost contrast zones to achieve of colours illumination

and brightness deeper blacks

FULL ARRAY

8K up to

120Hz

Visit www.tcl.com/au for more info

 @TCL.AUS.NZ @AUTCL @TCL_AUS.NZ @TCL AUS.NZ  @TCL AUS_NZ

SHOWSTOPPER

Gadgets that showcase the
very best that design and
technology have to offer

ELECTRIC DREAMS?

Not content even with a plug in
hybrid offering 100 kilometres of
EV range before using petrol? Then
get ready: a pure electric Range
Rover is due to join the range in

2024

NEW RANGE ROVER

With a 50-year history in the market, Range Rover has a hell of a pedigree. But in taking the luxury
SUV into its fifth generation, Jaguar Land Rover is focusing on the future as much as the past. Not
only does its petrol flagship feature a Twin Turbo V8 engine, it is also available with a choice of two
extended range plug-in hybrid engines, capable of driving up to 100 kilometres on their electric power
alone. It also features more smart features than you can shake a stick at. Reading the road ahead using
eHorizon Navigation data, it primes its electronic air suspension to better respond to any surface
changes. Built-in Amazon Alexa allows you to control music, navigation and smart home devices, while
speakers in both the driver and passenger headrests offer next-level noise cancelling. And to help you
stay Covid safe, its air purification system features PM2.5 filtration and nanoeX virus-inhibition tech.

From $74,000, landrover.com.au

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 3

The team

Future Publishing Australia,
PO Box Q1179, Queen Victoria Building, NSW 1230

Email: [email protected]
Web: www.t3.com/au | www.techradar.com
Corporate Web: www.futureplc.com

Editorial
Editor: Ben Mansill [email protected]
Creative Director: Troy Coleman [email protected]

Contributors
Matt Bolton, Nick Odantzis, Claire Davies, Paul Dimery, Craig Stewart, Chris Barnes, James

Jarvis, Warren Brown, Duncan Bell, Joe Branston, Alex Cox, Olly Curtis, Ian Evenden,
Neil Godwin, Steve May, Steve Jarratt, Danny Phillips, Sam Taylor, Chris Barnes, Becca
Caddy, Spencer Hart, Russell Lewin, Joby Sessions, Jordan Erica Webber, Michelle McLaren

Photography
All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected

Advertising
Senior Advertising Manager: Lewis Preece

[email protected]

Management
Managing Director: Neville Daniels

Sales Director: Paul Marttila

Printed in Australia by IVE
Distributed in Australia and NZ by Are Direct

ISSN 1445-2901

About the magazine

T3 is published by Future Publishing Australia. All articles in this magazine are copyright of
Future Plc group company, UK 2018. All rights reserved. Distributed in Australia and NZ
by Gordon and Gotch www.gordongotch.com.au. Printed by IVE www.ivegroup.com.au.

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Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244

4 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

THE BEAUTY OF SOUND

INTRODUCING THE NEW ZEPPELIN

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[email protected] 02 9196 8990 bowerswilkins.com BowersWilkinsAu

Contents

Contents

040 HOME CINEMA HEAVEN
Glorious TVs to give you great
movies-at-home experiences

052 THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO...
Now is the perfect time to pick up a
sumptuous OLED-screened laptop

057 NO TIME TO DIE 061 HOME UPGRADES
With 007 back on the big screen, we look back at Give each room – kitchen, living room, bathroom,
the super-spy’s history of spellbinding watches wherever – a tech-touchup to enhance the holidays

6 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Contents
FEATURES

HORIZON TESTED 026
010
070 AFFORDABLE TABLETS
HORIZON TOP 10
APPLE WATCH SERIES 7 You don’t have to pay a huge amount
The new MacBook Pro dazzles with its to get yourself a great tablet – and we
absurdly powerful M1 Pro & Max chips With a bigger, brighter display and can tell you exactly what you need to
great health features, Apple retains
018 be looking for in a budget slate
the smartwatch crown
FITNESS & OUTDOORS 077
074
The future is here: exoskeletons that DASH CAMS
work and are available to actually buy iPHONE 13 PRO
Worried about your wheels getting
020 A faster screen! A smarter camera! wrecked? These front and rear
And that’s just for starters...
WATCHES dash cams can help you keep an eye
078 on what’s ahead and behind
High-styling timepieces from the
affordable and practical, to the pricey BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 45 BEST OF THE BEST

and set to impress Noise-cancelling headphones with 096
unparalleled comfort
024 SMARTPHONE &
086 SMARTWATCH
GADGET GURU BUYER’S GUIDE
APPLE AIRPODS
Keep track of your keys and relax 2XU EX\HUèV JXLGH KHOSV \RX ĆQG WKH
about vanishing headphone jacks Spatial Audio for less and upgraded best new smartphone and smart
sound make these Pro in all but name watch, as tested byT3’s team of
027 tech experts!
088
TALKING TECH JAN/FEB 2022 T3 7
EVERCADE VS
Duncan Bell is begrudgingly
upgrading his smart bulbs Retro arcade gaming perfected

Discover more at t3.com/au 092

GOOGLE PIXEL 6 PRO

With advanced AI, a cracking camera
DQG VXSHUE ORRNV WKLV LV D WUXH ćDJVKLS

Welcome

Editor’s letter

It’s summer, so you’re all outside running around getting
fit and tanned. Right? Well, you can’t spend all your time
getting fit and having fun. There’s important fun to be
done inside, too.

Like slouching around watching TV. After all, there’s so
much good stuff to watch and you’d hate to the one only
one in your WFH chat app that hasn’t seen everyone else’s
favourite new show. No one wants to be that loser – so –
do it right, with a fabulous new TV, like the selections we
have in this issue. You can get top-line tech for surprisingly
little these days, and as everyone knows dropping “yeah, I
have a big cool new TV” in your Slack channel or Microsoft
Teams room has far more cachet than “have you all
watched every single Seinfeld episode again like I have?”

But’s it’s not all Hello Newman, this issue. As always
we’ve been inundated by boxes and boxes of nice thing sent
to us by companies and we’ve opened most of them, had a
play, and written some words about the things. Many are
very good! All are worth knowing about.

Have a lovely safe summer, T3 readers.

Ben Mansill, Editor

[email protected]

T3’S MISSION

Our mission is to bring you the clearest recommendations having to undertake hours of painstaking research and
we can – and that means a great deal of hard work happens product comparisons.
before a product even reaches our pages!
You won’t see any duff products, but you will come away
Because we only feature products the T3 team would with clarity on which one is the best in its category or for
happily use ourselves, we end up discarding a significant a specific task: our awards badges (see below) ensure that
number of options in each category before settling on a final everything T3 recommends is clearly highlighted on the page.
shortlist to review. We select only the best of the best for
our Tested section; the gear we know you’ll want to seriously It goes without saying that every product in our review
consider purchasing. And that should mean an end to you section has been thoroughly tested by our team of experts,
enabling you to buy with total confidence.

OUR AWARDS

This is given to winners of our group tests, Only the best products – those that score
so you can see which is the best at a glance five stars – receive our Platinum Award

8 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au



Horizon

The best new tech heading your way

MACBOOK INHERITED TECH
PRO (2021) The MacBook
Pro’s Liquid
From $2,999, apple.com/au Retina XDR
display picks up
The novelty of Apple first designing and then Apple’s ProMotion
building its own processors has worn off. It’s tech, scaling back
not simply a novelty any more: it’s a full-blown its refresh rate
revolution. The MacBook Pro now firmly to 10Hz when
removes Macs from the ‘buy if you prefer it’s not busy, and
macOS to Windows’ category and places them bumping it as far
firmly in the ‘just plain better’ camp. The stats as 120Hz when
don’t lie. The chip at its heart – either the you need that
10-CPU core, 16-GPU core M1 Pro or the 10/32 slickness.
Max, depending on your spec – makes for a
truly superior processor, firmly outclassing the “Not just the best
already superb M1 and (though we can’t exactly MacBook ever – maybe
compare apples-to-apples any more) seemingly the best laptop ever”
flattening both AMD and Intel’s latest offerings.
Josh Russell
It’s not all about the guts, though. Apple has
marked the occasion of its silicon takeover with Discover more at t3.com/au
a seriously cool redesign of the MacBook Pro,
which drops in some much needed quality-of-
life features (the return of magsafe charging,
for example, and proper ports like HDMI and an
SD reader) and kicks out some others. If you
were attached to the Touch Bar, best get
unattached, because it’s gone in place of
full-size function keys. And if you’re not keen
on Apple’s slight obsession with notches, the
chunky chap jutting in to the top of the screen
here won’t please you. But even that is justified,
housing an upgraded 1080p webcam, and it
hides itself quite effectively.

Everything here is an upgrade. It seems like
Apple has been listening to every mote of
feedback from the community in order to
create the ultimate MacBook – and it may well
have pulled it off.

TECH-O-METER

10 T3 JAN/FEB 2022

Top 10

ONE MORE THING...
Apple’s Rosetta 2 compatibility layer means
the new MacBook Pro plays nice with
software that isn’t designed for Apple Silicon
– and the ludicrous power of said silicon
means basically everything runs without a
hitch. So if you’re determined to get your
game on after-hours, there’s more than
enough muscle in here to get it done.

ULTRA EFFICIENT IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE
The new ARM-based M1
processors are impressively JAN/FEB 2022 T3 11
efficient. Early reports
suggest you will rarely, if
ever, hear the fans spin
up, such are their low
power requirements and
cool-running architectures;
they’re also kind on the
battery, giving this beefed-
up MacBook Pro an extra
ten hours on a charge over
its predecessor.

Discover more at t3.com/au

Horizon IMAGE SOURCE: SONY
Top 10
IMAGE SOURCE: BMW BMW i4 M50
SONY XPERIA PRO-I
$TBA, bmw.com
$2,400, sony.com
The concept of a phone with a proper camera If major auto manufacturers’ commitment to
sensor isn’t new but with this ‘camera with full battery power weren’t apparent enough,
smartphone capabilities’, Sony really seems BMW’s all-electric M-series, due next year,
determined to offer something seriously strong ought to be enough to convince you. The
in a far more useable form factor. The PRO-I Munich marque has squeezed a lithium
works its magic by somehow squeezing in the powerplant into a body that is still resolutely
1.0-type Exmor RS sensor of the RX100 VII reminiscent of a petrol car, kidney grille, rear
compact camera, sticking some Zeiss Tessar footwell hump and all. It also crams the exact
optics in front, Sony’s mobile BIONZ X image kind of muscle you’d expect from an M series
processor behind, and a Snapdragon 888 car. Twin M-class eDrive motors can conjure up
chipset powering the whole lot. This is a true a ridiculous 544hp, enough to hit 100kph in
premium phone with a 4K 120Hz display, and it under four seconds, with as much (or as little)
can shoot in the exact same resolution. If you’re audible feedback as you like. BMW’s battery
serious about using a phone as a camera, the smarts mean there’s over 114 kilometres
processing and advanced capabilities of the available in just 10 minutes charging, and a very
PRO-I’s camera app – accessible with a single respectable 511 kilometres top total range; we’re
press of the knurled, half-pressable shutter creeping ever closer to the point of mainstream
button – make this a very convincing option. electric vehicles becoming truly practical.
T3 SAYS: A true pro phone for pro phone users.
T3 SAYS: Something of an electric dream.
TECH-O-METER
TECH-O-METER
12 T3 JAN/FEB 2022
Discover more at t3.com/au

CONTROL WITH VOICE
– ALEXA BUILT IN!

YOUR SOUND FOR EVERY MOOD WITH THE DENON
HOME WIRELESS SPEAKERS AND SOUNDBAR

The Denon Home speakers play all your music wirelessly with Hi-Fi quality
sound, in any room of your home. Stream from popular music services and
make use of quick pre-selections with just a gentle touch. And now, combine
the Home 550 Soundbar, two Home 150 speakers and the DSW-1H subwoofer

for the complete 5.1 Home Cinema experience!

NEW

Works with

Apple AirPlay

WWW.DENONHOME.COM Contact us for your nearest Denon Dealer: [email protected]
03 8542 1111 | /DenonAustralia | www.denon.com

Horizon IMAGE SOURCE: NIKON
Top 10
IMAGE SOURCE: DJI DJI ACTION 2
NIKON Z9
From $609, dji.com
$8,988, nikon.com
Canon and Sony have built something of a lead Whereas the familiar frame of the original DJI
over Nikon in the mirrorless race over the past Osmo Action made it look for all the world like
few years, but this reimagined flagship sees a GoPro clone, this sequel – which, like the
Nikon hitting an incredible second wind. It’s an company’s latest gimbal, entirely drops the
important camera: the Z9 marks the end of Osmo name – goes in a different direction. For
Nikon’s pro DSLR output, with the company a start, it’s really, really small. It’s easily
putting all of its weight behind the stacked expandable with extra batteries, additional
45.7MP full-frame sensor inside, and it may also screens, and more. It’s mountable just about
mark the death of the physical shutter in anywhere using magnets, including onto your
high-end cameras. There are some big headline own clothing, and (at least in its base combo)
features, like 8K 30fps video (with 60fps due the Action 2 is far cheaper than a Hero 10 Max.
via a firmware update), outrageous tracking AF, That said, it doesn’t quite have the same
a fully sealed magnesium alloy body that feels imaging grunt as GoPro’s big boy. The Action 2
utterly unbreakable, and 20fps burst shooting, tops out at 4K 120fps, and its stabilising
which can go for over 1,000 frames. What’s functions don’t work at higher resolutions or
perhaps most remarkable is the price. For all frame rates, though its 180-degree tilt correction
that this beats last year’s D6 in terms of does beat GoPro’s measly 45.
features, it vastly undercuts its spend.
T3 SAYS: As professional as a camera body gets. T3 SAYS: An action cam for those who really
need a small one.
TECH-O-METER
TECH-O-METER
14 T3 JAN/FEB 2022
Discover more at t3.com/au

Buy your award-winning
products here

In Store or Online –
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located at: 02 9651 4922

Horizon IMAGE SOURCE: BEATS

BEATS FIT PRO IMAGE SOURCE: FAIRPHONE FAIRPHONE 4

$TBA, beatsbydre.com From $675, fairphone.com
When you’re Apple, you have the luxury of
making your own competition. Thus the Sustainability is a big buzzword right now. And
company’s subsidiary, Beats, consistently seems the good thing is that sustainable kit is actually
to follow any new Apple headphone release starting to get quite good. Not only does
with one of its own. Beats’ new addition – a set Fairphone’s fourth bite at the sustainable
of mid-range buds that nestles neatly between cherry carry a five-year warranty and the
the Studio Buds and Powerbeats Pro in the freedom for you to be able to open it up and,
market – certainly look like they’ll make a big say, switch out the battery or replace a
enough splash. They inherit the exact same H1 malfunctioning component, but it’s made of
chip that powers the Airpods 3, meaning they responsibly-sourced and recycled materials
share the same extensive list of quality of life in factories certified to treat employees well.
features, as well as support for Apple’s fancy It’s also a pretty damn good mid-range phone.
spatial audio tech. There’s also what sounds like It runs bone stock Android for a clean
some fairly powerful ANC in there too, updating experience, packs 5G connectivity through the
itself 200 times per second to ensure absolutely Snapdragon 750G chipset, and there’s plenty
nothing slips through. Beats calls these its most of RAM and storage available. Only the camera
advanced earphones to date – and we can module looks a bit iffy, but we imagine an
definitely believe it. upgrade for that will be available in short order.
T3 SAYS: Has Beats beat big brother Apple?
T3 SAYS: Whether you’re clumsy or eco-
TECH-O-METER conscious, this is a game-changer.

16 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 TECH-O-METER

Discover more at t3.com/au

Top 10

PROJECT CAMBRIA

$TBA, meta.com

Facebook’s forget-about-the-bad- 2 likely won’t be killed in short order, IMAGE SOURCE: META
stuff rebranding power play has had given that this appears to be more a
some interesting results. Amongst platform to test out new eye- and
other things, Meta looks set to kill the face-tracking tech and test whether
Oculus name and redirect at least Meta can get its metaverse concept
some of the company’s VR efforts up and running – but the tech will
towards mixed reality experiences; trickle down sooner rather than later.
Project Cambria is the first headset
of this new effort, due for release T3 SAYS: Whatever you think, more
some time next year. It is apparently VR tech can only be a good thing.
Quest-compatible, landing “at the
higher end of the price spectrum”, TECH-O-METER
offering full-colour passthrough to
bolster its mixed reality potential and COOLNESS
pancake optics to keep the bulk (and INNOVATION
weight) as low as possible. The Quest FEATURES

HONOR 50

$870, hihonor.com

Huawei’s delicate spot of bother is 120Hz OLED screen, and a very IMAGE SOURCE: HONOR
Honor’s gain. With the latter company capable camera package with a
now spun off into an independent focus on vlogging and social media.
entity, Honor is able to skirt Huawei’s It’s thin, it’s light, and just a little bit
sanctions and ship its phones with gaudy. For some, this will be a
Google apps. It can now also get on combo that’s far more attractive than
with the business of producing the likes of the Google Pixel 6.
decent phones. Like this. The Honor
50 is an impressive-looking handset T3 SAYS: Honor continues in the
for its price, with the company’s usual same direction – which is fine.
combination of surprisingly high-end
components at a mid-range price. TECH-O-METER
There’s a solid power plant (including
what appears to be the first COOLNESS
appearance of the new Qualcomm INNOVATION
Snapdragon 778G chipset), a superb FEATURES

ONEWHEEL GT

From $1,799, onewheel.com

While OneWheel is stuck with the gen way to move, and the newly- IMAGE SOURCE: ONEWHEEL
same floaty legal status as electric contoured wheel makes carving even
scooters – you can have one, but it easier. You can even opt for the new
needs to be insured to ride it on the treaded tyre, which is where this
road, and since nobody will insure really shines: who cares about road
one you’re basically not allowed to legality when you can throw this
take it outside of private land – the around rough trails?
GT does have us tempted. It can
cover 48km on a charge, tops out at T3 SAYS: Just wear a helmet, kids.
32kph and runs a next-gen electric
motor putting out a massive 3HP. TECH-O-METER
And then there’s the cool factor. As
far as personal electric vehicles are COOLNESS
concerned, bombing along with your INNOVATION
feet astride a single powered wheel FEATURES
feels like just about the most next-

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 17

Horizon
Fitness
BEST EBIKES

PURE ELECTRIC PURE IMAGE SOURCE: PURE ELECTRIC SHRED-209
FLUX ONE IMAGE SOURCE: ENHANCED ROBOTICS
EXO-LLENT
The Pure Flux One offers
an exceptional value for Enhanced Robotics Sportsmate 5 exoskeleton takes
money and punches above its hiking and fitness to the next level
weight in terms of looks and
performance. It has only one IMAGE SOURCE: CANYON Even in 2021, lightweight, wearable depending on what you need.
gear, mechanical disk brakes exoskeletons seem and feel futuristic. You In Outdoor mode, it provides 18 Nm of
and no chain: the bike uses won’t pass anyone wearing one on the
a grease-free, ‘unbreakable’ street, nor will you see people in the gym assistance, while in Fitness mode, it offers
carbon belt. assisting their squats with such a device. an added 10 Nm of resistance. According
$1,900, pureelectric.com to Enhanced Robotics, wearing the
That said, non-commercial exoskeletons Sportsmate 5 for certain exercises can
CANYON do exist and better still, you can not only help you burn 40% more calories.
ROADLITE:ON pre-order them, but they also cost less
than a run-of-the-mill MacBook. Take, for Featuring two actuators at each side of
At around 16 kg, the example, the Enhanced Robotics your hips, the Sportsmate 5 exoskeleton
Roadlite:On could almost Sportsmate 5. This handy little device has will last through strenuous fitness routines,
be described as lightweight, two modes – Outdoor and Fitness – and with a battery that holds a charge for the
and thanks to the upright provides either assistance or resistance, equivalent of 10 kilometres of walking
riding position and 11-speed distance.
Shimano gearing, the bike
feels extremely nimble. It’s IMAGE SOURCE: XIAOMI CANDY CRUSHING IT
won’t be what you would call IMAGE SOURCE: SKULLCANDY
cheap, but the Roadlite:On PUSH IT REAL GOOD
should be excellent value.
$TBC, canyon.com Skullcandy Push Active offers long battery life and voice control

XIAOMI MI SMART The Skullcandy Push Active was
FOLDING ELECTRIC designed for exercising and thus
BIKE features flexible over-ear hooks to
ensure the buds stay in place even
This Mi Smart folding ebike when you’re moving around like a
is not the most fun on two crazy person, trying to keep up
wheels by any means, but for with your HIIT instructor. You also
less than half the price of a get Skull-iQ voice control and
Brompton, you get a well- impressive battery life: 10 hours in
built, decent foldable bike the earbuds and 34 hours in the
that’s very convenient to charging case, plus rapid charging.
transport and store.
~$800, xiaomi-mi.com Discover more at t3.com/au

18 T3 JAN/FEB 2022

WHICH WATCH Style

THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES MONEY
RIGHT NOW NO OBJECT

‘Ossie Clark
Plane Crash / 1969’
Framed photograph

by Jim Lee

HUBLOT, BIG BANG UNICO RADO, TRUE SQUARE Jim Lee began his career as a music
BERLUTI ALUMINIO 44 MM OVER THE ABYSS photographer during the early 1960s
working with bands, such as The
The worlds of watchmaking and Rado‘s newest addition to the True Square Who and The Kinks but he soon
shoemaking come together. The result Collection is a design collab with New found his leaning veered towards
LV D VWXQQLQJ VDWLQ ĆQLVKHG DQG SROLVKHG Delhi artist duo Thukral and Tagra. It fashion photography and his
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$38,000, hublot.com New York Times. He helped to define
$4,500, rado.com the fashion aesthetic of the Swinging
Sixties before he changed track and
SWATCH, 1984 RELOADED VICTORINOX, MAVERICK turned his hand to directing IMAGE SOURCE: JIM LEE
commercials and feature films in the
2IIHULQJ UHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQV RI VRPH RI 5HLQIRUFLQJ LWV SRSXODU 0DYHULFN &ROOHFWLRQ 1970s. Lee’s photographic portfolio is
WKH HDUO\ 6ZDWFK ZDWFKHV EXW IHDWXULQJ ZLWK ĆYH QHZ WLPHSLHFHV RXU SLFN RI WKH lauded for its artistic merit, and it has
a unique mix of ceramic and bio-sourced bunch is the outstanding green-dialled earned him a permanent collection at
SODVWLF GHULYHG IURP FDVWRU RLO WR GHOLYHU PRGHO ZKLFK FRPELQHV D KLJK JUDGH the V&A. This image was taken on a
VWDLQOHVV VWHHO FDVH DQG VDSSKLUH FU\VWDO Nikon F camera with a 200m lens.
D UREXVW OLJKWZHLJKW DQG WKRURXJKO\ for a timeless look. The model is Celia Birtwell and it was
PRGHUQ WLPHSLHFH taken for designer Ossie Clark in
$770, victorinox.com 1969. “The idea here,” says Lee, “was
$120, swatch.com to believe that this girl had just got
out of this plane having crashed it
Discover more at t3.com/au and survived, she would simply
brush off the dust and walk away
unscathed.” Paul Smith is selling a
limited number (15) of signed fine art
Giclée Pigment prints on Hahnemühle
Photo Rag 308 gsm. It would
certainly make an impressive
Christmas gift for someone with a bit
of spare space on the wall: 107 x 107
x 5cm, to be precise.
$14,800, paulsmith.com

JAN/FEB 2022 T3 19

Horizon

T3’s tech maestro conducts a new
symphony of informed advice

EMILY

Why do people care about headphone jacks so much?

A It’s not about wired Whenever a feature gets taken ABOVE so, they need to spend $10 on an
headphones, reader. It away, particularly if it relates to a Next job: look ungainly adapter – grinds those
really isn’t. An eagle-eared not-quite-dead-yet technology, for that pesky guys to the point of apoplexy.
listener may be able to tell the people get cross. It happened with needle in next
difference between Bluetooth and physical phone keyboards, with the door’s haystack Guru isn’t one of those people.
hard-line, but they must then tactile home button, and so on. He tends to roll along the tech ride,
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY contend with the constant rubbing Your typical puce-faced mouth- and is happy to embrace whatever’s
of cable on clothes, the ever- foamer might never actually want next while lovingly side-eyeing his
present fear of snagging and to plug a 3.5mm jack in, but the cherished ZX Spectrum collection.
having one’s buds inelegantly fact that they can’t – or that, to do Guru knows that the reason
yanked from one’s lugs, the glaring headphone jacks are being removed
fact that dangling wires are, in 2021, Whenever a feature gets taken is a good one: they’re a horrible
dorky as all hell. Besides, a USB-C away, particularly if it relates point of water ingress, and they
DAC is going to output a finer to a not-quite-dead-yet take up room in phone cases which
signal than any headphone jack, if technology, people get cross could be used for more battery or
that’s what you’re really interested a thinner shell. Features that
in. It’s not about wired headphones: (realistically) don’t matter sacrificed
it’s about choice. for those that (arguably) do. That’s
the march of technology.

20 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Gadget guru

JAMES GOODWIN

How can I keep using my
garden in winter?

A GaGu, being something of majority of that heat is spewing ABOVE STEVE LACEY
a reclusive homebody, upwards and that which isn’t is We’ve not seen
ventures out into his heating the air, not you. a key this badly Where are
grounds as little as possible in the mangled since my keys?
darker months due to the Infra-red patio heaters, at least T3’s ill-fated
shambling locals infesting his lawn those with sufficient power, can karaoke party... A Guru has tried most major
in search of heat. Honestly, that’s be slightly more effective. They third-party thing-locators
one option: wrap up, get in front of don’t heat the air at all, avoiding – Tile, Chipolo, TrackR, to
the TV and stop worrying about it. wastage, and they can be more name the three he can remember
Presumably you’re lucky enough to effectively focused and directed – so he does have an opinion: they
have a comfortable inside space if – though they’re almost universally are a lovely idea, and they tend to
you’re also blessed with a garden. industrial-ugly, and Guru won’t work pretty well. Tile’s app is best.
allow them on his classy patio for Chipolo is very loud. TrackR has a
That is, Guru’s long-suffering that reason. weird module you can put on your
editor tells him, an absolute glasses, which Guru suspects would
cop-out answer. Guru should So what. A good coat? Maybe, be very handy if you were elderly
instead, he is told, extol the virtues but if you’re far enough away from and unworried about attaching a
of patio heaters. The problem is your neighbours, an open fire pit is big black lump to your specs. You
that their virtues are few: a Guru’s favourite huddle-beacon. could also go for an Apple AirTag,
traditional Giant Steel Garden One which double-burns, pulling which Guru is yet to play with but
Mushroom (that’s the technical enough oxygen up through it to presumes works in a similar way.
term) does indeed throw out heat, ignite the smoke for as choke-free
and it can warm the top of your an experience possible. The But unless you’re really clumsy
head if you’re stood near it. But as stainless steel Solo Stove Yukon is and don’t have a set place you put
every devoted GaGu reader knows, Guru’s top pick: it looks like it’s your keys, trackers fade into the
earning your gadget license is been pulled straight out of a tumble background after a while. They only
dependent on a rudimentary drier and is horrendously expensive, reveal themselves when you
understanding of physics. The vast but it’s built for a brilliant burn and accidentally sit on your Tile and it
a fancy patina. starts playing a stupid tune and
making your phone scream. That’s
GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX a good thing, at least until you
forget to change the battery, the
We begin with a rare leaves Guru able to install his old games for kids hide your keys and the app
practical tip from smoother experience. Or not: installation is does nothing. Guru recommends
Guru, who is usually painfully slow at around two hours per picking up a tracker, with the Tile
more inclined towards game, so Guru would not blame you if you, Mate his top choice – just don’t
ridicule and rants. Did like him, insisted on downloading rips of forget the maintenance.
you buy the cheapest games you legitimately own from those
monitors possible darker corners of the internet.
from a brand that will remain unnamed, and
then find one start to develop lines of dead Finally, Christmas is coming, Guru is
pixels right about the same time you getting fat, so his semi-annual fitness drive
decided you could not be bothered with has begun again in earnest. This time he’s
the hassle of a warranty return? Funnily going down the VR track, if only because
enough, that happened to Guru, too. A $2 it’s slightly more engaging than running: an
plastic clamp from Amazon, positioned to Oculus Quest 2 is perfect for getting
squeeze the bit of the monitor where the sweaty, though GaGu recommends you
ribbon connector had started to detach avoid subscription-based fitness apps and
itself, will sort the problem right out, look go straight for high-energy rhythm games.
terrible, and make you question whether Just make sure you maximise space before
ingenuity is really all it’s cracked up to be. thrashing around, lest your TV become a
GaGu spent a good portion of his casualty – as good as Oculus’ Guardian
supposed-to-be-working time this issue system is at alerting you
resurrecting one of the several PlayStation when you reach your
2s he found littering his loft. Its iffy laser virtual boundary, the
makes running game discs a slow and heat of the
painful experience, but a little upgrade moment is a
funny thing.

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 21

Horizon

IMAGE SOURCE: WALT DISNEY STUDIOS NEW MEDIA HARRY

NOW PLAYING How do I shave
without getting
Guru finds the finest hair all over?
media you need on
your various devices A You could just embrace
chaos and trim your beard
HOME SWEET HOME ALONE somewhere it won’t matter
This entirely unnecessary – out of your second-floor window
Disney+ reboot of the already- into the wind, for instance, or
rinsed franchise could be as directly into your child’s bed. Or
good as the original, which you could opt for a more techy
Guru’s kids forcibly ignore every option, like Philips’ 7000-series
festive season. Who knows? trimmer.

It’s plasticky and, if reviews are
to be believed, might not last too
long if you’re rough with it, but it
does have a nifty dial-adjusting
blade guard and crucially includes a
little vacuum that sucks your face
fungus into a disgusting hair
chamber, which is also the name
of Guru’s first solo album.

IMAGE SOURCE: 20TH CENTURY FOX LANIE TAYLOR

Are air fryers
actually any
good?

DIE HARD A Cheap ones tend to be ABOVE WILLIAM THOMAS
Whether you think it’s a passable at best. Burping How to shave
Christmas movie or not, it is warm air over a static your beard off. How can I
and that’s final. It’s rentable bundle of chips kinda works, as work from
IMAGE SOURCE: HIT ENTERTAINMENT through Amazon Prime Video, long as you manually move your home more
and specifically to be watched food every few minutes and efficiently?
on December 24. counter-intuitively use a lot of oil. If
you don’t you tend to get burned A Environment, ergonomics,
SANTA WITH MUSCLES edges and upsettingly dry results. enrichment. First, remove
Hulk Hogan is a weirdly orange, distractions: turn off the
glistening Father Christmas Pricier options like Tefal’s Actifry screens you don’t need, even if you
in this 1996 movie not even Genius line do a much better job – would prefer to be watching Homes
worthy of its 2.6 rating on they move your food as it fries, Under the Hammer. Remove
IMDb. Literally only Guru likes mixing it about with a special yourself from your comfort zone,
it. Go on, rent it on YouTube. paddle, and can more efficiently because it’s work time. Don’t sit on
dose out the oil as they go. So in your sofa with a laptop. Sit at a
22 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 answer to your question: like a hot desk with a proper keyboard. Sit in
date with Guru, air fryers are an a good chair that cares for your
extremely pleasurable way to get a back. Offer rewards as you go, even
good meal, but only if you don’t if it’s just with a proper forced lunch
cheap out. break. Note that Guru takes none of
his own advice and still does okay:
Remove yourself from your just look after yourself.
comfort zone, because it’s work
time. Don’t sit on your sofa with Discover more at t3.com/au
a laptop. Sit in a good chair

A VERSATILE ALL-IN-ONE ZOOM
EQUIPPED WITH VIDEO SPECIALTY

Full Frame Sony FE mount

AF 24-70MM F2.8 FE

Horizon
Opinion

Duncan Bell
is always
upgrading

What bright spark wanted to bring
out more powerful light bulbs?

e live in bad-tempered that is still better than my situation,
embarrassing and haggard, but we’ve all
W times, and I was sent 800-lumen failures. been there. Users of Sonos may
into a rage by two things recall the near meltdown that
this month. One was my With just a few sentences of the occurred when it first tried to end
energy company sending me a press release announcing this support for its older speakers, so it
threatening letter over a $6 move, Hue has turned my formerly could introduce swanky new
outstanding bill. Yes: six. I know cutting-edge and inspirational features to its more recent ones.
energy sellers are hard up these smart lighting solution into a pitiful,
days, but come on. bulb-shaped sackful of sad. Now, Given that the microprocessors
when people come around, I will of some old Sonoses must be
I’d barely finished swearing and have to hide all my bulbs, so closer to a ZX Spectrum – a belated
composing sarcastic emails about nobody may know of my secret RIP to Sir Clive Sinclair here – than
this travesty, before something shame. Soon, I will be grateful for an iPhone 12, you could hardly blame
happened that made the red mist power cuts caused by the kind of Sonos for this. But the military-
descend again. This time it was the cash-bereft energy firms who send grade sulk that ensued from its
fateful news that Hue has brought out threatening letters over a $6 former-fan base held up the
out some new bulbs that are outstanding balance, and then get speaker barons’ plans significantly.
brighter than the existing ones. In
the name of God, why? Why?! “If I replace one room’s The upside to the boom in
worth, I know it’s going seemingly-necessary-but-
Upgrades are a controversial to just make all the rest definitely-annoying updates to
topic in the world of tech. On the look even worse” products that previously hardly
one hand, everyone hates built-in ever required them, is that the
obsolescence and having to pay to all pissy when you send them a opposite is happening to phones,
replace things we bought just a few rude email about it, featuring a bit where annual upgrades were once
years ago in order to have the latest. of robust language. the norm. Despite the increasingly
On the other hand, we all love glitzy and desperate tone of
upgrading and getting new stuff. And of course the problem with launches by Apple and co, I struggle
lighting is I can’t just change one to recall the last phone launch that
This Hue update took me by bulb or fitting. My home is almost made me think, ‘I MUST have that’.
surprise, though. Mainly because entirely lit with Hue. If I replace just
Hue bulbs have always seemed fine one, or even one room’s worth, I I suppose the good news, then,
to me. But there it is in black and know it’s going to just make all the is that I can take the money saved
white (and multiple colours, if you rest look even worse. The problem on phones and put it towards
get the colour ones): the new Hue is lumen, and it’s loomin’. spending $70 per bulb on a new
has 1,600 lumens of brightness, Hue setup. And the other good
whereas mine have only 800. Okay, you can all have a good news is I may avoid blindness yet,
laugh about my tragic illumination as I replace my medieval old-Hue
Just to rub it in, and make lamps with Star-Trek-style, ultra-
matters more confusing, Hue is also bright new ones. So that’s nice.
bringing out another new range of
bulbs. These are now considered to
be the ‘low-power’ option as they
have only 1,100 lumens in them.
Those of you who are good with
numbers will be able to work out

24 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

James Appleton | Host | 46 of 46 Podcast

INTRODUCING THE NEW ZOOM F2 FIELD RECORDER

With 32-bit float technology, you’ll never miss a take. The F2 is the
perfect solution for videographers, podcasters, bloggers, and more.

We’re For Creators®

The complete guide to...

26 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Affordable tablets

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…

Affordable
tablets

You don’t have to pay a huge amount to get yourself a great
tablet – and we can tell you exactly what you need to be
looking for in a budget slate

Words: David Nield Photography: Neil Godwin

icking up a tablet might department, they’re certainly very App Store: from games to sketching
usable, and there’s the added benefit apps, from streaming services to
P at first seem like an of not having wasted a fortune if smart home control, from office
unnecessary luxury something untoward should happen suites to weather forecasters, there’s
when you already have a to your device. an awful lot there, and all these apps
smartphone, but you’d be surprised are going to run just fine on an
at just how many apps work better Some corners have to be cut to affordable tablet.
on a bigger display – that extra reach a lower price point obviously,
screen real estate really comes in but a lot of those compromises are Besides the main device itself,
handy for reading emails, browsing ones that most people aren’t going busy accessory ecosystems are
the web and working on documents, to be too concerned about. The best springing up alongside these slates
and of course movies and television gadgets are the ones that offer – and because you’ve saved some
shows benefit from the additional the most value for money – the money on the tablet itself, you might
space too. maximum bang for your buck – find yourself with some spare cash
Actually, when you think about it and the tablet devices that you’ll for an accessory or two. You can
properly, there aren’t many tasks find at the lower end of the price trick out your new tablet with a
that are more suited to a phone than scale definitely match up with case, a keyboard, a smart pair of
to a tablet... it’s just that a tablet that description. headphones and much more. When
can’t fit in your pocket, so it’s it comes to the most popular models,
difficult to take around with you all And if you’re not completely you’ll find plenty of choice available.
day. Perhaps taking photos and swayed by the idea of an affordable
making calls are best left to phones, tablet, then maybe a friend or family THE PROS AND CONS
but for everything else a tablet member would be. These budget-
really shines. end tablets make excellent gifts at As you might have already gathered,
What’s more, this is an upgrade Christmas or any other time of the we’re fans of affordable tablets – and
that doesn’t have to cost you: as we’ll year, and it’s almost guaranteed that in particular of the best affordable
show you here, affordable tablets are the recipient of your generosity is tablets around at the moment, which
becoming better and better in going to get plenty of use out of their continue to combine slick user
almost every area. While they can’t new toy. experiences on the software side
quite match up to the slates at the with hardware that isn’t going to put
premium end of the market in every Think about all the apps available a huge dent in your savings account
on the Google Play Store, the once the purchase goes through.
Amazon App Store and the Apple

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 27

The complete guide to...

The top three…

TABLET
ACCESSORIES

Add a little something
extra to your affordable
tablet with a well-chosen
accessory – here are some
suggestions for you

01

THE TABLET CASE Apps and mobile operating systems have Other cutbacks might come with the
had their teething problems when it comes cameras on the back and front of the device
,I \RXU WDEOHW RI FKRLFH LVQèW TXLWH VW\OLVK to tablet interfaces, what with all that extra – something to bear in mind if you were
HQRXJK RU UXJJHG HQRXJK \RX FDQ UHPHG\ screen space to manage, but most of those planning to take some pictures with your
issues are now long gone: whichever make tablet, or indeed do a lot of video calling.
WKLV E\ SLFNLQJ RXW D VXLWDEOH FDVH IRU LW and model of tablet you go for, you’ll find What’s more, you might not get the very
7KHVH FRPH LQ DOO VKDSHV DQG VL]HV DV \RX that the software expands to fill the available latest Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular
PLJKW H[SHFW DQG PDNH \RXU WDEOHW HDVLHU WR space in a very natural and intuitive way. technologies built into your tablet.

WDNH RQ WKH PRYH And just because you’re buying a new As you read through that list of potential
tablet doesn’t mean you have to forget drawbacks, you should be able to tell
02 about your phone – there will be an whether or not an affordable tablet is for you:
affordable slate out there to work whatever they might be dealbreakers that convince
THE KEYBOARD ATTACHMENT model of smartphone you’ve got and keep you to spend more money on a device, or
your data in sync. From Netflix to Gmail, they might be trade-offs that you’re
6RPH FDVHV ĆW LQ D NH\ERDUG DV ZHOO EXW the majority of modern-day apps are built perfectly happy to live with if it means
\RX FDQ DOZD\V EX\ RQH VHSDUDWH MXVW to work across a variety of devices, so you spending significantly less.
DERXW HYHU\ WDEOHW RXW WKHUH VXSSRUWV shouldn’t have any problems using a
%OXHWRRWK VR D ZLUHOHVV NH\ERDUG LV DQ phone and tablet in tandem. CHOOSING THE BEST
RSWLRQ LI \RX QHHG WR JHW WKURXJK VRPH AFFORDABLE TABLET
It’s fair to say that in the past, tablets at
VHULRXV ZRUN RQ \RXU GHYLFH the cheaper end of the scale haven’t had the With all of that in mind, how do you go
most capable of components – leading to about choosing the best tablet for you then?
03 slow and buggy performance – but that’s Firstly it’s important to work out exactly
another issue that’s largely disappeared how much you’re willing to spend within
THE CHARGING STAND now. As mobile chips have become more that ‘affordable’ bracket, because widening
powerful and less expensive across the your financial scope even just a little bit can
1RW HYHU\ WDEOHW ZLOO KDYH D FKDUJLQJ board, it has meant that your money can go give you access to features and extras that
VWDQG DYDLODEOH EXW PDQ\ GR VXFK DV WKH further. While you’re still able to spend a wouldn’t otherwise be available to you.
substantial amount of cash for the very
$PD]RQ )LUH WDEOHW VHULHV IRU H[DPSOH latest specs if you want to, perfectly After that, if you possibly can, it’s
7KH RIĆFLDO FKDUJLQJ VWDQGV WKDW $PD]RQ respectable performance and design is important to try and figure out how you’re
PDNHV FKDUJH XS WKH WDEOHWV DQG VKRZ LQIR available for a lot less. going to be using this new tablet for the
majority of the time: is it for your own
IURP $OH[D DV ZHOO In terms of the differences you’ll see personal use, or are the kids going to have
between an affordable tablet and a premium
tablet, you can expect a lower quality screen Widening your
– it’s likely to have a lower resolution (so it’s financial scope just a
less sharp), a lower refresh rate, a lower little bit can get you
maximum brightness level and thicker more features
bezels around the edges. The internal
processor won’t be as fast, so apps will run
slightly slower, and there will typically be
less memory (for dealing with multiple apps
at the same time) and less storage space (for
keeping files stored on the tablet itself).

28 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Affordable tablets

T3 recommends... There’s a lot of choice when it comes to affordable tablets, with some
of the biggest names in the business – Apple, Amazon, Samsung
THE BEST AFFORDABLE – putting out slates that are very reasonably priced. Whatever you’re
TABLETS YOU CAN BUY looking for, there should be a cheap tablet out there for you.

The top tablets that really do give you plenty The recommendations that we’ve put together here attempt to
of bang for your buck cover as many bases as possible in terms of sizes, operating systems
and price points, while staying inside the original ‘affordable tablet’
brief. Each of these models comes from a manufacturer you can trust
– so you should be well covered in terms of warranty, support and
software updates into the future.

LOW-PRICE iPAD INEXPENSIVE ALEXA

10.2-INCH iPAD (2021) AMAZON FIRE 10 HD PLUS

The cheapest brand new Apple most expensive slates do. Factor The Amazon Fire series represents The 10-inch Plus model is the

tablet you can buy right now, the in an amazing selection of apps, everything that affordable tablets most expensive in the Fire range

10.2-inch entry level iPad may Apple Pencil support and a range ideally should be: reliable, well but still very cheap, bringing with

use the older Touch ID tech – of accessories, and it’s a package built, and packed with content it superior specs, wireless charging

and still has bezels that are on that’s going to appeal to a huge (especially content from Audible, and a few other extras. There’s

the thicker side – but it runs the number of people. Prime Video, Amazon Music and also Alexa built in of course.

exact same software that Apple’s From $499, apple.com/au all the other Amazon services). From $201, amazon.com

AFFORDABLE ANDROID SAMSUNG FOR A SONG

NOKIA T20 SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB A7 LITE

The first Nokia-branded tablet in power to take care of basic tasks, Samsung makes some fantastic and vivid screen, the specs you

a long while manages to hit the and a clean and uncluttered premium tablets, but it also get inside, and the quality of the

sweet spot in terms of price and version of Android – software puts out a few very decent software on board (plus access

functionality: the T20 is one of that comes with the new Google affordable ones alongside them to the entire Google Play Store),

the most affordable tablets on Entertainment Space portal for too – including the Galaxy Tab the starting price of this 8.7-inch

the market, but it comes with a games, streaming apps and more. A7 Lite. Considering its elegant, tablet really is a bargain.

bright 10.4-inch display, enough From $379, nokia.com understated looks, the bright From $249, samsung.com

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 29

The complete guide to...

an iPhone, but you need to weigh all of this
up when you are considering what to spend
your money on.

When it comes to the look and feel of the
tablet you’re going to be investing in, you’ll
notice that some affordable slates are built to
be more durable and heavy duty than others.
This is something else to consider: if you’re
going to be letting kids near your tablet, or
just want something you can throw on the
sofa without panicking about it, then the
more robust the device the better (bear in
mind that you can always pick up a case to
help with this, if necessary).

Finally, check up on the freebies and
bundles available with the tablets on your

access to it? What sort of apps and services ecosystems that you’re already invested in. Check up on the
are you going to want to run? Is camera If everything else in your life is Apple – freebies and bundles
quality something that you’re expecting to your iPhone, your Mac, your Apple TV available with the
be relying on? streaming box – then it makes more sense to tablets on your list
go for an iPad to complete the set. If you
If your tablet is mostly going to be used spend a lot of time inside Amazon apps and shortlist. Pick up an Amazon tablet for
for watching movies and shows, for example, services, meanwhile, then a Fire tablet your brood of youngsters, for example, and
then your priorities in regards to what you’re might be more appropriate. you typically get a year’s subscription to
looking for are going to be different than if the Amazon Kids+ service, featuring
you’re looking for a device to do some digital That extends to digital assistants too, hundreds of thousands of age-appropriate
doodling with – in the latter case, you’ll remember. You might already be particularly games, videos and ebooks. Purchase a new
want to make sure that the tablet supports friendly with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, iPad, on the other hand, and you might
a decent stylus, and has plenty of creative and that needs to be factored into your find you get a few months of an Apple TV+
drawing apps for you to choose between. purchasing decision. We’re not saying you or Apple Music subscription thrown in as
can’t use an iPad if you prefer Google apps, part of the deal.
As always when choosing a new gadget, or you can’t use an Android tablet alongside
you also need to be mindful of the digital

RECOMMENDED APPS FOR YOUR NEW TABLET

A device is only as good as the apps that run on it

The quality of your affordable tablet available on iPads), or you can install the Plex is another app we’d like to
experience will ultimately depend on the apps mobile version of Microsoft Office – as long recommend for your tablet. Install it on your
you install and run – and the good news is as you’re willing to pay the subscription fee. Mac or Windows computer as well, and it
that, whichever tablet you pick, you’ll get a can stream your movies, TV shows, music
selection of superb apps right out of the box. If you’re wanting to get creative on your and photos to wherever your tablet happens
tablet, Apple’s GarageBand is an excellent bit to be – it’s like having your own private
Streaming services are of course a must, of software, and free – though only available Netflix and Spotify, assuming you’ve got a
if you can afford the subscription fees: on iPads unfortunately (BandLab is a decent media library saved on your computer in
think Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, alternative for Android). On the drawing and the first place.
Google TV, Apple TV Plus and YouTube. sketching side, check out the likes of Adobe
On the music side, Spotify, Apple Music, Illustrator, Autodesk SketchBook, Charcoal For sitting back and reading the news,
YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer and Procreate. check out Google News, Apple News and
and Tidal are all well worth exploring (and Flipboard, and remember that you don’t
some give you free tiers). Tablets are perfect for catching up on necessarily have to settle for the web
your reading, and getting around to all those browser that comes with your tablet: the
Gmail, Outlook and Apple Mail can take web articles you haven’t had time to check likes of Firefox and Opera are excellent
care of your emailing needs, while Google out yet: we recommend Instapaper or Pocket alternatives. There are plenty of app
Docs, Sheets and Slides are great (and free) for the job (and both let you easily save categories (and games) that we don’t have
options for productivity. If they don’t tempt content from your web browser). Digital time to touch on here, but that should be
you, Pages, Numbers and Keynote are free comic book fans will love ComiXology and enough to keep you going.
alternatives from Apple (though they’re only iComics, meanwhile.

30 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Next-gen tracking tags

NEXT-GEN
TRACKING

TAGS

There’s no situation in which losing your belongings
is a good thing. Luckily, Apple, Samsung and Tile’s latest

tag tech is standing ready for deployment

Words: Louise Blain

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 31

Next-gen tracking tags

APPLE AIRTAG

Apple was late to the tag game but its billion-strong
network of iPhones makes these an instant market leader

The AirTag is exactly what you would expect from Apple’s muscles. Thanks to the prevalence of iPhones, there’s a
first foray into dedicated tracking tech. A slick solid circle ready-made network of fellow Find My app users.
of Cupertino design, resolutely allergic to the idea of Piggybacking off other iPhones means your lost things
having an ugly hole for attaching to anything. But buy will never stay lost and you can track them on a map.
yourself an AirTag holder – no, you don’t need to go for the
Hermès option – and the AirTag is very good at exactly This, the year-long easily replaceable battery, and a
what you want it to do. built-in NFC chip for easy scanning to obtain owner
details, all make up for the fact that you can’t ping your
AirTag makes the most of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tech iPhone from the tag itself.
alongside Apple’s Find My network to make sure you know
exactly where your items or even pets are. At home this Vitally too, Apple has improved its safety options. Not
means the Find My app shows just how far away from your only can you set a separation alert to let you know when
AirTag you are at all times, and lets you ring it for even you have left items behind, but AirTags belonging to other
speedier finding. people will make a noise after a number of hours so that
we can be aware of their potentially unwanted presence.
If you lose something in the outside world, though, It’s also possible to scan for AirTags if you are concerned.
that’s when the AirTag really gets to flex its tracking $45/$149 pack of four, apple.com/au

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

+ Slick design • Uses iPhone network • Replaceable battery
- iPhone only • No ping iPhone option • Needs holder

32 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Next-gen tracking tags

SAMSUNG GALAXY
SMARTTAG+

Samsung’s trackers are Samsung only – but smart home control and
AR finding tech are irresistible if you’ve got the right phone

Not to be outdone by Apple’s proprietary offering, the Another nifty trick is full compatibility with Samsung’s
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ only works with Samsung SmartThings app, which allows you to control your
phones but has impressive functionality crammed into smart home. If you’ve got your Philips lights set up in
that tiny square. Just like the AirTags, Samsung’s the app for instance, you can use the button on the tag
improved tracker – defined by the + over the regular to turn them on. You’ll just need to be close to your
SmartTag – comes with built-in UWB, which means that phone for it to work.
you can get ultra-precise directional location on your
lost things at home when Bluetooth is a little too vague. If your precious item is lost out in the world, the
SmartThings network is made up of other Galaxy users
Samsung has even gamified the hunt somewhat with to help you try and pinpoint the location. Obviously this
its use of augmented reality tech in the app that will is only ever as strong as the number of people in the
literally point you to your lost items using your phone vicinity but a lot of Galaxy phones means you’re far more
camera. If you don’t fancy this though, you can always likely to see a precise location on the map once you’ve
just sound the tag’s ringer and use the audio cue alone. reported the item as missing. Easily clippable to a bag or
your keys, the SmartTag+ is a must for Galaxy owners.
It’s also possible to use the SmartTag+ in reverse to $44, samsung.com
ring your phone if you’ve managed to lose that instead.

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

+ Very precise tracking • Slick use of augmented reality • Smart home control
- Only for Samsung phones • No separation alert • Not fully waterproof

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 33

Next-gen tracking tags

TILE ULTRA

Coming in 2022, the Tile Ultra brings the original
tag tracking brand up to UWB speed

It can’t have been easy for Tile watching the AirTag useful, easily replaceable battery as the current range, as
reveal back in early 2021. Apple effectively reinvented well as the ability to ring your phone with a button in case
Tile’s solidly dependable tracker and utilised the millions that’s gone walkabout.
strong iPhone network for a better chance of finding your
lost items when you’re out and about. But that doesn’t Tile’s vast current offering of trackers are already rich
mean that Tile is out of the game. In 2022 comes the Tile with features but the company is rolling out a suite of
Ultra, Tile’s first tag to use Bluetooth and UWB tech for upgrades including a better Lost & Found system. There
precise accuracy. will now be a QR code on the back of every Tile that can be
scanned for the relevant contact information. This is a far
Importantly, it’s also the first tracker to use UWB that more obvious way of identifying an item than Apple’s
will work with both iPhone and Android. Just like the more subtle NFC option.
Samsung SmartTag+, UWB means the Tile Ultra app
will be able to give you on screen augmented reality Tile is also making sure its tech can’t be used for
instructions for exactly where to find your lost items in unwanted tracking and a new Scan and Secure Tile app
your house. can be downloaded to make sure that there are no
unknown Tile devices nearby. When the Tile Ultra arrives,
We don’t know too many details of the Tile Ultra it looks like we’ll have an AirTag competitor on our hands.
beyond this tech but we can expect it to have the same $TBC, tile.com

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

+ Works with iPhone and Android • First Tile with UWB • Scannable QR code
- Tile’s network is more limited than Apple’s or Samsung’s

34 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Awesome PS5 and Xbox accessories

AWESOME

PS5 & XBOX
ACCESSORIES

Treat your new-gen consoles to the best kit

Words: Louise Blain

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 35

Awesome PS5 and Xbox accessories

PLAYSTATION 5

The perfect add-ons to give your PS5 more punch

1

2

3
4

1 2 3 4

PHILIPS HUE SYNC ASUS ROG STRIX MIDNIGHT BLACK PULSE 3D
BOX & GRADIENT AX5400 GAMING DUALSENSE WIRELESS HEADSET

LIGHT TUBE ROUTER Sony’s choice of a white Cut the cord to your controller

Get the full Ambilight 0RVW URXWHUV DUH WKH NLQG RI console and controller hasn’t ZLWK 6RQ\èV RIĆFLDO ZLUHOHVV
WHFK \RX KLGH EHKLQG SODQW headset, which makes the
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LQ D ZKROH QHZ 79 &RPER XS 5*% WKDW MXVW GHPDQGV SULGH PRVW RI WKH 36 èV ' DXGLR
D 3KLOLSV *UDGLHQW /LJKW 7XEH RI SODFH :LWK DQ HWKHUQHW but more a wilful disregard IHDWXUHV 7KH 7HPSHVW (QJLQH
DQG 6\QF %R[ DQG WKH FRORXUV SRUW VSHFLĆFDOO\ IRU JDPLQJ RI WKH VWDLQ ĆOOHG SHULOV RI means PS5 games deliver an
DQG D WRWDO EDQGZLGWK RI XS WR everyday life. Thankfully you
RI \RXU JDPHV FDQ VSUHDG 0ESV WKLV ZLOO XSJUDGH HQWLUHO\ XQLTXH VRXQGVFDSH
dramatically across the living your entire house as well as can now sort that with the and the Pulse headset is the
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URRP ZDOOV ZLWK SHUIHFWO\ \RXU FRQVROH H[SHULHQFH Black so you can enjoy those SHUIHFW ZD\ WR VRDN XS DOO WKDW
PDWFKHGbOLJKWLQJ SRVLWLRQDO DXGLR 7KHUHèV
$399 & $385, $399, asus.com KDSWLFV LQ WUXH JRWK VW\OH hours of charge.
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philips-hue.com $149, playstation.com
$99, playstation.com

36 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Awesome PS5 and Xbox accessories

5

5 PLAYSTATION HD CAMERA
The dual wide angle lenses on this
1080p camera mean that you don’t
have to build a complicated PC
streaming setup and can instead
depend entirely on your PS5 for
getting onto Twitch. There’s a built-in
stand so you can position it wherever
you like, and tech-wise there’s a
handy background removal tool for
use with green screens.
$87, playstation.com

6

WD BLACK SN850 NVME PCIE
GEN 4 SSD WITH HEATSINK

There’s no denying that the PS5’s
onboard storage becomes a serious

6 challenge after installing just a
couple of games. We’re looking at
you, Warzone 7KHUHèV QR RIĆFLDO
expansion just yet but even Mark
Cerny recommends this WD Black
option starting at 1TB. There’s even
a 4TB model if you never want to
delete anything ever again. Be sure to
go for the heatsink version.
From $299, westerndigital.com

7

DUALSENSE
CHARGING STATION

Those haptic feels and resistant
triggers come at a cost and that

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7 DQ\ MXLFHbIUXVWUDWLRQV ZLWK WKLV
'XDO6HQVHb&KDUJLQJ 6WDWLRQ WKDW
re-ups two controllers at once. It’s
just as fast as using your PS5 and
you can pop it next to the sofa to just
switch out as needed.
$49, playstation.com

UNSUNG GAMING GEMS

DEATHLOOP JURASSIC WORLD EVOLUTION 2 KENA: BRIDGE OF SPIRITS

Think Groundhog Day meets Hitman Time to check if you can run a functioning It’s a quiet year for console exclusives but this
and you might be an eighth of the way to Jurassic Park without the attractions eating beautiful colourful adventure from an indie
understanding the murderous madness of what the tourists. This is a full dinosaur theme park team of just 14 people is a must play over the
the Dishonored devs did next. Deathloop is sim starring Jeff Goldblum and Bryce Dallas holiday season. We join Kena as she explores
an immersive blend of single and multiplayer Howard. With even more creatures – including
packed with special powers and guns. Just XQGHUZDWHU DQG ć\LQJ GLQRVDXUV å ZH PLJKW EH an abandoned village amidst a sprawling forest.
$QG ZKLOH WKH FUHDWXUHV VKH PHHWV DUH RIĆFLDOO\
maybe block out a few days for it. extinct faster than ever.
Arkane Studios Frontier Developments called the Rot, they’re actually adorable.
Ember Lab

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 37

Awesome PS5 and Xbox accessories

XBOX SERIES X

All the extras your Xbox could possibly need

12

3

4

1 2 3 4

LOGITECH G923 SEAGATE EXPANSION XBOX ADAPTIVE XBOX DESIGN LAB
DRIVING FORCE RACING CARD CONTROLLER CONTROLLER

WHEEL 6HDJDWHèV RIĆFLDO VWRUDJH ZDV Microsoft’s passion for Why choose just one colour
previously only available in accessibility is unrelenting and when you can individually
New-gen driving games are a 1TB option but there are the Xbox Adaptive Controller personalise eight different
taking car physics and engine now 512GB and 2TB versions and its modular add-ons are a sections of your Xbox Series
audio into new dimensions so it available. This expansion card controller? The ludicrously
feels increasingly like sacrilege ĆWV LQWR WKH GHGLFDWHG VORW RQ true game changer for users customisable Xbox Design Lab
not to be using a racing wheel. the back of your Xbox Series X with limited mobility. There are has returned, which means you
Logitech’s G923 comes with its or S. The SSD has what’s called 19 ports for individual switches can change not just the hue of
proprietary Trueforce next-gen Xbox Velocity Architecture – the sticks and triggers but even
feedback and is crafted from you can play games directly and remappable controls, the style of your ABXY keys.
aluminium, steel and leather which means gaming is no
for a truly tactile experience. from the storage. longer frustratingly limited to $89
VSHFLĆF SK\VLFDO GHPDQGV
$499, logitechg.com $348 (1TB), seagate.com xboxdesignlab.xbox.com
$130, xbox.com

38 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Awesome PS5 and Xbox accessories

5

8BITDO SN30 PRO
FOR ANDROID

Whether you’re away from home or
just lying cosy in bed, Xbox Remote
Play is an ultra-slick way to make
sure you’re not missing out on your

Destiny 2 dailies. The SN30 Pro
controller connects to your Android
phone or tablet via Bluetooth and
even comes with a clip so there’s no
awkward balancing tricks required.
8BitDo has partnered with Microsoft
to make this an essential on the go

SDG WKDW ĆWV HDVLO\ LQ D EDJ
$65, amazon.com.au

6

STEELSERIES ARCTIS
9X HEADSET

One of the many joys of the

6 SteelSeries Arctis 9X is that it’s an
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dongle to lose in the clutter around
your Xbox. A retractable mic means
you can still wear it between bouts of
gaming and you can connect it up to
your smartphone at the same time via
Bluetooth so you can take calls.

$359, steelseries.com

77

RAZER TURRET

The majority of keyboards and mice
work with the Xbox Series consoles

but only Razer’s Turret lapboard
KDV EHHQ VSHFLĆFDOO\ GHVLJQHG IRU
Microsoft’s boxes. As a result, it has
a dedicated Xbox key, more RGB
lighting than your eyes can handle,
and a comfortable tray design for
games that demand a level of control
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$469, amazon.com.au

UNSUNG GAMING GEMS

BACK 4 BLOOD SABLE PSYCHONAUTS 2

What better way to prove your friendship than If you want to step away from the big holiday A word of warning. Psychonauts 2 isn’t for
SURWHFWLQJ \RXU %))V IURP WHUULI\LQJ ćHVK KLWWHUV DQG ĆQG VRPH LQQHU SHDFH ORRN QR those with a fear of dentists but for everyone
further than Sable. This stylish adventure is else who patiently waited 16 years for a sequel,
eaters? Or, y’know, waiting for your pals to get a short but sweet journey across a beautiful this is pure platforming joy. Prepare for a rich
you back on your feet... Original Left 4 Dead desert that you’ll just want to explore every world and exceptional story to accompany your
dev team Turtle Rock has crafted a truly worthy inch of. Prepare to hammer that screenshot action-packed journey. And, oh yeah, it’s also
spiritual successor with great characters and
KRUULĆF PRQVWHUV WKDW ZLOO KDYH \RX KRRNHG button and drift away on the incredible score. free on Xbox Game Pass.
Free on Xbox Game Pass, Turtle Rock Studios Free on Xbox Game Pass, Shedworks Free on Xbox Game Pass, Double Fine

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 39

Home cinema heaven

HOME CINEMA
HEAVEN

Going out to the movies lost its appeal? If so, staying in to watch is a
great alternative – provided you have the right kit

Words: John Archer Photography: Neil Godwin

40 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Home cinema heaven

THE NEXT GEN

TCL 65X925

This flagship TV proves the merits of emerging Mini LED technology and Google TV, and even keeps
us on a rising appreciation curve for 8K resolution. TCL is certainly packing in the technologies here

for its flagship TV. It’s 8K, it’s Mini LED, it’s got Google TV, it even has a camera you can plonk on
top, if you like that sort of thing.

The X925 is a magnificent TV, and again proves the success of Mini LED backlighting in allowing
LCD screens to face off against their decade-long OLED rivals, and in some regards now beat them.

Premium OLEDs have those thin glass-like panels, but Mini LED LCDs now go just as dark, with
wider colour gamut, brighter panels, and higher dynamic range.

The 65X925 couples this with the ease of use delivered by Google TV’s interface, the convenience of
a built-in soundbar, and doubles down on all these attractions with pricing – for a flagship 8Ker,
remember – which is extremely competitive.
$4,499 www.tcl.com

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 41

Home cinema heaven

THE SHARPSHOOTER

SAMSUNG QN900A

The QN900A is 2021’s most cutting-edge LCD TV. Its ‘Infinity’ design, for instance, delivers the
QN900A’s huge pictures (our personal favourite is the glorious 75-inch) from a frame so narrow you

can barely see it. Connections include four HDMIs capable of handling the latest videogaming
features of 4K at 120Hz and variable refresh rates. In fact, it even supports the Freesync Premium
Pro VRR system. It boasts an 8K resolution with AI-backed upscaling and, most impressive of all, it
uses mini-LED backlighting. This shrinks the usual LEDs down so that lots more of them can be
used to illuminate the picture. Couple this with thousands of separately controlled light zones and
premium Quantum Dot colour technology and you’ve got a picture able to do unique justice to the

brightness, colour range and contrast of HDR, despite a lack of Dolby Vision HDR support.
From $6,495, samsung.com

42 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Home cinema heaven

THE MOVIE THEATRE

LG G1

Behold the LG G1, one of the largest and certainly the most cinematic of these flat-screened
beauties. It goes up to 77 inches, which for us marks the point where a TV becomes a home cinema
screen. Especially when that screen is able to deliver the sort of cinematic black levels, colours and
4K detailing this LG OLED can. In fact, the G1 uses a new premium OLED panel that delivers even
more contrast and HDR impact than the already mighty C1s, while the wide viewing angles you get
with OLED are perfect for entertaining a room full of friends and family on movie nights. As the

makers claim, AI Picture Pro recognises content and optimises image quality, while Filmmaker
Mode shows movies as the director intended. It’s also ultra slim (24mm) and can easily be mounted

on a wall, making it even more akin to a cinema-going experience.
From $2,995, lg.com

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 43

Home cinema heaven

THE SOUND SENSATION

PHILIPS OLED+936

No other TV looks or sounds quite like the Philips OLED+936. This OLED TV’s unique design features no
less than three eye-catching attractions: a physics-defyingly thin panel, a built-in speaker enclosure
that doubles as a desktop stand, and Philips’ Ambilight technology casting immersive, soothing
coloured light onto your wall from all four of the TV’s sides. The speaker enclosure has been designed
with British hi-fi brand Bowers & Wilkins, and produces arguably the best sound ever from a built-in
TV speaker system, regardless of whether you’re watching movies or playing your favourite album.
Crowning things off is support for all the latest gaming features and gloriously colourful, bright, sharp
and dynamic images courtesy of Philips’ massively powerful ‘P5’ picture processing engine. If there’s a
more all-round spectacular TV out there, we haven’t seen it.
$TBA, philips.com

44 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Home cinema heaven

THE NATURAL

SONY A80J

The A80J TV combines two of our favourite things: Sony’s latest Bravia XR picture processing system,
and surprisingly affordable prices. Its use of OLED technology doesn’t exactly hurt, either. The new

Bravia XR processing does an uncanny job of making pictures look more natural, approaching
incoming video in the same way our eyes take in the real world. So, for instance, it spots and subtly
enhances the main subjects of an image, while tweaking other parts of the picture to create enhanced
depth. The new processor also delivers gorgeous light and colour refinement, while its connections
provide gamers with support for 4K at 120Hz. A long-promised update for VRR hasn’t arrived yet, and
the A80J doesn’t get the higher-brightness OLED panel used by Sony’s step-up A90J. Even as it stands,

though, the A80J is exceptional value.
From $2,795 sony.com

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 45

Home cinema heaven

THE GAME CHANGER

LG C1

LG has been cutting edges and pushing envelopes with its OLED TVs for generations now. Its
current, spectacularly designed C1 mid-range models continue that theme, in particular in the way
they embrace gamers as well as movie and TV fans, while also keeping LG’s OLED pricing nudging
downwards. On the movie side of things, LG’s OLED technology delivers spectacular contrast and

colour, bags of 4K detail and clarity, wide viewing angles and better motion handling than any
previous LG TV. Gamers, meanwhile, are lapping up this TV’s truly comprehensive gaming talents,

which include a full sweep of variable refresh rates (including the AMD Freesync and Nvidia
G-Sync variations), 4K at 120Hz, and support for the Dolby Vision HDR system that’s just gone live

on the Xbox Series X and S.
From $1,500 lg.com

46 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Accessories

ACCESSORIES

SAMSUNG HW-Q950A

$W e 6DPVXQJèV ćDJVKLS VRXQGEDU ORRNV H[SHQVLYH XQWLO \RX UHDOLVH WKDW LW
D FRPSULVHV IRXU VHSDUDWH ER[HV WR GHOLYHU DQ XQSUHFHGHQWHG FKDQQHOV RI VRXQG
DQG E GHOLYHUV WKH PRVW SRZHUIXO DQG LPPHUVLYH SHUIRUPDQFH ZLWK SUHPLXP '76 ;
DQG HVSHFLDOO\ 'ROE\ $WPRV VRXQGWUDFNV WKDW ZHèYH HYHU KHDUG %DVLFDOO\ LW VRXQGV

OLNH D JRRG VHSDUDWHV V\VWHP ZLWKRXW WKH KDVVOH
$1,485, samsung.com

PLAYSTATION 5

:H FRXOG KDYH SLFNHG WKH ;ER[ 6HULHV ; KHUH HVSHFLDOO\ DV 0LFURVRIWèV FRQVROH
DOUHDG\ VXSSRUWV 955 ZKLOH WKH 36 GRHVQèW +RZHYHU WKH 36 UHDOO\ GRHV ORRN
JRUJHRXV ZKHQ LWèV ĆULQJ RQ DOO F\OLQGHUV ZLWK WLWOHV OLNH Demon’s Souls DQG WKH QRQ
GLJLWDO YHUVLRQ FDUULHV D EHWWHU . %OX UD\ SOD\HU WKDQ WKH 6HULHV ; 3OXV WKH 36 èV

ORQJ DZDLWHG 955 VXSSRUW ZLOO FRPH HYHQWXDOO\
$all over the place, playstation.com

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 47

Home cinema heaven

THE BRIGHT SPARK

SONY X90J

Sony’s second recommended TV in our selection turns to LCD rather than OLED for its pictures –
and proves the brand’s mastery of both. Its direct-lit screen delivers impressive brightness for its

sub-£1,250 price point, while clever local dimming partners this HDR-friendly light with
unusually good handling of dark scenes by mid-range LCD standards. Sony’s new Bravia XR
processing for making images look more natural/realistic still works well, and there’s support for
4K at 120Hz gaming out of the box, Dolby Vision HDR, and (following an upcoming firmware
update) variable refresh rates. There are limitations, such as relatively few local dimming zones
and an inability to game in Dolby Vision at high refresh rates. If you’re after a TV for a bright room
in particular, though, the X90J is a terrific performer for its money – and it would be comfortably

at home in a sun-drenched conservatory.
From $1,995, sony.com

48 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au

Home cinema heaven

THE LITTLE MARVEL

SAMSUNG RU7100

Bigger isn’t always better. This Samsung, for instance, can come in sizes as small as 43 inches and
still delivers a native 4K resolution, as well as HDR support. It backs this HDR support up, too, with
more brightness and colour range than most rivals in its class. Even better, it combines its vibrancy
with convincing dark scenes bolstered by the most consistently rich, deep black colours we’ve seen

from a sub-$1,000 TV. Native 4K sources look exceptionally sharp and detailed, too – and this
sharpness holds up much better than expected when there’s motion in the frame, too. The RU7100
might not support the latest gaming features, but it still looks very good with an Xbox Series X or

PlayStation 5. In fact, it looks (and sounds) better with anything you care to feed it than many
much more expensive rivals.
From $949, samsung.com

Discover more at t3.com/au JAN/FEB 2022 T3 49

Accessories

ACCESSORIES

PHILIPS FIDELIO B97

The Fidelio B97 has a truly unique selling point: speakers at each end
of the main soundbar that can be detached on movie nights and placed

behind you to become wireless rears.
The build quality and design of each of the B97’s elements is
outstanding, and the system sounds spectacularly powerful and
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of whether it’s playing music or movies.
$1,789, philips.com

PANASONIC UB820 4K BLU-RAY PLAYER

While video streaming now rules the world and can deliver AV standards that would
have been unthinkable a few short years ago, the latest 4K Blu-ray disc format still
gives you a performance edge, thanks to its high video bitrates and uncompressed
Dolby Atmos/DTS:X soundtracks. And no 4K Blu-ray player delivers the format’s

advantages better (without spending silly money) than Panasonic’s UB820.
$648, panasonic.com

50 T3 JAN/FEB 2022 Discover more at t3.com/au