soft freeze or freezer, depending on your needs. Having a big dinner party? Set it as a fridge for extra capacity while you’re prepping. Just stocked up at a bulk-buy butcher? Set it as a freezer to keep your choice cuts frozen until you need them. Birthday party? Soft freeze means ice cream is easier to scoop. These compartments are often a separate drawer between the fridge and freezer, or one of the two bottom compartments on a quad-door French-door fridge. There are a few things to know if you want to get the most out of your multi-zone compartment. First, you need a new home for the compartment’s existing contents before you change the settings. (And remember, thawing and refreezing some foods can be dangerous.) Second, plan ahead. The temperature won’t change straight away when you switch modes – it’ll take a couple of hours to reach its new target temperature. Finally, remember to tell other household members you’ve made the change – either in person, via a note left on the fridge, or ideally both. Don’t assume they’ll notice it on the fridge’s display. 3. ‘HOT FREEZE’ ZONE Putting hot leftovers in the fridge is a tricky subject. You don’t want to leave them out on the bench to cool for too long, as bacteria can start to multiply once the temperature drops below 60°C. But equally, putting molten-hot leftovers straight into the fridge can affect other fridge contents. A hot freeze compartment eliminates this issue by rapidly cooling its contents, while keeping them quarantined from the rest of the fridge. So you can quickly cool hot leftovers safely, without affecting the rest of your food. The hot freeze feature is currently only available in fridges from Mitsubishi Electric, but we think it’s are a great idea that we’d like to see become more common. 4. LOCKABLE COMPARTMENT Ever wondered why your dairy compartment has a lock on it? No, it’s not a response to a spate of butter burglaries. It’s for storing medicines that require refrigeration safely out of reach of curious little fingers. Lockable compartments are a great safety feature; however, not many fridges have them. If yours doesn’t, it’s a good idea to keep your medicines in a clearly labelled container, ideally one that’s challenging for children. 5. HYBRID FRIDGE-FREEZERS Taking the multi-use compartment a step further, more and more manufacturers are producing hybrid models that can be used as either a freezer or a fridge. These are available in either chest configuration (arguably less useful) or as an upright, giving you even more flexibility and options for short- or longterm food storage. And with upright hybrids with reversible doors, you can even buy two identical appliances and set them up in a pigeon-pair configuration, rather than having to buy different standalone models of fridge and freezer. Hybrid models come with two energy star ratings – one for use as a freezer, and one for use as a fridge. This is important as freezers have to work harder to maintain lower temperatures than a fridge. Dedicated freezers will often have thicker insulation to better maintain the lower temperatures, but hybrids have to do it all. Theoretically you might get an efficient fridge that’s quite energy intensive as a freezer, or an efficient freezer that’s very, very good at keeping its cool as a fridge. Being able to see this at a glance helps you, the consumer, make the best possible choice for how you’re going to use it. A relatively new concept, we’re interested to see whether the hybrid fridge-freezer will catch on. Manufacturers are producing hybrid models that can be used as either a freezer or a fridge CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 51 FRIDGES TEST IMAGE: GETTY
TABLE NOTES Recommended We recommend fridges with a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 75% and at least 60% for all aspects of temperature performance except default setting score. Price Recommended retail, as of March 2024. Many fridges are available in other styles and finishes, at a different price. Some can also be built into cabinets with a door kit that matches your kitchen cupboards. 10-year running costs are calculated at a rate of 40c/kWh based on the claimed energy usage. A 10-year period gives a useful indication of the long-term differences between high and low energy use – and you should expect your fridge to last at least this long. CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of temperature stability (30%), heat load (25%) (for fridges registered to the latest Australian Standard) or temperature range (25%) (for fridges registered to the previous Australian Standard), temperature evenness (20%), response to outside temperature (20%) and default setting (5%). Keep food fresh longer is made up of three elements that impact how well a fridge will keep your food: temperature stability (40%), temperature evenness (30%) and response to outside temperature (30%). Brand reliability scores are taken from our fridge brand reliability survey 2021, and don’t affect the overall score. Scores refer to brands, not particular models. Freezer position T Top, B Bottom, L Left. Claimed volume is the gross volume, which includes all chilled space inside the fridge, including behind trim and in ducts. Usable space, or net volume is smaller. na Not applicable/not available. nt Not tested. * Failed energy check. 80% Electrolux EHE6899BA French door Claimed total volume: 681L $4649 BEST FOR BIG FAMILIES 82% LG GB-335WL Freezer on bottom Claimed total volume: 335L $1199 BEST SMALL FRIDGE 81% LG GB-455WL Freezer on the bottom Claimed total volume: 420L $1439 BEST ALLROUNDER Shop Ethical rating BRAND RATING Bosch D Chiq F Electrolux C Fisher & Paykel F Haier F Hisense F Ikea C Kelvinator C LG C Miele B Mitsubishi Electric F Panasonic F Samsung F Westinghouse C NOTE: Other brands in our review not mentioned here don’t have a Shop Ethical rating. For more on Shop Ethical ratings and what they mean, see p73. 52 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE
COSTS PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Recom mended Price ($) 10-year running costs ($) CHOICE Expert Rating (%) Keep food fresh longer score (%) Temperature stability score (%) Heat load processing score (%) Temperature range score (%) Temperature evenness score (%) Response to outside temperature score (%) Default setting score (%) Brand reliability score (%) Claimed energy use (kWh/year) Freezer position Chiller Crisper drawer Dimensions (cm, H x W x D) Claimed total volume (L) <300 Kelvinator KTB2802WB 789 1280 69 71 71 65 nt 80 62 60 89 320 T 1 161 x 54 x 63 256 Esatto ETM236W 649 1156 67 66 78 65 nt 50 67 70 na 289 T 9 1 153 x 55 x 61 236 LG GU-B194PL 659 580 63 56 90 80 nt 45 20 60 89 145 na 9 1 130 x 53 x 56 194 300–380L 9 LG GB-335WL 1199 1172 82 80 85 nt 85 70 84 80 89 293 B 1 172 x 60 x 68 335 Samsung SRL334NMB 1099 1392 74 70 60 nt 85 65 88 80 78 348 B 1 170 x 60 x 67 310 Ikea HD-400RWEN (AU) MEDGANG 1299 1232 70 71 51 75 nt 85 82 55 na 308 B 2 188 x 60 x 63 302 LG GT-3S 1079 1128 70 64 64 85 nt 65 63 70 89 282 T 1 164 x 60 x 71 315 Ikea HD-413REN (AU) UPPKALLA 999 1380 54 55 41 75 nt 55 72 40 na 345 B 1 188 x 60 x 63 311 Westinghouse WBB3400WK 1399 1260 51 47 44 80 nt 65 34 30 88 315 B 1 176 x 60 x 65 335 381–450L 9 LG GB-455WL 1439 1200 81 79 90 nt 85 70 73 85 89 300 B 1 172 x 70 x 70 420 Westinghouse WBE4302WC 1449 1168 76 76 86 80 nt 50 87 50 88 292 B 1 173 x 70 x 73 425 Samsung SRL446DLS 1380 1384 72 68 51 90 nt 75 82 50 78 346 B 1 175 x 70 x 71 424 LG GB-W455MBL 1799 1144 71 67 71 80 nt 45 84 85 89 286 B 1 172 x 70 x 70 420 Hisense HRBM417S 1199 1228 69 68 71 80 nt 55 78 30 85 307* B 1 172 x 71 x 70 417 Chiq CBM394NSS 1099 1088 67 71 65 nt 55 75 75 70 na 272 B 1 172 x 71 x 71 396 Haier HRF420BHC 1149 1016 43 49 6 70 nt 70 85 60 na 254 B 9 1 173 x 70 x 68 431 451–525L Westinghouse WBE5300SC 2199 1236 78 78 90 80 nt 55 85 55 88 309 B 1 173 x 80 x 73 496 Panasonic NR-CW530H 1999 1360 71 66 59 90 nt 55 85 60 na 340 B 9 1 173 x 75 x 75 500 Kelvinator KTM5402WC 1249 1600 45 45 29 70 nt 75 35 75 89 400 T 1 173 x 80 x 73 503 >525L & FD 9 LG GF-B530BL 1999 1676 87 86 90 90 nt 80 88 80 89 419 B 2 179 x 84 x 74 530 9 Electrolux EHE6899BA 4649 2240 80 78 85 nt 85 65 81 80 87 560 B 9 2 178 x 92 x 75 681 9 LG GF-L700MBL 4499 2080 80 78 71 85 nt 80 86 75 89 520 B 2 180 x 92 x 73 637 9 Samsung SRF7100S 2999 2088 79 80 78 80 nt 75 87 65 78 522 B 2 178 x 92 x 73 649 9 Westinghouse WHE6170SB 4149 1940 78 77 78 85 nt 70 81 70 88 485 B 9 2 179 x 92 x 82 609 Fisher & Paykel RF730QNUVX1 4199 1852 74 72 64 80 nt 80 75 75 89 463 B 3 190 x 91 x 75 690 Mitsubishi Electric MR-WX470F-S-A 3899 1360 71 66 64 90 nt 55 80 50 92 340 B 9 1 170 x 65 x 70 470 Miele KF 2981 Vi 18150 1736 68 70 56 65 nt 75 84 70 na 434 B 9 1 213 x 91 x 63 552 Haier HRF530YS 1599 1400 63 56 67 80 nt 40 56 70 na 350 B 2 178 x 83 x 64 463 Haier HRF580YHC 1911 1416 62 56 55 75 nt 25 89 75 na 354 B 9 2 178 x 83 x 71 508 Hisense HRCD454SW 1540 1452 51 54 22 75 nt 80 71 70 85 363 B 2 182 x 80 x 71 454 Panasonic NR-XY680L 3498 1580 50 50 29 85 nt 65 62 25 na 395 B 9 1 179 x 90 x 75 618 SIDE BY SIDE 9 Samsung SRS656MBFH4 3363 2500 76 72 60 nt 90 70 90 70 78 625 L 2 178 x 92 x 72 657 LG GS-B655PL 2279 1880 59 59 36 75 nt 60 90 85 89 470 L 2 179 x 92 x 74 655 Westinghouse WSE6640BA 2563 1620 59 54 41 85 nt 55 70 80 88 405 L 2 178 x 92 x 75 619 Westinghouse WSE6630SA 2099 1620 56 57 29 80 nt 70 81 90 88 405 L 2 178 x 92 x 75 624 FRIDGE ONLY 9 Husky HUS-268VFWH_1 1399 600 86 85 82 90 nt 85 90 85 na 150 na 0 173 x 60 x 64 238 9 Husky HUS-198CHE.1 699 432 81 75 82 95 nt 60 80 85 na 108 na 0 85 x 82 x 55 198 9 Bosch KSV33VI3A 1999 716 76 73 67 85 nt 65 90 70 na 179 na 1 176 x 60 x 65 326 Haier HRF241VW 899 520 56 54 44 80 nt 45 76 60 na 130 na 1 143 x 55 x 56 242 CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 53 FRIDGES TEST IMAGE: GETTY
54 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE 54 There is nothing you can do to enable your old 3G mobile to receive calls and texts again By the time you read this, you may find your trusty Aspera F26 or Telstra Easycall 4 bar phone or Doro PhoneEasy 623 flip phone suddenly refuses to receive a signal, even though it turns on fine and appears to be working correctly. It’s not your mobile itself that’s the problem, it’s your mobile network provider who has pulled the network rug out from under you and removed the 3G network you need to make and take calls and texts. This year marks the end of the 3G network for mobile phone communication, and that means a whole lot of simple phones stop working. There is nothing you can do to enable your old 3G mobile to receive calls and texts again, and no alternative but to buy a new mobile that supports 4G networks. Out with the not-so-old With the end of the 3G network, many simple phones that should still have plenty of life in them will suddenly stop working. Denis Gallagher helps you choose a replacement
CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 55 TEST IMAGE: GETTY MOBILES FOR SENIORS EASY SWAPS FOR YOUR 3G PHONES If you love your 3G model and want to switch to something as similar as possible, here are a few options to consider from the models currently available. Recycling your old mobile phone If your simple phone isn’t 4G-enabled, it’s time to put it out to pasture. Like smartphones, mobiles for seniors are full of recyclable materials including rare, valuable metals such as gold, silver, platinum and copper. Up to 99% of these materials can be reused if you recycle your phone correctly. They may end up in new tech products, or they could have a new life as something entirely different. HOW TO ACCESS FREERECYCLING Mobile Muster is a free, industrybacked program that recycles mobile phones, smartphones, phone batteries, power banks and accessories. You can drop off accepted items at a number of locations including Optus, Telstra and Vodafone stores, Officeworks and even some council chambers. Look online at mobilemuster.com.au/recycle-amobile to find your nearest location. HOW TO WIPE YOUR DEVICES For privacy reasons you’ll probably want to wipe your device before handing it over. Simple mobile phones can be erased completely, but unlike smartphones, their menu systems can vary greatly between models so it isn’t possible to explain the process for every simple phone available. However, if you check through the menu you should be able to find a ‘factory default’ setting. Selecting this will wipe your phone completely. Also, make sure you remove the SIM card before disposing of the device. The Aspera R25t is a rugged mobile that should last for years and years, but as it’s a 3G mobile, it’s now an overpriced paperweight. The Aspera R40 is a similar phone, but with 4G support, and should be a good fit for a smooth transition. Aspera R25t Aspera R40 Doro PhoneEasy 623 Doro 6880 The Doro PhoneEasy 623 was a very popular 3G flip phone; if you want to continue with this sort of device, consider the Doro 6880 as a 4G alternative. Opel have a range of bar phones that are widely available through their website as well as retailers such as Officeworks and Australia Post. If you already own an old Opel Big Button mobile with 3G only, it’s now time to send it to recycling and look for an Opel Lite 4G. Opel Big Button Opel Lite 4G Olitech EasyFlip Olitech EasyFlip 2 If you own an Olitech flip phone and it stops working, you may need to upgrade to an Olitech 4G alternative for Olitech flip phones. The latest 4G model is the EasyFlip 2.
56 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE Why there are no recommended models We assess simple phones using our general smartphone criteria, but with a focus on how well they perform for someone with less than perfect sight, dexterity or hearing. According to our scoring criteria, none of the currently available phones we have tested score over the 70% threshold required to be recommended. This doesn’t mean we don’t think you should buy any of the mobiles we tested in the table – some may suit your needs and budget perfectly well. SHOULD YOU BUY A LOW-COST SMARTPHONE INSTEAD? Smartphone technology has advanced a lot over the past decade. There have been dramatic improvements in ease of use, display quality and overall performance. In some cases, a low-cost smartphone may give you the best bang for your buck, even if you’re only looking for something simple. There are plenty of budget options out there, and they’re much easier to customise than a simple phone. Most smartphones offer: O the option to adjust settings and download apps to suit specific needs O inbuilt accessibility options, such as magnification, colour correction, screen readers (these read text aloud) and other custom controls O an endless list of third-party paid and free apps that can turn your smartphone into a device designed to assist with disability. When we looked at a couple of these apps for Android smartphones, we found they performed OK and could be a good option if you’re using a hand-medown smartphone. Some add basic hearing aid options with the help of headphones, while others can act as a magnification tool using the inbuilt camera. A low-cost smartphone may give you the best bang for your buck
MOBILES FOR SENIORS TEST IMAGES: GETTY PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Recom mended Price ($) CHOICE Expert Rating (%) Vision score (%) Dexterity score (%) Sound receiving score (%) Sound sending score (%) SMS score (%) Manual & support score (%) SIM (taking in and out) score (%) Maximum ringer volume (dBA) Maximum speakerphone volume (dBA) Mobile phone type USB type Configurable emergency button Charging cradle WhatsApp installed Predictive text Voice assistant Menu font adjustable Hearing aid support Camera resolution (MP) Total storage (GB) Battery capacity (m Ah) Screen size (inches) Weight (g) Warranty (years) Big Purple Phone 630 69 65 67 75 65 75 74 100 71 88 S C 9 48 128 5000 6.8 250 1 Olitech EasyFlip 2 199 69 73 72 57 70 70 76 40 88 56 F M 9 9 9 2 0.13 1000 2.8 123 1 Guardian Swissvoice C50s 599 67 63 61 68 73 75 71 60 83 66 S M 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 3200 4.9 160 1 Opel TouchFlip 169 67 70 68 50 70 85 76 30 76 67 F M 9 9 9 9 9 2 0.51 1400 2.8 130 1 Aspera AS6 149 66 75 66 50 67 80 49 30 59 58 S M 9 9 9 8 2 2950 6 196 1 Doro 8100 399 66 70 69 63 63 85 20 40 78 72 S C 9 9 9 9 9 13 2 3000 6 167 1 Opel FlipPhone 6 99 66 68 68 55 70 70 76 30 81 57 F M 9 9 9 0.3 0.13 1350 2.4 99 1 Opel Lite 4G 79 66 70 61 60 70 75 70 40 74 53 B M 9 9 0.08 0.06 1000 1.8 75 1 Simply Big B1000 V2 Seniors Mobile 249 66 65 72 52 70 75 61 40 82 63 B M 9 9 9 9 na na 1700 2 114 2 Doro 6880 149 65 73 71 55 57 75 44 40 75 75 F M 9 9 9 9 9 2 na 1000 2.8 124 1 Olitech EasyMate 2 179 65 73 64 55 65 65 76 30 82 56 B M 9 9 9 2 0.13 1000 2.2 112 1 Opel BigButton M 129 65 70 65 52 70 65 80 40 81 56 B C 9 9 9 2 0.13 1000 2.2 111 1 Aspera Rugged R40 149 63 68 59 65 50 80 56 30 65 56 R M 9 9 9 9 2 0.51 2500 2.4 162 2 TABLE NOTES RecommendedMobile phones for seniors are assessed on different aspects to smartphones, related to a phone that’s easy to use, easy to read and delivers good quality sound for phone calls. We recommend phones with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 70% ormore. Nomodels scored that high, butmay stillmeet your needs (readmore on this at left). Price Recommended retail price as ofMarch 2024. CHOICE Expert Rating ismade up of vision (25%), dexterity (25%), sound receiving (20%), sound sending (15%), SMS (10%), andmanual and support (5%). We also assess and score ease of SIMinstallation, but this is not included in the CHOICE Expert Rating.Mobile phone type S Android smartphone, B Candybar or bar design, F Flip or clamshell design, R Ruggedised or tough phone. USB type C USB-C,MMicro. na Not available. Allmobiles in the table support the 4G networks (although not all support all available frequencies) and all include a standard 3.5mmheadphone jack (except the Olitech Easyflip 2) and Bluetooth support as well as a torch. All of themobiles weremanufactured in China and all use a nano SIMexcept the Aspera Rugged R40 and Doro 6880, which use amicro SIM, and the Guardianmobile, which uses a standard SIM. The Doro 8100 is the onlymobile in the table without FMradio.
Music to our ears We’ve overhauled our headphones test to help you find the best model for you. Peter Zaluzny talks through the changes I t’s been a long, long time since our headphones test has undergone any significant updates. After years of sticking with the same method, it was time to look at how the market has changed and take into account member feedback to adjust the way we present results to our members. Though it did take some time to get things just right, the new test is complete and ready to share. It’s a much more detailed and coherent approach that will make it much easier for you to find the right headphones to suit your needs. Key changes in a nutshell We previously ran separate tests for standard and active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones. Even though the methods had a lot of crossover, our approach meant that each type had to be presented in different tables and models weren’t directly comparable. Now all headphones are tested under the same conditions and everything from sound quality to battery life can be compared in one table. Slight adjustments are made for different types (e.g. in ear vs over ear), models with active noise cancelling, and so on. CHANGES TO SCORES AND RECOMMENDATIONS Adopting a new method means that you can’t compare scores of models from the current test with those tested using the old methodology. So we’ve decided to start our headphones assessment from scratch, retesting as many models as possible using the new method. 58
CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 59 TEST IMAGE: GETTY HEADPHONES As a result, you may notice that some scores for previously tested models have changed, and a few previously recommended headphones are no longer recommended. There are two key reasons why you might notice significant changes in the score some models receive: O The weightings of the scores used to create the CHOICE Expert Rating have been adjusted. O A new crop of experts means different approaches to the method and, most significantly, different sets of ears. Headphones that sounded quite good to a previous panel of three may not sound quite as good to the current group of five. These score changes are an unfortunate byproduct of switching to a new method, though this method is ultimately a better approach. All previous test results and recommendations previously published in CHOICE magazine should be disregarded. Our new method for testing headphones Our expert assessment looks at sound quality, active noise cancellation performance (ANC) where applicable, comfort, battery life, ease of use and durability. A panel of five experts is used for all listening tests. SOUND QUALITY Audio experts listen to classical, jazz and pop music, as well as a podcast with male and female voices. This test takes place in a living room or similar environment, where samples are played as compression-free tracks from a high-quality source. Any filters and equalisers (e.g. in an app) are tested in their default positions. If the headphones support Bluetooth and a cabled connection, they are primarily tested with a Bluetooth connection. However, audio quality via a cable connection still contributes to the sound quality score. Bluetooth and wired audio are assessed with ANC on if this feature is present. Each pair of headphones also undergoes a technical assessment. This includes listening for headphone and cable noise during movement, sound leakage, inherent noise that occurs when ANC is enabled and sound isolation performance when active noise cancellation is turned off. Experts also conduct frequency response and harmonic distortion measurements. Just quietly... We test what we call ‘standard’ headphones, and headphones with active noise-cancelling. Standard headphones can provide some noise cancelling just through their design, particularly those models that cover the ears. This may be referred to as ‘passive’ noise cancelling, but we don’t test this. Active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones have technology that you can switch on to actively cut out background sound. ON EAR VS OVER EAR On-ear headphones sit against your ear, and over-ear headphones surround your ear. These types of headphones are sometimes also called “cans”. Their design can reduce ambient noise, but they may not have ANC. The design of on- and over-ear headphones can reduce ambient noise, but they may not have ANC
60 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION PERFORMANCE A technical test assesses active noise cancelling (ANC) performance in a number of environments, including continuous noise, a restaurant where people are talking, cyclical noise, a silent location, and other typical environments as determined by the expert tester. Sound isolation is also tested. COMFORT The panel looks at how the headphones feel when placing on or off, wearing them at room temperature for 30 minutes, and wearing them in motion. They also consider headphone preparation: fitting the correct ear adaptors or cushions, looking for left and right indicators, and setting up and pairing wireless models. During their assessment, our experts look for a number of elements that contribute to overall comfort. These include secure fit, movement hindrances, noting the weight and feel of the headphones and checking if they are easy or difficult to remove over and around long hair. BATTERY LIFE Two charging and discharging cycles are carried out. Total discharge time is recorded and the score is calculated based on the following expected runtimes: In-ear headphones: 110–660 minutes. On/over-ear headphones: 180–3000 minutes. These tests take place under the same conditions as the sound quality assessment. For example, headphones with Bluetooth, wired connectivity options and ANC are tested with Bluetooth enabled and ANC turned on (without ambient noise present). Operating time after 15 minutes of charging is also measured and recorded. The battery is completely discharged during this part of the test as well. EASE OF USE Our experts test initial set-up and day-to-day use. They assess the detail and clarity of visual information, battery indicators, connecting the headphones to other devices, and using the app. They also assess sound leakage and whether any physical interactions, such as touching onboard controls, are amplified in the headphones. They evaluate to what extent acoustic or visual indicators for the various operating states are visible, audible and useful. Finally, the testers carry out a charging and discharging procedure for the headphones and for the charging case (if one is supplied). DURABILITY This is a simple assessment of build quality; models that feel solid score better. Testers take into consideration all headphone components including the earpiece (and padding where applicable), buttons, adjustment points and connection points. MICROPHONE QUALITY Three testers evaluate speech intelligibility when using the headphones with a smartphone hands-free. This test is performed both with and without ambient noise. CLEANING Our tester also assesses how easy it is to clean the headphones when following the instructions. Experts listen to classical, jazz and pop music, and a podcast with male and female voices
CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 61 HEADPHONES TEST IMAGES: GETTY 77% Sennheiser Sport True Wireless These are the best earbuds in our test – their only real drawback is that they don’t support active noise cancellation. But if that’s not a deal breaker for you, then the very good sound quality, good comfort and excellent durability should put these earbuds on your radar – especially if you’re into fitness. The IP54 ingress protection rating helps protect them against sweat, splashes and dust, making them suitable for use during sweaty workouts. Battery life is pretty solid at just over seven hours, which you can extend with the two additional charges that the carry case battery provides. 79% Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless These wireless cans have taken out the top spot in our new test, with excellent battery life giving them the edge. They last more than 51 hours on a single charge, with ANC turned on. And you’ll still get 9.5 hours of use off the back of a 15-minute charge. ANC performance isn’t too shabby with a score of 86%, and sound quality performance is at the upper end of good. Although it’s worth noting that microphone performance is borderline, so you probably wouldn’t want to use these as a hands-free phone solution. They support AptX and AptxHD to improve wireless audio quality, as well as Bluetooth multi-pairing and they even come with a travel bag. $199 $579 BEST HEADPHONES WITHOUT ANC BEST HEADPHONES WITH ANC We started our headphones assessment from scratch, retesting as many models as possible Untangling ‘wireless’ All the headphones in our test are wireless, in that they connect to your media source via Bluetooth rather than a cable. But you may perhaps occasionally hear the term ‘true wireless’. This refers to in-ear headphones (better known as ear buds), where the left and right pieces are not connected with each other by a cable, unlike over-ear or on-ear headphones and some in-ear headphones. Instead, one bud connects wirelessly to your device, which sends the signal to the other bud, or they sync via two independent signals. Shop Ethical rating BRAND RATING Apple C Bang & Olufsen D Beats C Bowers & Wilkins D Google F Huawei F Jabra C JBL F Samsung F Sennheiser B Sony D NOTE: Other brands in our review not mentioned here don’t have a Shop Ethical rating. For more on Shop Ethical ratings and what they mean, see p73.
62 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE TYPE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Recom mended Price ($) Wireless or true wireless Over, on or in ear CHOICE Expert Rating (%) Sound quality score (%) Active noise cancellation (ANC) score (%) Comfort score (%) Battery life score (%) Ease of use score (%) Durability score (%) Microphone score (%) Cleaning score (%) Battery life (hh:m m)* Battery life after 15 min charge (hh:m m)* Active noise cancellation Usable when battery dies** Detachable cable Weight (g) 9 Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless 579 W Over ear 79 78 86 68 98 72 95 53 70 51:15 9:30 9 9 9 292 9 Apple AirPods Max 899 W Over ear 78 89 81 69 54 57 100 62 90 22:45 5:30 9 383 9 Bose QuietComfort 45 499 W On ear 78 83 90 75 50 69 90 79 95 23:00 3:45 9 9 9 235 9 Sennheiser Sport True Wireless 199 TW In ear 77 81 na 78 51 70 90 50 95 7:15 1:30 na 13 9 Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 599 W Over ear 76 81 67 66 89 71 95 78 65 42:45 8:00 9 9 306 9 Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 249 TW In ear 76 76 88 84 62 57 70 28 100 7:15 4:00 9 na 10 9 Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 399 TW In ear 76 81 72 77 52 73 95 54 95 7:15 1:45 9 na 12 9 Sony WH-1000XM5 549 W Over ear 76 83 88 63 68 63 70 66 100 29:45 8:30 9 9 9 249 9 Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW 129 TW In ear 75 80 na 77 48 65 90 59 95 7:00 1:45 na 10 9 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 599 W Over ear 75 81 86 69 52 60 90 na 55 22:30 4:30 9 9 9 263 9 Jabra Elite 85t 299 TW In ear 75 87 66 72 52 61 100 57 100 5:45 2:00 9 na 15 9 JBL Live 660NC 199 W Over ear 75 77 65 72 87 70 90 64 70 42:00 8:45 9 9 9 262 Apple AirPods (3rd generation) 279 TW In ear 74 83 na 67 63 51 75 70 70 7:00 3:30 na 9 Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 379 W Over ear 74 77 na 56 96 67 90 74 75 65:15 6:45 9 9 306 Beats Powerbeats Pro 379 TW In ear 74 79 na 72 82 41 70 na 100 10:30 5:00 na 21 Google Pixel Buds A-Series 159 TW In ear 74 80 na 81 51 50 75 54 100 4:45 2:30 na 10 Jabra Elite 4 Active 179 TW In ear 74 76 75 75 68 59 90 62 70 8:45 2:15 9 na 10 JBL Live 300TWS 249 TW In ear 74 86 na 63 34 56 100 na 85 4:30 1:15 na 13 Sony WF-LS900 LinkBuds S 199 TW In ear 74 81 73 76 52 59 85 63 100 6:45 2:30 9 na 9 Sony WH-1000XM4 439 W Over ear 74 73 90 67 79 63 75 62 na 37:45 10:30 9 9 9 251 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX 700 TW In ear 73 77 79 78 42 60 100 60 100 5:45 1:30 9 na 13 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i 670 W On ear 73 83 83 56 67 52 80 na 70 35:00 4:00 9 9 9 217 Google Pixel Buds Pro 299 TW In ear 73 76 77 82 56 58 65 58 100 7:15 3:15 9 na 12 Marshall Motif ANC 350 TW In ear 73 78 76 80 47 55 90 20 30 5:15 1:45 9 na 8 Sennheiser CX 150BT 109 W In ear 73 75 na 63 94 57 90 na 100 15:15 2:45 na 15 Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless 259 TW In ear 73 78 66 74 56 69 90 48 100 7:00 2:00 9 na 12 Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 259 TW In ear 72 77 79 79 40 57 80 72 95 4:00 1:15 9 na 11 Apple AirPods (2nd generation) 219 TW In ear 71 76 na 70 55 52 95 na 90 5:00 3:30 na 8 Sennheiser HD 350BT 219 W On ear 71 70 na 72 76 57 90 na 50 34:45 6:15 221 Soundcore Space Q45 220 W Over ear 71 74 84 52 86 57 90 41 60 41:30 9:45 9 9 9 298 TABLE NOTES Recommended We recommend products with a CHOICE expert rating of 75% or above. Price Recommended retail or typical retail price as of March 2024. W Wireless – the connection between the headphones and the device is wireless, but the left and right cans/buds are connected via a cable or headband. TW True wireless – like wireless models, except the earbuds are not connected by a cable. Instead, one bud connects to your device which sends the signal to the other bud, or they sync via two independent signals. CHOICE Expert Rating for standard headphones (without active noise cancellation) is made up of sound quality (55%), comfort (20%), battery (10%), ease of use (10%) and durability (5%). CHOICE Expert Rating for headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) is made up of sound quality (40%), comfort (20%), active noise-cancellation (15%), battery (10%), ease of use (10%) and durability (5%). * For this test ANC headphones are measured with ANC active and set to maximum reduction. ** Some headphones with physical connectivity via an audio cable will continue to function without a charge if you can plug them in to a 3.5mm port, but will lose all functions except audio playback (e.g. ANC equalisation, onboard controls etc.). na Not applicable. All over/on ear models except Sennheiser HD350BT come with a carry bag.
CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 63 IMAGES: DYSON HEADPHONES FIRST LOOK Clean sound? I t’s 2024 and headphones with a wearable air purifier attachment are now a thing. Enter the Dyson Zone Absolute+ headphones. When a manufacturer has to clarify that its latest product is not, in fact, an April Fool’s joke (Dyson did this on social media, shortly after revealing the Zone headphones), it knows it’s in for a potentially rough ride. The Dyson Zone Absolute+ are over-ear wireless headphones that double as a personal air purifier, thanks to built-in filters and a detachable visor. While we had to initially endure howls of laughter from onlookers (various sci-fi comparisons were made, especially to the visor of Star Trek’s Geordi La Forge), their ridicule soon turned to curiosity. Just what is that visor for, how does it work and is it any good? AIR PURIFICATION Dyson claims the Absolute+ is capable of capturing and filtering out “99% of pollutants as small as 0.1 microns”. However, in the small print it’s quick to point out that this was done in lab conditions and “capture rates may differ depending on real life usage”. Each ear cup contains a motor, air-purifying filter and compressor fan, which makes them noticeably bulkier than traditional headphones. The air purifier visor attaches to the headphones magnetically, allowing you to quickly remove it, but this also means it’s incredibly easy to accidentally knock the visor off. With the visor removed, the headphones continue to work as normal. When activated, the motor pushes the filtered air to the inside of the visor. You can change the intensity via the accompanying app or set it to automatically change, but as you increase the air purification the noise made by the internal fans increases in volume. At the lowest setting it’s a nonintrusive hum, but when we ramped it up we could hear the internal fans clearly, even with noise cancelling turned on. Turning up the volume of what we were listening to helped drown out the fans, but people around us could still hear them whirring away. We also noticed some noise leakage when playing music at high volume. SOUND QUALITY We found that the headphones perform well, producing rich, clear sound. You also get two noise-cancelling modes. Isolation mode keeps background sounds (and derogatory comments from passersby) to a minimum, while Transparency mode allows for sounds around you to be amplified (useful if you want to listen out for announcements, for example). There’s also the option to switch off noise cancelling completely. COMFORT The headphones feel solid and well made. At a quoted weight of 635g, however, they’re much heavier than traditional headphones (Apple’s AirPods Max are comparatively light at 358g). We found this extra weight noticeable, particularly after prolonged use. The cushions on each ear cup feel soft, and fitted comfortably around the ears. The headband is both cushioned and adjustable. The visor itself feels considerably less premium than the headphones. It’s made of a somewhat flimsy-feeling plastic with a softer rubber fitting around the sections that rest over your nose and mouth. The visor is also washable under the tap, but must be completely dry before reusing. CALLUM PEARS Article republished with permission from which.co.uk. DYSON ZONE ABSOLUTE+ AIR PURIFYING HEADPHONES Price: $1099 Contact: dyson.com.au FIRST LOOK
Raise the bar If you want to improve your TV’s audio quality without a multispeaker set-up, you need a soundbar, says Denis Gallagher Asoundbar offers an instant plug-and-play improvement to the sound you’re likely getting out of your TV right now. This device is basically a single long box containing several speakers, designed to sit just below your TV screen and give your home viewing experience an audio boost. Most soundbars can’t deliver the same sound quality as a dedicated multispeaker set-up, but many get close enough for the average set of ears. They also take up less room than a multispeaker set-up, and there’s a lot of choice in size and price points. The good news for owners of TVs with poor sound is that you’ll love the improvement in audio you get for a reasonable price. If your TV’s sound is OK but lacks that extra punch you want when watching movies, then adding a soundbar to the mix will give you a better home cinema experience without the hassle and cost of installing a dedicated home theatre system. You can even enjoy your soundbar when the TV is off, using it as a home wireless speaker. But there are some things to consider if you want to get the best out of your home entertainment system. Why you might want a soundbar 1. YOUR TV HAS CRUMMY SOUND Director George Lucas once said, “Sound is 50% of the moviegoing experience”. But sometimes TV manufacturers treat sound as an afterthought. If you have a TV with OK video but horrible audio quality, adding a soundbar will make all the difference to your complete watching experience. Handily, most TVs when connected to the soundbar will turn off the TV speaker by default, making it even easier to switch to better sound. 2. YOU OWN A PROJECTOR Projectors are really the only way to get a display size greater than 90 inches, but most require separate }Most TVs will enjoy better sound with a soundbar. }A soundbar can be connected to your TV in seconds, and it can also be used as a home wireless speaker. } You can get a great soundbar for under $300 – much less than you’d pay for a surround sound system (or a better sounding TV). NEED TO KNOW If you have a TV with OK video but horrible audio quality, adding a soundbar will make all the difference 64 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE 64
audio, or the audio provided with the projector is in no way cinema quality. If you have the projector as part of a big installation, then it may be worth investing in a dedicated multispeaker set-up. But if your projector’s display can be wound up and put away so you can use the room for other activities, then a good quality soundbar would be the perfect discreet audio solution. And as a bonus, when the projector is off and the display put away, you have a great wireless speaker to fill the room with music (see next point). 3. YOU’LL USE IT AS A WIRELESS SPEAKER Soundbars can be a versatile home entertainment device. Not only will they improve the audio quality of your TV, they can also be used as a powerful wireless home speaker. Most soundbars have support for Bluetooth, allowing you to stream whatever music you listen to on your smartphone directly to the soundbar. Alternatively, if your soundbar has Wi-Fi, you can connect it to your home Wi-Fi network, and then play music directly via streaming services such as Spotify and Tidal. This can deliver better quality audio than via Bluetooth, and you can listen to music using the remote control without the need for a smart device. Why you might not want a soundbar While a soundbar will improve the audio experience in most cases with little hassle and not much extra expense, there are times when it’s not the automatic choice. 1. YOU NEED TRUE CINEMA AUDIO Sometimes a TV can be too large for a soundbar to be a good option, particularly if you have a high-quality TV situated in a room that serves as a dedicated ‘movie room’. Although some soundbars do support the latest immersive audio technologies, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, you won’t get the best out of these audio formats without true speaker separation throughout the room. If you have a large area and want the full cinema experience, it may be worth considering a multispeaker set-up. 2. AUDIO QUALITY JUST ISN’T THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU At the other end of the scale, a small TV in the study, kitchen or other area of the house where audio is not a high priority would not require a soundbar as it would only get in the way. If the audio is particularly bad, it may be worth the effort to make the adjustments on the TV’s audio settings to get the best possible sound reproduction for voice, as this is most likely what you’ll be wanting to hear clearly in the background while going about your day-to-day tasks. 3. YOU’RE HARD OF HEARING CHOICE members often ask about the settings for closed captions (CC) on a TV. This feature provides onscreen text for the spoken words and to describe the audio. For example, along with the dialogue, CC will also indicate someone scoffing in the background, a siren going in the distance or the cheering or a murmur of dissent in a crowd. These textual elements are crucial for hard of hearing or deaf viewers to fully enjoy the video experience. If you use CC when you’re watching a movie because you’re hard of hearing, then a soundbar may not be for you, unless there are other people in your household who would benefit from one. Whatis ARC, eARC and what cable do I need? The simplest audio connection between a TV and soundbar is the optical audio connection or Toslink. But while this is a handy connection, it can’t deliver the highest quality audio. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) provides an automatic two-way transfer of audio between the TV and soundbar, as well as additional controls over volume and power via a single HDMI cable connection between the soundbar and the TV. The latest HDMI 2.1 standard introduces support for the latest video formats such as 8K and even higher frame rates (good for gamers), as well as audio formats such as uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1-channel audio, including high bit-rate, 3D audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. These higher quality audio technologies are very demanding and require an Enhanced Audio Return Channel or eARC. Don’t worry too much if you find that your TV is compatible with eARC, and your soundbar is only compatible with ARC. You’ll still be able to listen to high-quality audio through your sound system. However, due to bandwidth limitations, you won’t be able to experience the full audio experience on offer. Don’t spend more than $30 on HDMI cables for your soundbar or devices to connect to your TV. Look for the term ‘HDMI with Ethernet’ in the cable’s description for the best price and performance combination. Toslink cable HDMI cable SOUNDBARS TEST IMAGES: GETTY
The top-performing Polk Signa S2 continues to be available after several years, and while we still consider this diminutive soundbar/ subwoofer system to be very good value, its price has risen from $399 to $449 since our last test. The current best audio for your buck now has to be the Hisense HS2100. While the recommended retail price is $249, it’s widely available for $199. Amazingly for something in this price range it supports DTS:X, which may be why it earned a very good rating for our multichannel (movie) listening test despite it only being a 2.1 system. Our listening panel also felt it did a very good job with voice reproduction. A small soundbar like this can be helped with a subwoofer to produce some detail at the low end. This model’s wireless sub provides some versatility in allowing you to place it anywhere in the room without needing an audio connection cable. However, you do need the subwoofer to be near a power point. 75% Hisense HS2100 BEST VALUE $199 When a TV cries out for a soundbar The first few months of every year can be tough on the ears for our TV testers. This is the time we attempt to uncover a bargain to recommend to our CHOICE members before the latest releases from LG, Samsung and Sony hit the retailers (usually from April through to July). Sometimes we find a diamond in the rough that we can say nice things about, but mostly (like this year) they turn out to be exactly as we fear – cheap TVs that deliver cheap sound. The latest batch included two Aldi (Bauhn) TVs, a Ffalcon, ChiQ, TCL, Toshiba and an LG-branded TV available at Aldi. All the TVs were comfortably under $1000, ranging from $329 for the 40-inch Bauhn through to around $500 for a 55-inch Bauhn or Ffalcon, and up to $899 for the Toshiba 55-inch model. Unsurprisingly, none of these TVs earned a recommendation, although some were considered good for video and good to very good for 4K picture quality – most notably the TCL and larger Aldi TV. What they all had in common was underwhelming sound quality. The TCL 50C645 was the best of the bunch with OK sound, described by the listening panel as “overly bright yet boomy with retrenched mid tones” – and the quality went downhill from there. The ChiQ U50G7PG had poor sound overall, was underpowered at any volume level and lacked any detail except for the vocals. The Toshiba 55C350MP was the most expensive model, but still managed to deliver a thin sound that lacked punch. The Ffalcon F55U63 wasn’t as bad but was a bit harsh at the high end and echoey. The 55-inch AldiBauhn performed similarly to the LG-branded AldiBauhn (55UQ7050PSA) and exhibited audio that was harsh, lacked punch and had no warmth, while the 40-inchAldiBauhn was the worst TV we’d heard in some time, with “almost no power at all, almost no detail and a similar quality to a mobile phone”. So, what do you do if you’ve found one of these TVs, or another like these, on sale, and think the picture looks OK in the store and the price is irrefutably compelling? Add a soundbar to the mix and your ears will thank you for it. When it comes to really cheap TVs, it’s almost an automatic improvement to the TV experience to make use of a soundbar, almost any soundbar, to at least deliver some audio that won’t make you regret turning the TV on. The TCL 50C645 (CHOICE Expert Rating 75%, $795) and the 55-inch Aldi Bauhn (CHOICE Expert Rating 70%, $479) were the best ofthe cheaper TVs to come through ourlabs earlierthis year. Butlike most cheaper models,they’d benefit from the addition of a soundbar. Shop Ethical rating BRAND RATING Bauhn (Aldi) C Denon D Hisense F Kogan F LG C Panasonic F Polk D Samsung F Sony D TCL F Yamaha C NOTES: Other brands in our review not mentioned here don’t have a Shop Ethical rating. For more on Shop Ethical ratings and what they mean, see p73. 66 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE
COSTS PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Recom mended Price ($) Annual standby running cost ($) CHOICE Expert Rating (%) Voice quality score (%) Music quality score (%) Multichannel listening score (%) Ease of use score (%) Remote score (%) Standby energy score (%) Wi-Fi Automatic room calibration Dolby Atmos DTS:X HDMI inputs Multichannel claim Number of internal speakers Soundbar dimensions (cm) Soundbar weight (kg) Subwoofer weight (kg) Warranty (yrs) 9 Polk Signa S2 449 1.90 85 97 93 97 58 60 80 2.1 4 5.5 x 90 x 8.5 1.8 5.3 1 9 Dali Katch One 1299 1.60 81 92 83 92 61 60 80 ns 10 16.5 x 86 x 9 3.7 na 1 9 LG S77S 799 3.30 80 90 85 83 72 80 40 9 9 1 7.1.4 6 6.5 x 89 x 13 3.6 6.3 1 9 Yamaha SR-B40A 649 3.40 80 87 78 83 77 90 40 9 ns 6 7 x 91 x 14 2.9 8.1 2 9 Polk MagniFi Max AX 990 6.50 79 93 77 90 75 60 0 9 9 9 3 5.1.2 11 7.5 x 114.5 x 12 5.9 11.8 2 9 LG SN5Y 399 4.10 77 90 85 80 70 50 40 9 2.1 4 6 x 89.5 x 9 2.4 5.8 1 9 Denon DHT-S217 345 4.30 75 73 82 83 66 60 40 9 1 2.1 6 6 x 89 x 12 3.4 na 1 9 Hisense HS2100 199 2.00 75 80 73 80 68 60 80 9 2.1 2 6.5 x 80.5 x 9.5 1.5 3.4 1 9 Hisense U5120G 699 2.90 75 73 72 87 78 50 40 9 9 1 5.1.2 11 7.5 x 120.5 x 11.5 5 7 1 Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar 1195 4.50 74 87 68 77 73 80 20 9 9 9 ns 9 6 x 105 x 11 5.8 na 1 Denon DHT-S316 395 1.90 74 85 83 73 65 30 80 ns ns 5.5 x 90 x 8.5 1.8 5.2 1 LG SH7Q 599 4.20 74 73 68 83 76 80 40 9 5.1 5 10.5 x 120.5 x 15 8.6 5.3 1 Sony HT-A5000 1399 5.10 74 77 80 77 77 60 20 9 9 9 9 5.1.2 9 7 x 121.5 x 14.5 6 na 1 Klipsch Cinema 400 745 6.10 73 80 75 87 68 60 0 2.1 4 8 x 102 x 9 2.9 7.2 1 Monster MT-SB512DA 699 3.10 73 83 77 73 69 70 40 9 5.1.2 ns 8.5 x 96.5 x 11.5 3.4 4.2 2 Bose Smart Soundbar 900 995 4.00 72 83 77 87 50 50 40 9 9 9 ns 9 6 x 104.5 x 11 5.8 na 1 Samsung HW-C450 299 10.30 72 80 77 80 70 50 0 9 na 2.1 2 6 x 86 x 8 1.4 4.5 1 Samsung HW-Q600C 799 8.10 72 80 80 80 69 50 0 9 9 3.1.2 8 6 X 103 x 11 3.8 5.5 1 Samsung HW-Q800C 1099 24.30 72 80 80 80 66 50 0 9 9 9 5.1.2 10 6.5 x 111 x 12.5 5.1 9.8 1 Sony HT-G700 699 3.70 72 73 66 88 70 50 40 9 9 7.1.2 3 6.5 x 98.5 x 12 3.3 7.3 1 Bose Smart Soundbar 600 799 4.40 71 77 77 80 57 60 40 9 9 9 ns 5 6 x 70 x 11 3 na 1 Denon Home Sound Bar 550 799 9.60 71 90 80 80 61 40 0 9 9 9 4 6 7.5 x 65 x 12 3.3 na 1 LG S75Q 595 3.50 71 60 78 80 70 40 40 9 9 9 1 3.1.2 5 6.5 x 89 x 12 3.8 5.8 1 Sony HT-S400 449 4.40 71 77 72 80 67 60 20 2.1 2 6.5 x 90 x 9 2.4 7.3 1 TCL C935U 795 16.30 71 73 68 80 76 80 0 9 9 9 9 2 5.1.2 5 7 x 105.5 x 12.5 4.1 7.8 1 Yamaha SR-C30A 399 3.20 71 77 72 77 69 50 40 ns 2 6.5 x 60 x 9.5 1.3 5.5 2 Denon DHT-S517 749 4.70 70 70 83 77 56 50 20 9 1 3.1.2 7 6 x 105 x 9.5 2.5 4.3 1 JBL SB120 229 2.00 70 77 65 70 70 60 80 2 4 7 x 106.5 x 11.5 2.9 na 2 Yamaha SR-C20A 279 1.50 70 70 68 73 70 50 80 ns 3 6.5 x 60 x 9.5 1.9 na 2 TABLE NOTES Recommended We recommend soundbars with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 75% and above. Price Suggested by manufacturers as of April 2024. Annual standby energy cost Based on 40c/kWh with the soundbar in standby mode for 19 hours per day. CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of stereo sound quality (30%), multichannel sound quality (30%), voice quality (10%), ease of use (20%), remote control (5%) and standby energy (5%). na Not applicable. ns Not stated. All brands and models in the table support Bluetooth for audio playback using a smart device, and all have ARC support using an HDMI connection except the Samsung HW-C450. All have optical audio as an alternative if you can’t use HDMI ARC. All come with a wall mount except the LG SN4 and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. Bose models were made in Malaysia; Yamaha and Denon models were made in Vietnam; Samsung models were made in Vietnam except the Samsung HWC450, which was made in China; all other models were made in China. CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 67 SOUNDBARS TEST IMAGE: GETTY
Eye in the sky Wire-free may be the wave of the future, but wired cameras still have a place in some homes, says Peter Zaluzny While more and more products are becoming wire-free, our security cameras test includes a lot of models with hardwiring options. Wireless models that run on batteries and connect to the internet via Wi-Fi can be appealing because they can be easily placed anywhere with no need to worry about access to power or your modem. On the other hand, there are advantages to sticking with good old-fashioned ethernet cables, a mains power supply and onboard storage – even if the installation process requires a little more work. Or perhaps the best option for you is a bit of both – for example, a wired camera with wire-free internet. Wire-free cameras There are plenty of security cameras that run on battery power only. This can sound pretty appealing, as it saves you the trouble of needing to finding a safe place (that’s inaccessible to others) to permanently plug one in. But there are drawbacks. Battery-powered cameras are not designed for continuous recording. In order to preserve battery life, they only start capturing footage when motion is detected. So, you need to make sure that the positioning, and motion sensitivity settings, are just right. Otherwise, every little bit of movement will set the camera off and run the batteries down in no time. Or, sometimes, the motion sensor won’t trigger at all! Also, the image quality of many wire-free cameras is not set to high by default. This is because, apart from requiring higher bandwidth to stream footage, high-quality images will consume more battery life. That’s not to say that wire-free cameras are the lesser option. In fact, For most people, a mains-powered camera that connects to the internet over Wi-Fi will be the best solution 68 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE 68
a battery-powered model is the only one to earn a recommendation in our latest test batch. But it’s worth keeping these limitations in mind. Wired cameras The main downside of a wired camera is the installation. You’ll either need to find a power outlet that would-be intruders can’t access, or hire an electrician to hook it up to the mains. There will likely be some drilling required either way. Simply plugging the camera into an outdoor outlet won’t do the job, unless it has a lockable cover. Otherwise, unwanted guests can simply unplug it. Do you need internet? You need to connect your security camera to the internet if you want to store footage in the cloud or control the camera via an app (see ‘Local storage vs the cloud’, right). Your two options are using an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi. Ethernet connection may be more stable than Wi-Fi, but it’s really only an option if the camera is close to your modem or router, or if you already have suitable cables running through the walls. Wiring up a house just to connect your security camera to the internet is a big job that doesn’t have a lot of advantages here, unless the camera is too far away from the modem or router to maintain a strong Wi-Fi signal. Even then, a Wi-Fi repeater would be a much more practical solution. Don’t resort to running exposed cables across the floor, as this introduces some major trip hazards and looks very messy. What’s the best option? For most people, a mains-powered camera that connects to the internet over Wi-Fi will provide the best solution. This gives you the convenience of a wireless camera that you can deploy easily almost anywhere around the home, without having to worry about replacing batteries. Local storage vs the cloud All of the footage that your camera captures has to go somewhere. Most consumer-grade cameras will store video locally (for example, on a memory card or networked drive) or offsite in the cloud. Each option has advantages and disadvantages. CLOUD STORAGE Recorded events are automatically uploaded to offsite servers owned, or managed, by the camera manufacturer. Convenience is the key advantage here as all you generally need to do is set up an account and the camera handles the rest. You can also access the footage from just about anywhere with an associated app and internet connection. However, you just have to hope that the server’s security system is up to scratch, as you have little to no control over your data once it moves into the cloud. Also, moving footage to and from the cloud will add to your monthly data cap, which may be an issue if you have a limited plan. Some brands charge a monthly fee for offsite storage as well. LOCAL STORAGE This can be handy, as the images will be saved on the card in the camera for easy access, so you don’t have to configure and possibly pay for cloud storage. You typically review and move footage from the camera via a mobile app, web browser or desktop software, which is more or less the same process as grabbing it from the cloud. But there’s the risk that the card or camera itself may be stolen. CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 69 SECURITY CAMERAS TEST IMAGES: GETTY
TABLE NOTES Recommended We recommend security cameras with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 75% or more. Price Recommended retail price in March 2024. CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of image quality score (60%) and ease of use score (40%). Image quality score takes into account normal light (50%) and low light (50%) conditions. Ease of use includes recording and motion features (70%) plus installation (30%). Recording and motion takes into account image and video capture ability, cloud storage and remote access, as well as alerts and notifications. Motion detection scheduler lets you choose what times motion detection will be available. Noise detection can trigger an alert upon detection of noise. * I Indoor, O Outdoor. ** B Battery-powered. M Mains-powered. *** Includes range claims where stated. (A) Via automations. (B) Paid subscription required. (C) Paid subscription required – smoke alarm only. (D) Paid subscription required – crying baby only. (E) Live playback only. (F) Cloud recordings only. ns Not stated. nt Not tested. All models in the table have motion detection, a microphone and remote access via Android or iOS app. This wire-free security camera is among the best performers in our image quality test, with very good results for both day and night. The dual-lens array also allows for an extremely wide 170° viewing angle, but the one downside here is that the resolution is much wider than it is tall, so you may need to zoom in on some areas of interest in the footage. We also found that the app isn’t always reliable (slow, prone to crashing etc.), and you can’t view footage or the live feed over a local network without an internet connection. Our test kit came with an external USB-C solar panel, which can help extend battery life. If you’d rather avoid the risk of running low on battery, then a wired camera like this is the way to go. This iteration is essentially the same as the Google Nest Cam Outdoor, but it comes with a built-in floodlight that requires mains power. This can only be installed by a licensed electrician, so remember to factor that into the overall cost. Google’s camera delivered the best image quality in our test, but you will need to pay a monthly cloud storage subscription fee to record and play back footage, as it doesn’t have onboard storage. Also, like the Uniden at left, you need an internet connection to watch the live feed, even over a local network. 80% Uniden App Cam Solo Pano 79% Google Nest Cam with Floodlight, Outdoor, Wired (G3AL9 and GM493) WIRELESS WONDER WIRED WINNER $599 $549 70 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS Recom mended Price ($) CHOICE Expert Rating (%) Image quality score (%) Ease of use score (%) Indoor/outdoor* Power supply** Motion detection scheduler Noise detection Siren (via speaker) Remote access via web browser Maximum resolution (pixels) Max frame rate (frames/second) Night vision*** Field of view – horizontal / vertical or diagonal Warranty (yr) Country of origin 9 Uniden App Cam Solo Pano 599 80 78 82 O B 9 9 4608 x 1296 15 9(30m) 170° 2 China 9 Google Nest Cam with Floodlight, Outdoor, Wired (G3AL9 and GM493) 549 79 83 72 O M 9(B) 1920 x 1080 30 9(6.1m) 130° 2 Vietnam 9 Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera (FB1001) 399 78 73 85 O B 9 9 9 9 2560 x 1440 24 ns 160° 1 Vietnam 9 Eufy Eufycam Solo S40 (T8124) 429 77 73 82 O B 9 9 9 2304 x 1296 15 9(8m) ns 1 China 9 Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro (T8423) 549 77 75 81 O M 9 9 9 2304 x 1296 24 ns ns 1 China 9 Arlo Ultra 2 (VMC5040-200AUS) 379 76 73 81 O B 9 9 9 3840 x 2160 24 9 180° 1 Vietnam 9 Google Nest Cam Outdoor or Indoor Battery (G3AL9) 329 76 78 72 I/O B 9(B) 1920 x 1080 30 ns 130° 2 Vietnam Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera (VMC4050P-100AUS) 369 74 65 87 O B 9 9 9 9 2560 x 1440 24 ns 160° 1 Vietnam Monkey Vision Eye 295 74 68 84 O M 9 3840 x 2160 10 9(20m) 88° 1 Australia Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera (VMC2030) 149 73 65 85 O B 9 9(C) 9 9 1920 x 1080 24 9(25m) 130° 1 Vietnam Eufy C210 SoloCam (T8B00C22) 119 73 68 81 O B 9 9 9(E) 2304 x 1296 15 9 ns 1 China Eufy S220 SoloCam (T8134C21) 250 73 68 81 O B 9 9 9(E) 2304 x 1296 15 9 135° 1 China Eufy Security 4G Starlight Camera (T8152) 549 72 65 82 O B 9 9 9(E) 2560 x 1440 13 9 120° 1 China Arlo Essential Outdoor Camera 2nd Generation (VMC3050-100AUS) 159 71 68 76 O B 9(A) 9 2560 x 1440 15 9 130° 1 Vietnam Eufy EufyCam 2C 430 71 65 80 I/O B 9 9 9 1920 x 1080 14 ns 135° 1 nt Netatmo Welcome Smart Indoor Camera 350 71 65 80 I M 9 9 1920 x 1080 ns ns 130° 1 nt TP-Link Tapo C520WS 199 71 65 80 O M 9 9 2560 x 1440 25 9(30m) 360° / 130° 2 China Arlo Essential Indoor Camera (VMC2040-100AUS) 159 69 65 76 I M 9 9 9 1920 x 1088 15 9 130° 1 Indonesia Arlo Go 2 4G/Wi-Fi Security Camera (VML2030-100AUS) 429 68 60 81 O B 9 9 1920 x 1072 14 9(8m) ns 1 Vietnam Orion Grid Connect Outdoor Security Camera with Twin Floodlight (SCMAL100WHA) 159 68 60 81 O M 9 9 2304 x 1296 10 9 130° 1 China Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Battery 289 68 65 73 O B 9 9 9 1920 x 1080 24 9 140° 1 Vietnam TP-Link Tapo Pan/Tilt Home Security Wi-Fi Camera (C210) 69 68 60 80 I M 9 9(D) 9 2304 x 1296 15 9(9m) 360° / 114° 2 Vietnam TP-Link Tapo C420S1 229 67 58 81 O B 9 9 2560 x 1440 15 9(15m) 113° 1 China TP-Link Tapo Outdoor Security Wi-Fi Camera (C310) 99 67 58 81 O M 9 9(D) 9 2304 x 1296 15 9(30m) ns 2 China Uniden App Cam Spotlight+ 179 67 58 81 O M 9 9 9(F) 1920 x 1080 15 9(10m) 120° 2 China Arlo Pro 5 2K (VMC4060P-100AUS) 329 66 60 76 O B 9 9 9 2560 x 1440 15 9 160° 1 Vietnam Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Battery 329 61 53 72 O B 9 9 9 1920 x 1080 15 9 140° / 80° 1 Vietnam Ring Stick Up Cam Pro Battery 299 61 53 73 I/O B 9 9 9 1920 x 1080 26 9 139° / 80° 1 China D-Link Full HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Spotlight Camera with Built-In Smart Home Hub (DCS-8630LH) 199 58 43 81 O M 9(A) 9 9 9 1920 x 1080 30 9(7m) 150° 1 China CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 71 SECURITY CAMERAS TEST IMAGE: GETTY
72 INDEX USING THE INDEX All articles are from the past 12 months. *Indicates a correction or clarification (see Checkout). HOME & LIVING Air conditioners Jun, Nov portable Mar Air fryers Nov, May Air purifiers Mar Appliance filters, cleaning Oct Appliances for small kitchens Dec/Jan Bed sheets, bamboo vs cotton Sep Bedroom products, tips Sep Beds, adjustable Sep Carpet stain removers Oct Ceiling fans Sep, Dec/Jan Cleaning products to avoid Oct Cooktops ceramic Oct gas to induction, switching Aug induction Apr portable induction Dec/Jan Dishwasher detergents Nov Dishwashers Oct, Mar Dryers Jun Dutch ovens Aug Electric blankets Jul Electric heaters Jul Espresso machines Sep Food processors Aug Freezers Jun, Dec/Jan Fridges Sep, Dec/Jan, May Garment steamers Jul Hard floor cleaners Feb Heaters Jul Ice cream makers Dec/Jan Irons and steam stations Oct Kettles Feb Laundry detergents Oct Laundry money wasters Jul Mattresses Sep Microwaves Aug convection Apr Ovens Jun, Feb Refrigerators – see fridges Sandwich presses Aug Slow cookers Aug Stain removers Feb, May Steam mops Nov Toasters Feb Toilet paper Mar Vacuum cleaners barrel & upright Jul, May Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vac Jul Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Mar HEPA filters and asthma Oct robot vacs Oct stick vacs Jun, Apr Vacuum sealers Nov Washing machines Jul, Oct, Feb Wood heating, health issues Sep ELECTRONICS & TECHNOLOGY Acer Swift Go 16 Aug Apple iMac desktop computer May Apple MacBook Air 15-inch Oct Digital radios Apr Headphones May Dyson Zone Absolute+ May Internet service providers Jun Mobile phones for seniors May Mobile providers Jun Nuisance calls, how to stop Nov Personal alarms Nov Printers Feb, Apr QR code scams May Smartphones Jun, Nov, Mar Google Pixel 8 Dec/Jan Soundbars May Tax-time tech buys Jun Turntables Jun TVs Jun, Mar INSURANCE & MONEY Bank account name matchingFeb Bank accounts, switching May Budgeting apps Sep Financial counsellors Aug Health insurance Mar adult children on policy Jun big health funds compared Sep Home contents insurance Jul Pet insurance Oct Rental discrimination Nov Saving money, tips Mar Superannuation cold calling Nov First Nations missing super Mar greenwashing Jul retirement targets Oct tax concession changes Jun topping up Jun Will kits Feb CONSUMERS & DATA Facial recognition technology in stadiums Sep Impersonation scams Feb Medical centre patient data Oct Mental health apps & data privacy Sep Personal data breaches Jun retention by companies Jun Psychology of scams Feb RentTech platforms Jul Retail tech tracking you Jun Romance scams May Smart TV data collection Jul Toyota data tracking May What to do if you’ve been scammed Feb TRAVEL Luggage Sep Travel insurance Dec/Jan checkbox vs standalone Aug cruises Dec/Jan, Feb* pre-existing conditions Jun OUTDOOR Artificial grass Dec/Jan Barbecues Dec/Jan, Feb smoker barbecues Feb Garden shredders Dec/Jan Grass edgers Dec/Jan Lawnmowers Apr Line trimmers Mar Portable power stations Apr Robot mowers Sep HOME IMPROVEMENT Security cameras May Solar panels payback times Sep rebates Oct FOOD & DRINK Baked beans Aug Fruit & veg, saving money Mar Mince pies Dec/Jan Muesli Aug Pantry staples Aug Ready-to-eat meals Apr Reducing food waste Apr Reusable coffee cups Aug Reusable drink bottles Jul Seafood, sustainable Apr Tea bags May HEALTH & BODY Anti-snoring products Sep Fitness trackers Mar Tips for a healthy home Oct SHOPPING Charity marketing Jul Christmas food, savings Dec/Jan Cinema savings Mar Energy insecurity in the NT Jul Fake reviews Dec/Jan and fake websites Jul Gift cards Dec/Jan Green marketing Apr Grocery deliveries Aug Multistore grocery shopping Nov Non-disclosure agreements May Op shopping guide Mar PayID scams Feb Refillable products Apr Retail technology Jun Sales shopping tips Dec/Jan Scam ads on social platformsFeb Shonky Awards 2023 Nov Shopping sustainably, sales Jun Temu investigation Mar Unfair business practices Nov TRANSPORT Bicycles, budget Apr Dash cams Apr Electric bikes Feb Electric vehicles Jul, Nov tips from an EV newbie May Volvo XC40 Jul 72 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE
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Our verifiers check articles and reviews before publication, to make sure facts and quotes are accurate and data has been interpreted correctly. Corrections: If we’ve made an error in CHOICE magazine, we include the correction in the next available issue (usually in the Checkout section of the magazine). If you think we’ve got something wrong, please visit choice.com.au/contactus. Reviews and testing: Our testers put products through their paces in our own NATA-accredited laboratories. We use test methods based on Australian standards and develop our own to match the way consumers use a product in their homes. We buy most products we test, maintaining our independence from manufacturers and so we know what you’re faced with in the shops. We’ve checked the models are available at the time we publish. Our recommendations are based on a product’s quality and performance, with no hidden bias. See choice.com.au/editorialguidelines. 74 74 /// MAY 2024 CHOICE
Plus Cookware, luggage, washers, dryers, laptops & more Home office Tech buys to boost yourtax return Appliance science Knowing when to replace, and how to get a bargain NEXT MONTH EOFY Sales and savings at tax time Just the Basics Health cover fortax savings CHOICE MAY 2024 /// 75
HARD WORD Ourlong-serving rogues’ gallery of dodgy ads,toe-curling typos and misadventures in marketing, as sentin by you – ourtickled, angered and bewildered readers. And thanks to the timeless shonkiness of so much advertising, you’re always spoiltfor choice – so keep ’em coming. Email high-quality unedited photos to [email protected]. This month, thanks go to Mark Baker (Model behaviour), Paul Bodie (Loooong life milk), Ken Fraser (All-in-none) and Warwick Schofield (Start from scratch). Compiled by Daniel Wynne ISSN 0009 496X. Print post approved 100000729. Wholly printed in Australia by IVE Group, 83 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128, in 2024 for the publisher, CHOICE, 57 Carrington Road, Marrickville 2204. M AY 2 0 2 4 LOOOONG LIFE MILK You’ll be waiting for the cows to come home before this date arrives. START FROM SCRATCH Remove scratches, by switching cars. MODEL BEHAVIOUR It seems like they’ve already sold out of safety glasses, dust masks, ear muffs… ALL-IN-NONE Ken thinks the instructions for this detergent just don’t wash.