LG Watch Urbane

Great features, performance and battery life – the LG Watch Urbane is the best Android smartwatch

Round faces are all the rage among Android Wear manufacturers, and with the Watch Urbane it’s easy to see why. It might be a little thicker and heavier than your average mid-range timepiece, but it looks like the kind of watch that people – albeit mostly men – actually buy. Not all of us like the styling or admire the finishing, but with its leather strap and the right watch face, the Watch Urbane looks sophisticated. There’s no danger of forgetting that it’s there, though, at 67g.

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EE Harrier Tab

A tablet that can get online anywhere

EE is a mobile network, and the reason it wants to sell you a tablet at a reasonable price is to get you to spend more on a data tariff. Most people buy a tablet with Wi-Fi only, for when you’re at home or near a hotspot. But if you want to get online almost anywhere, the Harrier Tab connects to EE’s 3G/4G network.

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Motorola Moto G (Gen 3)

New version of an old favourite

We’ve never tired of recommending the Moto G. It’s always been a very affordable phone (even without a contract) with no significant compromises. If we were being picky, it could look a bit swankier and work a bit faster. Well, now it does. This third version is the best yet, and once again a contender for top Android phone under £200.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2015)

New version of the affordable e-reader

When we reviewed the Kobo Glo HD, we said Amazon had better watch out, because this ebook reader had a sharper screen than its similarly priced Kindle Paperwhite. As it turns out, Amazon already had an answer up its sleeve: a new version of the Paperwhite, upgraded from 212 to 300 pixels per inch (ppi).

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Leica Q Typ 116

The prestige compact with a full-frame sensor

The Leica Q might seem eye-wateringly expensive, but what you’re getting for your money is arguably the best compact camera ever built. Okay, so its built-like-atank aluminium and magnesium alloy body isn’t exactly light or compact, its lens is fixed, and its price-tag is, well, Leica-esque, but excluding Sony’s RX cameras, the Q is in a league of its own. With styling that alludes to the brand’s M-series, this camera has a fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens. Sharp and virtually distortion-free, the optic lacks none of the performance the brand is associated with. While its fixed focal range may put off some users, 28mm is wide enough for landscapes and perfect for street photography. Combined with the full-frame sensor found in the camera, its wide f/1.7 aperture provides the shallowest depth-of-field and maximum light-gathering capabilities of any compact available on the market.

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Sony RX100 IV

A super speedy shooter with 4K video recording

Building on the success of the popular RX100 lineup, the IV brings a new sensor design to the table, and with it a host of speedy new features. At its core is a 1in 20.1MP CMOS. While this is the same size and resolution as the one found in the RX100 III, it was previously back-illuminated, while the new model is stacked and incorporates a DRAM chip. This arrangement allows a higher signal processing capacity and a data readout speed that Sony claims is more than five times faster. Not only does this facilitate the camera’s new top shutter speed of 1/32,000sec, it also enables it to capture slow motion video at 40x speed. Burst shooting is possible at an excellent 16.5fps in Speed Priority mode, while a respectable rate of 5.5fps can be achieved with AF turned on. Native ISO stretches from 125-12,800, with the camera maintaining noise control very well below ISO 1600.

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Canon G3 X

Super telephoto reach at a fraction of the size

Okay, so it may be more of a bridge camera than a true compact, but with its massive 25x optical zoom we couldn’t resist bringing the G3 X into our roundup of fixed lens releases. With its extensive 8.8-220mm barrel (24-600mm full-frame equivalent) its larger size can be forgiven, especially considering that achieving a similar focal length on a DSLR would usually involve a lens three times the size. However, while this superior focal range is to be applauded, the G3 X’s optic is not without its drawbacks. With a variable aperture of f/2.8-5.6, the lens sacrifices a wide constant aperture for more reach, forcing slower shutter speeds to be used when at its longest. This, combined with the lack of a built-in EVF (aiding support of the camera when held against the face), and a display that blacks out during its relatively slow 3.2fps burst mode for JPEGs, means it’s not as well suited for wildlife and sports as may first appear. The lens is fairly sharp, though some corner softness can be seen at all apertures. Distortion and chromatic aberration are, however, well controlled considering the lens’ massive zoom range. The 1in 20.9MP back-illuminated sensor is plucked straight from the much smaller G7 X, and while capable of better images than many compacts, it can’t rival the larger sensor found in the GR II. ISO range is 125-12,800.

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Ricoh GR II

DSLR image quality in a truly pocketable body

Despite being the lightest compact in our roundup at 251g, the GR II packs an impressive 16.2MP APS-C sensor, the second largest in the group. The follow up to 2013’s GR, a camera that received the ‘Highly Rated’ award in our recent premium compact test, the GR II maintains much of its forebear’s specifications, but with a series of improvements including the addition of Wi-Fi and NFC. Its 18.3mm f/2.8 lens provides a relatively wide 28mm full-frame equivalent focal length. While this fixed lens makes it a less versatile camera then some of its rivals, it’s a perfect length for street photography and in-situ portraits. Producing sharp results, this optic combined with the large sensor captures image quality that would be on par with many entry-level DSLRs. The ISO range stretches from 100 to 25,600, and thanks to that APS-C sensor captures far less noise than all but the Leica in this group. Its burst shooting speed of 4fps may not set the world on fire, but with an expanded buffer of ten shots, there are far worse cameras for continuous shooting than this. There are options for HDR images, interval shooting and 17 effect modes that can be applied to images as you shoot.

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Olympus Stylus 1s

Affordably priced performance with OM-D styling

Previously only available for purchase in Japan, the Olympus Stylus 1s may look like part of the brand’s OM-D line of CSCs, but it’s a surprisingly slender compact with a retractable f/2.8 optical zoom. An update on 2013’s popular Stylus 1, the 1s gains an improved battery life, enhanced features and a re-textured grip. At 12MP the camera’s resolution may be the lowest in this roundup, but it does ensure that despite its smaller 1/1.7in size, its back-illuminated CMOS sensor maximises its light-gathering capabilities. It’s still more than able to provide quality prints at sizes easily large enough for the average user.

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Panasonic RP-HD10

Sporting some interesting technical features, the well-built and keenly-priced HD10 ought to be the headphone to bring Panasonic back to audiophile attention. Ought to... Review & Lab: Keith Howard

I may be wrong about this, and it’s pure supposition, but I suspect that Japanese manufacturers no longer enjoy as healthy a share of the UK headphone market as once they did, led from the front by Sony. Perhaps among average buyers of audio products the familiar Japanese names still have kudos, despite the rise of brands like Skullcandy, but in the audiophile arena they’ve been eclipsed – in terms of column-inches at least – by newcomers such as Audeze and Oppo and those speaker manufacturers who’ve added headphones to their inventory to cut a slice of the action.

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Panasonic GX8

Panasonic’s highest resolution CSC is finally here. Matthew Higgs checks out the enthusiast-level GX8

Packing a brand new sensor, a redesigned image stabilisation system and all of Panasonic’s latest 4K shooting options, the GX8 is a high-end CSC aimed at the advanced enthusiast. The model builds on the success of its predecessor, the popular GX7, bringing to the table a range of Panasonic’s latest tech developments. Physically larger than its forebear, it offers the highest resolution of any Micro Four Thirds camera yet, at 20.3MP. But with a price-tag of £1000 body-only, will its re-imagining have gone far enough, or will it fall flat against some stiff market competition?

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DJI Phantom 3 Advanced

In the past couple of years, drones have gone from being highly specialist pieces of kit to mainstream photographic tools. There are now several serious consumer-level models on the market, but the most impressive is DJI’s immensely popular Phantom 3 quadcopter. The Phantom is available in three kit options: the Standard (£649), the Advanced (£899) and the Professional (£1159). In this review we’ll take a detailed look at the Advanced model.

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Acer M220

A budget Windows Phone that isn’t a Microsoft handset? Can this simple little device compete with the bargains being churned out by the Redmond software giant?

It’s tough being a non-Microsoft handset in a Windows Phone world. The company has inadvertently put a stranglehold on its own OS, producing solid handsets across the entire line that often undercut the competition. This makes outside manufacturers a little weary about developing for the platform, which already sees far less returns to investment versus iOS and Android. Acer is quite brave going in at the deep end, with the Lumia 435 already securing the bargain-bin sector as a fully featured device that can be had for as little as forty quid. On paper it should give it a run for its money, exceeding in some areas while falling behind in others.

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HTC Desire 626

HTC is back with a refresh to its budget Desire line. Will it prove to be a worthwhile purchase, or is just a rush job from an under-fire smartphone manufacturer?

HTC made a shock announcement earlier this year by announcing a refresh to its line of mid-range Desire smartphones. With the HTC Desire 620 less than a year old, that’s a quick turnover with regards to technology cycles. This new HTC Desire 626 improves on the original in quite a few areas, though others remain completely unchanged. Can it do enough to truly separate itself from its predecessor?

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LG G4c

A solid example of a mid-range phone, the LG G4c could be worse... but it could be better

LG is the fifth biggest smartphone manufacturer in the world and it’s currently competing with Huawei for fourth place after having been outpaced by the Chinese company. The Korean company has been in the smartphone market since the early 2000s and has been releasing new phones on a steady basis since then. LG has been trying to improve since the Optimus embarrassment a few years ago, and it seems to be just about treading water in the market. At first glance, the LG G4c is a solidly midrange smartphone, with a solidly mid-range price of £229.99. The hardware, software, camera and design are all good but lack that last little touch that would mark them excellent. It’s in at about the same price range as the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua or the HTC Desire 860, and while it’s a little more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy J5, which is close to its specs, it’s notably cheaper than the Apple 5C. So, how does the LG G4c shape up?

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Sony Xperia Z4

Light, powerful, and smooth, Sony may have got it right with this tablet

Sony’s barely been on the mobile device radar for the past few years, sacrificing its share of the market in favour of better profits for its underperforming Sony Mobile division. While Sony’s higher-model Xperia smartphones tend to sell well, sales have been dropping off in the last year or so, leaving the division with little profit and greater losses in the past few months. With the Xperia Z4, it might be trying to turn that trend around. The Xperia Z4 is a tablet with a processor and RAM that wouldn’t look out of place on a laptop computer. Its cameras are decent quality, and it’s running on the most recent Android operating system. However, its price range is far above its closest competitors, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S or the iPad Air 2.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1

Panasonic’s latest creation is a professional camera with a smartphone thrown in, but is it actually worth the high asking price?

Panasonic is not the most well-known company when it comes to smartphone manufacturing but it’s easy to forget that it used to be a big player pre-2006. The company made the big decision to cease selling smartphones outside of its native Asia but then backtracked in 2011. The company hasn’t exactly made any blistering handsets since then, so it’s a welcome surprise to see it going against the grain with this one.

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TomTom Start 60

Our reviewer lets technology guide him on the road

Once somewhat synonymous with satnav devices, TomTom is one of the innovators responsible for turning this technology into an everyday product that many people have used regularly for a good few years now. The Start 60 is entering a different world to its early ancestors, though. A world where many of its features are also integral to smartphones. As such, this model comes with the promise of free map updates for the life of the device in an attempt to convince consumers to buy a dedicated product rather than relying on a more dynamic online service like Google Maps Navigation.

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VariDesk Pro Plus 36

Stand up, and improve your health

The health benefits of standing while working, instead of sitting, are well documented. Not everyone can afford to fork out the £600-plus some height adjustable desks cost, though.. Thankfully, VariDesk may have a solution at hand.

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WD 2TB My Passport X

Need more storage for your console? Look no further

One of the biggest problems facing a modern console owner is the lack of hard drive space these things ship out with by default. True enough, there are ways and means to upgrade the current storage in an Xbox One or PS4, but often this relies on some screwdriver work, and a loss of warranty for the user. Western Digital, though, has come up with a tweaked version of the solution used by many PC users: a USB 3.0 external hard drive.

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