The Nintendo Switch OLED is the latest iteration of the console, with the main attraction being the new OLED panel. The screen’s colours on the latest Switch look more vivid and natural, enhancing the visual quality of every single game without any compromises to the performance. Our review of Metroid Dread notes how amazing this game looks with the OLED panel, with colours looking brighter and bolder and Samus’ suit seemingly popping out of the display.

The new Switch OLED also has a sturdier stand for propping up on a table, improved speakers and a slightly larger screen, ensuring it offers the absolute best experience for portable gaming.

It is the most expensive console of the bunch however, and unfortunately there aren’t any performance upgrades over the original Nintendo Switch, with the exception of built-in Ethernet port on the dock to give you a more stable connection when playing online.

Even with those minor gripes, the Switch OLED is still the go-to pick for many of the Trusted Reviews team as it shows off Switch games in their best possible light. Once you’ve seen Hyrule or the Mushroom Kingdom on an OLED screen, there’s just no going back.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Nintendo Switch OLED Review

The console that started it all, the first Nintendo Switch launched back in 2017, but it’s still one of the best gaming consoles out there. Its versatile design allows owners to use it as both a portable and a home console when connected to a TV via the bundled dock.

The original Switch doesn’t have any standout features over the new Switch OLED, with an identical game catalogue and a similar design, albeit slightly smaller and lighter. But the original Switch is generally £50/$50 cheaper than its OLED counterpart, arguably making it the best value option – especially if you end up using it as a home console more than a portable device since the OLED screen won’t make a difference in this use case.

It’s unfortunate that the GPU hasn’t been updated since launch, which means the console relies heavily on the cloud to play modern third-party games and shows the console is starting to show its age. But no other Switch offers a better performance right now, so you’d have to opt for something like the Steam Deck instead if that’s a major issue.

But thanks to the massive gaming library and some highly anticipated upcoming titles, like Tears of the Kingdom, the Switch will remain a good option for years to come. With a middle-of-the-road price compared to its other variations and such intuitive controls thanks to the Joy-Con controllers, this is the best Switch for the majority of gamers.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: Nintendo Switch review

Finally, we come to the cheapest option for anyone wanting to game on the go. The Nintendo Switch Lite‘s best qualities are its portability and low price when compared to its Switch siblings.

The library of Switch games available for the Lite is virtually the same as the Switch and Switch OLED, meaning that you can still experience the latest Zelda adventure and race your troubles away in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The only exceptions are games that require motion control, such as Nintendo Switch Sports, as the controllers are fused to the side of the screen and so can’t be used like Wii remotes.

You also can’t dock the Switch Lite and output its display to your TV, meaning you can only experience your adventures on the small screen, and it will be harder to play multiplayer games like Super Smash Bros Ultimate with friends in the same room.

But if you’re mostly looking to use your console as a portable device, and don’t mind the adorably dinky size, the Switch Lite is a fantastic option since it boasts an affordable price and supports most of the same games.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: Nintendo Switch Lite Review

We’ve reviewed

Mobvoi has been one of the staunchest supporters of Wear OS, even when Google was supplying the software with the bare minimum in terms of updates. While the company’s devices have been hit and miss in terms of quality, its experience in the market finally came to fruition with the excellent TicWatch Pro 5.

On top of touting Wear OS 3 at launch and all of the software benefits that come with it, the TicWatch Pro 5 is still an absolute beast where battery life is concerned. Thanks to the low-power secondary FSTN display at sits atop of the main screen, you can expect up to five days of use on a single charge.

That amount of longevity absolutely destroys most smartwatches, and the secondary display is a feature that we wish was adopted by more competitors. Not only is it easier to read in direct sunlight, but the coloured backlight can quickly let you know of your current heart rate zone during a workout. Features like these make the TicWatch Pro 5 one of the most well-rounded smartwatches on the market, and not just amongst its Wear OS peers.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: TicWatch Pro 5 review

While it’s no secret that OnePlus’ foray into the world of wearable tech was something of a misfire, the company’s eventual successor managed to right every wrong of the original OnePlus Watch.

For starters, the OnePlus Watch 2 now supports Wear OS for true smartwatch functionality, but it can also dive into a low-power mode that cuts back on some features but in return, offers up a whopping 12-days of use. You may be waiting for a caveat here, but the OnePlus Watch 2’s ‘power save mode’ is one of the better ones we’ve seen.

For instance, TicWatch uses its ‘essential mode’ to elongate battery life, but that only really keeps the TicWatch Pro 5’s secondary display running. By comparison, OnePlus’ alternative still lets you track workouts, control music and check the weather. It’s handy to have for those moments when you’re far away from a charger as you won’t have to sacrifice much in return for the longer battery life.

Reviewer: Mike Sawh
Full review: OnePlus Watch 2 review

Even though timepieces are supposed to have an element of fashion about them, not every company actually follows through on that front (we’re looking at you Mobvoi). Luckily you’re not completely out of options on this front, particularly as Google has put together one of the most eye-catching smartwatches of the current crop.

The Pixel Watch 2 takes on a pebble-like design that feels almost uniform the entire way around, also making it difficult to see where the screen ends and the chassis begins. It’s quite an impressive bit of engineering that’s capped off by a central rotating crown and a very well hidden push button.

Much like the Apple Watch, the magnets that connect watch bands to the Pixel Watch 2 sit inside the chassis, making it seem as if the bands are an extension of the watch itself. It would be nice if Google released a slightly larger version of the Pixel Watch 2 (its 41mm casing is smaller than most smartwatches) but it’s only a minor gripe on what is undeniably a great looking device.

Reviewer: Conor Allison
Full review: Pixel Watch 2 review

While there’s nothing stopping you from pairing any of the watches on this list with your Samsung phone, there’s only one option that gives the most seamless experience possible for users and that’s the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.

The Watch 6 gives you quick access to some of the key apps on your Samsung phone, including the Bixby assistant and your camera app – perfect for lining up a shot. Similarly, there are several fitness features on the Watch 6 that are only available if you pair with a Samsung device, so in order to get the most out of the watch, Samsung wants you to go all in on its own ecosystem.

Much like the TicWatch Pro 5’s secondary display, the Galaxy Watch 6 has a unique feature of its own in a digital rotating bezel which allows you to scroll through menus simply by swiping around the outside of the display. It’s a simple concept but it works incredibly well, and it saves you adding any annoying smudges to the display during a workout.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review

We’ve reviewed

When it comes to microphones that work well with PCs, a lot of technology brands have gotten in on the action. But, it is the microphone veterans that come out on top of this list, with Røde X XCM-50 being our top pick for the best overall microphone you can buy.

The Røde comes with extremely professional looks that look far more at home in a recording studio than your average desk setup. But, that’s no bad thing, and provides a level of assurance that you’ve got a quality bit of kit, especially when compared to flashier options from less serious rivals.

But, the proof is in the pudding and we called the vocal performance of the X XCM-50 “brilliant”. For a USB microphone, we were stunned by just how good it sounded. The recording quality is punchy while still providing vocals that are natural and crisp. It’s an audio recording performance that impressively defies the small size of this microphone. The level of quality isn’t focused on one kind of user either, with it offering a broad range of audio recording strengths to appeal to content creators of all kinds. It’s natural rather than over-produced.

The integrated pop filter and capsule shock mount get the job done in top-drawer style in terms of ditching unwanted bumps of the desk or over-enthusiastic plosives, even the clacking of a keyboard didn’t interfere with the clean recording. The physical gain control and mute button are refreshingly handy inclusions for quick setting shifts.

Reviewer: Alex Berry
Full review: Røde X XCM-50 review

A few years ago, Logitech picked up the famed microphone brand Yeti and the new Logitech G Yeti GX is one of the first gaming-focused USB options for the new team-up.

It’s a great all-rounder, with impressive recording capabilities combined with a stylish and colourful look to suit streamers. The design is sleek while the curved stand refreshingly catches the eye as something a bit different for this space. The controls are placed conveniently and it is easily mountable if that approach takes your fancy.

We found the recording quality to be delightfully full-bodied. The default volume hits the spot and, while you can tweak plenty of settings in Logitech’s software, found it to be a strong option if you just want to plug and play. The voice pickup was crisp and did a solid job at recording those higher volumes, ideal for enthusiastic streamers and podcasters.

As a USB microphone, it is remarkably easy to set up and get going, with help from the Logitech G Hub software, which is ideal if you have more of Logitech’s gaming products in your setup too. Then, there’s a delightful ring of RGB around the base of the pill-shaped microphone that you can customise a bunch as well.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Logitech G Yeti GX review

The DJI Mic 2 is a serious wireless microphone option for professional content creators and multimedia journalists, and it comes from a brand that you might not expect.

DJI is primarily known for its drone offerings but it has expanded its expertise to microphones in recent years and it has done a stellar job with the Mic 2. The 48kHz/24-bit standard audio quality makes for a stunningly crisp and clean recording that is ideal for professionals. It’s flexible with its Mono, Mono (with Safety Track) and Stereo recording modes while the omnidirectional design is ideal for picking up a smidge of environmental noise when you want it.

For when you don’t, there is the DJI’s intelligent noise cancelling and it’s the highlight of this device. Using AI, it does a top-notch job of eradicating unwanted noise like traffic, wind, crowds and more. It can handily be switched on and off during recordings too, should you want to change how much audio you let in while carrying out a recording session.

The design oozes the idea that this is a professional bit of kit but it remains very user friendly. The case is compact yet sturdy while the transmitters are refreshingly lightweight. The receiver works with both cameras and phones too.

Reviewer: Sam Kieldsen
Full review: DJI Mic 2 review

If you’ve ever used a cheap and cheerful microphone with your PC, you may have realised it’s time to level up, especially if you are broadcasting online. The Logitech Blue Sona is a top-tier XLR microphone from a trusted brand.

The Blue Sona is the brand’s first standalone broadcast microphone and we deemed it a mightily impressive initial outing. First, it looks far more professional and premium than Logitech’s more consumer-aimed products, with an all-metal build that oozes luxury while the option of sleek black or white alongside red or black covers makes for a stylish look. You’ll find no RGB lighting here.

The performance of this XLR microphone stands up as a clean and rich recording option. It keeps up with more experienced brands who sell similarly premium rivals. This mic impressively hones in on your voice while the built-in preamp means you don’t need external boosting alongside. Overall, you get a balanced sound and the need for much post-processing is minimal.

The Blue Sona offers two EQ presents to tailor things to your liking, and you can tweak these further. The foam windshield, internal shock mount and dual capsule do a great job of batting away any lingering sounds that you don’t want on your recording.

Reviewer: Alex Berry
Full Review: Logitech Blue Sona review

The Hollyland Lark M2 is our pick for the best-value wireless microphone. It still costs around £149/$149 but comes in at a price much lower than higher-end rivals like the DJI on this list while still doing an excellent job.

In our review, we praised this Hollyland microphone as being an ideal pick for amateur content creators who want an option that doesn’t cost the earth. We found it to be remarkably easy to use, with a smaller puck-sized design than previous models and a stunningly low weight. It attaches wonderfully simply by using a magnet you place under your clothing, giving it a greater sense of freedom in positioning than a traditional clip. The receiver connects directly into the bottom of your phone, and it comes with both Lightning and USB-C dongles to suit your needs.

On to the all-important audio quality, we found the vocal capture to be impressively smooth with a refreshing lack of peaks or popping. The Lark M2 impressively focuses on your vocals. When filming indoors, we found this mic did a stunning job at batting back any echoes while outdoor filming saw the Lark M2 shine in terms of isolating our reviewer’s voice.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full Review: Hollyland Lark M2 review

We’ve reviewed

1,849

Peripheral

If you want the best PC game controller on the market and don’t mind paying a bit extra, then the Xbox Elite Controller 2 is the one to get. It’s the second generation of Microsoft’s official eSports gamepad, succeeding the Xbox One Elite we tested many moons ago. During testing we found it offers the best mix of features and value for money currently available.

Wireless performance is excellent, especially if your PC has the Xbox Wireless functionality built in, which most pre-builds from Alienware and the like now do. If you don’t, then you can buy an optional wireless dongle separately at most tech stores, giving you a rock-solid wireless connection. Based on our experience, we’d thoroughly recommend the dongle if your PC doesn’t support Xbox Wireless as the connection is much more reliable than Bluetooth.

The rubberised pads let you get a solid grip, and we can confirm build quality is excellent. eSports players will also enjoy the added programmable controls, which include paddle inputs at the back and trigger controls that let you set the rear triggers to one of three actuation points. This can offer a real competitive advantage in reaction-based games, with the fastest setting genuinely saving our lives in Elden Ring on more than one occasion during testing.

The 40-hour battery life we encountered reviewing the pad and the ease of its USB-C charging port made the Xbox Elite Controller 2 an easy recommendation. The only slight downside is that its higher-than-average price means it isn’t the best option for kids or more casual gamers.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: Xbox Elite 2 Controller Review

If you want an eSports controller that can take a lot of punishment and still deliver excellent performance then the Scuf Instinct Pro is the best PC game controller option we’ve tested that’s still on the market. It’s compatible with the Xbox Wireless standard, which in our testing is far more reliable than Bluetooth.

Off the bat, it offers all the functionality you’d expect from a pro controller. There are programmable back paddles, a choice of domed or concave thumb sticks at three different heights, and lockable triggers. For more adventurous gamers you can also change its face plate to match your personal style. We personally thought the purple one our review unit came with was a little gaudy, but the option will be welcomed by people who favour things like RGB lighting.

Performance is excellent with the pad feeling every bit as comfortable to hold as its Xbox rival. But what really set it apart was its build quality, helping to justify the fact it’s more expensive than the official Elite 2

During testing, the Scuf proved to be one of the toughest gamepads we’ve ever tested. Accidentally sending it flying down a flight of hardwood stairs when taking it down to the living room, the pad suffered no noticeable damage whatsoever. As a result, we’d recommend it wholeheartedly to any PC gamer prone to rage throws on the market for a rugged, eSports-ready pad that’ll last.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Scuf Instinct Pro Controller Review

If you can look past its comparatively high price point, the DualSense Edge is an excellent buy for any hardcore gamers who regularly jump between a PS5 and a PC.

Feeling a tad like Sony’s answer to the Xbox Elite controller, the DualSense Edge offers a ton of customisation to match a person’s preferred playstyle, but it’s built upon the incredible foundations set out by the standard DualSense controller.

On top of the DualSense’s outstanding haptic feedback, which offers a far more comprehensive level of vibration that better mimics the action and more subtle moments happening onscreen, the Edge has ports for swappable buttons on the back. These rear-facing buttons can be customised to correspond with whichever action you please, such as quick weapon swapping.

It’s also possible to detach the analogue sticks from the controller and swap them out with more rounded variants, the likes of which hark back to the classic PS2 controller.

The DualSense Edge also comes with a travel case and a long USB-A to USB-C cable which makes it easy to charge on the go and to take it with you from one location to another. When taking the action to the PS5, you can even set dead zones to make your aiming more precise – a true game-changer for first-person shooters.

The only issue with the DualSense Edge, given its price point, is that it can only really be recommended to gamers who plan on making the most of all the features it has to offer. Casual gamers will get on just fine with the standard DualSense controller, particularly as you can buy several of them for the same price as the Edge.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full review: DualSense Edge Review

If there’s anyone out there looking to recreate the flexibility that a keyboard and mouse can offer but in controller form then the Thrustmaster eSwap X 2 Pro is your best bet. Compared to the other options featured on this list, the X 2 Pro has customisation at the centre of its design.

For starters, the X 2 Pro offers gamers the ability to swap out and swap in thumbsticks and D-Pads where they see fit. For instance, using the controller’s magnetic system you can simply take out the D-Pad and swap it with the left thumbstick, creating a layout that feels far more akin to what you’ll find on a PS5 DualSense controller.

While you have a few options to work with in the box, you can purchase additional mods with different designs that can add some unique flair to your controller, making it more your own in the process.

There are also a handful of remappable back buttons which certainly come in handy for fast paced action games like God of War, where you need to swap between different weapons quickly without contorting your hands into an uncomfortable shape.

As a final cherry on top, you can even lock the actuation of the triggers, giving you the chance to dish out some damage quickly without needing to press down all the way. This can change the tide of events in first-person shooters, with our reviewer noting that it made a big difference when playing Call of Duty.

For all its modular prowess however, there is one area where the eSwap X 2 Pro feels incredibly dated and that’s in its insistence on using a wired connection. Much like previous offerings in the eSwap series, there are no wireless capabilities to be found on the X 2 Pro, and while the plug-in-and-play nature of it all does allow you to get set up quickly, it should have been an option and not the default, particularly given that there are tons of wireless controllers that are far cheaper.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Thrustmaster eSwap X 2 Pro Review

We’ve reviewed

1,645

PC Gaming

The Keychron M6 is our pick for the best mouse for most people. It’s a unique proposition, offering a productivity-friendly style but with gaming-grade performance. It all comes in at a stunningly reasonable price too, just £49.

We found the M6 to be a joy to use throughout our time testing the device. The PixArt 3385 sensor means it is supremely responsive while its shape fits comfortably in the hands of right-handed users. It doesn’t offer the low weight of gaming-focused alternatives but its 78g is by no means cumbersome.

The battery life and software are particularly impressive too, with around an 80-hour runtime. In our testing, it still had 40 per cent of charge after a few weeks of light use. We also found there to be little delay when it comes to waking up the mouse. The software is simple yet powerful, with the ability to tweak DPI, polling rate and lift distance.

Reviewer: Josh Brown
Full Review: Keychron M6 review

Click here to buy the Keychron M6

Logitech is everywhere in the peripheral world, from mice and keyboards to webcams and more. It’s long made great travel mice and the Logitech Pebble Mouse 2 M350s is no different.

This diddy mouse weighs just 76g and is stunningly portable, you’ll barely notice it in your bag. Despite this, the performance is up to standard, with a 4000 DPI sensor that’s a massive upgrade from the previous model. Helped by a near-silent click too, it’s ideal for office work.

Logitech’s software is on hand to offer useful features too, alongside strong battery life enabled by the single AA battery inside.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: Logitech Pebble Mouse 2 M350s review

The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 is our top pick for the best gaming mouse you can buy. It received a 5-star review from us for its powerful performance, comfortable feel and its impressive software.

As the name suggests, it is very light, made to be speedily wafted around by serious gamers in competitive titles. It’s a stealthy and stylish look too. It’s far from form over function though, with a pleasingly comfortable experience while using.

For power, you get a high 32,000 DPI sensor and hybrid mouse buttons that we just loved. It’s backed up by a strong up to 95 hours of charge as well. Also in the tank is Logitech’s G Hub software which allows for powerful customisation across the board.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 review

We get it, if you’re a serious player, no matter how good wireless technology gets, you may still want the reliability of a wired gaming mouse. Our top choice is the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2.

Despite being a wired pick, the Pulsefire Haste 2 aims to offer as much versatility as possible, with a HyperFlex 2 cable that refuses to kink or drag. As a result, you get swift movement from this ultra-lightweight 53g mouse.

The power inside is high, with a 26,000 DPI sensor and 8K polling, offering supreme accuracy. We loved the mouse clicks too, from the left and right to the delightfully clicky side buttons. The HyperX NGENUITY software is useful too, allowing for easy tweaking of key settings like DPI.

Reviewer: Josh Brown
Full review: HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Review

We’ve reviewed

1,846

Peripheral

Panasonic’s DP-UB9000 flagship 4K Blu-ray player is the most ambitious player we’ve tested from the Japanese brand, and for AV enthusiasts, investing in this battleship 4K player is a no-brainer.

The DP-UB9000 delivers best-in-class UHD video performance, courtesy of supreme image processing tech, as well as its HDR support that covers HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats. The images it produces exhibits both astonishing detail and supreme smoothness thanks to its second generation HCX, and we found the player performed a capable job of upscaling HD Blu-ray discs, too.

Our reviewer tested the player with a mid-range TV and found the results convincing, so pairing with a premium TV should elicit even better performance from the Panasonic player.

This Pana player also boasts a level of construction that exceeds its (high) price; disc-loading speeds are decent while loading is smooth and quiet. Connectivity is extensive with dual HDMI outputs (one audio only), two USBs (one is a fast v3.0), and optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, as well as a full 7.1 analogue channel output. There’s also balanced Neutrik XLR stereo connectors and Ethernet on hand to support the internal Wi-Fi.

When it comes to audio it sounds good – not quite audiophile in quality as the now discontinued Pioneer UDP-LX500, but it impresses nonetheless. If you’re looking for DVD-Audio and SACD support, the Panasonic doesn’t have it unfortunately.

Reviewer: Steve May
Full Review: Panasonic DP-UB9000

There aren’t many new 4K Blu-ray players in production these days but recently there’s been a burst from the likes of Reavon and Magnetar at giving the marketplace a push forward. The UDP900 from Magnetar is expensive, but it is an exceptional player.

In the words of our reviewer, it is built like a tank but also sports an elegant design. It’s a player you’ll need to make some space for and you’ll certainly want to a solid surface to plant it on as it weighs 15.5kg. On the rear it has dual HDMI outputs, as well multi-channel analogue outputs for those who want to connect a sound system directly into the speaker. The remote control is backlit, which is a nice touch.

It’s a universal disc spinner, so whatever physical media you have it could conceivably play it, and with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision playback, it supports the main forms of HDR too. Strangely, there’s no wireless connectivity, but it seems the Magentar wants to keep the focus on physical media rather than streaming. We’re not going to complain too much about that.

Its very simple to set-up and operate, and playback is incredibly quiet during operation. You can hardly hear the disc spinning.

The actual video performance offers impressive upscaling to 4K, bringing out the best in Blu-rays. Our reviewer felt he was watching a picture equivalent to HDR thanks to the MediaTek chipset’s processing. The look of 4K discs will depend on your TV of choice, but we found the performance to be superb. Its audio performance is also very impressive, delivering a clean, detailed delivery with precise stereo imaging with analogue music. This is a high-end 4K player at a huge cost, but it’s worth it in our opinion.

For a less expensive but still premium 4K player, have a look at Magnetar’s own UDP800.

Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full Review: Magnetar UDP900

If you own a TV that supports either Dolby Vision, HDR10+ or both, and you want to see your 4K collection presented in the best shape it can, then of the 4K player options below £500 / $500 the Panasonic DP-UB820 warrants closer investigation over its cheaper DP-UB450 sibling.

It features the same second generation HCR processor that’s included in the flagship model, and it helps to produce a performance that we found to be superb with UHD discs as well as making standard Blu-ray discs look beautifully crisp. Colours are more precise and detailed than they are on rival disc spinners, and with Panasonic’s Optimiser feature, brightness an contrast can be boosted without washing out the image, which our reviewer found made viewing HDR content in a brighter room more satisfying to watch.

Picture quality is complemented by a decent selection of streaming apps, though the user interface could use an overhaul. It’s also a classy frontman for a Dolby Atmos home cinema. When playing CDs we found it was worth experimenting with the Digital Tube up-sampler. It features a number of filters that mimic the warmth of tube amplification and it made our reviewer’s CD collection sound more homely.

Build quality is fine, and more in-keeping with Panasonic’s entry-level players, missing out on the premium metal finish the flagship UB9000 sports. We found the player looked presentable enough for the asking price. A remote is provided but if gets lost in the couch then there are manual buttons for power and disc loading on the player itself.

Reviewer: Steve May
Full Review: Panasonic DP-UB820

Despite its cheaper build quality, the UBP-X700 retains many of the same features of the discontinued UBP-X800 but actually includes support for Dolby Vision HDR this time. It’s price has gone up over £200 since we first reviewed, but we still believe it’s a great choice for anyone who wants an Ultra HD Blu-ray player that can deliver excellent video and audio.

We found picture performance to be terrific. UHD discs were flawlessly reproduced in minute detail, with the wider colour gamut and high dynamic range (HDR) of 4K discs all perfectly rendered by the Sony. Images are sharp and detailed with natural looking colours and no apparent artefacts. Our reviewer found the spinner even performed brilliantly with SDR content, getting the maximum out of every pixel.

The UBP-X700 is a digital transport (no analogue outputs), which means there is no DAC inside, just a digital signal being delivered either via HDMI or the coaxial digital output. Choose HDMI and there is benefit from lossless audio and immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. While the X700 might not be the audiophile’s choice, we found it was more than capable of delivering a quality experience whether with CDs, SACDs or streaming.

There is a drawback at this more affordable price compared to more premium players, which is that the X700’s construction can feel flimsy when compared to the UBP-X800M2. It’s a rather cheap and largely plastic player, but this is unlikely to be of much concern if you’re not putting the player out in the open.

Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full reviews: Sony UBP-X700

The DP-UB450 is the only player that features HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for les, making it a consumer-friendly player for anyone on the hunt for an affordable 4K Blu-ray player.

Our reviewer didn’t find the build quality to be anything to write home about. It’s light, and the metal chassis feels thin giving it a rather anonymous looks. Like the UB820, there are a pair of power and disc loading buttons if the remote gets lost.

Connectivity is not as extensive as the spinners above the UB450 in this list, with just twin HDMI connections for separate video and audio signals, Ethernet LAN and a coaxial digital output. There’s no array of 7.1-channel analogue line-outs for home cinema speaker set-ups, nor are there any streaming apps in the UB450’s sparse menu interface.

The drop in price also means that the UB820’s HCX Processor is no longer among the features, but our reviewer still found picture quality to be good for the money, although it lacks the sharpness and precision of the step-up Panasonic player. Its HDR10 performance isn’t quite as good as the Sony UBP-X700, but its implementation of Dolby Vision is much more friendlier than that player.

Our reviewer felt that audio was well served, delivered in a crisp and clean manner, handling Dolby Atmos soundtracks without issue. And with audio files, the UB450 does well enough, delivering good levels of clarity and detail.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Panasonic DP-UB450

There aren’t many 4K players that can be found for less than £150, but of the ones still kicking about, the Panasonic DP-UB150 is the best of them.

Like the rest of Panasonic’s affordable 4K spinners, we found the UB150’s build quality to be fine if bland. It’s a tidy, compact and anonymous looking unit that’s acceptable enough for the price but is distinctly utilitarian in appearance. The disc drive can be a little noisy during playback and the remote is a small and chunky affair that won’t favour those with big hands.

It’s not packed full of feature of connectivity options with only one HDMI port on its rear and ethernet LAN in place of any Wi-Fi support. Like the UB450, there are no streaming apps included but 3D and Hi-Res audio are among the features supported by this player.

There’s no Dolby Vision but there is HDR10+, so to get the most from this player, consider pairing it with a Samsung, Panasonic or Philips TV that supports HDR10+. Watching Alita: Battle Angel on a Samsung QLED, our reviewer found the UB150 spun rich, saturated and vibrant colours for a cinematic look, though like the UB450 it’s isn’t the most refined or subtle of pictures compared to more expensive efforts. Upscaling is good with decent colours and flesh tones

The Dolby Atmos performance sounds big, though it is not as nuanced as the rival Sony X700. CD playback is fine too, showcasing good amounts of detail and clarity.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Panasonic DP-UB150

We’ve reviewed

223

Blu-ray Player

Samsung still believes that 8K will take off, and with its QN900D, it’s certainly putting its best foot forward to bring the format to a wider audience.

It is without doubt the best 8K TV that we’ve reviewed from Samsung, and considering they regularly get five-star awards, that’s an impressive feat. Improvements have been made to how much brightness the TV is capable of, with the QN900D able to produce 2445 nits on a 10% window in its Movie mode, which is much brighter than the 2096 nits the QN900C was capable of.

That level of high brightness helps to produce impressively bright and colourful HDR images, though as always with Samsung, we still find the lack of Dolby Vision support to be disappointing considering how widespread it is.

The upscaling performance is brilliant, and with little native 8K content out there it has to be. We noticed a big jump up in detail with 4K content, with Samsung’s AI processor able to bring out all the detail within an image and sharpen it without producing a fake-looking image or overemphasising any noise in the image. It genuinely looks better than any 4K TV we’ve seen.

For the gamers out there, our reviewer measured input lag at a fast 11ms, and with VRR support in HDMI VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, the input lag can be brought down ever further. All four of its HDMI inputs supporting 4K 120Hz gaming, so you’ll get a high level of gaming performance with any of the HDMI inputs.

We would suggest leaving the eARC input to add in a soundbar. While the QN900D’s sound system tracks sounds accurately across the screen, it’s not able to generate enough bass to give soundtracks heft and excitement.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung QE75QN900D

After nearly 10 years of ignoring OLED technology, Samsung decided to create its own panel technology in QD-OLED and with the S95D it’s arguably struck gold.

The first and second-gen QD-OLEDs from Samsung were enjoyable, though we found they had flaws. The S95D appears to be a big improvement on what came before. It is the brighest OLED TV we’ve reviewed yet, hitting 1798 nits on a 10% window that’s more than the likes of the Panasonic MZ2000 and LG G3 OLED

That level of brightness helps the TV produce incredibly rich colours with contrast that brings out the detail in both dark and light areas of the image. Our reviewer also felt that the anti-glare screen technology was impressively implemented on this TV, though it does mean that dark areas do take on a slightly grey appearance.

The Tizen interface has been refined with new sections to help recommend suitable content that matches your tastes, and there’s now the option of creating multiple profiles for multiple in the house. For the gamers out there we measured input response at 9.8ms, while all four HDMI 2.1 inputs support 4K 120Hz through the One Connect box and with 144Hz supported for PCs.

The sound system supports Dolby Atmos, and like with Samsung’s other OTS speaker systems, it can be very good at placing effects on and around the screen. However, it can’t push that sound forward into a room, and volume is a little limited in terms of how loud it can do.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung S95D OLED

The Samsung QE65QN95C is the brand’s flagship 4K TV, offering an alternative to the next generation of OLED 4K TVs from the likes of LG, Panasonic and Sony.

The picture performance improves on the TVs that come before such as the QN95A and QN95B, with a substantial increase in dimming zones (from 720 to 1344) helping to produce better contrast, black levels and more precision in terms of brightness.

Blooming, which are unwanted halos of light around bright objects, are reduced; and we found that unless you were watching the TV from a very wide and shallow angle that blooming was mostly unnoticeable. That’s an improvement on what we’ve seen from previous Samsung Mini-LED TVs.

Brightness was measured at 2240 nits, which is around the same level of brightness we encountered with the QN95B and easily betters even the brightest OLEDs we’ve tested from competing brands such as the LG G2 and Panasonic LZ2000.

As a gaming television, all four of the HDMI inputs support 4K/144Hz, so gamers don’t have to pick and choose which devices go into which HDMI input. There’s HDMI VRR for gaming consoles, with PC gamers getting AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Nvidia G-Sync is not officially supported but gamers can still play compatible games with that feature if they choose to do so. We measured input lag to 9.8ms, which is a little faster than the 2022 model.

The speaker system is, in our opinion, a step from what came before, with more power, clarity and scale observed from the QN95C’s 4.2.2 audio system. The Object Tracking Sound (OTS) system plants effects on screen with accuracy, with the TV less prone to buzzing or distortion when having to deal with bassy effects..

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung QE65QN95C

Big screen TVs are becoming more popular and there aren’t many screens as big as the QE98Q80C from Samsung.

At a whopping 98-inches, this is a TV that takes up a lot of space in any home, and because of its size it’s a screen that feels more like a cinema that it does a TV. It’s surpisingly slim for a big screen though, which itself features just 120 dimming zones for control of brightness. As always, it’s not the number of dimming zones you have but what you do with it that’s most important.

And this big-screen Q80C is capable of bright and colourful images, with dark scenes that appear black and little backlight clouding or blooming that our reviewer spotted. Upscaling is very good for a screen of this size, the processor doing an effective job of upscaling HD images to this size, while SD images can look a little stretch, that’s only to be expected considering the quality of the source.

There are four HDMI 2.1 inputs on this model, and all can handle 4K/120Hz sources. We measured input lag at 10.7ms which shoudl ensure a snappy performance even before VRR support comes into play.

Tizen is not the easiest to navigate in terms of its settings, but it is comprehensively stacked for apps with all the apps you could want available. You won’t need to purchase a streaming stick to get the video streaming apps you want.

Sound quality is fine with good detail and effects accurately placed around the screen. The main issue is that this screen doesn’t get particularly loud or be able to generate the kind of power and scale a screen of this size should command. There are decent bass levels to to help amp up excitement in action films, but we’d recommend getting a soundbar for this screen.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung QE98Q80C

We’ve reviewed

Although typically a projector for indoor use, the BenQ W2700’s 2000 lumens means it is bright enough to be comfortably used outdoors too. No larger than usual living room projectors, the W2700 can be transported around without much hassle. 

For under £1500, the BenQ W2700 is an impressively feature-packed budget 4K and HDR projector. Sporting an all-glass lens as opposed to a plastic one that’s typically favoured with budget projectors, the W2700 is able to unlock more resolution from 4K content. 

The BenQ W2700 is surprisingly clever with its approach to HDR playback. Its HDR tone-mapping algorithms are designed to optimise playback according to the projector’s capabilities, which results in far superior picture quality. 

There’s also a Dynamic Iris that works alongside the HDR tone-mapping which constantly adjusts the light output to deliver the optimum light level depending on what you’re watching. 

You can fine-tune the image brightness to best suit your preferences and your viewing environment with the HDR Brightness setting. This makes it ideal for both outdoor and indoor viewing when you can’t guarantee total darkness for example. 

One of the biggest triumphs of the W2700 is its colour reproduction which delivers a wide range of rich colours. In addition the DCI-P3 colour range helps colours in HDR look natural and balanced too.

It’s worth noting that although picture quality is good, the W2700’s audio system isn’t the best we’ve tested, especially for outdoors. We found the 10W audio system doesn’t project very far, which results in sound that isn’t aligned with what’s on the screen. If used outdoors then we’d suggest adding a sound system.

Even so, if you’re looking for an all-round projector that can support indoor and outdoor viewing for under £1500 then the BenQ W2700 is an ideal choice. Expect spectacular colours and picture quality at a reasonable price.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: BenQ W2700

During testing, we found the ViewSonic X-10 4K offered bright and punchy images with natural looking colours and a great level of detail. With its motion processing, images were rendered in smooth making this a good projector to use for sport events. Images looked great in both HDR or SDR, and in 4K resolution images are clear and very detailed. Our reviewer also found the Harman Kardon audio system to be a revelation (for a projector), producing good size and depth to fill a decently large space.

The X10-4K is also a stylish and elegant-looking projector, with the handle covered in leather for that luxury touch when the projector is being moved about. There’s a good range of connectivity with HDMI, USB-C, an SD Card reader and 3.5mm jack offering plenty of choice for media playback in an outdoor setting, while optical out handles audio connectivity for connecting an external sound system.

As long as the Wi-Fi can reach into a garden there’s the option of voice assistance with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant include. Our reviewer did find that controlling the projector in this method was frustrating at times.
The ViewSonic is compatible with Android OS but uses the fairly limited offering of Aptoide app store for access to apps such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix. The ViewSonic is quick and easy to set-up projector, and along with its impressive big-screen images and integrated sound system, makes it a all-in-one projector worth considering for movie nights in the garden.

Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full review: ViewSonic X10-4K

The XGIMI Horizon Pro builds on the brand’s Horizon model, adding 4K support to its list of skills. In terms of build quality, the Horizon Pro is similar enough to the original Horizon, a projector that’s not small enough to be portable but also not big enough to be the centre of a dedicated home cinema set-up. Our reviewer still felt it was easy enough to cart around the house and take outdoors, even using the Horizon Pro on a camping trip.

It isn’t battery-powered projector and requires being plugged into the mains. It runs on Android TV 10 and set-up is easy with an Android device. Access to the Google Play Store comes with apps such as Disney+, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video; but the lack of BBC iPlayer and Netflix is inconvenient, which may require plugging in a streaming stick and running apps from there. The interface is, at least, easy to navigate; and features such as the auto-setup for focusing, keystone correction and image size help take some of the complications away from setting it up.

Connectivity is decent port with dual HDMI ports in 2.0 and ARC with optical audio out to connect to an external speaker. We found the Horizon Pro’s images looked sharp and detailed, although it’s not a native 4K image, which means content has to be upscaled to hit the ‘4K’ resolution.

We’d rate 2200 lumens of brightness as more than enough for use in a garden, with the brightness good enough for 60-inches during daytime use and bigger at night. Colours are punchy and bold, although the contrast isn’t the best if watched in a bright environment. The Horizon Pro’s audio system provides plenty volume and decent bass but you will get better audio from an external system.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: XGIMI Horizon Pro

We’ve reviewed

516

Projector

The Xbox Series X is one of the best game consoles we’ve reviewed. We found it to be immensely powerful, capable of a 4K output at 120Hz. Console exclusives such as Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite particularly wowed us, while the option for Game Pass provides access to a huge selection of fantastic games for an affordable monthly fee.

Its internal SSDs allowed games to load pretty much instantly, which we found especially useful. Testing, Doom Eternal, for instance, the game loaded in six seconds, which put it firmly ahead of any other next-gen console.

The Quick Resume function also allows for games to be stopped in a suspended state if you decide to open something else. But if you wish to return to your original game, you can pick up right where you left off.

Whilst we found the Series X to look sleek with its matted black shell, it’s also quite a tall console with a non-descript cuboid shape. It’s relatively expensive in the world of consoles, but if you’re looking for the very best gaming experience, then the Xbox Series X is the console to go for.

Reviewer: Matt Tate
Full review: Xbox Series X Review

The PS5 has been available since 2020, but it has seen several improvements since then. Firstly, Sony has refreshed the design with the new PS5 Slim model, which is now the default option to buy. It’s also updated the firmware, unlocking new features that weren’t available at launch.

These tweaks have helped establish the PS5 as the leading console choice. It has a solid selection of exclusive titles, incredibly powerful with support for the likes of hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and a blazing fast SSD that loads up games in a matter of seconds.

The PS5 controller arguably steals the show though, with Adaptive Triggers and Haptic Feedback, which we found to increase immersion within games tenfold. There are a wide number of accessories that can be paired with the console now too, with the PlayStation Portal allowing you to play remotely and the PlayStation VR 2 allowing you to explore incredible virtual worlds.

There’s also a PS5 Digital Edition available for £359.99, although it lacks the ability to play any PS4 or PS5 games that you have on disk – not to mention films on Blu-Ray.

Reviewer: Chris Smith
Full review: PS5 Review

Best value portable console

The Nintendo Switch may be nearing the end of its life cycle, but it still offers excellent value for money if you want the versatility of a home console that you can also take on the go.

We found it to offer a brilliant user experience, with the ability to flit between docked and portable play being particularly joyous. The Switch is also being jam-packed full of classic Nintendo titles including Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey.

Nintendo also provides the versatile Joy Con controllers, which we found offered an engaging gaming experience with both conventional and more motion-based titles such as party game 1-2-Switch available to get stuck into. They pack in haptic feedback technology, as well as an NFC reader and a gyroscope, which gives them some serious power.

All in all, the Nintendo Switch is a shining example of how to do a hybrid console right, and if you’re after a fun and engaging gaming experience whether you’re out or at home, this is a great choice.

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full review: Nintendo Switch Review

The Xbox Series S is the best choice for people who want new-gen gaming at a cut price.

It may not be as powerful as the Xbox Series X or PS5, but Microsoft’s more affordable console is still capable of outputting at 1440p complete with ray-tracing. We found it to offer some stunning visuals within games, with sharp images and great lighting.

With the Xbox Series S comes the optional convenience of Xbox Game Pass and its vast library of titles that gives you instant access to over 100 games for a reasonable monthly price. In addition, its UI is familiar and easy to navigate.

The console itself is smaller than the Series X by some way, as well as being noticeably dinkier than the older Xbox One S, featuring a sleek white shell. With that smaller stature comes the sacrifice of a disc drive, however, so if you want to play games or any other forms of media via a physical medium, you’ll have to pick up the more expensive Series X.

In addition, the Series S only features a 500GB SSD, which is highly limiting, providing you with space to install only a handful of games at any one time. You can install more storage via a memory card, but that can get pretty expensive.

With that being said, the Xbox Series S is still the best games console available for those on a budget who want to play the latest major games, as long as you can live with the smaller storage and lack of a disc drive.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Xbox Series S Review

In the last few years, there’s been a boom in popularity in handheld gaming PCs, allowing you to play PC games on the go without the need for an internet connection. There are plenty of fantastic systems in this new category, but our current favourite is the Steam Deck OLED.

Building upon the fantastic foundations of the original Steam Deck, the new model sees a smattering of upgrades including a bright OLED panel, improved battery life, enhanced controls and a marginally lighter design. Those upgrades may sound minimal on paper, but they result in a far greater experience.

The Steam Deck OLED isn’t the most powerful option, with the likes of the Asus ROG Ally and Ayaneo 2S both proving to be faster. Nevertheless, the Steam Deck OLED can still run the vast majority of games at max graphics settings at 720p, and it’s available at a more affordable price. The SteamOS software is also far more slick than the Windows offering on other portables.

The base Steam Deck is still a great option for those on a tight budget, but if you want the perfect blend of price, performance, software, design, screen and battery life, then we reckon there’s no better option than the Steam Deck OLED.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Steam Deck OLED Review

The Nvidia Shield TV (2019) technically isn’t a games console, but more of a premium Android streaming box. With a quick download of Nvidia’s own GeForce Now, however, the Shield TV transforms into a capable cloud gaming system.

With the Shield TV, you get a few different ways of playing your favourite titles, as you can either download Android games onto it to play locally, stream your PC thanks to integration with your Steam and Epic Games libraries, or utilise a GeForce Now subscription. The latter will grant access to some serious PC power for a monthly subscription to play the latest AAA games at some seriously high settings.

When loading up the likes of Hitman 2, for instance, we found the experience on the Shield TV to be especially smooth and fun. Do note though, that the performance of any game on a cloud gaming platform, such as GeForce Now, depends on how good your internet connection is. As long as it’s stable and quick, you should get a great gaming experience.

The actual device itself features 4K HDR output, complete with the powers of both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. You do need a supported display and speakers to take advantage of such features, but then games should look and sound fantastic. With its revamped remote, you get access to Netflix via a dedicated button, as well a raft of other movie and TV streaming services.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Nvidia Shield TV (2019) Review

The Nintendo Switch OLED is the latest iteration of the firm’s brilliant hybrid console, and represents a great option for anyone wanting to try out the convenience of a Switch combined with the power of an OLED panel.

Its screen is an immense upgrade on the original LCD, even if its resolution is capped at 720p. We found it to look brighter than the original LCD, with especially bright and vivid colours. During testing, playing Breath Of The Wild revealed the extra punch of the OLED panel with more detailed skies and forests, alongside better contrast when switching between a shadow-laden cave and daylight.

There isn’t too much new stuff around here internally, as the Switch OLED packs the same power as its older sibling, which ensures a great all-round performance, especially when used in portable mode. The older internals do lead to a dicier performance in docked mode when connected up to larger displays, with images looking noticeably fuzzy. You do get some improved storage capacity here though, which is especially handy for installing more games on the main drive, and Nintendo’s selection is superb, as the Switch OLED works with every single original Switch game, as well as those found on the Switch Lite.

There has been a small redesign, with a new and sturdier kickstand present that spans the entire back of the device. We also found the plastics used on this new model to feel sturdier than the original, and its speakers sound noticeably better with more volume and detailed sound. The dock has also been redesigned and features an Ethernet port alongside handy cable channels for those after a cleaner setup.

All in all, the Switch OLED is a useful choice for those wanting a Nintendo Switch with a much better OLED display. Beyond that, it’s much the same experience as the original. For those who want a capable home console though, you may want to look elsewhere, given the fact there have been no performance upgrades for the Switch OLED.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Nintendo Switch OLED Review

The Nintendo Switch Lite is the cheapest portable console on our list, which makes it an ideal choice for those on a budget, as well as for children.

It looks particularly bright and fun, with a funky yellow plastic outer shell. And if this isn’t to your taste, the Switch Lite is available in a couple of other colours, including turquoise and grey. This is a much smaller footprint console than the full-fat Switch, which we found made it nicely portable. Its lighter 275g weight also made it easier to hold, especially for younger children.

The display on the Switch Lite is a denser 5.5-inch panel with the same 720p resolution as the original. Generally speaking, you won’t be losing anything in terms of picture quality, even with a 0.7-inch reduction in overall size.

It’s worth noting that the Switch Lite isn’t fully compatible with every Switch game, since the Joy-Cons aren’t detachable. This means a select few titles (such as 1-2-Switch) that need motion controls won’t work, unless you shell out on extra Joy-Cons. Other than that, the entire library is open to you, meaning all the best Mario, Zelda and Pokemon games are all within reach.

In addition, the console features decent battery life, ranging from four to seven hours, depending on the game. At the top end, it means you’ll get roughly a working day’s worth of playtime out of the Switch Lite before it needs to be charged. If you’re only playing for a couple of hours a day, it’s likely you could get several days’ worth of charge out of this little guy.

While it may not have detachable Joy-Cons and slightly shorter battery life than the standard Switch, the Switch Lite is a great option for those who want the fundamentals of Nintendo’s latest console with a fun gaming experience, complete with a sturdy and colourful outer shell and a great selection of games.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: Nintendo Switch Lite Review

The Playdate is the best retro-inspired games console, despite being the most recently-released console on our list.

It’s a homage to the retro game consoles of old, with its yellow plastic frame an obvious nod to the iconic original Game Boy. Weighing just 86g, we found it to be incredibly portable. The Playdate features just two buttons, a D-pad, as well as a crank on the side that we found to add an interesting mechanic to the games that support it.

The selection of games available with the Playdate is varied, with there being 24 in total that we found to offer a fun experience, whether it’s the Asteroids-inspired Hyper Meteor, the crank-driven Crankin’s Time Travel Adventure, or the side-scrolling detective thriller Saturday Edition. There’s sure to be a title that everyone will enjoy, especially given how captivating we found the gameplay to be.

There is also the ability to make your own games with the clever Playdate Pulp feature, and means anyone (even those with basic coding knowledge) has the potential to make a game.

The only major issue we had with the Playdate was its display. While its dinky 2.7-inch screen is perfectly serviceable for the most part, the fact there isn’t a backlight means you can’t really make use of the console if you’re playing in the dark. While the Playdate is a great retro-inspired console, the lack of a backlight does feel like it brings the old experience a little bit too close to home at times.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: Playdate review

We’ve reviewed

510

Consoles

The Sky Q is a smart looking box, with a design that arguably set the tone for all the set-top boxes that followed like the BT TV Box Pro. Its form factor is much more attractive than the utilitarian design of the Virgin V6 box.

Sky’s UI is one of the best in the business in our opinion, offering a convenient means of finding on-demand content, recordings and browsing its TV guide. It’s clean in appearance, loaded with images for a more visual-based means of interaction as well as convenient text descriptions. There are dedicated sub-menus for different categories or types of programming, which comes handy for more specific searches.

Sky Q supports a multi-room configuration with additional Mini boxes. These are small devices that connect to other TVs to stream content from the main box. The Mini Boxes only support HD though, while the main Q box streams in 4K. We found that to be a disappointing development, especially if the Mini box is connected to a 4K TV.

Sky’s range of content is vast and arguably the best on this list, with US dramas, comedies, films, thousands of TV box-sets and sport in the Premier League and Formula One but the subscriptions are not particularly cheap – this is very a much a premium service. The UHD content is better than any other service provide we’ve reviewed, and there is paid content though the Sky Store that provides access to instant downloads.

Our reviewer found picture quality to be outstanding, with HD programming presented in sharp detail, and UHD content looking fantastic (although this will depend on the TV its watched on). Sky has also added HDR support, that brings better contrast and colour fidelity to content.

On the audio front there’s support for Dolby Atmos, which we found produced a step-up in quality with extra height and width to audio. Easily one of the best set-top boxes if you can afford Sky’s premium subscriptions.

There is now the option of Sky Stream, which includes Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR among its specs, for those who want a streaming-based solution.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Sky Q

The Aura is Humax’s most recent set-top box, offering 4K HDR support and plenty of storage. It’s not perfect but it’s competitive when put against other Freeview boxes.

The design of the Aura mimics Sky Q in its aesthetics: a black, sleek, and curvy effort that’s a little sexier (if that’s the optimal word) than the older FVP-5000T. We do find that the glossy sheen can pick up dust and requires a wipe every so often. We’re not fond of the remote packaged with the Aura. It’s large and stuffed with buttons but the feedback is stiff.

Android is the interface of choice, divided into four tabs. The home screen can be customised and there are lots of shelves to scroll through, however traversing the interface isn’t always the speediest experience with a little lag noticeable. It’s the one area where we feel the Aura should be better.

In terms of apps there is plenty to choose from within video, music, sports, and fitness; from Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+. Lionsgate+ ITVX, Paramount+, TikTok, Mubi, Deezer, Roxi, Discovery+, and more. It’s not as many as Fire TV, Google TV, or Roku, but it’s a strong enough roster of apps. If you’re looking to record content, there 1TB and 2TB versions available.

With its AV performance, there are positive gains in overall sharpness, clarity, and detail with HD broadcasts. Noise is pretty much removed. It’s with HDR content where the Humax Aura struggles the most as it only supports HDR10 and not Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Playback of HDR streams have a dimmer appeareance with less contrast than Dolby Vision streams.

With music the Aura delivers a dynamic and snappy performance streaming from Spotify. It sounds clean and neutral in tone, showing plenty of skill in navigating the differences between quiet and loud, with a performance that’s spacious, clear, and well defined. This is a solid Freeview set-top box, and better than the Manhattan T3-R, though the Aura could still be better with a few more improvements.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Humax Aura

If Sky Q is too expensive, then the Freesat 4K TV Recorder is a more affordable satellite alternative. It is a neat looking box, with almost everything you would need in terms of connections with an HDMI port, Ethernet, a digital audio port for audio, and a pair of satellite inputs.

How these satellite inputs are used depends on which type of LNB (Low Noise Block) the satellite dish has. A standard LNB allows for two channels to be watched simultaneously, while wideband offers up to four. There’s also Wi-Fi for streaming over the Internet.

During testing we found the interface to be responsive and intuitive, with the minimally designed menus featuring convenient access to on-demand apps, live programming and saved recordings. We also found a good selection of live channels with 180 made available although only 24 are broadcast in HD.

On-demand content constitutes of BBC iPlayer, My5, STV Player and UKTV Play, giving access to most of the main free-to-air channels. There’s further convenience with a mobile app that allows for recording shows when you’re outside the house, although it’s worth noting it takes up to 30 minutes for recordings to appear on the box itself.

When it comes to visual quality, we found the Freesat conveyed HD channels in a detailed and sharp with no artefacts. With SD content, there is the typical softness around the edges of people and objects things, although the Freesat box does a decent job of reducing artefacts where possible.

Unlike Sky Q, Ultra HD isn’t available on Freesat platform itself, with only Netflix and YouTube support 4K HDR. Watching Netflix in 4K HDR and our reviewer noted more impact in terms of excellent detail and colours with more subtleties in tone. A solid box and a more affordable price than Sky, although without as much content.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Freesat 4K TV Recorder

We’ve reviewed

629

DVRs and Media Player

The G2 OLED has the same Gallery design as its G1 predecessor, with its rear panel designed to be uniformly flat for wall-mounting. What’s new are the changes made to the OLED EX panel and OLED Evo software that allow it to reach a brighter performance with HDR content.

We measured the HDR performance on a 10% window to be just over 1000 nits, which at the time put OLED65G2 as the brightest LG OLED that we’ve tested, though the new G3 model can hit around 1400 nits with its MLA panel technology.

But it’s not all about brightness for picture quality. Detail levels match the OLED65C2, boasting a sharp image at its 65-inch screen size and a colourful performance with both SDR and HDR content. It’s a TV you’ll want to watch lots of Dolby Vision content on, as films such as The Batman look fantastic on this TV with rich and deep blacks and highlights that add both intensity and depth to the image.

LG’s motion processing has improved across LG’s 2022 TV line-up, much smooth and less distracting than previous years with a performance that’s encroaching on the likes of Sony and Panasonic. When it comes to picture quality, this is among the best you can get from LG’s 4K OLEDs.

For gaming HDMI 2.1 is supported across all HDMI inputs, with ALLM, VRR and 4K/120Hz available, while cloud gaming options have been boosted with additions such as Nvidia GeForce NOW and Utomik. We measured input lag to be 12.9ms, exactly the same result we got from the C2 model and with HDMI VRR you can experience lag at even lower levels.

Where the G2 OLED is weakest with its audio delivery. It sounds restrained in its Dolby Atmos mode, and we found it sounded better with non-Dolby Atmos soundtracks which benefitted from more detail and dynamism. As such, a soundbar purchase is recommended, especially if you’re looking to use this LG OLED within a home cinema setup as it cannot passthrough DTS soundtracks. Prices have come down with the G2 available for less than £2000 at a number of stores.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: LG OLED65G2

The OLED65C2 improves on the C1 in practically every way. It takes advantage of LG’s OLED Evo panel technology taken from the 2021 G1 series to offer an improved HDR performance.

We found it enhanced the overall picture quality experience with more brightness that brought the best of the TV’s picture when combined with OLED’s inky blacks and the C2 processor’s vibrant colour performance. Like the G1, similar extensive gaming performance made its way over with VRR and ALLM support for a smoother, more responsive experience. Alongside the powers of HDMI 2.1 and 4K at 120Hz, this TV makes gaming an absolute doozy.

The C2 also features Dolby Vision IQ with its Precision Detail feature that increases the detail level and sharpness in an image, arguably making it a better performer with HDR content than Sony’s A80J. Its certainly the best picture quality we’ve seen from a C-series OLED.

The design has changed with a smaller plinth increasing the options of where you can place it. In addition it also weighs less, and cables can now be trailed behind the screen in a more direct fashion, which will be helpful if you’re adding any accessories to enhance your setup such as a soundbar.

When it comes to speakers, the OLED65C2 features some crisp and clear audio, complete with spacious Dolby Atmos for extra immersion. Despite this, we found the audio lacked a bit of heft and power, so like most TVs we’d suggest you consider a separate dedicated audio unit.

The OLED65C3 is now available and while it boasts a few upgrades, the performance isn’t a big leap over the C2. In that context, we’d recommend the OLED65C2 as the better purchase, especially as it’s much more affordable than it was at launch.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: LG OLED65C2

The OLED42C2 is a pint-sized OLED screen from LG available for less than £1,000. If you don’t have space for a big OLED screen then the 42C2 model is the TV you ought to consider.

It’s also worth considering in a gaming sense too, as its size makes it a good option for bedroom gaming settings. It supports ALLM, VRR and 4K/120Hz across all the HDMI inputs, which makes it an easier choice as to which HDMI port to plug your console in if you have multiple consoles.

We also measured latency at 12.9ms, which is suitably fast enough to offer a slick performance and with HDMI VRR, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro supported, lag can be brought down to even lower levels for seamless gaming response.

The OLED42C2 also bears support for Dolby Vision Gaming, which is currently more of use to Xbox Series gamers, as it helps to improve the HDR performance of compatible games, as well as offering a high performance with 4K/120Hz frame rates (where supported) and improved sense of contrast.

We rate this TV very highly as a gaming monitor but it also has a broad range of features for the avid TV and film fan. WebOS supports all the major video streaming apps, while Freeview Play adds the the UK catch-up and on-demand apps to fill out the selection.

The 4K picture is impressively naturalistic, whether we were watching films or playing games, showcasing a good range of colours, as well as excellent levels of sharpness and detail. We measured brightness at around the 750 nit mark, high enough to give a good representation of HDR content and when it comes to upscaling lower quality content the OLED42C2 its pixel density helps smooth over jagged edges and blurriness with 480p content.

When it comes to its audio performance the 42C2 is decent effort but we’d recommend adding a small soundbar to help give it a lift. Bass is punchily described and there’s good levels of detail and sharpness, though with non-Dolby Atmos content we’d opt for the Standard or Cinema modes as the TV can sound sibilant in its AI Sound Pro mode.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: LG OLED42C2

8K OLEDs are as rare as a hen’s tooth, with LG the only TV brand that currently makes screens at that resolution. If you are onboard the 8K train, have deep enough pockets and love the design of LG’s Signature range of products, then the OLED77Z2 is here to fulfil your wishes.

As we hinted at it’s not cheap with an asking price at $9999 / £11,999. At this 77-inch size, watching films and TV is an epic viewing experience. The screen size is, in our opinion, the only way the Z2 is better than OLED65G2 or OLED65C2 we’ve tested as picture quality doesn’t feel a big step from those 4K OLEDs.

Peak brightness is around the same as the LG C2 OLED while sharpness and detail levels are better conveyed on the smaller 65-inch G2 model. Upscaling of lower quality sources doesn’t look like it’s been boosted to 8K as a result, but given the sparsity of genuine 8K content then it’s best to settle for good quality 4K content.

In terms of smarts you’ll find much the same level of features as on the other LG TVs featured on this page, with a wide range of apps to enjoy, plenty of connectivity options and a Gaming Shelf that promotes cloud gaming apps such as Nvidia GeForce NOW.

Speaking of gaming, the OLED77Z2 is well covered with the aforementioned cloud gaming apps, support for Dolby Vision gaming (with Xbox Series consoles) as well as 4K/120Hz, 8K/60Hz, VRR and ALLM supported across all HDMI inputs. We measured input lag at 13.5ms, which is not as fast as the 4K OLEDs but if you’re gaming with a console that supports HDMI VRR, you can expect the levels of latency to drop to very low levels.

The one are we’ve felt disappointed by LG’s OLED has been in the sound department but the Z2 is one of the best we’ve heard from a recent LG TV. It’s sound system is clearer, sharper and produces a solid stereo image that’s especially noticeable when we were playing games such as Gran Turismo 7 on the PS5. Bass is punchy rather than weighty but for a flatscreen TV this is a decent effort, though again you should lay aside some cash to partner the TV with an external sound system.

If 4K simply isn’t enough and you’re after the best picture quality available, the LG 75QNED99 is a stellar choice.

It has an 8K resolution, which is 4x the pixel count of a 4K panel, and whilst there isn’t much in the way of native 8K content at the moment, the motivation for purchasing an 8K TV is down to its powerful upscaling of existing content. We found it worked a treat with the 75QNED99 offering some excellent clarity.

Alongside 8K comes the power of Mini LED backlight technology. This provides more dimming zones for unparalleled contrast from an LCD screen and more precise brightness. It’s not be on par with an OLED screen, but the QNED’s Mini LED screen provides vibrant and rich colours thanks to LG’s NanoCell technology.

There are some handy quality of life features too with regards to the Magic remote which has undergone a redesign. WebOS provides a comprehensive experience for finding content and is useful when searching for a wide variety of media. In addition voice control is effective and LG’s interface recommends content based on your viewing habits which is particularly handy.

Even with HDMI 2.1 support the 75QNED99 isn’t as suited for gamers with no form of variable refresh rate support in sight. There’s no denying this is an expensive display, so it’s only suited for those with money to spare. Nevertheless, LG’s first 8K QNED TV puts the brand’s LCD TVs on the map like never before.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: LG 75QNED99

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