Hands-on archive
Mini Countryman S 2017 first drive: Mighty improvements for the massive Mini?
Do you remember the exact moment that every manufacturer scrambled to add a high-riding SUV to their line-up? It was around the time the Nissan Qashqai started to become a runaway sales success and as a result, all sorts of bizarre shapes started to appear... >>
Meizu Pro 6 Plus preview: The true flagship alternative from China
You often hear the age-old rhetoric that China is taking over the world, and nowhere is that more clear than in the smartphone market. Companies like Huawei, Oppo and Vivo are now in the top five global smartphone vendors.One company you may not be aware... >>
BeatMoovz preview: The crazy wearable that adds a soundtrack to your life
Character Options might have stolen the London Toy Fair, at least where adults are concerned. It demonstrated a wearable wristband that prompts special effect noise and/or music as you move.The bands, which cost £49.99 for a pair and will be available... >>
Fujifilm X-T20 preview: The retro touch
When we reviewed the Fujifilm X-T10 compact system camera, we felt that its retro style was just right. Now Fuji has introduced the X-T20 which maintains that touch of retro appeal - and you can take that "touch" aspect literally, thanks to the addition... >>
Leica M10 preview: The rangefinder refined
Leica doesn't do things like other camera makers. The German brand has a cult-like following of photographers who appreciate the brand's unflinching craftsmanship and pinnacle lens quality.The champion Leica has always been its full-frame M-series rangefinder.... >>
Fujifilm GFX 50S preview: Medium format made easy
When Fujifilm announced at Photokina 2016 it was to launch a mirrorless medium format camera - that is, a camera with a sensor larger than even a pro-spec DSLR - there was explosive excitement.The company hasn't been mucking around either, for the GFX... >>
Fujifilm X100F preview: Fixed-lens finery
If there's one high-end fixed-lens camera that gets people excited, it's the Fuji X100 series.Now in its fourth-generation form, the X100F has the core make-up that made its predecessors such successes, but has a revamped layout and enhanced autofocus... >>
Wileyfox Swift 2 X preview: Cyanora custom software
The British company surprised the smartphone market in 2015, releasing two phones which boasted impressive specs and performance at a very affordable price. In many ways, the two first Wileyfox phones were essentially the Britain's answer to the OnePlus... >>
New Nvidia Shield Android TV preview: Smaller, more capable 4K HDR video streamer
We've been huge supporters of the original Nvidia Shield TV since it launched in the UK at the tail end of 2015. It has been the most powerful and capable media streamer on the market for a good 15 months or so.But now a new version is available, priced... >>
Nissan Micra (2017) first drive: Same name, different personality
Nissan's Micra has been around for decades. Since 1983 in fact, selling over 3.5million in Europe alone during its lifetime. It's a car everyone has heard of, even if not for all the best reasons.Despite its popularity, the Micra hasn't ever been the... >>
Super Bomberman R preview: A sparkling retro gem for the Nintendo Switch
As classic multiplayer games go, few can match the might of Bomberman. Way back when it was the ultimate way to get your mates around and strategically blast them into oblivion. In, you know, a fun and friendly kind of way.The premise of any Bomberman... >>
Nintendo Switch preview: Return of the king?
We are finally privy to all the details, price and release date of the Nintendo Switch. And we have also finally got our hands on it and it's good, it's very good.There are some caveats, but it looks like Nintendo could relegate the horrific failure... >>
Zelda Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch preview: Prepare to lose your breath
We first played Zelda: Breath of the Wild in among the halls of the E3 gaming expo in summer 2016. But despite the hugely impressive space dedicated to the game at that show - an escape from the bustle outside, with its own real grass and trees, a day-to-night... >>
Samsung Family Hub 2.0 refrigerator preview: Spotify and sausages
Samsung revealed its new Family Hub refrigerator line-up immediately prior to CES but we got to see one of them in the flesh at the company's main press conference.The concept is similar if not identical to last year's CES sensation, but there are a few... >>
HTC U Play preview: Mid-range specs, but plenty bling
HTC has made an early move on its 2017 updates, launching a new set of devices under the U name. The U Play is the smaller of the pair, sitting in the shadow of the larger U Ultra, but offering a similar design and build.The U aspect is easily explained... >>
HTC U Ultra preview: Premium phablet packed with power
HTC has made the unusual move of announcing a new family of devices, carrying the name U. The logic is simple enough to follow, they are designed to be all about you and advance the connection between you and your device, for a more symbiotic relationship. It's... >>
Dell XPS 27 (2017) preview: Audiophiles, this 4K touchscreen AIO is for you
Not everybody wants a laptop, especially people who are audiophiles and desire more than tiny speakers crammed into a slim form factor.But that doesn't mean they want a tower setup either. For those type of niche people, Dell has something new: the 2017... >>
Sony HT-ST5000 Dolby Atmos soundbar preview: 7.1.2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect
Sony was one of the manufacturers at this year's CES to throw its weight behind Dolby Atmos, the audio format with extra height channels to create a more immersive bubble of sound.The Sony HT-ST5000 soundbar, which perfectly matches the company's Dolby... >>
LG SJ9 Dolby Atmos soundbar preview: Extended home cinema without the clutter
There were plenty of soundbars launched at CES in January, with 2017 looking like the year that Dolby Atmos properly takes off in the home.Sony and Samsung are both investing heavily in Dolby Atmos kit, while LG is really going to town with the technology.... >>
Garmin Fenix 5 preview: Mapping muscle added to outdoor adventurers' dream smartwatch
Garmin has long been known as king of the hardcore outdoor smartwatch. And in the Fenix 5 - which, in 5X form only, adds mapping that the earlier Fenix 3 lacked - it's giving customers more choice: with the standard size 5, smaller 5S and beast of the... >>
Misfit Vapor preview: Designer touchscreen watch in a waterproof package
Misfit has unveiled a designer touchscreen smartwatch with a round screen and waterproofing. But, best of all, it doesn't have a "flat tyre".The Fossil Group-owned company, which is known for making low-power wearables, showed off Vapor at this year's... >>
Timex IQ+ Move preview: Mensa about motion
When it comes to fitness trackers there are shed loads on the market. A bunch of them are plasticky wrist-worn bands that, well, don't look all that. Not so the Timex IQ+ Move: this is one elegant looking proper watch.The concept is simple: take a well-made,... >>
HP EliteBook x360 preview: Thin with all the win
At CES 2017 - the world's largest technology show - there were a lot of top-notch laptops on display. And one of the most notable was the HP EliteBook x360: the world's thinnest 13-inch convertible laptop.Now that's particularly relevant, given that Dell... >>
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 preview: The convertible king?
It's not the first time that Dell has released a convertible-style XPS laptop device - there were models in which the screen rotated within a frame - but it is the first time the company has released one with such tiny, tiny bezels. Say hello to the Dell... >>
Ring Floodlight Cam preview: Smart, bright security system to scare intruders away
Ring has had great success with its camera-enabled doorbell over the last year, so much so that it is expanding its product portfolio to now include a clever security cam and spotlight system that will hopefully keep intruders away.The Ring Floodlight... >>