Table of contents for Christmas 2024 in Stuff UK

Hello and welcome to our awards issue! Every Christmas we bring together all our picks from the year in tech. The only requirement is that the products have to have been reviewed during the last 12 months, either here in the magazine or on Stuff.tv. We’ve got more categories than ever this year and you can see all the winners at stuff.tv/awards too. What will win our coveted Gadget of the Year prize? You’ll soon find out… Our array of reviews is particularly stunning this issue: not only do we have one of the first magazine tests of Sony’s mid-life refresh PS5 Pro, but we also have an early review of the new high-end Sonos soundbar, the Arc Ultra. Can the company’s year of app woes be put to bed…

It’s a good job you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, because scrolling through your collection of ebooks on a standard monochrome Kindle’s screen makes everything look about as appealing as reading Boris Johnson’s autobiography (which, fittingly, has a black and white snap of his lying mug on the cover). With its 7in colour screen, the Kindle Colorsoft makes your virtual shelves much nicer to browse, and any pictures or illustrations included between the covers have the necessary hues to paint their proverbial thousand words. You can pinch the display to zoom in, so it’s great for maps and diagrams too; and while the colour parts are rendered at half the 300dpi resolution of the text, the screen promises that easy-on-the-eye nature that makes Kindles so readable.…

£799 (body only)/go.stuff.tv/XM5 The X-M5 makes up-to-date Fujifilm X-Series specs newly affordable… but what are you getting for your money? Fuji wonderland With a price to suit relative noobs, a feature set that’s advanced enough to appeal to experienced shutterbugs and a retro look that will please both, Fujifilm’s X-M5 could be the ideal camera for, well, just about everybody. Weighing just 355g without a lens, this is one seriously lightweight and compact snapper, which means you’re more likely to have it on you when that once-in-a-blue-moon photo moment occurs – and you can capture it beautifully using the 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 APS-C sensor. That’s the same as the one inside the Fujifilm X-S20. Frame it on the Fuji The X-M5 also borrows the bigger camera’s X-Processor 5 imaging…

I cover 20 MotoGP races a year. I’m basically away from home for half of the year working and travelling – that’s the part of my job I find very difficult, particularly since Covid because it all takes so much longer than it used to. If I could teleport so I could just be at the track, that would be perfect! I still love doing my job as much as I did 28 years ago but I really, really detest the travel part. I was genuinely excited to be back with Jason Bradbury all these years on, talking about tech. I left The Gadget Show at the end of 2011 – obviously a really long time ago now – after eight years. I think I was quite lucky in that…

1 DAC to basics DACs convert digital signals into analogue ones, ready to be turned into soundwaves. All modern devices have them built in, but a standalone DAC can bring a big fidelity upgrade. 2 DAC home Battery-powered DACs upgrade your mobile listening, while desktop types are ideal if you like to bask in Cliff Richard in your living room. The latter tend to be bigger but have more features. 3 DAC it up Most DACs also feature built-in headphone amps, meaning they can directly drive your favourite set of cans. But check to be sure, unless you like the sound of silence. 4 Look round the DAC Also check that a DAC has the right ports for your listening setup: most feature a USB-C input, and will output to…

Optoma GT2000HDR What’s the story? Optoma’s GT2000HDR offers a traditional short-throw projector experience. Plonk it on a coffee table and watch it conjure a massive 100in image from just over a metre away. No need to replace any lamps either: this energy-efficient projector uses a laser that yields up to 3500 lumens of brightness, with a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours. Is it any good? Current-gen gamers will grumble about the lack of native 4K, but it can convert down to 1080p@60Hz with a response time of 17ms (or native 1080p@120Hz and 8.6ms), which is decent. Its contrast ratio is impressive, with sumptuous colours and inky blacks on a super-bright screen. The sound lacks bass, but this is a fair-priced compact projector offering great visuals. Price £899/go.stuff.tv/GT2000 Stuff says…

£3999/go.stuff.tv/Philips959 ■ The OLED959 introduces a different design to Philips’ previous big-sounding range-toppers, with the audio system neatly integrated around the screen – a bit more like the company’s mid-range models. The hefty metal stand is similarly minimalist in style. ■ This telly certainly doesn’t scream “I have a massive audio system on board!”, but the 102W 5.1.2 setup by Bowers & Wilkins is hugely powerful and detailed. You’ll repeatedly find yourself stunned that such huge sound can come from a flat-screen TV, especially with Dolby Atmos content. ■ Native 4K images are so detailed they look amazing. Upscaled stuff is less great, but motion is deftly dealt with and watching sport especially is a comfortable experience. The second-gen MLA panel is wonderfully bright. ■ Dolby Vision and HDR10+ Adaptive…

NEW Straight outta testing and into our rankings. BARGAIN BUY A proper steal. Worth owning regardless of cashflow. UPDATE Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten entries. HOW WE RATE Always fair and accurate, our reviews are scored from 1 to 5 and might get one of these awards too: For selected products that are rated with four stars but stand out from the pack. A step up in approval, this can only be awarded to five-star products. Our highest accolade is given out just a few times a year in each key category.…

1 Google Pixel 8a from £499/go.stuff.tv/Pixel8a In recent years, Google’s cheaper ‘a’ models have dominated the mid-range phone market. They’ve delivered outstanding value by including many of the brand’s flagship features (think amazing cameras and slick software) and cutting corners where you’re less likely to notice. And the good news is, that’s still true of the Pixel 8a, which looks and feels almost identical to the full-on Pixel 8 and performs almost as well. It really is astonishing how good the cheaper Google phones are for photography. Stuff says Once again Google proves you don’t need to spend over £500 to get a great phone 2 OnePlus Nord 4 from £479/go.stuff.tv/Nord4 If you don’t want a Pixel 8a with its excellent camera, this is the next best thing. That’s not…

1 Apple Watch SE from £208/go.stuff.tv/AppleWatchSE The SE is easily the best-value Apple Watch. It tracks sleep and all the exercise you need, supports Apple Pay, works great with your iPhone and… what more do most people require? The user experience is broadly identical, and while the screen bezels are a bit larger than on the Series 10 it’s hard to tell them apart without getting right up close. Note also that your SE will now be carbon-neutral if you take it with a Sport Loop (unless you choose one of the fancy multicoloured options). Stuff says Offers most of the full Apple Watch experience for a whole lot less cash 2 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra £578/go.stuff.tv/GWUltra There are no prizes for guessing what inspired the Galaxy Watch Ultra: this…

1 Apple iPad Pro (M4) from £999/go.stuff.tv/iPadProM4 The latest iPad Pro gets incredible power, using a processor that isn’t even in a Mac yet, while being slimmer than before. The performance gains are quite staggering… and the only question is, why has Apple upgraded the Pro quite so much? It offers a level of capability that most people won’t ever need – so this is really a powerhouse for the 1% who edit or design with the stylus. And for them, the talented Pencil Pro is also a serious upgrade on the standard Pencil. Stuff says This really takes iPad power to the next level, even if iPadOS still needs more multitasking clout NEW 2 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra from £1199/go.stuff.tv/TabS10Ultra The Tab S10 Ultra raises the bar for…

1 Sonos Move 2 £399/go.stuff.tv/SonosMove2 The ‘2’ means our favourite speaker is now even better. Sonos has upgraded the Move in the areas that matter most – sound quality and battery life, the latter of which has more than doubled. Our only criticisms are about the high price and the weight – and the Sonos app, which has been a pain for years now. Line-in is also a little bit of a faff with the extra adapter… but if you’re in the market for this excellent box, you’re probably beyond cables. Stuff says  Beefed-up audio and a longer-lasting battery – a winning combo TIPS & TRICKS • You can control your Move 2 with the touch controls on top, the Sonos app or Alexa. • Auto Trueplay adapts the Move 2’s…

1 Amazon Echo (4th Gen) £110/go.stuff.tv/Echo4Gen Having morphed from a cylinder to a sphere, the latest Echo is an excellent newsreader, weather forecaster, personal assistant and intercom straight out of the box; but it’s now also a capable speaker and a very accessible smart home hub. It doesn’t sound as good as the Sonos Era 100 for listening to music, but it’s significantly smarter and considerably cheaper too. Stuff says An all-round upgrade that makes the Echo a smarter speaker than ever TIPS & TRICKS • The Echo’s built-in Zigbee hub can hook up hundreds of smart home devices without a bridge. • Pair a compatible thermostat and the Echo’s temperature sensor can activate the heating. • Alexa Flash Briefings deliver bursts of news or trivia; choose from a wide range…

1 Fujifilm X-T50 £1199/go.stuff.tv/XT50 The X-T50 is a wonderfully compact mirrorless camera with a distinctive top plate covered in control dials – including one dedicated to Fuji’s excellent film simulations. On paper it should deliver identical image quality to the flagship X-T5 – both have the same sensor and image processor after all – and that is absolutely the case: the 40MP sensor captures amazing detail, noise is well maintained as ISO levels creep up, and sharpness is on point across the frame. Stuff says A brilliant camera that puts Fuji’s fine film simulations front and centre TIPS & TRICKS • With film simulations on a dedicated dial now, it’s worth setting a custom button to adjust ISO. • Switch from mechanical to electronic shutter and you can rattle off shots…

Finally, you’re covering the moment when gaming became cool. Cool in a very 1990s way. Being unencumbered by the past meant Sony, a newcomer to the field, could rethink how gaming fitted into people’s lives. Its open approach brought in a steady stream of zeitgeist-snagging hits. Games were infused with banging electronic tunes and peppered with adult themes. For people who’d grown up with games, there was a sense that you no longer had to make excuses for playing them; in fact, it might be something you’d do instead of clubbing. It was certainly cheaper. Ha! Take that, Nintendo and Sega, with your stupid juvenile plumbers and hedgehogs! And they’ve only got themselves to blame. The original version of the PlayStation was conceived as a SNES add-on – and Sony…

RUARK PUTS A NEW SPIN ON ITS ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEMS Ruark has released a USB-powered CD drive for its 100 Series streaming systems. The R-CD100 (£250, ruarkaudio.com) is made with the same walnut-veneered styling, so it’ll go with your R410, R610 or sideboard-like R810. Time to get those shiny discs out of the attic? NINTY’S NEXT HANDHELD PROMISES TO PLAY NICELY Nintendo hasn’t even officially announced its successor to the Switch yet, but company president Shuntaro Furukawa has already confirmed one key feature: it’ll be backwards-compatible with Switch games. A full unveiling is due before the end of March 2025. NOW NETFLIX DOES WANT US TO SHARE THINGS Netflix might have clamped down on password sharing but it’s now added an easy way to share scenes from its shows: ‘Moments’ lets…

PHONE OF THE YEAR APPLE iPHONE 16 We’re still waiting to put its headline innovation, the Apple Intelligence suite of AI tools, to the test. Robo-assisted shopping lists aside, though, there’s more than enough about the iPhone 16 to make it this year’s top phone. While it looks very similar to its last-gen equivalent, it’s improved in several key areas. Battery life is better – enough that we noticed the extra hour or so of use it provides. The biggest glow-up, however, is the camera: it now has a 2x telephoto zoom mode, while the new Camera Control hardware button makes opening and using this iPhone’s snapping app a more slick and user-friendly process. Last time around, we’d have recommended the Pro model as the go-to choice for anyone buying…

THE BASICS Feel the vibe Bluesky might look like other social networks, but it has its own vibe. There’s no algorithm to fight, so post less rather than spamming people’s feeds. And don’t feed the trolls – mute and move on. Don’t expect brands either. So you won’t get to chat with KFC, but you might spark up a friendship with your favourite author. Set things up Even if your plan is to lurk and read rather than interact, fill in your profile. Blank profiles are suspicious – at least add an avatar and a description. Any links you put in the latter will be clickable on the live profile. You can pin any post to your profile too, but you’ll have to write one first… Write your first post…

from £290/go.stuff.tv/Quest3S DAY 01 On price alone, the Meta Quest 3S looks hard to fault. You’re getting the same internals, same clever controllers and same colour passthrough cameras as the full Quest 3, just with last-gen optics. As compromises go, that sounds like a fair trade. There’s no obvious giveaway that Meta has skimped on styling or materials as I lift the headset from its box. The inside-out tracking cameras make it look a little more insect-like than its bigger brother, but it’s only a little chunkier – and crucially, no heavier. The elasticated head-strap takes just as much fiddling to find the perfect fit, and there’s again nothing you can do to offset the front-heavy design. Rivals do a better job at distributing weight around your head. Meta’s optional…

NEW 1 Apple iPhone 16 from £799/go.stuff.tv/iPhone16 This year’s iPhone Pro lineup is a mighty fine selection to choose from (see the 16 Pro at No6 on this list), but it’s the standard model that does more to impress. The camera control button and the 2x telephoto zoom are great to have in particular, while the battery life is excellent. The 6.1in OLED screen’s refresh rate is fixed at 60Hz, which is a bit disappointing, but Apple clearly believes most people don’t care about that. Stuff says A pleasing update that’s much more appealing than spending more to go Pro TIPS & TRICKS • Flick upwards in Control Centre to see the new layout; tap-hold and you can rearrange controls. • Lightly press the camera control button twice to change…

1 Sony WF-1000XM5 £193/go.stuff.tv/WFXM5 The WF-1000XM5 in-ears are significantly smaller than the XM4s, which were already a lot more compact than their predecessors. And yet Sony has still squeezed even larger drivers inside each earbud, along with the firm’s best active noise-cancelling yet. The feature list is as extensive as ever, and they’re priced to compete with Bose’s best. Add in decent battery life and a strong app, and you won’t find anything more well-rounded for less. Stuff says Excellent noise-cancellation, a comfy fit and simply stellar audio TIPS & TRICKS • Sony’s eartips are great, as long as you use the right size. Be sure to try all four included in the box. • 360 Reality Audio upmixing can add a sense of space to tunes, but not every…

1 Garmin Edge 1040 Solar £580/go.stuff.tv/EdgeSolar Ideal for multi-day adventures and training camps, the Edge 1040 Solar harnesses the sun’s power for a massive 45hrs of riding time on one charge. It has all the mapping, navigation and training firepower you’ll ever need, including accuracy-boosting dual-band GPS, best-in-class route planning and detailed training insights via Garmin Connect. The screen could be brighter, but we love the custom ride profiles that make it easy to exploit all that performance data. Stuff says A do-it-all beast of a bike computer with unrivalled battery life, reliable GPS and useful training smarts 2 JLab JBuds Air Sport £70/go.stuff.tv/JBudsAirSport The third-gen JBuds Air Sport seriously flex JLab’s value muscle: with a solid earhook fit, custom EQ, an ambient awareness mode plus rapid charging and Tile…

1 Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max £1599/go.stuff.tv/AmbeoMax Utterly convincing Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D sound, ample power and lots of inputs mean no other soundbar currently available can perform sonic feats with the solidity and confidence of this Sennheiser. The sheer room-filling scale of its sound is remarkable – and the more affordable (but still hugely powerful) Plus version is also worth a look. Stuff says The Ambeo Soundbar Max is a big unit but the sound it makes is bigger still 2 Sonos Arc £699/go.stuff.tv/Arc Don’t expect this soundbar to do everything a multi-speaker Dolby Atmos setup can do, but its up-firing and side-firing drivers give a real sense of cinematic scale. There’s also a much more affordable Ray model. Stuff says Big-screen sound for your big-screen binges BARGAIN BUY…

There are about eight billion people who know what the Moon looks like from Earth, but only four still alive who have seen what Earth looks like from the surface of the Moon. You’ve probably got a better chance of becoming the fifth than bumping into a member of that quartet in Aldi and asking them to describe it, but buying this watch saves you going into either space or your local bargain supermarket. The unique sub-dial at the 10 o’clock position depicts the current ‘Earth phase’, complete with land masses, oceans and clouds, with a special treatment that makes the blue of the water react to UV light. On the opposite side of the face you get one showing the Moon phase, but here’s where things get poetic: the…

£3249/go.stuff.tv/Horizon Ever feel like you’re being watched? That’s just latent guilt over the amount of time you spend watching Homes Under the Hammer in your pants, but there’s no denying there’s something very eye-like about this wireless speaker. The Horizon’s pupil is actually a 6.5in subwoofer, and around the retina are three 2in full-range drivers and a pair of 1in tweeters, all covered by a fabric that’s available in three colours: midnight sky, moon ray and Marantz champagne (black, white and beige). It sits on a marble stand to stop it rolling away, but if you fork out an extra £649 there’s also a matching tripod. Blimey, not cheap, is it? If you looked at this and assumed it would go easy on your wallet, you obviously haven’t been reading…

£N/A (concept)/renault.co.uk What a lovely shade of green. It’s green alright – in both senses. Lowering the car world’s carbon footprint will take more than just swapping from petrol to plug-ins, so Renault has a plan to lower emissions across the lifetime of its Embleme concept, from materials to manufacture… aided by a hybrid hydrogen powertrain. Is it made of recycled bottles and fishing nets, then? Not quite: a mix of low-carbon steel, aluminium and plastic. Its batteries will use sustainably extracted nickel too. That means the final road car could create just five tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime – a fifth of what today’s Megane E-Tech SUV makes. Bet it’s heavy, though… Having hydrogen on board means the Embleme can use a 40kWh battery – half the size…

BUDGET BOOSTERS The pretend player FiiO KA15 Recording Spotify tracks onto tape is one kind of analogue conversion. Want the cassette aesthetic without the hiss and distortion? Styled like an old Walkman, the KA15 is very much a modern DAC, and USB-C connectivity means you can hook up a host of 21st-century devices. £100/fiio.com The everyday enhancer iFi Uno Easier to understand than the card game, this Uno is a palm-sized DAC that makes sweeter streams a cinch. It promises a clear, distortion-free listen, via either RCA or its amplified 3.5mm output, while music, movie and game modes subtly tweak its output to suit the source material. £79/ifi-audio.com The in-line improver Helm Audio Bolt DACs don’t get dinkier than this plug-in baby. Attach it to a spare USB-C port and…

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NEW 1 Honor Magic V3 £1695/go.stuff.tv/MagicV3 The Magic V3 is the first foldable we’ve used that’s like having a normal phone in your pocket – and that feels like a big deal. It’s almost unbelievably thin and seems superbly made. There are still some areas that could be improved, most obviously the limited multitasking powers; but along with its superb main camera and all-day battery life (further enhanced by wireless charging), the V3’s real achievement is that it makes carrying a foldable phone feel normal. Stuff says A major step up from the previous model, the Magic V3 will change how you think about foldable phones 2 OnePlus Open £1299/go.stuff.tv/Open The Open’s camera system is the best of any folding phone, taking impressive photos in all conditions. Neither of the…