How to choose the best outdoor projector screen for 2025
Do movie nights right with one of our recommendations for the best outdoor projector screens to buy in 2025.
Are you dreaming of warm summer evenings with BBQs, sports events and maybe even an outdoor cinema or two? Us too. So make sure you're ready when the warm weather rolls around, armed with your outdoor projector and the best possible screen. While it may be tempting to use the garage wall or a white sheet, these are unlikely to result in great picture quality. After all, walls are rarely white enough, and that sheet will probably have creases in it that will quickly become a distraction. Luckily, there are a wide variety of outdoor screens available to suit every budget – but hold on before buying the first one you see online. It may seem like a simple decision, but there are a few things to consider before making that purchase. Some screens will come with a stand, while others will have to be mounted to a wall. There are also differences when compared to shopping for an indoor home cinema screen – this one needs to be portable, a suitable size, easy to set up and wind-resistant. So if you have splashed the cash for a new projector, perhaps after reading our best outdoor projector to buy guide and are hunting for the best screen to use, here’s what you need to consider – and some screen recommendations based on those factors. Looking for a saving? Here's the best laptop deals and best Nintendo Switch offers. Best outdoor projector screen to buy at a glance: Great for beginners: Vida XL 100-inch projector screen, £30.99 Great for anyone on a budget: Mebios 100-inch, Portable Projector Screen, £20.99 Great for limited space: OPTOMA 46-inch Portable Projector Screen, £199 Great for sturdiness: Skerell projector screen with stand, £50.99 Great for frequent use: PropVue Projector Screen with Stand 84 inch, £144.99 Great for performance: Vamvo projector screen with stand, £139.99 Great for large gatherings: Inflatable projector screen (20 ft), £151.70 Jump to: How to choose the best outdoor projector screen Which outdoor projector screen should you buy? Best outdoor projector screen to buy in 2025 How to choose the best outdoor projector screen Screen size When browsing online for a new outdoor projector screen, its size will likely be the first major decision to make. The most popular sizes are typically between 100 and 120 inches diagonally – measured from the top left to the bottom right corner. Watch out as some listings may show the dimensions as the horizontal size instead. It’s important to make sure that your projector can actually output the correct image size and don’t immediately opt for the biggest screen you find. If your screen is massive, but the projector can only output up to 80-inches, you will find that the picture quality becomes extremely poor if you try and fill the entire screen. It’s not just specs, though, as you should also consider your physical space. Is your back garden massive? Great, 120-inches it is. But if you are more limited in where you can put the screen, you will need to look for a smaller model that will fit comfortably and still leave room for any guests to actually see the projection. Aspect ratio The second thing to consider is the aspect ratio – which is the ratio of an image's width compared to its height. While it may sound complex, in reality, you will likely want to stick with 16:9, as that’s the broad standard for HD content these days. However, if you are solely buying the projector for hi-resolution movie-watching, you can always consider a widescreen screen ratio of 2.35:1, which is what the majority of blu-rays will be using. Just make sure your projector can output that ratio. Gain rating While it’s not always listed for outdoor projector screens – which are often not as tech-savvy as their home theatre counterparts – gain is a measurement used to describe how reflective the screen is. Broadly, a gain rating of 1.0 is standard. What that means is the screen is able to accurately reflect light from the projector without ruining the brightness of the picture. A gain rating of more than 1.0 suggests the projector provides solid screen brightness, less than 1.0 means the image won’t be as bright. In general, aim for a gain rating of at least 1.0 if possible. Portability It goes without saying, if you are using a projector screen outdoors or on camping trips; portability is a major factor in your buying decision. Many of the screens on Amazon will come with a carry case and can easily be disassembled – great for storing the screen away when the weather is rubbish or if it needs to be transported in a car. Stability Weather is pretty unpredictable sometimes in the UK – and wind could be an issue if you are using a projector screen outdoors. That’s why it’s best to consider what materials are used to build the stand or how sturdy the wall-mounted hooks are. In this case, having a screen that weighs a little more may actually be a plus. Material and colour Projector screens will come in a variety of colours and finishes. For the best results outdoors, regardless of the material, you should stick to a white finish – this will be best at light reflection, colour accuracy and viewing angles. Some screens can be washed with soap and water or smoothed out with a low-temperature iron. Which outdoor projector screen should you buy? While it may not be as complicated as deciding which projector to buy, choosing a screen to pair it with isn’t as straightforward as you may initially assume. If you don’t already have a projector, we thought that the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro and the Samsung Freestyle were two great starting points for outdoor use. We have scoured through multiple retailers and can make some recommendations for a number of screens that will work well outside. The projector screens chosen are a variety of different styles and screen sizes – with options for every budget. Best outdoor projector screen to buy in 2025 Vamvo projector screen with stand Great for performance This 16:9 projector screen from Vamvo has two variants: 100 inches and 120 inches. The overall design uses a pipe frame assisted by ropes that can be pinned down at both sides to protect it from gusts of wind. There are two tripod feet at each bottom corner, and the frame is collapsible – making it a great option for garden parties. The screen colour is white, with a 160 degree viewing angle. Buy Vamvo projector screen with stand for £94.99 at Amazon Latest Deals Skerell projector screen with stand Great for sturdiness Similar in design to the Vamvo model is this screen from Skerell, which may be an even better option if you need maximum stability. The frame is constructed using aluminium tubes, stainless steel ground stakes and can be set up in minutes. It has a 100-inch screen size, a 16:9 aspect ratio and claims to have a 1.5 gain ratio. Buy Skerell projector screen with stand for £59.99 at Amazon Latest Deals PropVue Projector Screen with Stand 84 inch Great for frequent use This 84-inch screen is perfect for reusability, as it can simply be rolled up and rolled down at ease. The screen has a stable tripod stand with wide legs and easy height adjustment, which means it's very adaptable. Plus, it has a 16:9 HD projection screen with wrinkle-free matte material. Buy PropVue Projector Screen with Stand 84 inch for £144.99 at Amazon undefined Inflatable projector screen (20 ft) Great for large gatherings For something completely different, check out this large inflatable screen. It’s a little more expensive than some of the others on this list, but if size is your main priority, it could be perfect. The screen size is 240-inches, with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and it comes bundled with an inflation fan, ropes and ground stakes. The white screen is fixed using Velcro and can even be cleaned in a washing machine. This is a great option for outdoor weddings, parties or events with a larger number of guests. Buy Inflatable projector screen (20 ft) for £154.70 at Amazon Latest Deals Vida XL 100-inch projector screen Great for beginners A more affordable option is this wall-mountable projector screen from Vida XL, which has a 100-inch screen size, a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio and comes bundled with hanging hooks. It will likely take a little longer to set up than the screens with built-in stands – less portable as a result – but will be suited for projection beginners or anyone who needs a screen stuck to the side of a fence or garage wall. Buy Vida XL 100-inch projector screen for £39.99 at VidaXL Mebios 100-inch, Portable Projector Screen Great for anyone on a budget This wall-mountable projector screen from Mebios is an even more affordable option that comes in 100-inches. It's not as portable as models with a stand but does come with hanging holes around the frame, sticky hooks and ropes. The screen itself is made from polyester and can be cleaned either by hand or in a washing machine. It won’t be the most high-quality, but it's still likely to be much better than a wall. Buy Mebios 100-inch Portable Projector Screen for £21.99 at Amazon undefined OPTOMA 46-inch Portable Projector Screen Great for limited space If you don't have the space for a 100-inch screen, try this diminutive 46-inch screen from Currys. It comes in a 16:9 ratio and is easily portable for use at home or on the go. Buy OPTOMA 46-inch Portable Projector Screen for £149 at Currys undefined Shopping for a TV instead of a projector? Take a look at our best smart TV guide and top Samsung QLED TV offers. For present ideas, check out our tech gifts guide.
Amazon Kids+ is a great way to keep your kids entertained. Here's everything you need to know.
Amazon Kids+ is a great way to turn any Amazon tablet or smart speaker into an entertainment hub that's perfect for your child. Our complete guide tells you everything you need to know about Kids+ subscriptions. First off, it's affordable. It starts at £3.99 but you have to be a member of Amazon Prime, which means you'll have to pay £8.99 a month after a 30-day free trial. Signing up to this £3.99 tier opens up access to thousands of books, learning apps, games, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, ad-free radio stations and more. Parents who picked up an Echo Dot Kids smart speaker when it launched on the 21st July 2021 may be especially interested in Amazon Kids+ on Alexa, a new service that’s set to introduce voice-activated child-friendly content. So, whether it’s keeping your child occupied with a new game, listening to a narrated book before bed or asking questions about school subjects, a Kids+ subscription has you covered. Here’s what you need to know about how it works. Here at RadioTimes.com, we have tested a wide variety of Amazon’s speakers and tablets, including the devices geared towards the younger audience. Get one month Amazon Kids+ free trial Is your little one a bookworm? Then they might enjoy a Kindle! We have the best Kindle deals which are updated each month. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website What is Amazon Kids+? Amazon Kids+ is a paid subscription service that gives unlimited access to a slew of content specifically made for children, including books, videos, apps, audiobooks, and educational material, and is sorted by three age groups: 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. It also gives parents a special dashboard to control what content their child is able to see and access. Parents are able to set screen time limits, filter out any content that is not age appropriate and review activity that’s recorded on the account – so there’s no chance of a child browsing social media without your consent. Essentially, it adds a vast library of content on top of the free Amazon Kids service, which offers several basic child-friendly controls to your tablet or phone – including screen time limits, the ability to block websites and make announcements to Echo devices. This base service does not have access to the premium content. In the free service, some apps may contain ads, but Amazon Kids+ offers a totally ad-free experience. The free service has in-app purchases blocked by default, while in the Amazon Kids+ membership, parents have more flexibility to allow purchases. In both options, the parents can create profiles for up to four children. Amazon Kids+ on Alexa adds even more into the subscription, providing access to Alexa-specific content including more than 170 Audible books, premium skill apps including Numberblocks, and wake up alerts from some popular fictional characters. There is also a free version called Amazon Kids on Alexa that brings some voice control features and parental controls to Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Plus devices but – much like Kids vs Kids+ – totally lacks the premium paid content for children. Get one month Amazon Kids+ free trial Have you heard of Loop Earplugs? The viral noise-quietening earplugs have a version for kids. Check them out in our Loop Earplugs review. How to sign up to Amazon Kids+ Amazon makes it easy to sign up to Amazon Kids+, and there are discounts available if you are already a member of its Prime subscription service. Some plans even come with a free trial, with the charges not starting until that has expired. These are the Amazon Kids+ plans currently available: Monthly plan: Amazon describes this as its most popular plan. It costs £3.99 per month if you're a Prime member and £6.99 per month if you're not. This plan includes a one-month free trial. Start your 30-day free Amazon Prime trial One year plan: A full year of Kids+ costs £38 for Prime members and £68 for non-Prime members. It gives you unlimited access for up to four children. There’s no free trial included. Any customers who already subscribe to Amazon Kids+ on their Fire Kids Tablets or compatible devices will be able to upgrade to Amazon Kids+ on Alexa for free. Get one month Amazon Kids+ free trial What devices are compatible with Amazon Kids+? All Amazon Fire tablets Fire TV Kindle e-readers Android phones and tablets iOS phones and tablets Chrome OS Chromebooks and tablets All Amazon Fire tablets for children: best deals available today Fire 7 Kids (Ages 3-7) | £114.99 £64.99 (save £50 or 43%) Fire HD 8 Kids (Ages 3-7) | £149.99 £84.99 (save £65 or 43%) Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (Ages 6-12) | £149.99 £84.99 (save £65 or 43%) Fire HD 10 Kids (Ages 3–7) | £199.99 £139.99 (save £60 or 30%) Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (Ages 6-12) | £199.99 Get one month Amazon Kids+ free trial View Affiliate Playlist on the source website For the latest news and reviews check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. We've got guides to the new Amazon Prime Video price guide, plus the best laptop deals. For even more on Amazon, take a look at our what is an Amazon Fire TV Stick? guide.
Best Super Mario gifts and merchandise to buy for all ages in 2024
The perfect picks for fans of Nintendo's moustachioed plumber mascot, including LEGO sets, clothing and family board games.
What better way to show someone you love them than with a Super Mario gift? A piece of merchandise based on Nintendo's famous moustachioed mascot should be a sure-fire win with nearly everyone, young and old. While there are plenty of other gaming gifts out there, you can't go wrong with Mario. You'll find Super Mario-themed plushies, toys, LEGO sets, and more. With such a rich history and several decades' worth of games to use, it can be tricky knowing where to start with Super Mario merch. That's where we come in. We've plumbed the depths of the internet retailers to find the best Super Mario gifts and merchandise for all ages and all price points so you don't have to. Head down the warp pipe below to discover what we think the best Super Mario merch is and make someone's day. Let's-a go! Looking for some more gifts for the gamer in your life? Check out our roundup of the best Minecraft LEGO sets, as well as our ranking of the best LEGO games. Super Mario gifts at a glance Here is our selection of the top Super Mario gifts you can buy in 2024: LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser, £229.99 £160.99 (save £69 or 30%) Nintendo Switch Wireless Controller - Princess Peach Plaid, £54.99 £31.49 (save £23.50 or 30%) Nintendo 23cm Plush Mario, £7 Mario + Luigi + Princess Peach Soft Toy Bundle, £40.99 £28.69 (save £12.30 or 30%) Super Mario Stationery Set, £16.25 Hot Wheels Mario Kart Vehicle 4-Pack, £73.16 Monopoly Super Mario Celebration Edition, £34.99 £24.99 (save £10 or 14%) LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System, £229.99 Super Mario LEGO Adventures Starter Course, £55 £44 (save £11 or 20%) Adventures with Luigi Starter Course, £54.99 LEGO Adventures With Peach Starter Course, £54.99 Reckon you're a Mario master? Try our quiz below! View Riddle on the source website Best Super Mario gifts to buy in 2024 LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser Who isn't a fan of receiving a LEGO set? While there are plenty of LEGO Super Mario sets out there, this one is truly unmissable, not least of all because of the hefty discount applied for Nintendo's special MAR10 celebration. It's a 2,807-piece set and you can even pose the finished figurine, as well as open and close his mouth. Buy LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser for £229.99 £160.99 (save £69 or 30%)at My Nintendo Store Nintendo Switch Wireless Controller - Princess Peach Plaid This pretty-in-pink Nintendo Switch controller is fit for a princess, and it's the perfect way to add a pop of colour to your gaming setup. The plaid wireless controller works with Bluetooth 5.0 technology, has two mappable advanced gaming buttons, up to 30-hours gameplay per charge and a three-metre long USB-C charging cable so you can still play while charging. Buy Nintendo Switch Wireless Controller - Princess Peach Plaid for £54.99 £31.49 (save £23.50 or 30%) at My Nintendo Store Nintendo 22.8cm Plush Mario This Mario Plush will make a great gift for kids. Standing at 22.8cm, it is a soft-touch recreation of the game character that's suitable for ages three and over. Other characters – Fire Mario, Luigi, Goomba, Boo and Bullet Bill – are also available. Buy Nintendo 22.8cm Plush Mario for £7 at Smyth's Toys Mario + Luigi + Princess Peach Soft Toy Bundle If you're after more cuddly toys, check out this Mario, Luigi and Peach bundle that has been reduced as part of the MAR10 celebration deals. There's a huge 30 per cent discount right now, so there's never been a better time to bag some new plushies. Buy Mario + Luigi + Princess Peach Soft Toy Bundle for £40.99 £28.69 (save £12.30 or 30%) at My Nintendo Store Super Mario Stationery Set Does your child want Mario-themed stationary for school or artistic projects at home? This stationary set includes a selection supplies, including a pencil case with Mario, Luigi and Mini mushroom. There is also an A5 notebook, A6 notebook, alongside a PVC pencil case, ruler, HB pencil, colouring pencils, eraser and sharpener. Buy Super Mario Stationery Set for £16.25 at Amazon Hot Wheels Mario Kart Vehicle 4-Pack Suitable for ages three and up, this official Hot Wheels set lets you recreate races from the game Mario Kart. This collection features four 1:64 scale die-cast vehicles driven by the fan-favourites Princess Peach, Super Mario, Luigi and Rosalina. Buy Hot Wheels Mario Kart 4-Pack for £73.16 at Amazon Monopoly Mario Celebration Edition This official Monopoly set is a version that will appeal to all Mario fans, with Toad houses and Princess Peach castles replacing houses and hotels. Board spaces include locations such as Yoshi's Island, Forest of Illusion and New Donk City. Buy Monopoly Mario Celebration Edition for £34.99 £24.99 (save £10 or 14%) at Amazon LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System Let the pure nostalgia flow with this 2,646-piece LEGO buildable version of the NES gaming console, complete with an opening slot for the Game Pak and a controller with a connecting cable and plug. Turning the handle on the retro TV move an 8-bit Mario across the screen. This one is pricey, and only for those aged 18 and up. Buy LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) for £229.99 at Lego Mario LEGO Adventures Starter Course Suitable for ages six and up, this interactive LEGO set lets children recreate a level from the games, featuring a battery-powered character that uses LCD screens to display more than 100 different reactions to movement across the course. Buy Mario LEGO Adventures Starter Course for £55 £44 (save £11 or 20%) at Argos Adventures with Luigi Starter Course Suitable for ages six and up, the 280-piece interactive set comes with a Luigi figure showing reactions via LCD screens and a speaker. It can be paired with the Mario starter course, and building instructions can be found via a Super Mario app. Buy the Adventures with Luigi Starter Course for £54.99 at LEGO LEGO Adventures With Peach Starter Course This set, complete with a fun interactive Peach figure, is a great way to introduce children to the world of Super Mario. Peach can show her reactions via LCD screens and a speakers, as well as interact with other special figures via Bluetooth, showing kids a totally new way to play. Buy LEGO Adventures With Peach Starter Course for £54.99 at LEGO Need more gift ideas? Be sure to take a look at our picks of the best Marvel gifts, the best Encanto merchandise and some top tech gifts. For more gaming gifts, try our best PC games and best LEGO games recommendations. Hungry for more gaming? Visit our video game release schedule, or swing by our hubs for more Gaming and Technology news. Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
The mid-range smartphone market is more jam-packed than ever with great offerings. Here are our favourites.
Looking for a new phone but don't want to break the bank? Some of these mid-range options offer huge feature sets without those top-bracket flagship prices, such as the Google Pixel 8 and iPhone 15. It's a great time to buy a mid-range phone. There are impressive options out there from Google, Apple, Oppo, and more top brands. Plus, they're starting to offer the sort of tech that used to be reserved for big-hitting flagships. Also, right now, there are some pretty great spring sales happening, which means that if you keep an eye out you can find some mid-range phones for a budget price. For instance, the standard of the cameras on mid-range phones are incredibly impressive. The Oppo Reno 8 Pro fell down slightly on its secondary lenses, but its main camera and selfie camera really shone, making use of MariSilicon X image processing technology that makes photography easy. Elsewhere, we loved the simple, affordable and infinitely usable Google Pixel 6a. It comes in a small, compact and affordable package, with an RRP of £399, and offers more than most phones at the same price. As ever, with mid-range phones the phone will likely fall a little shorter on certain features and that's how the brand achieves that price-tag, rather than just making another flagship. As a result, it pays to re-examine your own personal preferences and priorities in a phone before buying a new mid-ranger. Only you know how much flexibility you have in terms of budget, as well as what you're most likely to use your phone for. There's no exact science to where the budget, mid-range and premium — or 'flagship' — categories begin and end. This varies from publication to publication and from brand to brand. In our case, we've chosen to define a budget smartphone as anything under £300, a mid-range smartphone as anything between £300 and £600, and a premium smartphone as anything above £600. Of these premium smartphones, only some of them are actually regarded as flagships. A flagship is a phone that leads a whole brand's offering, or at least one of their most premium lines. The term is a naval one as, historically, the flagship in a navy would be the largest, most valuable ship with the most firepower. Read on for our full round-up of the very best mid-range smartphones on the market today. There are some great value offerings in this list that our experts have loved testing. Looking for a more affordable phone? Take a look at the best budget smartphones to buy in 2024, as well as the best smartphones for older people. For the latest deals on the newest mid-range phones, then check up our roundup of the best Pixel 9a deals. Jump to: Best mid-range phones a glance The best mid-range phones to buy in 2024 How to choose the best mid-range phone Best mid-range phones at a glance: Best all-rounder: Google Pixel 7a, £399 Best premium mid-range: Nothing Phone (2), £399 Best for iOS: Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen), £429 Best budget mid-range: Honor Magic 5 Lite, £199.99 Best mid-range display: Motorola Moto G82 | £249.99 £199.99 (save £50 or 20%) Best small mid-range phone: Google Pixel 6a, £266 Best for fast charging: Xiaomi 12 | £451.27 Best mid-range performance: Motorola Edge 40 | £299.99 £249.99 (save £50 or 17%) Have a specific brand in mind? Take a look at the full list of Samsung Galaxy phones, our guide to the best Honor phones, best Oppo phones and our recommendations of the best Motorola phone. Best mid-range phones to buy in 2024 Google Pixel 7a Best all-rounder Pros Amazing camera Speedy new processor Brilliant value Google software and Google hardware combine with great results Slick interface and user experience Accessible and easy to use Cons Display only 90Hz No optical zoom Unremarkable fast-charging Key features: Google Tensor G2 chip Android 13 IP68 dust and water resistant 8GB RAM 6.1 inch AMOLED display The Google Pixel 7a is a hugely impressive smartphone. It competes with handsets that cost much more thanks to Google's intelligent AI. That AI makes for a speedy, intuitive user experience and offers amazing image processing. If photography is your thing, then you're in luck; the phone boasts an easy-to-use camera perfect for capturing amazing images. It also offers one of the slickest, smoothest user experiences out there by combining Google software with Google hardware. Buy the Google Pixel 7a: Google Pixel 7a | £399 at John Lewis Google Pixel 7a | £399 at Argos Google Pixel 7a | from £24.99 a month at Carphone Warehouse As a result, the 50MP main camera on the Pixel 7a competes with some of the best offerings out there. The standard phone lacks an optical zoom though, offering only a super res zoom. If zoom photography is your main priority, then you'll have to go slightly more up-market. Consider a premium option like the Pixel 8 or the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. If you're looking for something a bit more budget-friendly, there's also the Pixel 6. Following the release of the Pixel 7, Pixel 7a and Pixel 8 it's increasingly being discounted, as you'd expect. Check out the latest prices below. Buy the Google Pixel 6: Google Pixel 6 | £224.95 at Amazon Latest Prices Nothing Phone (2) Best premium mid-ranger Pros Adaptive refresh rate 45W charging speed Excellent battery life Up to four years of updates of Nothing OS High-quality cameras Cons Doesn't come with charger, only a USB-C cable Doesn't support high frame rate gaming Not water-resistant Key features: 12GB RAM 256GB storage 4700mAh battery 5G connectivity We were impressed with this new offering from Nothing. The tech brand launched its first phone back in 2022, much to the delight of customers searching for effective and affordable mid-range smartphones. Now they've done it again with the release of the Nothing 2. So what does the new flagship model have that the the Nothing pioneer doesn't? Expect to find faster hardware, speedier charging and improved cameras and display, making the extra cash more than worth it. There's also the added benefit of the new Nothing OS 2.0, which gives users a fluid, clean and quick experience. It's worth bearing in mind that this model doesn't support high frame rate gaming, so smartphone gamers should stay away. With this being the 'premium' offering on the list, it does out-perform some other entries in some respects. However, you'll need a slightly larger budget to pick one up. Buy the Nothing 2: Nothing Phone (2) | £629.99 at John Lewis Nothing Phone (2) | £629 at Currys undefined Fancy learning more about the products Nothing has on offer? Read our guide to the Nothing Phone (1), complete with prices, specs and places to buy your own model. Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen) Best mid-range iOS experience Pros Seamless iOS experience 5G connectivity Excellent camera results Cons Small display Key features A15 Bionic chip, same as iPhone 13 Wireless charging capability The iteration of Apple's most affordable phone — the iPhone SE — adds 5G connectivity, more storage and a more powerful processor. It can be purchased for just over £400 but the iPhone SE (3rd gen) uses the same A15 Bionic chip used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 with great results. The main drawback is a smaller display. While the phone is nice and compact, the small screen is less well suited to video streaming, editing images, or similar tasks. Overall, though, the SE 3 is a good value entry-point to the Apple line-up. Certain that you want an iPhone? Head over to our best iPhone guide to see how other models compare to the iPhone SE. Or, for more on how the new model compares to its predecessor, try out our iPhone SE 2020 vs iPhone SE 2022 guide. For Apple audio and beyond, take a look at the best AirPods alternatives, Apple Music vs Spotify, and the top Apple Music offers for this month. Buy the Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen): iPhone SE (3rd gen) | £429 at Currys iPhone SE (3rd gen) | £479 at Very Latest Deals Honor Magic 5 Lite Best budget mid-range smartphone Pros Curved 120 Hz OLED panel Excellent battery life Cons No 4K video recording Low speaker loudness and quality due to single loudspeaker Key features 5100mAh battery easily lasts for more than a day Scratch/drop resistant glass 120 Hz AMOLED display If you're after a mid-range phone for a budget price, then you're in luck; that's exactly what the Honor Magic 5 Lite offers. It also comes with a Snapdragon 695 5G processor, a powerful offering given the low price tag. On top of that, it's got a versatile camera set-up and very strong battery life — it lasts for over a day — while 120 Hz OLED is up to a flagship level. Sure, it has a slower charging rate and a single loudspeaker , but those are compromises we are willing to make. Buy the Honor Magic 5 Lite: Honor Magic 5 Lite | £199.99 at Currys Honor Magic 5 Lite | £199.99 at Argos undefined For more information on the latest smartphones from Honor, check out our guide to the best Honor phones to buy this year. Motorola Moto G82 Best mid-range display Pros: Solid camera offering Smooth hi-res display Lightweight design with splash protection 128GB base storage Cons: No 4K video recording Key Features: Snapdragon 695 5G Plus processor 50MP, 8MP and 2MP rear cameras 16MP selfie camera 5000mAh battery For the price bracket, the Motorola Moto G82's display is stunning. It's silky smooth to use too, thanks to its colour-accurate and bright 120Hz display, and super clean Android experience. The 6.6-inch OLED panel is highly impressive, as is the long-lasting battery life. If you don't mind compromising slightly on photo and video quality, this could be the model for you. Buy the Motorola Moto G82: Motorola Moto G82 | £249.99 £199.99 (save £50 or 20%) at Argos Motorola Moto G82 | £229 at Amazon undefined Google Pixel 6a Best small mid-range phone Pros: Compact form factor Powerful and slick to use Solid camera Google's Tensor Chip performs well again Cons: Not much cheaper than Pixel 6 No fast-charger included and max charge speed 18W No wireless charging 60Hz display Key feature: 5G connectivity Android 13 Google Tensor processor The smaller version of the Google Pixel makes a few compromises on specs — but it's still a fantastic handset. Thanks to that notably compact form-factor and 6.1-inch display it's a great option for any users with smaller hands, or those who just want a nice pocketable phone, rather than a larger phone at the 6.7-inch display size that has increasingly become standard. You'll have to settle for a 60Hz display and ditch wireless charging, but otherwise it's a fantastic little phone. It combines Google hardware and software to great effect, giving users a notably smooth experience at just £299. We could possibly see discounts soon too, as the release of the Pixel 7 approaches. Check out our full review of the Google Pixel 6a. Buy the Google Pixel 6a: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Google-Pixel-6a-Smartphone-megapixel/dp/B0B4DMBH5T/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1321828" target="_blank" rel="sponsored" data-geniuslink="https://buy.geni.us/Proxy.ashx?TSID=114542&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FGoogle-Pixel-6a-Smartphone-megapixel%2Fdp%2FB0B4DMBH5T%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa%3Ftag%3Dradtim0b-21%26ascsubtag%3Dradiotimes-1698178&dtb=1" data-id="iframe-0-anchor-45">Google Pixel 6a | £210 at Amazon Latest Deals Xiaomi 12 Best for fast charging Pros: Very fast wireless and wired charging High quality speakers Bright, 120 Hz curved OLED display Great ergonomic support Cons: Underwhelming battery life No ingress protection If you’re on the lookout for a phone with fantastic performance and quick charging that isn’t going to cost the premium of high-end handsets, then the Xiaomi 12 is a fantastic option. It comes with a crisp and colourful OLED display that’s higher resolution than the base model. Obviously the fast charging is a major draw to this model— it can reach full power in just 39 minutes. Users will also be more than satisfied with the dedicated stereo speakers, as well as the triple camera set-up and the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. That being said, once the phone is fully charged, the battery may not last as long as other models. If you're willing to compromise on this, then don't let that put you off. Buy the Xiaomi 12: Xiaomi 12 | £451.27 at Amazon undefined A mid-range phone would make a brilliant gift for a loved one, perhaps for a youngster's first smartphone. For more tech gifts and gadgets and university technology essentials, check out our best lists. Motorola Edge 40 Best mid-range performance Pros: Dependant battery life, quick to charge Lightweight and compact Good quality stereo speakers 144Hz display with good refresh rate handling Cons: No zoom camera Difficult to clean Key features: 440mAh battery 4K video recording 68W wired charging, 15W wireless charging The ‘jack of all trades’ Motorola Edge 40 is a fantastic mid-range option if you want a fast phone with great battery life. It’s usually on the more expensive side of mid-range, however there are plenty of sales going on at large tech retailers, offering huge discounts on this model. With the Motorola Edge 40 you are getting a feature-packed phone with a fantastic 144 Hz OLED display. Where the Edge 40 really shines is in its performance. The upgraded internals and potent chipset mean that all your apps run smoothly without affecting battery life dramatically. And when it comes to battery, the Motorola Edge 40 also leads in terms of fast charging and battery life. Buy the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra: Motorola Edge 40 | £299.99 £249.99 (save £50 or 17%) at Argos Motorola Edge 40 | £529 £299 (save £230 or 43%) at Very.co.uk Motorola Edge 40 | £449 £329.99 (save £119.01 or 27%) at Currys undefined How to choose the best mid-range phone Here are some top tips on how to choose the right mid-range model for you. Shop around: Leading tech giants like Apple, Google, and Samsung offer their own affordable phones, including the Pixel 6a and iPhone SE (2022), so you'll never have to settle for a 'lesser' brand. But there are plenty of phone makers in this space that shouldn’t be overlooked – namely Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme and OnePlus. Compromise: When it comes to choosing the right mid-range phone, the key will be to compromise. Understand that you can’t have every premium feature in one package – that’s a luxury for the top-end handsets – and instead, focus on what you need the phone for. Is it a two-day battery life? Top camera lenses? High refresh rate display? That will narrow down your options and help you save cash. Read reviews: While the spec sheet for a phone will tell you everything you need to know about screen size, camera specs, storage options, battery life, and processor – expert reviewers will give you an honest view of how the handset performs in the real world. Here at RadioTimes.com, we get hands-on time with lots of phones, like the Poco F4 GT and a wide array of the best budget smartphones, too. For the latest news, reviews and deals, check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. Want a handset for an older relative? Read our guide to the best smartphone for older people.
Best budget laptops 2024: top cheap laptops for university students
Here's our pick of the best affordable laptops that you can buy in 2024, including models from HP, Acer, Microsoft, Lenovo and more.
If you're looking for the perfect laptop for school or university, or you just want to pick one up for a good price, then we've got the perfect list for you. These laptops are available at a snip, with a range to suit every user. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great laptop in 2024, and in this round-up we’ll show you some of the best options between £200 to around £500. These are great options whether you need a quick replacement or you're a student looking for a new laptop. Many of the major laptop brands – including HP, Acer, Asus, Microsoft and Lenovo – have affordable models alongside their more premium computers, and there’s never been more choice if you're hunting for solid specs at a pleasing price point. If you can’t afford a new model, you may be better off buying a second-hand or refurbished laptop, although there are some decent Chromebooks available from under £200. Much like when shopping for phones or tablets, buying a new device in a lower price category is all about being willing to compromise on premium specs or features – and it can certainly be overwhelming if you have no idea where to begin. So that’s where this guide comes in. We have compiled a list of the best affordable laptops in 2024. Alongside our expert breakdown, we have some advice on what to look for in a new laptop and, perhaps more importantly, what you should avoid. If you're still working from home you may also need a new printer, so don't miss our guides to the best printers in 2024 and best budget printers in 2024. Also, check out the best laptop deals for this month and the top university essentials. Plus, have you heard Samsung has announced the Music Frame release date and a free Samsung Galaxy S24 offer when you pre-order a new Samsung TV? Jump to: Best budget laptops at a glance Best cheap laptops to buy in 2024 How to choose the best budget laptop Best cheap and budget laptops to buy in 2024 at a glance Best all-round affordable touchscreen: Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook, £299 £279 (save £20 or 7%) Best shoestring Windows 11 buy: Asus E210, £249 £149 (save £100 or 40%) Best budget convertible: Microsoft Surface Go 2, £298.72 (no keyboard) Best budget performance buy: Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 14, £449 Best low-cost ultraportable: Acer Swift 1, from £399 Best cheap 15.6-inch option: Dell Inspiron 15 3000, £369 Best for high-end performance: Dell Inspiron 14, £549 Best Chromebook deal: Chromebook Plus CX34, £479 Best cheap and budget laptops to buy in 2024 Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook, £299 £279 Great all-round affordable touchscreen laptop Pros Lightweight and compact 2-in-1 design Touchscreen Cons Lagging battery life Storage limited to 64GB eMMC If you're looking for an affordable laptop that minimises what you miss out on, take a look at the Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook. It has a lightweight and portable design, making it perfect to bring to work or school, with a battery life of over eight hours to get you through the day. It boasts a responsive 12.2-inch touchscreen, which is exactly what we want. It may not be as vibrant or sharp as an OLED panel or larger high-res screen, but it's great value for money, given the price point. It's also a 2-in-1 design, meaning that that you can flip and fold the screen from laptop to tablet mode with ease. Lenovo puts extra effort into the port selection too, which is great for charging and connecting other devices. It boasts a USB-C port doubling as a power jack, a USB 3.0 Type-A connector, an audio jack, a microSD card slot, USB-A port and an HDMI monitor port— whew! There are some drawbacks to this model, which is to be expected given its lower price point. While the Flex 3 Chromebook's performance isn't bad, it certainly couldn't be described as good either, so if you're after a high-performing laptop, this may not be the one for you. Buy Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook for £299 £279 (save £20 or 7%) at JD Williams Asus E210, £249 £149 Best shoestring Windows 11 buy Pros Decent battery life Very low cost for a Windows laptop 180-degree hinge Cons Pixelated screen Polarising “NUM" touchpad Fairly dim screen Asus calls this a “Cloudbook”, but don’t confuse that with a Chromebook. This is a Windows laptop, but it only has 64GB of storage. Asus is saying, “you’d better use cloud storage as there’s not much to go around here”. It has a compact 11.6-inch display but note that the 1366 x 768 resolution will look more pixelated than the Full HD kind we’ve recommended elsewhere in this article. The display is fairly dim, too, so it will look best indoors. The Asus E210’s Celeron processor is only going to get on well with basic jobs, but we’d happily use it for writing articles or essays and web browsing. However, that low-power CPU also means the battery tends to last a full day of work. You’re probably getting the idea by now. The Asus E210 is a fairly basic laptop. But it does have a quirk or two. Its screen hinge folds back 180-degrees, letting you share what’s on-screen more easily. The touchpad also doubles as a NUM pad, although we don’t love the numerals printed into the pad itself. In a pricier Asus laptop, you sometimes get a light-up NUM pad on the touchpad, but there’s no budget for that sort of tech here. Buy Asus E210 laptop for £249 £149 (save £100 or 40%) Microsoft Surface Go 2, £298.72 (without keyboard) Best budget convertible laptop Pros Great screen Slick design Can be used as a tablet Cons Low performance Keyboard costs extra, and isn’t cheap The Surface Go 2 is perhaps the slickest budget laptop around. But is it even a laptop? Search for this computer online, filter by lowest price and what you’ll see is just as much an iPad rival. It’s a sleek magnesium-body tablet, but one that runs Windows instead of iPad OS or Android. However, buy it with the clip-on Surface Go 2 Type Cover, and you have a laptop more portable than just about anything else on this list. It has an excellent, if a little small, 10.5-inch touchscreen that is sharper and more vibrant than just about any low-price traditional laptop. Want the downsides? This is among the weakest laptops in this round-up. Only buy one if you just need laptop basics. Microsoft makes a more powerful version, but that costs so much more that it doesn’t really qualify as a budget laptop option. Buy Microsoft Surface Go 2 at Amazon for £298.72 at Amazon Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 14, £449 Best budget performance buy Pros Good performance for the money Relatively refined styling Full HD IPS screen Cons Plastic casing Lenovo makes a stack of laptops in its IdeaPad range. Today’s recommendation for the budget buyer is a specific one, which you can pick up for under £400. Hunt down the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 14 with a trusty 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, a 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM and a 300-nit 14-inch Full HD screen. We think this will offer the majority of people a great experience for little money, with enough power to go beyond the basics and even play some moderately taxing games. We chose this laptop because it’s a classic no-nonsense, good value Windows machine. This is the kind of computer we often end up recommending to friends and relatives. Lenovo’s design style helps too. There’s something classy and slightly reserved about Lenovo’s budget laptops that we appreciate. The shape of the keys, the slim screen borders and the layout of the keyboard surround give off an impression that won’t make people assume you bought a cheaper laptop. Lenovo makes several versions of this same model. Those called IdeaPad 5 rather than IdeaPad 5i have AMD processors instead of Intel ones. Buy the latest models, and you can’t go wrong with either, so shop around to find the best deals. The most important step-up upgrades are to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, which we’d recommend if the budget will stretch that far. You get more room for apps and can run more of them without the thing starting to struggle with the workload. Buy Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 14 for £449 at Very Acer Swift 1, from £399 Best low-cost ultraportable Pros Decent screen Slim and light Attractive metal casing Cons Limited performance in entry-level version Check out the Acer Swift 1 if you want a slim, light and relatively stylish laptop for portable use. It has a metal casing, which provides that MacBook-like vibe for much less money. And at 1.3kg, it’s the sort of laptop we’d be happy to carry around all day, every day. The Acer Swift 1 also has a 14-inch Full HD screen. It’s a fairly large display and just as sharp as those of laptops that cost twice as much, although colours aren’t nearly as vibrant as the Surface Go 2’s. If you want a laptop that feels a bit like MacBook but costs far less, the Swift 1 will do the trick. However, we don’t recommend the entry-level model with an Intel N6000 CPU if you need to do more than word processing, web browsing and movie streaming. While the SSD storage will make the basics feel slick enough, this brain isn’t made for serious number crunching. Look into the step-up Acer Swift 3 if you need more power. While most versions aren’t quite “budget”, you can currently pick up a well-specced Ryzen version for £530 online. That’s a good buy. Buy Acer Swift 1 laptop: Shop Acer Swift 1 laptop at Amazon Dell Inspiron 15 3000, £369 A top cheap 15.6-inch screen option Pros Lots of connection types Big screen Uses Intel Core CPUs Cons Somewhat drab plastic build/design Dell’s Inspiron 15 3000 is a great choice if you need a larger laptop. It has a 15.6-inch screen, which gives apps more room than the other models here. You’ll appreciate that if you plan to work all day from the laptop’s own display, rather than plugging in a monitor. Our recommended spec has 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD and an Intel i5-1135G7 processor. This is going to offer a satisfying experience in a whole bunch of ways. You get ultra-fast storage, with enough room to install a bunch of apps or games and store a lot of files. Its general performance is excellent, and the Intel Xe graphics hardware can handle challenging games like The Witcher 3, Fortnite and GTA V remarkably well. Get this version, and you have the same amount of power as some laptops over £1000. The design is practical rather than flashy, decked out in grey plastic, and weight of 1.8kg may get a little heavy on the shoulders after carrying the Inspiron 15 3000 in a rucksack for a while. Screen brightness won’t dazzle either. But if you plan to use a laptop as a desktop PC-replacer, it’s a good bet. It also has a full-size HDMI port, SD card reader and Ethernet port: practical features that mean you don’t have to worry about adapters for plug-in peripherals. Buy Dell Inspiron 15 3000: Shop Dell Inspiron 15 3000 at Studio Dell Inspiron 14, from £549 Best for high-end performance Pros Reasonably upmarket design Very powerful in this class Cons Lacks high screen brightness of the step-up 7000 model If you like the sound of the Dell Inspiron 15 3000’s power but find the design a bit heavy and stodgy, consider the Inspiron 14. It has a smaller 14-inch screen, but this helps to bring the weight down to around 1.4kg. That’s much better for portable use, and the Inspiron 14’s footprint is smaller too. You also get a design upgrade. It has a metal lid and keyboard surround for a touch of class that makes it seem less like an affordable laptop. We may be testing the budget here. You’re looking at around £550 for the version with an Intel Core i5, 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM. But with that kind of power on tap, the Inspiron 14 is going to feel fresh for years. With the same budget, you can also pick up the AMD Ryzen 5500U CPU version. They are fairly evenly matched, each winning in different situations, but the Ryzen is technically more powerful and handles some games better. There’s also a 2-in-1 version with a 360-degree hinge Inspiron 14, but this drops you down to 4GB RAM and an Intel Core i3 unless you’re willing to spend more. Buy Dell Inspiron 14 laptop for £549 at Dell Asus Chromebook C523, £479 Best Chromebook deal Pros Low cost Metal lid 1080p screen Cons ChromeOS is more restrictive than Windows Don’t rule out a Chromebook when shopping for a budget laptop. These are often the most sensible buys if the alternative is a very low-spec Windows computer. Why? Laptops like the Asus Chromebook C523 have lower overheads because the core software is simpler. As a result, they feel faster with a low-power CPU. The software they do run, ChromeOS, still lets you do plenty. You get Google services like Docs and Mail baked in, and they can run Android apps. There are versions of the Microsoft Office suite apps available for Chromebooks, for example. Our favourite Chromebook deal at the time of writing is for the Chromebook Plus CX34, available for a reduced price of £279 (from 429). Stand-outs here include a 180-degree hinge and three-sided NanoEdge screen design to maximise screen space. It's also got a stylish, lightweight and durable design and runs for up to 10 hours on a single charge, making it the ideal option for a heavily reduced and easily portable budget laptop. Buy Chromebook Plus CX34 for £ 479 at Very How to choose the best budget laptop Buying an affordable laptop isn’t always straightforward if you aren’t sure about specs and features associated with the tech, so here’s some handy tips: Don’t buy a laptop with a hard drive Years ago, all laptops had hard drives used to store data, documents and other files. However, any laptop that runs off a hard drive feels annoyingly slow these days. A laptop with an SSD drive is ideal, but the even more affordable eMMC [embedded Multi-Media Card] storage is better than a standard hard drive. The large amount of storage hard drives offer may seem irresistible if budget is tight, but we recommend buying a laptop with smaller-but-faster storage. You can always pick up an external hard drive for cheap file archiving further down the line. Avoid TN screens if possible Look at the specs page of a laptop for a mention of this. It may also be called SVA, which some manufacturers use to signify standard viewing angle. Instead, you should aim to get a screen described as IPS or WVA (wide viewing angle). This basically tells us it doesn’t have a TN (twisted nematic) screen. Why the TN hate? Unfortunately, these displays look pretty bad unless you view them straight on, and even then just don’t look as good as IPS/WVA displays because they tend to have very low contrast. The TN screens in budget laptops do, anyway. These are your two red alert messages. Avoid hard drives and TN screens, although the latter may be unavoidable if you’re looking to spend as little as possible. Know your laptop processors There’s more to consider but it all largely depends on your budget. However, if you want great performance, be sure to look for a laptop with an 11th generation Intel Core series processor or a 5th generation AMD Ryzen. These are solid. You don’t tend to find them in ultra-cheap laptops, leaving you with Intel Celeron and Pentium processors. These will do the job just fine for simple work, like writing documents, web browsing and video streaming. But if you want to use Photoshop, edit videos or play games, it’s worth saving a bit more for a powerful laptop. Most of the laptops here use Windows. We’ve also included a Chromebook, which is a fantastic option if you want to spend £200-300. Basic navigation in Chromebooks tends to feel a little faster than in Windows 10 when dealing with a low-end CPU, and while they can’t run Windows apps, you can download Android apps for them. Want affordable tech? Read our guides to the best budget smartphone, best budget tablet, best budget wireless earbuds and best budget smartwatch. Plus, you can save on the latest gadgets with the best Samsung Galaxy S24 deals.
Best printer paper 2024: Top A4, art and photo paper to buy for your home printer
It's important to pair your printer with the right paper. So here's what you need to know about choosing the right sheets for your needs.
Of all the tech that may be gathering dust inside your home office or cupboard, in between the pile of old phones that you keep meaning to recycle and the seemingly random assortment of cables you are saving just in case, it’s the home printer and the accompanying big stack of paper, that are definitely worth keeping around. Perhaps you need to print a returns label, make a copy of your records for travelling, print out some family photos, produce a hard copy of a bank statement or make a handful of artsy homemade wedding invites for close friends. Whatever you need the printer to do, it’s important to pair it with the right type of sheets – and you may be surprised by how many factors there are to consider when you are shopping for paper, including size, weight, coating and colouring. While many tasks, forms and documents can easily be edited and sent online these days, the classic printer-paper combo is far from dead in 2024. And even better, there are models, like in our best budget printers guide, that cost under £100. So, here’s what you need to know about the best paper you can buy for your home printer, alongside a couple of tips that will help you make the best purchase. Looking for more ways to save on tech items? Check out our guides to the best budget laptops in 2024 and the best budget smartphones in 2024 for some inspiration. Best printer paper at a glance: Best all-rounder: AmazonBasics 5 Reams 80gsm, £24.99 £21.75 Best for general use: Double A A4 Ream Paper, £11.85 Best for photos: Kodak A4 Gloss Photo Paper, £9.99 Best for colour finish: TownStix 10 Colours, £8.79 Best for printing colour: Nuco Navigator, £6.24 £4.80 Best sticker paper: Pepra Sticker Paper, £10.99 Best high gloss: Koala Inkjet Photo Paper, £11.99 Best for sustainability: Multicopy Zero A4, £10.65 Types of home printer paper There are a lot of buzzwords when shopping for printer paper, so here are some of the main types that you will encounter when searching for it online: Multi-purpose: A very common sheet type, this is standard matte white paper for black/white or colours that works with both inkjet and laser printers. Inkjet paper: Available in various finishes and colours – including matte or glossy this paper will be intended to work with standard inkjet home printers. Laser printer: This is paper for laser printers, which are often found in businesses and office buildings where users need the ability to print in higher volumes. Bright white: While your typical paper is matte white, the bright wide paper has a more non-textured texture that's much better for double-sided printing. Gloss/Photo: Just like it sounds, this is what you need for printing out photos, as it has a shiny coating on one side, with better colours and image sharpness. Sticker: Not all types of printer paper are blank on both sides. Sticker sheets can work with both inkjet and laser models, featuring one side that’s self-adhesive. Where to buy ink and toner cartridges So you have a new printer and some paper. There’s another component that’s still missing: the ink and toner cartridges. These can often be bought directly from the brand’s website, but are also stocked at some high street and online retailers. Buy ink and toner cartridges at CartridgePeople.com Buy ink and toner cartridges at CartridgeMonkey.com Buy ink and toner cartridges at TheCartridgeCentre Buy ink and toner cartridges at HP Buy ink and toner cartridges at Canon Buy ink and toner cartridges at Currys Still shopping for a new printer and accessories for your home? Don’t miss our comprehensive buyer guides to the best budget printers and best printers. How to choose the best printer paper It may not be the most exciting purchase you have ever made, but it’s important to make sure you choose the right paper for your needs. Here’s how to start: Size: First, consider what size your document needs to be. The most common size is A4 (210 x 297 mm/8.3 x 11.7 in) but photos may need to be smaller. Luckily, most home printers these days are able to print out in various paper sizes. Type: If you just need to print a black/white document on one side, stick with the multi-purpose paper, but you may need glossy paper if you are printing photos. On top of this, you’ll need to consider how thick you want the paper to be. Weight: Generally, the heavier the paper, the higher the weight. We measure this in Grams per Square Metre, or GSM. The higher the GSM, the thicker the paper. Typical matte white paper is usually 80GSM, but it goes into the hundreds. Colour: Of course, you may need paper that’s not the typical matte white colour. So it’s good news that printer paper doesn’t only come in a range of different sizes, but shades, too. This includes yellow, orange, green, pink, blue and more. Opacity: This is a reference to how much light is able to seep through the paper. Typically, this is measured between the numbers 0 and 100 - with 0 being pretty much transparent (often used for tracing) and 100 being completely opaque. Read more printer guides: Where to buy printer ink Inkjet vs laser printers Best printers of 2022 Best printer paper to buy in 2024 Unsure which paper is for you? Here are our recommendations of which packs will work well with your printer. Unless otherwise stated, the paper size is A4. Amazon Basics Printer Paper, £24.99 £21.75 Best all-rounder | 2,500 Sheets, 80 gsm If you don’t use your printer very often but need some paper to keep at home, this paper pack contains 500 sheets of 80 gsm multipurpose copy paper that works with all types of devices, including inkjet, laser, copiers and fax machines. Buy Amazon Basics Printer Paper from £24.99 £21.75 at Amazon Double A A4 Printer Paper, £11.85 Best for general use | 500 Sheets, 80 gsm This A4 single ream paper pack from Double A is another great option for home printing – in both black/white and colour toner – via inkjet or laser machines. Buy Double A A4 Printer Paper at Amazon for £11.85 Kodak A4 Gloss Photo Paper, £9.99 Best for photo prints | 50 sheets, 240 gsm Suitable for home inkjet printers only, this 50-sheet pack of A4 photo paper has a gloss finish and promises quick drying with no smudging. Buy Kodak A4 Gloss Photo Paper at Amazon for £9.99 TownStix 10 Colour Art Paper, £8.79 Best coloured paper | 100 sheets, 120 gsm This 10-pack of A4 120 gsm sheets includes multiple colours: Yellow, Red, Light Blue, Orange, Pink, Blue, Purple, Green, Violet. While heavier than the standard 80 gsm sheets, these are compatible with both inkjet and laser home printers. Buy TownStix 10 Colour Art Paper at Amazon Nuco Navigator for Colour Printing, £6.24 £4.80 Best for printing colours | 250 Sheets, 120 gsm If you are printing colour toner, this white 120 gsm paper from Navigator is a top option. It works with laser and inkjet printers, with the extra thickness and “ultra-bright” colour meaning that it is also well-suited for double-sided printing. Buy Nuco Navigator for Colour Printing at Amazon for £6.24 £4.80 PEPRA Sticker Paper, £10.99 Best sticker paper | 50 sheets, 80 gsm Working with both inkjet and laser machines, each A4 sheet comes with a sticky self-adhesive back that peels off and can be cut down to size if needed. We chose the matte version, but there is also a glossy alternative for the same price. Buy PEPRA Sticker Printer Paper at Amazon for £10.99 HP Everyday Glossy Photo Paper, £11.99 Best for HP gloss | 100 Sheets, 200 gsm, 10x15 cm HP is a popular printer brand, and if you have one of its inkjet models and want to print photos look no further than this 100-sheet pack of gloss paper. Each sheet is 10 x 15 cm in size and offers photo-like paper at an affordable price point. Buy HP Everyday Glossy Photo Paper at Amazon Multicopy Zero A4 Paper, £10.65 Best for sustainability | 500 sheets, 80gsm If sustainability is a priority when choosing paper (as it should be!), this 500-sheet MultiCopy pack is a great option. It is suitable for inkjet machines and crucially is sustainably sourced and manufactured to the point that it’s carbon neutral. Buy Multicopy Zero A4 Paper at Amazon for £10.65 For news, reviews and deals, check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. While you're there, why not take a look at our Meta Quest 3 review, as well as the best mid-range phones to buy in 2024.
17 of the best iPhone accessories you can buy in 2024
From wireless chargers to gaming controllers to desk stands – here's how to get the most out of your Apple iPhone.
Apple’s iPhone is already packed with premium tech, but there's a wide variety of accessories that will take the smartphone to the next level. From desk stands to power banks and gaming controllers, there has never been more choice when it comes to add-ons. Much like the best iPad accessories, you may quickly wonder how you ever used your phone without them. Many of the official extras for the latest iPhone 15 series will take advantage of Apple’s MagSafe technology. This is built into the back of the handsets and used to attach magnet-based accessories, including cases and wireless chargers. Do note that the majority of these add-ons only work with iPhone 12, 13 and 14 line-ups. So if you already have an iPhone or are thinking about picking one up after reading our best iPhone guide, this article will list some of the best accessories in 2024. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website All pricing was correct at the time of publication. Audiophiles! Here's the best Audible offers and best Apple Music offers. Plus, Apple Music vs Spotify. Top iPhone accessories at a glance: Ring Light with Extended Tripod Stand, £22.99 Anker Wireless Charger, £14.99 Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds, £199 Ideal of Sweden Car vent mount, £29.99 Gritin iPhone Stand, £12.99 £8.59 Anker PowerCore 20,000 PD, £54.99 £49.99 Apple AirTags, £119 £95 (4-pack) Razer Kishi for iPhone, £99.99 £72.90 Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, £99 Kodak Step Instant Printer, £69.99 Belkin BoostCharge 3-in-1 charger, £139.99 DJI OM 4 Combo, £148.95 Magnetic ring mount, £24.99 £17.49 Joby GripTight Pro 2 GorillaPod, £54.99 Minthouz 3 in 1 Fast Charging Station, £39.88 £26.86 AirPod Cleaning Kit, £6.99 £4.99 TRYONE Gooseneck Phone Holder Stand, £24.99 £15.89 The top 17 iPhone accessories in 2024 We've delved into the world of iPhone accessories to help you kit out your handset. Here's our guide to the top accessories that will enhance your iOS experience. Ring Light with Extended Tripod Stand, £22.99 Aspiring YouTube or TikTok star, or simply want better lighting for Zoom calls? You need better desk lighting. Check out this 10-inch ring light, which comes with a 50-inch extendable tripod and a flexible holder for your smartphone. This model has three hues (Warm, Cool White, Daylight) and 10 levels of brightness for each. Buy the Ring Light with Extended Tripod Stand for £39.99 £22.99 at Amazon Latest Deals Anker Wireless Charger, £14.99 If you want a wireless charger and don’t care for the MagSafe connection, then this product from accessory-maker Anker is a great option. The PowerWave Pad will not be as fast as the official charger – with a 7.5W charge for the iPhone 12 and 13 – but it's more affordable. Do note that it needs the Quick Charge 2.0/3.0 wall adapter to enable the fast charging mode. Like Apple’s charger, that’s sold separately. Buy the Anker Wireless Charger for £15.99 £14.99 at Amazon Latest Prices Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds, £199 Released in the UK in January 2022, these new wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation are a must-have for exercise fans and boast seamless integration with iOS. With the same H1 chip found in the AirPods Pro, these are a sporty alternative to Apple's iconic white buds that come with a unique wing-tip design that keeps them snug in your ears while working out. For more, here's our full Beats Fit Pro review. Buy the Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds for £199 at Amazon Latest Deals Ideal of Sweden car vent mount, £29.99 The Ideal of Sweden car vent mount is a stylish magnetic smartphone holder that will look great with your iPhone. You don’t have to mess around with any side panels of a traditional plastic mount, simply snap your device onto the circular front so you can follow Google Maps or take calls while travelling. It comes in four colours - silver, gold, pink and black - so there’s likely to be a design for you. Buy the car vent mount for £29.99 at Ideal of Sweden Latest Prices Gritin iPhone Stand, £8.59 If you are working or studying from home, you may want to consider a desk stand. The Gritin phone stand is a good choice, offering an adjustable holder that's made of solid alloy aluminium, plus rubber grips. A gap gives easy access for a charging cable, and it comes in a variety of colours: black, grey, red, silver and rose gold. You won’t miss any notifications – and can even watch some YouTube clips on the side. Buy the Gritin iPhone Stand for £12.99 £8.59 at Amazon Latest Prices Anker PowerCore 20,000 PD, £49.99 This portable charger from Anker is compatible with all modern iPhones and will be a fantastic accessory for anyone who is travelling or likely to be away from a plug socket for extended periods of time. The PowerCore Essential has a large 20,000 mAh capacity and will charge your iPhone 12 up to 50% in around 30 minutes. It will work with any other smartphone and can also be used to power Apple iPads. Buy the Anker PowerCore 20,000 PD for £54.99 £49.99 at Amazon Latest Prices Apple AirTags, £95 (4-pack) Stick one of these little Apple-branded trackers onto your iPhone, and you will be able to quickly locate your smartphone. It has a one-tap set up on iPhones and will work hand-in-hand with the FindMe app. Perfect for peace of mind for anyone who gives their smartphone to their young children and finds it mysteriously goes missing. Buy the Apple AirTags (4-pack) for £119 £95 at Amazon Latest Deals Razer Kishi for iPhone, £72.90 If you use your iPhone for gaming and want to help replicate a console experience – especially on titles such as PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile – the Razer Kishi is the peripheral for you. It connects via the charging port and clamps to the sides of the phone. Sure, it looks more Game Gear than Nintendo Switch, but it gives you clickable analogue thumbsticks and a d-pad – that’s rare for mobile gaming. Buy the Razer Kishi for iPhone for £99.99 £72.90 at Amazon Latest Prices Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, £99 This new accessory from Apple snaps onto the back of your iPhone phone via MagSafe, providing instant wireless charging even while you are still using the device. The battery pack charges even faster when connected to a 27W or higher charger, but that power adapter and its cable are sold separately. Buy the Apple Magsafe Battery Pack for £99 at Argos Latest Deals Kodak Step Instant Printer, £69.99 The iPhone camera is great – but if you want to share physical pictures, the Kodak Step instant printer will let you do just that. Taking inspiration from polaroid cameras, it connects to your phone via Bluetooth and pushes out 2x3-inch sticky-back photos taken directly from your Camera Roll. A full charge will give you up to 25 of the prints. Is it a novelty item? Sure. Is it still kind of cool? Definitely, and great as a gift. Buy the Kodak Step Instant Printer for £69.99 at Amazon Latest Deals Belkin BoostCharge PRO 3-in-1 Wireless, £139.99 This "made for MagSafe" wireless charger is for Apple enthusiasts who not only have an iPhone, but also an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro. The Belkin BoostCharge powers all three devices at the same time, and thanks to a chrome finish it looks great while doing it. When connected via MagSafe, (iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models) the phone can be in either portrait or landscape, providing charging speeds of up to 15W. Buy the BoostCharge PRO 3-in-1 Wireless Charger for £139.99 at Amazon Latest Deals DJI OM 4 Combo tripod, £148.95 If your iPhone is heavily used for taking video – maybe you need to shoot YouTube content or a new vlog – the DJI OM4 is a gimbal that will reduce shaky footage. It's a high-tech and hand-held stabiliser that can be used to hold your iPhone steady. The Combo bundle comes with a sling pouch, a magnetic clamp, a wrist strap and a grip that transforms into a tripod. A great option for content creators. Buy the DJI OM 4 Combo handheld tripod for £148.95 at Amazon Magnetic Ring Mount As phones get bigger, we're noticing that it can sometimes be a little harder to hold them, especially if you're trying to snap a selfie with your arm outstretched. So, simple stick on this magnetic ring mount, hook your finger in, and say bye-bye to worries. Buy Magnetic ring mount for £24.99 £17.49 at Ideal of Sweden Joby GripTight Pro 2 GorillaPod, £54.99 Another accessory that will enhance your iPhone’s photo and video capabilities is the Joby GripTight Pro 2 GorillaPod – a flexible and versatile stand that can be used as a traditional tripod, a handheld rig or even curled around fixtures such as street light poles or tree branches. It comes with a mount to add additional accessories, such as a microphone or portable light and is compatible with all sizes of iPhone. Buy the Joby GripTight Pro 2 GorillaPod for £54.99 at Amazon Latest Deals Minthouz 3 in 1 Fast Charging Station, £26.86 Staying on top of which one of your devices need to be charged is tough, especially if you have limited plug space. Luckily, the Minthouz 3 in 1 Fast Charging Station makes it easy to keep track, as it offers the space to charge your phone, AirPods and Apple Watch, all in one handy stand. Buy Minthouz 3 in 1 Fast Charging Station for £39.88 £26.86 from Amazon AirPods Cleaning Kit, £4.99 There's no more sure-fire to give someone the ick than having a dirty AirPods case, trust us. Avoid this by investing in an AirPods Cleaning Kit, which includes a metal tip for deep scraping, brush and sponge, perfect for making your AiPods case look as good as new, as well as improving sound quality. Buy AirPods Cleaning Kit for £6.99 £4.99 from Amazon TRYONE Gooseneck Phone Holder Stand, £15.89 There's no more comfortable way to watch Netflix, YouTube or any other streaming service on your phone than with a Gooseneck phone holder stand. This product easily attaches to your bed to ensure the comfiest possible viewing experience. Silicone pads on the clamp and a flexible arm mean that you can angle your phone however you'd like and be sure that it's not going to fall out of place. Buy TRYONE Gooseneck Phone Holder Stand for £24.99 £15.89 from Amazon We've got even more savings in the best Disney Plus offers and the best TNT Sports offers.
How to choose the best outdoor projector for 2024
The evenings are set to warm up soon, so grab the popcorn, pour some drinks and fire up one of these top outdoor projectors.
We don't know about you, but one of the only things that get us through these rainy days is the knowledge that spring is just round the corner. If like us you're dreaming of warmer days and brighter evenings, we know just the way to get prepared — an outdoor projector. The best outdoor projectors will be perfect for parties or cinema nights, and there is arguably no better way to enjoy movies than on a vast screen in the comfort of your own garden. In 2024, projectors are more accessible than ever. They are listed on retailers like Amazon and Currys at a variety of prices but, much like in our best smart TV guide, choosing the right model can be a minefield. There’s a lot to consider, including brightness, screen size, portability, contrast ratios, resolutions, connectivity options, throw distances, and so much more. Unlike a new TV, there are external factors to consider when using a projector outside – including unpredictable ambient light from cars, phones or even the moon. Make the right choice, and you will be able to impress your friends with an image much bigger than most TVs, with the bonus of portability so the set-up can be moved around the home. Choose poorly, and the picture quality could be a mess. To help you make a buying decision – and avoid some of the potential red flags – we have put together this buyer's guide that will help to explain the key factors that you will need to consider and recommend several projectors that meet the criteria. And, finish off your movie night right with our recommendations on the best outdoor projector screens. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Jump to: Best outdoor projectors to buy in 2024 at a glance How to choose the best outdoor projector Which are the best projector brands? Should you buy a projector screen or make one? Which garden or outdoor projector should you buy in 2024? Best outdoor projectors to buy in 2024 at a glance: Here are our recommendations on the best outdoor projectors to buy for 2024: Great for beginners: BenQ GV30 LED Portable projector, £489 Great for portability: Anker Nebula Mars II Pro, £549.99 £479.99 (save £70 or 13%) Great for compact and light: LG CineBeam PF50KS, £741 Great for mid-range/high lumen: Optoma HD145X, £499.99 Great for smaller size: Philips PicoPix Max One, £649.99 £609.99 (save £40 or 6%) Great for performance: Optoma GT1080e, £595 Great premium portable: XGIMI Halo+, £749 Great for 4k gaming: BenQ TK850, £1,478.99 £1,154.99 (save £324 or 22%) How to choose the best outdoor projector Searching for a new projector can quickly become overwhelming, but the first big question you should ask yourself is: what do I want the projector to do? This will immediately narrow down a search. For example, the type of device needed for a small camping trip will be extremely different from a device required for a movie screening with a large group of people who will be all sitting at a distance. When looking for a projector that can be used outdoors, there will typically be two main types that match your needs: home multimedia and portable. There are no projectors made for outdoor-only use, but many handle both scenarios. Ask yourself: will the projector be a permanent fixture or will it be moved about? What’s my budget? Should it be battery-powered or use a cable? What type of content do I want to play? And what specs do I require for that content? The next point to consider is how much space you have to work with, as this will determine what you need in terms of a short or long 'throw ratio'. This is the distance between the projector and screen – be it a white wall or a sheet. This first stage is all about reducing your options, as there are so many projectors available from a variety of brands – many well-known, others less so. If you are only using the projector for your garden, chances are you will want a portable model that has the option of at least a couple of hours of battery playback. Of course, there are other factors at play – many unique to home projectors – so here’s a list of the terms you will typically see on an online store listing, exactly what they mean, and what types of models will be best suited to being used outside. Throw distance and screen size One term you may not have encountered before when shopping for tech is throw distance, which refers to the space between your projector and the screen. You will often see a projector described as 'short-throw' or 'long-throw'. A short-throw projector is able to be placed fairly close to the screen and still be able to display a large image – this is preferred if you have a smaller space. The long-throw models work best when positioned further from the screen and will project larger images from a distance – better suited for bigger spaces. The short-throw models can be set from 0.5 metres to the screen, while some long-throw models are best placed over 10 metres away. For outside use, it may be best to consider a short-throw so that it sits closer to the screen without interruptions – including any of your friends who wander in front of the projection. The more distance between the projector and the screen, the more the image size increases. Some models have zoom lenses built-in. Every projector is different, with picture sizes ranging from 30 inches to more than 300 inches, so make sure that your projector screen matches your chosen model. Skip straight to the projector suggestions DLP, LCD and light sources For this article, there are two main types of projector to know about: DLP (Digital Light Processing) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). DLP projectors offer better contrast, dark tones and sometimes have 3D capabilities, while LCD models have more vivid colour tones, better saturation and are generally less expensive. Inside the projector, there could be a lamp, LED or laser. A lamp’s lifespan could last around 4,000 hours before needing a replacement, while an LED and lasers will typically last significantly longer – often cited as up to 20,000 hours. Brightness/Lumens The more ambient light that’s in your garden, the more brightness your projector will have to be able to produce. That brightness is measured in lumens, but more specifically rated in ANSI (American National Standards Institute) lumens. It’s not an exact science – who can say how bright the moon will be or how many cars will drive past your screening – but broadly, an ANSI lumen rating of between 2,000 or 3,000 should help to produce a clear image in most settings. Areas with higher ambient light may require at least 3,000 lumens to be effective. Some portable projectors will have significantly fewer – maybe 200 or 500 ANSI lumens – and require near-darkness to produce a good image. They do still work, but you will definitely need to limit ambient lighting as much as possible. Arguably more than most technology, you get what you pay for when picking up a projector. Budget projectors from little-known companies are often accused of exaggerating specifications, especially when it comes to brightness. Some of those brands are known to list a projector’s lumens in the thousands, but when tested, they will fall well short of the claim because it’s not an ANSI rating. That’s not to say they’re junk, but you should always be aware of what you’re buying. Don’t fall for the projectors claiming to have a spectacular lumen rating for under £100 or even £300. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost definitely is. While they are unlikely to perform well in any brighter environments, there's still an argument that the low-cost models are decent enough value to get a basic home projector experience, and many connect to smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 via Bluetooth. Examples of such devices in this category include: Yaber WiFi mini portable projector DR.Q HI-04 projector with screen Contrast ratio and aspect ratio Yes, more ratios. The contrast ratio is the difference between the darkest and lightest bits of a projected image – this will play a huge role in picture quality and how the projector will be able to combat ambient light. At its most basic: if your contrast ratio is 3000:1, the brightest part of the image is 3,000 times brighter than the darkest. For using a projector outdoors, the higher, the better. Aim for at least 10,000:1. You should also make sure the project is able to output in the correct aspect ratio, which is the width and height of an image. For HDTV (1080p) this will be 16:9. This is the standard aspect ratio these days, so don’t overlook having it. Skip straight to the projector suggestions Resolution Like when shopping for a new TV, the resolution is a priority, but rushing straight for the 4K options with projectors will quickly empty your bank account. You will want a minimum resolution of 720p but target a native 1080p output if possible. Strike the right balance with throw distance, lumens and contrast ratios. If you have the budget, go wild – definitely get the best resolution possible. But be aware that every projector will have a native resolution – the maximum amount of pixels it can display. While they may support higher resolutions, it doesn’t mean the quality will be better, only that the image is compressed into fewer pixels. For outdoor use, aim for 1920 x 1080; however, 1280 x 720 may also be acceptable for the portable models. Here are the most common projector resolutions: 4096 x 2160 (4K) 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) 1280 x 720 (HD Ready) 1280 x 800 (WXGA) 1024 x 768 (XGA) 800 x 600 (SVGA) 800 x 480 (WVGA) Keystone correction Alongside zoom and focus, many modern projectors will have the ability to handle a process known as keystone correction. This lets you digitally alter the shape and angle of the image that comes out of the device without having to relocate the entire projector. This could come in handy if your picture isn't matching up perfectly with the screen or wall –but be warned: it may result in a loss of resolution or quality. Which projector features should you consider? There are a number of key features that should be considered when shopping for an outdoor projector – many that could make or break your decision. Portability: So your sporting event of choice has ended (in success, of course), and your friends have gone home, it’s likely that you will need to shift the projector back indoors. That’s why weight, size and overall portability is a factor. The best projectors for outdoor use will have a balance of power and ease of use. Connectivity: Different projectors will have different ports – meaning that you will have to consider what you want to plug into the device. Does it need an HDMI port to link to your laptop to play movies? Do you want to connect to external speakers, a pair of headphones or an Amazon Fire TV Stick, or do you require it to read an SD card? Can it connect to your home Wi-Fi? Does it have Bluetooth? Not all models will. Audio sources: A number of projectors come with built-in speakers. But these may not always be up to par for all users, so you may have to consider linking the projector up to an external speaker system – even a portable home display such as the Amazon Echo Show 5 or Google Nest Hub Max would work. On this point, another aspect you will have to consider is your neighbour’s tolerance for noise. Power source: The last thing that you want to be doing four minutes before the football kicks off is finding out that your extension cord isn’t long enough or that the projector’s battery life is close to being depleted. Do you have a power outlet outdoors? Is your cabling protected from the weather? Screen: It’s a projector, but what are you actually projecting the image into? Yes, a white sheet, wall or garage door would technically work – but it may impact the picture quality if the device’s specs don’t quite have enough juice. You may want to consider buying a proper projector screen that will enhance the picture quality. Some outdoor screens that come with stands can be found for under £100. Skip straight to the projector suggestions How much should you spend on a projector? Projectors vary wildly in price, but it doesn’t have to cost thousands to find a solid model. Increasingly some of the more affordable projectors will have 1920 x 1080 native resolution – although some portables are largely around 720p. We would say that targeting the £500 - £600 price point is likely to be a safer bet as an entry point – that can get you solid specs for outdoor use. However, as with all tech, the question of how much to spend will come down to your own personal budget. 4K projectors are super cool, but they are also super expensive. While they may be tempting, always remain wary of ultra-low-cost projectors that over-promise - especially on lumens that are not ANSI rated. Sure, you will save money (you may see these listed for under £100), but the picture quality, noise control, connectivity options and contrast ratios may be lacking. For outdoor use, many of these cheaper projector models just simply won’t be up to scratch. Which are the best projector brands? These are the best projector brands in the UK: Epson BenQ Optoma LG ViewSonic Skip straight to the projector suggestions Should you buy a projector screen or make one? What’s a great projector without a great screen? How you go about obtaining that screen is up to you – whether it's a clean ironed sheet, the wall of your garage, an adjustable sturdy screen with a built-in stand or even one that’s inflatable. While it may be pretty tempting just to use a white sheet or wall, buying a proper projector screen will give you much more control over where you can project the image. Ambient light from the moon, for example, is uncontrollable. But having a screen lets you relocate the projector – you can’t move your garage wall. A proper projector screen will likely have a dark border to help frame your image, be made from better materials that can enhance the image quality, and have no creases or marks that possibly would get in the way of picture quality. Many proper screens will be collapsible, so they are fairly easy to store – and many will be priced around £100. The more you spend on the projector, the more likely it is that you should also be investing in a solid projector screen alongside it. Don't miss our guide on how to choose the best outdoor projector screen. Which garden or outdoor projector should you buy in 2024? It’s clear there are more aspects to purchasing a new projector than some people may initially consider. However, based on what we know about the specifications required to work in an outdoor setting, we can still suggest some solid projector options at a variety of different price points. Great for portability: Nebula Mars II Pro This box-shaped portable projector has a lot of the features that you would want for watching movies or sporting events outside. It runs on Android OS so you can get easy access to apps like YouTube and Netflix, projects up to 150 inches, boasts a native resolution of 1280 x 720 and has a 500 ANSI lumen rating when connected to a power source (200 lumens when running on battery). The Mars II Pro has built-in speakers and connects via HDMI, USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It even has a handle. Buy Anker Nebula Mars II Pro | £549.99 £479.99 (save £70 or 13%) at Amazon Latest Deals Great premium portable: XGIMI Halo+ This is a premium portable projector that has a ton of top specs for the £749 asking price, including 900 ANSI lumens - more than bright enough for darker evening conditions - HDR 10, two 5W Harman Kardon speakers, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI 2.0, two-hour battery life alongside a solid 1920×1080 FHD resolution. If you want decent power combined with simplicity then look no further than this model. Buy XGIMI Halo+ | £749 at Amazon Latest Deals Great for beginners: BenQ GV30 This neat little portable projector is unlikely to win any awards for its specs, but stands out for its size and ease of use. It has been made with wireless streaming in mind and can connect to devices using Wi-Fi, Chromecast, AirPlay, and HDMI. It’s 1280 x 720 display resolution and has 300 Lumen, so it would likely have to be dark outside to get a decent image. Buy BenQ GV30 LED Portable projector | £489 at Amazon Latest Deals Great for performance: Optoma GT1080e The Optoma GT1080e has an impressive spec sheet that should mean it performs well in both ambient light and dark conditions – perfect for outdoors. It’s short-throw, can project up to 300 inches, has 3000 lumens and a 25000:1 contrast ratio. The GT1080e has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (HD) and can even display 3D content. Buy Optoma GT1080e | £595 at Amazon Latest Deals Great for 4K gaming: BenQ TK850 If money is no object and you want a stunning 4K experience from your projector, then the BenQ TK850 could be the one for you. With 3000 ANSI lumens, 3840 x 2160 resolution (Ultra HD), HDR and a large 30,000:1 contrast ratio – the BenQ TK850 is a beast of a projector with a highly impressive skill set. Good timing for any sports fans with a large budget: the TK850 has a dedicated sports mode that enhances picture and sound during games. The downside is that it lacks streaming features. Buy BenQ TK850 | £1,478.99 £1,154.99 (save £324 or 22%) at Amazon Latest Deals Great for mid-range price/high lumen: Optoma HD145X The Optoma HD145X is a mid-range projector that still offers fantastic brightness – a large 3600 lumens – for under £500. It projects up to 301 inches, is 1080p Full HD resolution and can display 3D content. It's a long throw model with a 25,000:1 contrast ratio, has a five-watt speaker and comes with a single HDMI port. Buy Optoma HD145X | £499.99 at Very Latest Deals Great for smaller size: Philips PicoPix Max One This neat little mini projector can fit in the palm of your hand, but don’t judge it by its size alone. The PicoPix PPX520 beams out an image in Full HD 1080p with a screen size of up to 120 inches and even boasts a 10000:1 contrast ratio. Great for movie or sports nights with friends – it comes with a built-in 5-hour battery life and a USB Type-C port to connect laptops, smartphones and tablets. Just be aware that due to their lower lumen count, smaller projectors will only be able to produce a good image quality in much darker conditions, so that will affect outdoor performance. Buy Philips PicoPix Mac One | £649.99 £609.99 (save £40 or 6%) at Very Great for small and lightweight: LG CineBeam PF50KS With a 600 lumen output and a 1080p resolution, the tiny LG CineBeam PF50KS has really solid specs for its price. At 17 x 17 x 4.9 cm, it will easily fit in a backpack or be transported between rooms. It projects up to 100-inches in size, will provide 2.5 hours of battery life and quickly connects to phones and laptops via USB Type C. Buy LG CineBeam PF50KS | £741 at Amazon Latest Deals For the latest reviews and deals, be sure to bookmark the RadioTimes.com Technology section. Shopping for a TV instead of a projector? Don't miss our full guide to the best TV to buy in 2024, or check out our tech gifts guide.
Best tablets for older people to buy in 2024
From Apple to Amazon, there's a wide selection of tablets perfect for older users. Here's what to look out for, and our guide to the top models.
Tablets are an attractive prospect for older users, and it’s easy to see why. Displays are bigger than phones, they are great for travelling and easily pack enough power for tasks without needing to rely on a cumbersome laptop or desktop. In 2024, there are plenty of tablets on the market in a wide variety of screen sizes and price points. So whether you’re looking for something for reading, gaming, or perhaps talking to your family on, we have a model to suit you. The big temptation is to go with Apple – thanks to the relative safety of the iOS App Store and general ease-of-use of its software – and we broadly agree this is a great choice for most (or all) older users, although it is not the only option. There are some models from Amazon and Lenovo that are also worthy of your consideration. While they may lack the sheen and premium feel of Apple’s line-up, they are typically more affordable and provide more customisation. Not sure if you actually need a big display after all and want to stick with a phone? Be sure to also check out our guide to the best smartphones for older people. Plus, you can save with the best Samsung Galaxy S24 deals. Still shopping? Here are our recommendations for the best DAB radio. If you don’t need a powerful tablet and would only be using the slate for reading and audiobooks, then be sure to check out the best Kindle deals and the best Audible deals available now. Best tablets for older people at a glance Best premium tablet: Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch, £1,249 £1,149 Best affordable tablet: Amazon Fire HD 10 (with ads), £149.99 Best for large screen: Lenovo Tab P12 Pro, £699.99 £599.99 Best all-rounder: iPad Air 5th gen, £669 £619 Best affordable Apple: iPad 9th gen, £369 £319 Best portable tablet: Apple iPad mini 6th gen, £569 £529 How to choose the best tablet for older people A user may be older, but that doesn’t mean for a second that they don’t know their way around a tablet – or are somehow less able to use one as a result of age. There are, however, a few considerations that may be helpful to know before buying a device: display size and quality, accessibility features, battery life and how intuitive it is to navigate. Before hitting purchase, you want to consider why the tablet is needed. Is it for checking the news with a morning coffee? Catching up with some reading during a well-earned holiday? Or perhaps bingeing a new series or documentary on Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video? If you're using your tablet to watch videos, be sure to check out the best Disney Plus offers, top BT Sport deals and Sky Sports offers for this month. In most cases, narrowing down this why will quickly narrow down your options. If it's portability, there are some small tablets. If it’s power, there are powerful tablets. If it’s general ease of use, there are some that offer simple navigation, and so on. It’s no different than buying for anyone else - just find out why the tablet is needed and that’s your starting point. The next major factor to consider is budget. Luckily, accessibility is a key factor of both iOS and Android operating systems these days, so no matter which one you do go for there should be quite a few options built in. These will let you alter the user experience, such as changing the size of text, adding audio descriptions, magnifying the screen, text-to-speech and more. Other notable mentions: Premium Android tablet: Samsung Tab S9+, £849 Great e-reader tablet: Kindle Paperwhite, £159.99 Affordable e-reader: Kindle, £84.99 Budget Android tablet: Samsung A9, £169 Great smaller Amazon slate: Amazon Fire HD 8, £99.99 How much money should you spend? The tablets we have chosen for this list range from around £200 to £1,000. How much you spend will ultimately depend on the exact specs, storage space and display size you need. In general, the better the tablet, the more it will cost. If the user needs a tablet for basic internet browsing, streaming and emails it’s fine to stay at the lower end of the spectrum – say between £200 and £600 – but anyone who needs more power or built-in storage will likely have to pay a bit more. We highly advise sticking to well-known brands when buying a new tablet, so that will include Apple, Samsung, Amazon, Lenovo, Microsoft and Huawei (although check the specs for that last one before spending money as some may not play well with Google apps). The reason for this is simple: they are the most likely to be well supported in terms of future software and security updates, alongside customer support. Best tablets for older people in 2024 Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch, £1,249 £1,149 Best premium tablet Pros: Fantastic high-res display Beautiful high-end design iOS is easy to set up and use Cons: Expensive, especially for higher storage Large frame is not the best for portability If you need power over portability and don’t mind paying for the luxury, the iPad Pro (12.9-inch) is the best of the best. Priced at £1,249 this device isn’t for everyone, but it is undoubtedly premium, sleek and easy to use. The high-resolution display is a high-point, and there’s a lot of customisation offered in the settings: screen zoom, text size, audio descriptions, motion sensitivity, call routing, voice control, support for the Apple Pencil 2, and so much more. Buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022) Buy Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022) for £1,249 £1,194 (save £155 or 4%) at Currys Buy Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022) for £1,249 £1,194 (save £155 or 4%) at John Lewis Buy Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022) for £1,249 £1,194 (save £155 or 4%) at AO Amazon Fire HD 10 (with ads), £149.99 Best affordable tablet Pros: Affordable for a full HD tablet Easy to set up and use A wealth of content on tap Cons: Lacks support for native Google apps Definitely focused around Amazon Not as powerful as other slates If you need a well-rounded tablet with a solid screen, simple navigation and a good selection of apps (without going into best budget tablet territory) we recommend the Fire HD 10 tablet from Amazon. The 10.1-inch Full HD display is great for watching content and reading e-books, and it feels premium – without costing it. It's also worth nothing that the Amazon Fire HD tablets have the option to come with or without ads. The with ads option is a little bit cheaper but it means that adverts will appear on your lock screen while the device is in sleep mode, they will not however disturb you while you're using it. Buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 Buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 at Amazon (no ads) for £149.99 at Amazon undefined Lenovo Tab P12 Pro, £699.99 £599.99 Best for large screen Pros: Lovely 12.6-inch 2K display Thin bezels and aluminium frame Stylus comes in the box Cons: Software not as good as rivals No 3.5mm headphone port Not the best for portability If a large high-resolution display is your main priority, consider the P12 Pro tablet from Lenovo, which has a really nice 12.6-inch 2K panel alongside tiny bezels, a premium aluminium frame and a solid battery life. This is one to buy if you want a tablet for watching your favourite streaming platforms or handling some artistic projects as there is a stylus pen bundled in the box. As we wrote in our in-depth Lenovo Tab P12 Pro review, we found it to be great for entertainment, although the cost point may be a little bit high for some users as it gets pretty competitive at this price point. Read the full Lenovo Tab P12 Pro review Buy the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro Buy Lenovo Tab P12 Pro for £669.99 £599.99 (save £100 or 14%) at Amazon undefined Apple iPad Air 5th gen (2022), £669 £614.98 Best all-rounder Pros: Contains Apple’s M1 chip Design feels premium iOS software is fantastic Cons: No Face ID biometrics Yes, it’s still pretty expensive No 120Hz refresh rate If you want an all-rounder – a premium tablet without having to pay the £1000 price point of the Pro models – the iPad Air (5th gen) is our pick. The software is very easy to use, there’s a broad selection of accessibility features and it has a sleek and high-end design. It’s got the same chipset as the iPad Pro, and we found the performance to be top-notch overall. Simply put; a great user experience. Buy the Apple iPad 5th gen (2022) Buy iPad Air 5th gen for £669 £619 (save 7%) at Amazon Buy iPad Air 5th gen for £628 at Very Buy iPad Air 5th gen for £628 at Currys undefined Apple iPad 9th generation, £369 £319 Best affordable Apple slate Pros: Punches above its entry-level price Easy to set up and use Slim, appealing, design Cons: Runs on an older processor Lacks high specs of its siblings Older aesthetic as of last year The iPad (9th gen) may not have the high-end feel of its pricier siblings – and has an older design thanks to the black bezels and physical home button – but it would be a big mistake to think that it’s lacking. The iPad is a force to be reckoned with for one reason: it provides an iOS tablet at a more affordable price point. That’s a pretty big deal, and we found the user experience to be fantastic throughout. Buy the iPad 9th generation (2021): Buy iPad 9th gen for £369 £319 (save £50 or 13%) at Currys Buy iPad 9th gen for £369 £319 (save £50 or 13%) at Argos Buy iPad 9th gen for £369 £319 (save £50 or 13%) at Very undefined Apple iPad mini 6th gen, £569 £529 Best portable tablet Pros: Bright, vibrant display Beautiful design and easy-to-use Highly portable design Cons: Most expensive iPad mini model ever Can feel more fragile than other models If portability is your priority, the iPad mini (6th gen) is for you. To put it bluntly, you won’t find a better tablet in this form factor. The iOS user experience remains suitably premium, the refreshed design is attractive and the 8.3-inch display is great for browsing apps and watching content on the go. Taking a well-deserved holiday and need a smaller tablet that will easily fit into your carry bag? Go for the iPad mini. For more, read our full iPad mini 6 review Buy the Apple iPad mini 6th gen: Buy Apple iPad mini 6th gen for £569 £519 (save £50 or 8%) at Very Buy Apple iPad mini 6th gen for £569 £549 (save £20 or 3%) at John Lewis Latest Deals For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. Plus, you can find more great deals like the best laptop offers and the best Amazon Echo deals.
Best budget smartphones to buy in 2024: top affordable models
Here are some of the best affordable phones to buy today. Right now, there are budget picks from Samsung, OnePlus, Nokia and more.
On the lookout for a budget smartphone this year? You've come to the right place. The RadioTimes.com team have tested some fantastic phones, some of which had very appealing price tags. It's worth bearing in mind that a budget phone often comes with a compromise or two, and if you want all the latest and greatest features you might have to spend a little more. Hence, it's a good idea to think about what features you prioritise in a phone before choosing. There's no exact science on where the budget, mid-range and premium — or 'flagship' — categories begin and end. This varies from publication to publication and from brand to brand. In our case, we've chosen to define a budget smartphone as anything under £300, a mid-range smartphone as anything between £300 and £600, and a premium smartphone as anything above £600. Of these premium smartphones, only some of them are actually regarded as flagships. A flagship is a phone that leads a whole brand's offering, or at least one of their most premium lines. The term is a naval one as, historically, the flagship in a navy would be the largest, most valuable ship with the most firepower. In this guide, we are referring to the SIM-free price of the handsets, but it's worth considering that with most SIM packages you buy the cost is spread monthly rather than being entirely up-front. This could potentially give you a bit more flexibility in your budget. For more on the latest releases, take a look at our guide to the new Nothing Phone (2) UK release date and iPhone 15 UK release date. If you're a fan of Samsung, then you have to check out our full list of Samsung phones, including the brand new Samsung Galaxy S24. Jump to: Best budget smartphones at a glance Best budget smartphones to buy in 2024 Choosing a budget smartphone Best budget phones to buy at a glance: Best all-rounder: Samsung Galaxy A53, £242.50 Best under £300: OnePlus Nord CE 2, £299 Best under £200: Honor X7, £169 Best under £110: Nokia C21 Plus, £109.99 Best budget 5G: Moto G62, £154.69 Best for battery life: Xiaomi Poco F5, £449 £399 Best budget display: Samsung A33 5G, £279.99 Best budget phones to buy in 2024 Samsung Galaxy A53 Best all-rounder Pros: Great value 120Hz display Well designed Expandable storage IP67 rating Good battery life Cons: No plug adaptor or fast charger in box No wireless charging facility Plastic build It's the moment we've been waiting for: the Samsung Galaxy A53 has just slipped under the £300 mark, making it eligible for our budget phones list. The phone launched at £399 and is a great all-rounder, with a great screen and a solid easy-to-use camera. In our full Samsung Galaxy A53 review, it scored an outstanding 4.3 stars thanks to its brilliant value proposition. The display is a crisp and responsive 120Hz panel and the handset has a nice look and feel to it, too. Plus, the battery will keep you juiced up all day. Samsung Galaxy A53 | £242.50 at Amazon For the latest in the Samsung A series, check out our release date page for the Samsung A34 and A54. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Best under £300 Pros: Great all-round package Sleek OnePlus styling Fantastic value Cons: No IP rating The Nord CE 2 punches above its weight in this price bracket, offering solid performance and attractive styling, and at £299, it has a strong place on this list. OnePlus is a brand that's made its name offering good value, and the Nord CE 2 is no exception. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor and 8GB of RAM, the phone performs well and offers 5G connectivity on a shoestring, too. Check out our full review of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 for all the specifications. OnePlus Nord CE 2 | £299 at OnePlus Did you know Samsung has just announced the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE release date and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE release date? Honor X7 Best under £200 Pros: Thin and light Very affordable 6nm Power-efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset Good battery life Cons: Feels cheap Not compatible with Netflix app With this slim price tag, the Honor X7 stands out for its user experience and overall value offering. It has a sleek, slim design and a long-lasting battery. Admittedly, the handset feels a little cheap to the touch, but it seems the money Honor saved on the body shell has been spent on internals instead — we'd rather that way than the other way around! Don't expect all the bells and whistles of a top-end phone, but the Honor X7 is a fantastic value proposition. Buy the Honor X7 SIM-free: Honor X7 | £169 Nokia C21 Plus Best under £110 Pros: Ultra-affordable Good battery life Cons: Quite basic The Nokia C21 Plus is a fantastically affordable option, available for just £109.99. Really you'd be hard pressed to find a smartphone out there for this price, and there's not many left in stock. It packs a 6.5-inch HD screen, a 13MP main camera with a 2MP depth sensor, plus a 5MP selfie camera. We think it's quite a nice design for a simple sub-£100 phone and Nokia has also promised two years of security updates, so there's some peace of mind to be had for the phone's longevity. It also has Nokia's signature durability and can withstand a few knocks and drops. Nokia C21 Plus | £109.99 at Amazon Motorola Moto G62 Best budget 5G Pros: 5G for under £200 Responsive 120Hz display Solid battery life Cons: Low power – only 4GB RAM LCD display Disappointing camera zoom function Motorola's Moto G62 is a great affordable option that offers good battery life and 5G connectivity, all for under £200. The camera is serviceable too, and we quite liked the 120Hz display, though it is only a basic LCD panel. With a relatively sleek handset which has a nice, tactile feel, it beats out others in the price range which can be clunky or plastic-y. Read our full Motorola Moto G62 review for more information or check out buying links below. Buy the Moto G62 SIM-free: Moto G62 | £154.69 at ebay Xiaomi Poco F5 Best for battery life Pros: Long battery life Quick to charge Fast performance Good value for money Cons: Trimmed down features Image stabiliser unremarkable during testing If you’re looking for a phone that’ll last you all day and won’t break the bank, then the Poco F5 will serve you well with its nearly 14 hour battery life. Sticking with the stand out battery, the handset charges fully in just under an hour, so you can rest assured that even if you do somehow run out of battery, you’ll be back to full juice in no time. That’s not all the Poco F5 is bringing to the table. The snappy performance will handle most of what you’ll throw at it, even if it is held back by the reduced feature set. Overall, you’re getting a crisp OLED display that’s perfect for streaming and browsing photos, and a 5G-ready handset for a fraction of the cost of higher end smartphones. If you are looking for that extra bump in performance and you don’t mind spending a bit more, the Poco F5 Pro is a great mid-range upgrade. Xiaomi Poco F5 | £449 £399 (save £50 or 11%) at Xiaomi For great deals on consoles, take a look at the best PS5 deals and Nintendo Switch offers. Samsung A33 5G Best budget display Pros: Great design and finish OLED display rich in colour and contrast Water and dust protection IP67 Long battery life Cons: No wireless charging Image stabiliser unremarkable during testing Low light photos not great Like its predecessor, the A33 5G is a fantastic all-round budget smartphone with a few notable upgrades, including 5G. It’s also got fantastic build quality, something that is lacking in other phones around this price bracket, and IP67 water and dust protection for added peace of mind. It’s not without its drawbacks. The lack of a headphone jack means you’ll either need to invest in bluetooth headphones or a USB-C headphone dongle, potentially upping the price of the handset. While its battery life might not hit the highs of the previous model, it will still last you a solid 13:48 hours - perfect for if you forget your charger. Overall, thanks to yet another fantastic Samsung display and the added benefit of 5G, the A33 5G definitely earns its spot on this list. Samsung A33 5G | £279.99 at Amazon Choosing a budget smartphone How much should you pay for a budget phone? While there are some exceptions, phones start to get good at around the £200 mark. The sign of a truly great budget mobile is when you start to wonder why anyone in their right mind would consider spending four times as much for something that seems pretty similar 95 per cent of the time. This happens quite a lot. The closer you get to £100, the more likely you will see fundamental performance problems that may well get on your nerves. This includes sluggish typing inputs, lag when navigating or major stuttering when switching between your apps. Especially if you use your phone a lot, you'll want to try and avoid these issues when possible. Get to the £200-£300 mark, and you can take your pick of advanced features. You can have 5G, great gaming performance, higher-end design elements like a glass back cover or a surprisingly high-quality camera (or two). No phone offers all of these in one package until you spend significantly more, so you will have to think about which matters most. And to get the most for your money, consider moving away from household names like Samsung to companies that you may never have considered before, like Xiaomi, Oppo and Realme. For news, reviews and deals, check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. For more budget buys, take a look at the best budget smartwatches, and here are the best smartphones for older people. Plus, the brand-new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold release date has been confirmed, and the smartphone is available to pre-order right now.
Best Stranger Things costumes you can buy in 2023
Friends don't lie. These are some of the best Stranger Things costumes for Halloween 2023.
Halloween is almost upon us and which series could provide a better seasonal costume than everyone's favourite sci-fi drama, Stranger Things? Netflix’s science fiction-infused supernatural horror series returned to our screens with a monstrous fourth season last year year, as Mike, Eleven, Steve and friends continued their battle against mysterious forces in the town of Hawkins. The series is well loved for its exploration of the paranormal and a creepy alternative universe called the 'Upside Down', but thanks to the 1980s setting there’s one other aspect that stands out from other shows, and that’s the costumes. From Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) pink dress in the very first season to the iconic Scoops Ahoy uniform worn by Steve (Joe Keery) and Robin (Maya Hawke) in the third, there’s plenty of outfits that are instantly recognisable from the show. So, here’s our pick of the best Stranger Things costumes you can buy right now for adults and kids. Want to know more about the upcoming season? Here's everything you need to know about Stranger Things series 5. Plus, there's a new Hawkins-themed play coming to the West End next spring, so here's how to get tickets for Stranger Things The First Shadow. Best Stranger Things costumes at a glance: Kids Eleven Button Down Romper, £13.99 Stranger Things Chrissy cheerleader costume, £13.99 Jim Hopper Shirt Costume, from £15.99 Dustin Stranger Things trucker hat, for £16.99 Hellfire Club Unisex Ringer T-Shirt, £17.99 Hawkins High School 1984 Tigers Basketball T-Shirt, £19.99 Eleven Long Sleeve Dress, £19.99 Child Stranger Things Dustin Waupaca Shirt, £19.99 Max Mayfield zipper hoodie, £20.99 Kids Demogorgon costume, from £25.99 Vecna mask, £25.99 Eleven Mall Dress Coloured Jumpsuit, £32.99 Robin and Steve Scoops Ahoy Costumes, from £42.38 Adult Demogorgon Costume, £49.99 Best Stranger Things costumes you can buy in 2023 Vecna mask Vecna/Henry/One has become the most iconic villain from Netflix's long-running sci-fi horror series. He was the main antagonist across seasons 3 and 4 and has an amazing on-screen presence. His terrifying look makes him the ideal subject for a Halloween costume. The mask linked below offers you the chance to re-create his villainous visage. Buy Vecna mask for £25.99 at Amazon Eleven Long Sleeve Dress This is an iconic outfit worn in the first season by telekinetic lead character Eleven. It comes in three sizes, small, medium and large, although the Eggo Waffles aren't included! You can also buy replica blue jackets at John Lewis with prices starting from £28. Buy Eleven Long Sleeve Dress for £19.99 at Halloween Costumes.com Shop blue jackets at John Lewis Max Mayfield zipper hoodie This time last year, everyone had been talking about the Stranger Things episode Dear Billy, which featured an award-winning performance by Sadie Sink and was responsible for the great Kate Bush resurgence. Well, now you can recreate that moment with this Max Mayfield hoodie, which is available in sizes XS to XXL at Amazon. Buy Max Mayfield zipper hoodie for £20.99 at Amazon Stranger Things Chrissy cheerleader costume What could be more typically Halloween than a doomed — or indeed deceased — cheerleader? That could be what's on offer here if you combine this Cheerleader kit, which is meant to recreate Chrissy's cheerleader outfit, with some appropriately deathly make-up. Buy Chrissy cheerleader costume from £13.99 at Wowcher Hellfire Club Unisex Ringer T-Shirt, £17.99 If you need a simpler approach to a Stranger Things costume, this branded T-shirt showing a logo of the characters’ Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing club at Hawkins High School’s – the Hellfire Club – will be recognisable among fans. It comes in sizing between small and XXL, and is made of 100% cotton. Buy the Hellfire Club Unisex Ringer T-Shirt for £17.99 at Zavvi Robin and Steve Scoops Ahoy Costume A fan-favourite part of Stranger Things' third season is the storyline between Steve and newbie Robin. So, these Scoops Ahoy ice cream parlour outfits would make for the perfect couples costume. Or, you can buy Steve and Robin's individual outfits, all at Amazon, Buy Scoops Ahoy Costume from £42.38 at Amazon Eleven Mall Dress Multi-Coloured Jumpsuit Seen when Eleven visits a shopping mall in season three, this multi-coloured outfit looks like it has been pulled right from the show. It’s an 80s-style romper that has geometric patterns all over. There are four sizes: extra small, small, medium and extra large. Buy Eleven Mall Multi-Coloured Jumpsuit for £32.99 at Amazon Kids Eleven Button Down Romper The child's version of Eleven's geometric jumpsuit is perfect for Halloween parties. It's made from soft fabric so it won't restrict your kid from running around and playing, and it comes in sizes from five to 14 years. Buy a Kids Eleven Button Down Romper for £13.99 at Amazon Jim Hopper Hawaiian Shirt Costume, from £20.99 Sheriff Jim Hopper, a fan favourite Stranger Things character played by David Harbour, is often seen wearing colourful or patterned shirts when not in uniform. If you want to dress up as him, this short sleeve cotton Hawaiian shirt will do the trick. Buy Jim Hopper Shirt Costume from £15.99 at Amazon Hawkins High 1983 Tigers T-Shirt Another low-key outfit can be based around this Hawkins High School 1983 Tigers T-shirt – worn by members of the sports team at the fictional Stranger Things town. Sizing is between S and 3XL, and there are two colours: white or heather grey. Buy Hawkins High School 1983 Tigers T-Shirt for £19.99 at Amazon Adult Demogorgon Costume The Demogorgon is one of the main Stranger Things baddies, and this officially licensed 3D effect costume will leave an impression on everyone at the party. This is a full-body outfit, complete with a chest piece, hood and hand/feet covers. Buy Adult Demogorgon Costume for £49.99 at HalloweenCostumes Kids Demogorgon Costume Your kids too can be a terrifying creature this Halloween (more so than they usually are). This children's' Demogorgon costume comes in sizes 5-14 and is on sale at Amazon. Buy Kids Demogorgon costume from £25.99 at Amazon Child Stranger Things Dustin Waupaca Shirt, £30.99 Dustin loves a printed tee, and now you can dress your little one up in one of the most iconic T-shirts from the show: the Waupaca one. Plus, why not complete the look with the matching cap? Buy the Child Stranger Things Dustin Waupaca Shirt for £19.99 at HalloweenCostumes Buy Dustin Stranger Things trucker hat for £16.99 at Bioworld International We've got costumes coming out of our ears at RadioTimes.com. You can find Squid Game costumes, Hocus Pocus costumes, best Wednesday costumes and Barbie outfit ideas. Plus, the best Halloween events in the UK.
iPad Air (2022) vs iPad Air (2020): Which Apple tablet should you buy?
Which mid-range iOS tablet is for you? It's probably going to be an iPad Air, but do you go for power or affordability? Here's the verdict.
If you want to buy a mid-range Apple iPad, two of your best options right now are the new iPad Air (5th gen) and its predecessor, the iPad Air (4th gen). The Air series is for anyone who finds the iPad mini too compact but doesn’t need the powerful performance offered by the pricier iPad Pro. It sits in the middle of the tablet family, and serves as a great balance between those two siblings. The 4th generation iPad Air, which first came out in October 2020, is still on sale despite being recently succeeded by the new 5th gen model in March 2022. Apple has stopped selling the Air 4 in favour of the new model – which starts at £579 – but both remain available to buy at other stores, including Amazon, Currys, Very, Argos, AO and John Lewis. That means anyone who is shopping for a new iPad Air has a choice to make: old or new? The same goes for anyone with a 2020-era iPad Air who is thinking about upgrading: is it worth it? To find out, let’s compare the specs of each model. We have been hands-on with both iOS tablets, so for an in-depth verdict here's our Apple iPad Air 5th gen review and Apple iPad Air 4th gen review. Want to read more about the latest Apple products? Here’s our iPhone 13 review, iPhone 13 mini review, iPhone 13 Pro review and iPhone 13 Pro Max review. Are you shopping for smartphone add-ons? Don’t miss our guides to the best iPhone accessories, the best smartphone tripods and the best portable chargers. There’s a variety of tablets that are very well suited to older users, too. If that’s of interest, be sure to read our guide to the best tablets for older people in 2022. Obsessed with Apple tech and shopping for a new tablet? Don’t miss our in-depth breakdown of the best iPad you can buy in 2022, based on hands-on testing. Jump to: Key differences at a glance Design Specs and features Price Storage Battery life Camera Display 5G connectivity Which should you buy Where to buy iPad Air (2022) vs iPad Air (2020): key differences at a glance The two iPad Air models have more in common than they do apart, especially in the looks department, but there are of course a couple of key differences: iPad Air 5th gen comes with the latest M1 chip, while the 2020 iPad Air 4th gen has an A14 Bionic chip - the same as found in the iPhone 12. iPad Air 5th gen has a 12MP (megapixel) ultra-wide “selfie” camera, while the iPad Air 4th gen has a 7MP FaceTime HD camera. iPad Air 5th gen supports 5G connectivity for faster internet speeds and downloads, while the iPad Air 4th gen is 4G LTE cellular only. iPad Air (2022) vs iPad Air (2020): key differences in detail Design The latest 2022 iPad Air is a fantastic tablet, there’s no doubt. But it has managed to win that award not by overhauling its design or specs on a grand scale, but by adding iterative updates under the hood. In other words, the iPad Air 4th gen was already great; the new version is now slightly better. Put them side by side and it’s likely that most, if not all, people would struggle to tell them apart. Both are 247.6 mm in height, 178.5 mm in width and have a thickness of 6.1 mm – although the new iPad Air is ever-so-slightly heavier. Both have a 10.9-inch LED-backlit display, the same build materials and receive power via a USB-C port. The 2022 model has five colours: Space Grey, Starlight, Pink, Purple and Blue. The 2020 model also comes in five colours: Grey, Rose Gold, Silver, Blue and Green. Specs and features The major upgrade with the new model is the M1 chip, which boosts performance speeds by about 60 per cent compared to the 2020 model, according to Apple. On top of that, the iPad Air 5 now comes with 5G, and the USB-C port has up to 2x faster transfer speeds. The majority of features are found via iPadOS 15, which is on both models so there is no difference in what the tablets can do day-to-day but the newer model may just complete some tasks a little faster and smoother. Price The iPad Air 5th gen is the more recent tablet, so it costs more. The 2020 model is not what we would describe as being affordable, but it is now being discounted by around £50-£70 at various UK retailers. The new iPad Air 5 model starts from £569. iPad Air 5th gen pricing: 64GB WiFi: £579 64GB Cellular: £769 256GB WiFi: £759 256GB Cellular: £945 iPad Air 4th gen pricing: 64GB WiFi: £499 64GB Cellular: £709 256GB WiFi: £629 256GB Cellular: £749 Storage Both iPad Air models come with two storage sizes: 64GB and 256GB. They come in as Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi cellular. Only the new 5th gen supports 5G networks. Battery life iPad battery life will depend on how much the device is being used throughout the full day. As a guide, Apple measures how long the tablets can browse the web on Wi-Fi or watch videos to demonstrate roughly how each performs. Spoiler alert: they are the same, with the Air 5th gen, Air 4th gen and the Pro models all having “up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching videos” and “up to nine hours of surfing the web using a mobile data network". Camera The two iPad Air tablets have the same back cameras, consisting of a 12MP wide single camera set-up at the back that has a digital zoom of up to 5x, alongside the ability to shoot 4K video at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps. The main difference is the front selfie camera, which is 12MP on the 5th gen and 7MP on the 4th. Display Whether it’s drawing a sketch using the Apple Pencil 2 or watching a new Netflix show you get the same display on both tablets. It’s a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina (LED-backlit) IPS display with True Tone, which adjusts the brightness based on your surroundings. They have 2360x1640 resolution and approximately 500 nits of brightness. 5G connectivity The iPad Air 5th gen has 5G, while the previous model does not. In terms of wider connectivity, both of the tablets have Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6 and built-in GPS. Our verdict: which iPad Air should you buy? As you could probably tell from this comparison, the iPad Air 5th gen is similar to the iPad Air 4th gen. They have more in common than not. Both slates look the same, have the same display, same rear camera and compatibility with accessories including the Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio case and Apple Pencil 2. There are some key differences, however: the new model has 5G, a better selfie camera set-up but, crucially, it comes with the same M1 chip found in the pricier iPad Pro. The slightly older iPad Air is currently about £70 more affordable. So here’s the bottom line: If you can afford it, we recommend buying the new iPad Air. Performance is better than ever thanks to Apple’s M1 chip, it is future-proofed with 5G connectivity, and the front-facing camera gives you more clarity when on video calls. The design of the tablet remains attractive and premium, and the same on both, so if you do need to save money, the iPad Air 4th gen remains a top buy. Where to buy the iPad Air 5th gen: Buy the iPad Air (5th Gen) at Very Buy the iPad Air (5th Gen) at Currys Buy the iPad Air (5th Gen) at Amazon Buy the iPad Air (5th Gen) at John Lewis Buy the iPad Air (5th Gen) at AO Buy the iPad Air (5th Gen) at Argos Where to buy the iPad Air 4th gen: Buy the iPad Air 4th gen at Very Buy the iPad Air 4th gen at Currys Buy the iPad Air 4th gen at Amazon Buy the iPad Air 4th gen at John Lewis Buy the iPad Air 4th gen at AO Buy the iPad Air 4th gen at Argos For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
What is MagSafe? Apple’s iPhone 13 charging technology explained
Apple's magnetic technology is a feature of the new iPhone 13, so here's a breakdown of how it works and a selection of the top accessories.
The four handsets that makeup Apple’s iPhone 13 series may have new chips, cameras and colours, but there’s one aspect of the previous line-up of smartphones that the tech giant is more than happy to keep, and that’s MagSafe. After being introduced in the iPhone 12 last year, magnetic technology has been used to create an entire ecosystem of cases and wireless chargers for the flagship smartphones – to the point it’s now impossible to imagine them without it. Accessories that snap onto the back of the iPhones – such as the official MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Battery Pack – have helped introduce new ways to power the handsets, while the selection of silicone cases comes in a variety of colours. But what is MagSafe, and how does it work? Whether you are new to the iOS world or a seasoned Apple pro who is just unsure, this simple guide has the answers. If you're considering buying an iPhone 13 then check out our iPhone 13 review and our iPhone 13 stock page which includes the availability from top UK phone retailers. Shopping for add-ons? Here are our guides to the best iPhone accessories you can buy in 2023, the best smartphone tripods and the best portable chargers. What is MagSafe? MagSafe is the name used by Apple to describe the magnetic technology that’s now built into the back of iPhones. An array of magnets are placed around a Qi wireless charging coil inside the handsets – supporting chargers, sleeves, cases, and wallets that perfectly align and improve the efficiency of power transfer. Of course, wireless charging is not new. But it’s Apple’s use of magnets that sets its MagSafe products apart from the competition in the smartphone space. For Apple OGs, the term MagSafe has a very different meaning in 2021 than it did in the mid-2000s when it was first used to describe the magnetic power connectors for MacBooks – a safety feature that popped out the cord if it was pulled by mistake. While MacBooks now use USB-C, Apple kept the MagSafe name, rebranding it for the release of the four iPhone 12 handsets in October 2020. With a growing store full of accessories, the technology is here to stay and is also inside the iPhone 13. How does MagSafe work? While the name MagSafe is an umbrella term to describe the ecosystem of products and the tech behind them, it mostly refers to the 18 small magnets that are attached to the iPhone charging coil – based on the Qi wireless charging standard. The use of magnets means that chargers will snap into place and align with the coil inside the iPhone. In a typical Qi wireless charger, if the smartphone is not aligned perfectly, it may not be as efficient and may charge slower as a result. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are fully compatible with other Qi wireless chargers to get up to 7.5W of power, but using an official MagSafe Charger gives faster wireless charging speeds of up to 15W when paired with a 20W or more power adapter. The added bonus of Apple’s magnets is the add-ons can be securely attached and smoothly removed with ease – whether it’s a car mount or a power bank. Older iPhones – as far back as the iPhone 8 – support wireless charging, but only the newer iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 handsets come with the magnetic technology. When shopping for MagSafe products, note that only accessories labelled “made for MagSafe” are officially licensed accessories with the Apple technology. As stated by Belkin, an Apple partner, other products may be labelled as “MagSafe compatible,” meaning that while they have magnetic features that allow them to connect to the iPhone, they won’t support the faster 15W charging. Apple notes on its website that the MagSafe Charger may leave a circular imprint on leather cases and warns that its magnets may interfere with medical devices such as implanted pacemakers or defibrillators. It advises users with these should keep their iPhone handset at least 30 cm away from the device if charging wirelessly. Top MagSafe accessories Here are some of the top iPhone accessories that take full advantage of MagSafe technology. These are compatible with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models. MagSafe Charger Price: £45.00 (RRP) | Buy now from Amazon One of the most well-known MagSafe accessories is the official wireless charger, priced at £45 in the UK. It’s a small puck-shaped device that snaps directly onto the back of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, providing up to 15W of power. It can also be used to charge some older iPhones (just without the magnetic snap) alongside the AirPods that come with a wireless charging case. Do note the 20W power adapter is sold separately on Apple’s store. MagSafe Battery Pack Price: £99 | Buy now from Amazon Unveiled in July this year, the MagSafe Battery Pack aligns with the iPhone magnets to provide wireless charging of up to 5W of power when on the go. If it is connected to a 20W adapter (sold separately), it can charge up to 15W of power. Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Price: £139.99 | Buy now from Amazon This multi-device charger from Belkin not only juices up your iPhone with up to 15W of power but has sections for an Apple Watch and AirPods. When in use, your iPhone can be placed in either portrait or landscape, so it’s still accessible while magnetically attached. This is a fantastic choice for anyone with multiple iOS devices. iPhone 13 Silicone Case Price: £49.00 | Buy now from Amazon Yes, around £50 is a lot to pay for a case, but Apple has never been one to shy away from premium pricing. The official range of soft-touch silicone cases come with built-in MagSafe that aligns with the handset and facilitates faster charge speeds. There is also a range of official Apple leather cases, which are priced at £59.00. iPhone Leather Wallet Price: £59.00 The MagSafe-powered wallet snaps onto the back of your iPhone (even over one of the cases) and is intended to store credit or debit cards. Another neat feature is that it supports Apple’s “Find My” feature, so it will track the wallet’s last known location if it separates from the iPhone. The MagSafe wallet holds up to three cards total. For the latest news, reviews and deals, check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section.
Best Mandalorian gifts: Top LEGO, Disney and Baby Yoda merchandise for all ages
The Mandalorian on Disney Plus is a force to be reckoned with – so here's our guide to the best merchandise and toys you can buy for all occasions.
Since first airing on Disney Plus in 2019, the Pedro Pascal-starring Star Wars show The Mandalorian has become a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s children adoring the cutesy Grogu – who also goes by 'Baby Yoda' to some – or the return of beloved characters such as Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett and Ahsoka Tano, it seems that the weekly show has revitalised the fanbase. Aside from being a cinematic space saga, Star Wars has always been known for one other thing: toys. It doesn't matter if you are five or 50, there will be merch for you – from LEGO sets to action figures to expensive lightsaber replicas. We have scoured the internet for some of the coolest Mandalorian-themed gifts so here’s a selection that will be suitable for a variety of occasions and ages. We've also included a range of prices for any budget. Plus, if you're interested in more of our merchandise guides, check out this list of the best LEGO deals for 2023. Don’t miss our coverage on The Mandalorian season 3, the latest news on The Mandalorian Season 4, as well as guides on Disney Plus series Ahsoka. The Mandalorian gifts at a glance: Grogu Small Soft Toy, £23 Hasbro Lightsaber Forge Darksaber, £29.99 The Mandalorian & the Child LEGO set, £17.99 Hasbro Galactic Action Mandalorian and Grogu, from £34.99 Razor Crest LEGO set, £519.99 The Child LEGO set, £79.99 The Mandalorian 3D Metal Earth Puzzle, £36 <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=radiotimes-1612646&awinmid=2549&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zavvi.com%2Fmerch-memorabilia%2Fhasbro-star-wars-the-black-series-luke-skywalker-force-fx-elite-electronic-lightsaber%2F14015148.html%3Faffil%3Dthggpsad%26switchcurrency%3DGBP%26shippingcountry%3DGB%26%26thg_ppc_campaign%3D71700000101349138%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMI9OiTvMSV_QIVh9_tCh1AGArnEAQYASABEgLQN_D_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Luke Skywalker Force FX Electronic Lightsaber, £249.99 <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100262624-15618761?sid=radiotimes-1612646&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fproduct%2F1957059%3FistCompanyId%3Da74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c%26istFeedId%3Dc290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c%26istItemId%3Drrlrpxrlp%26istBid%3Dt%26%26cmpid%3DGS001%26_%2524ja%3Dtsid%3A59157%257Cacid%3A629-618-1342%257Ccid%3A16634989433%257Cagid%3A133162502845%257Ctid%3Apla-886023936471%257Ccrid%3A588879114441%257Cnw%3Au%257Crnd%3A14825939473822200127%257Cdvc%3Ac%257Cadp%3A%257Cmt%3A%257Cloc%3A9045906%26utm_source%3DGoogle%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3D16634989433%26utm_term%3D1957059%26utm_content%3Dshopping%26utm_custom1%3D133162502845%26utm_custom2%3D629-618-1342%26GPDP%3Dtrue%26gclid%3DCjwKCAiA_6yfBhBNEiwAkmXy5yHbhQYAXnJLHJULNOUFL1nxgO40Ga3SecV81u0CFbYyolKq1lvGxBoC190QAvD_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">The Mandalorian by Funko, £12 £9 Hasbro Vintage Collection Action Figure, £15.99 £13.99 The Mandalorian Deluxe Playset, £25.95 £12.89 The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter, £59.99 Monopoly: Star Wars The Child Edition, £28.99 £18.99 Mandalorian Adult LEGO Set, £59.99 <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100l5d88n/pubref:radiotimes-1612646/%5Bp_id:1011l434372%5D/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dunelm.com%2Fproduct%2Fstar-wars-baby-yoda-3d-cushion-1000182242%3FdefaultSkuId%3D30715914%26ds_c%3DKids_Cushions%2Band%2BThrows_%255BGOO-PLA%2BPSB-KIDSACCESS-CUSHIONS%255D%26gclid%3DCj0KCQiAorKfBhC0ARIsAHDzslukoVIrsQhhGysKxW_Tshszm0DmVWUzNJLGKARzKnjwOa3zVFSAAPgaAob7EALw_wcB%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds?defaultSkuId=30715914&ds_c=Kids_Cushions+and+Throws_%5BGOO-PLA+PSB-KIDSACCESS-CUSHIONS%5D&gclid=Cj0KCQiAorKfBhC0ARIsAHDzslukoVIrsQhhGysKxW_Tshszm0DmVWUzNJLGKARzKnjwOa3zVFSAAPgaAob7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Grogu 3D cushion, £12 LEGO: Boba Fett's Starship, £44.99 LEGO: Dark Trooper Attack, £29.99 Best Mandalorian gifts and merchandise to buy in 2023 Grogu Small Soft Toy, £23 Suitable for all ages, this Grogu soft toy is a great gift for anyone who wants their own little Baby Yoda. Wearing the classic robe from the show and measuring in at a height of 25 cm (W 25 x D 8cm), this Disney store exclusive is a must-have for fans. Buy Grogu Small Soft Toy for £23 at shopDisney Hasbro Lightsaber Forge Darksaber, £29.99 Live like a Mandalorian with this one-of-a-kind black-bladed Lightsaber; a symbol of their power for generations. With lights, a range of sounds and classic Lightsaber effects, you can really imagine yourself ruling Mandalore. Buy Hasbro Lightsaber Forge Darksaber for £29.99 at GAME The Mandalorian & the Child LEGO set, £17.99 Suitable for ages 10 and up, this building set consists of LEGO BrickHeadz versions of The Mandalorian and Grogu. The Child has adjustable ears to create happy and sad expressions and sits on a hoverpram that is just like the one from the show. With 295-pieces, these would make for a great display once they are assembled, with The Mandalorian measuring in at 8cm in height and Grogu standing at 8cm tall. Buy The Mandalorian & Child set for £17.99 at LEGO Hasbro Galactic Action Mandalorian and Grogu, from £34.99 This Mandalorian and Grogu action figure is an incredible interactive experience complete with 15 sounds and a little pouch in which to store your Baby Yoda. It's also a bigger size, at 30cm high, meaning the detail of the figure is so much clearer for you to enjoy. Buy Hasbro Mandalorian and Grogu from £34.99 at Amazon The Razor Crest LEGO set, £519.99 This 6187-piece building set lets you relive your favourite scenes from the show. With five mini figures and moveable parts, this impressive model comes out at 72cm long and is the perfect project for any Star Wars fan. This product is made for 18+ so if you're looking for a slightly simpler LEGO set for your little one then find more below. Buy the Razor Crest LEGO set for £519.99 at LEGO The Child LEGO set, £79.99 Whatever you know him as, Baby Yoda is ready to adorn your home. After you build him from a 1,075-piece LEGO set that is. Suitable for 10+, this replica has a moving hand and head and is a great challenge for your younglings. Buy The Child LEGO set for £79.99 at LEGO The Mandalorian 3D Metal Earth Puzzle, £36 Suitable for ages 14 and up, this detailed puzzle starts out as sheets of metal but with care (and a lot of instruction following, we bet) transforms into a 3D model of the main character. Thankfully you don’t need glue or soldering, just patience. Buy Mandalorian Metal Earth Puzzle for £36 at Amazon Luke Skywalker Force FX Electronic Lightsaber, £249.99 One for the super fans, this is a pricey replica of one of the most recognisable weapons from the TV show – Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber. The Hasbro Black Series Force FX Elite series has LED lights and sounds, alongside a removable blade and stand. <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=radiotimes-1612646&awinmid=2549&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zavvi.com%2Fmerch-memorabilia%2Fhasbro-star-wars-the-black-series-luke-skywalker-force-fx-elite-electronic-lightsaber%2F14015148.html%3Faffil%3Dthggpsad%26switchcurrency%3DGBP%26shippingcountry%3DGB%26%26thg_ppc_campaign%3D71700000101349138%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMI9OiTvMSV_QIVh9_tCh1AGArnEAQYASABEgLQN_D_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Buy Luke Skywalker Force FX Electronic Lightsaber for £249.99 at Zavvi The Mandalorian by FUNKO, £12 £9 These cute little figures have become hugely popular in recent years. Well now, you can get a mini Pedro Pascal to put on your desk so you can always be reminded of your favourite show. <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100262624-15618761?sid=radiotimes-1612646&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fproduct%2F1957059%3FistCompanyId%3Da74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c%26istFeedId%3Dc290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c%26istItemId%3Drrlrpxrlp%26istBid%3Dt%26%26cmpid%3DGS001%26_%2524ja%3Dtsid%3A59157%257Cacid%3A629-618-1342%257Ccid%3A16634989433%257Cagid%3A133162502845%257Ctid%3Apla-886023936471%257Ccrid%3A588879114441%257Cnw%3Au%257Crnd%3A14825939473822200127%257Cdvc%3Ac%257Cadp%3A%257Cmt%3A%257Cloc%3A9045906%26utm_source%3DGoogle%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3D16634989433%26utm_term%3D1957059%26utm_content%3Dshopping%26utm_custom1%3D133162502845%26utm_custom2%3D629-618-1342%26GPDP%3Dtrue%26gclid%3DCjwKCAiA_6yfBhBNEiwAkmXy5yHbhQYAXnJLHJULNOUFL1nxgO40Ga3SecV81u0CFbYyolKq1lvGxBoC190QAvD_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Buy The Mandalorian by Funko for £12 £9 at Argos Hasbro Vintage Collection Action Figure, £15.99 £13.99 Bringing back memories and nostalgia, this Vintage Collection action figure of the show’s main character comes in the same packaging as the older toy line-ups and has original Kenner branding. It stands at 3.75 inches and is fully articulated. Buy Hasbro Vintage Collection Figure for £15.99 £13.99 at Zavvi The Mandalorian Deluxe Playset, £25.95 £12.89 This set lets you recreate your favourite scenes from the show, featuring eight of its main characters: Grogu, Cara Dune, The Armorer, IG-11, The Mandalorian, an Incinerator Stormtrooper, Moff Gideon and Kuiil. These are not articulated but moulded, are not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts. Buy The Mandalorian Deluxe Playset for £25.95 £12.89 (save 50% or £13.06) at shopDisney LEGO The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter, £59.99 This LEGO set is built for action with a spring-loaded laser shooter, moveable parts and four mini characters. At 412 pieces it's suitable for 9+ and will please any Star Wars fan. Buy The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter for £59.99 at LEGO Monopoly: Star Wars The Child Edition, £28.99 £18.99 One of the most famous family board games is back with a version that is centred around Grogu. Suitable for children aged 8 and up, this Monopoly lets you play as The Child in different poses and move around buying and trading objects from The Mandalorian’s adventures. The aim is the same as the regular version, with the last player remaining after everyone else is bankrupt winning the game. Buy Monopoly: The Child Edition for £28.99 £18.99 at Zavvi Mandalorian Helmet LEGO Set, £59.99 Another gift for adult fans, this 584-piece LEGO set is a build-and-display model of the main character’s instantly recognisable helmet. Drum-lacquered elements are able to replicate the metallic sheen of the armour, and it comes with a stand and nameplate. Standing at over 18 cm high once built, this one is only for ages 18 and up. Buy Mandalorian Adult LEGO Set for £59.99 at LEGO Grogu 3D cushion, £12 Improve your child's sleep with this comfy Grogu cushion with 3D ears. Comfortable, durable, and machine washable, this is a great stocking filler. <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100l5d88n/pubref:radiotimes-1612646/%5Bp_id:1011l434372%5D/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dunelm.com%2Fproduct%2Fstar-wars-baby-yoda-3d-cushion-1000182242%3FdefaultSkuId%3D30715914%26ds_c%3DKids_Cushions%2Band%2BThrows_%255BGOO-PLA%2BPSB-KIDSACCESS-CUSHIONS%255D%26gclid%3DCj0KCQiAorKfBhC0ARIsAHDzslukoVIrsQhhGysKxW_Tshszm0DmVWUzNJLGKARzKnjwOa3zVFSAAPgaAob7EALw_wcB%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds?defaultSkuId=30715914&ds_c=Kids_Cushions+and+Throws_%5BGOO-PLA+PSB-KIDSACCESS-CUSHIONS%5D&gclid=Cj0KCQiAorKfBhC0ARIsAHDzslukoVIrsQhhGysKxW_Tshszm0DmVWUzNJLGKARzKnjwOa3zVFSAAPgaAob7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Buy Grogu 3D cushion for £12 at Dunelm Boba Fett's Starship, £44.99 This Boba Fett's Starship LEGO set is designed for play and display, and includes a transporter vehicle to move the ship, as well as a stand to display it. There are lots of cool features; kids can even freeze their enemies in carbonite! Buy Boba Fett's Starship for £44.99 at LEGO Dark Trooper Attack, £29.99 Based on the iconic Luke Skywalker vs the Dark Troopers scene from The Mandalorian, this LEGO set is full of authentic details, right down to the sliding force platform and weapons for battle. This set allows you to recreate and immerse yourself in one of the most important moments series over and over again. Buy Dark Trooper Attack for £29.99 at LEGO Need more gift ideas? Be sure to take a look at our picks of the best Marvel merchandise, the best Encanto merchandise and some top tech gifts.
Where to buy printer ink, and the very best printer cartridges
Your printer is pretty much useless without the right ink or toner, but buying it is confusing. Here’s how – and where – you can pick up cartridges.
If you don’t want your home printer to become an expensive paperweight, you’ll eventually need to refuel it with ink or toner. Doing so can often be confusing – and expensive – especially if you don’t know what you are looking for. We have all been there. You go to the trouble of connecting the printer to a phone or laptop, then navigate the settings which never seem to be quite right. Only then do you get the warning that you’re running low on ink or printer paper. Annoying, right? It doesn’t matter if you have a model from our best printer or best budget printer guides – they will all need compatible cartridges and printer paper to work effectively. So let’s break it down: here’s what you need to know about printer ink, and where to buy it. Here are the best Black Friday printer deals and when do Black Friday UK sales start and end to help you save a little more this month. Best printer cartridges to buy at a glance: HP 305 Original Black Ink Cartridge, £15.49 HP 305 Original Black/Colour Twin Pack, £28.49 HP 305 Tri-color Original Ink, £11.99 HP Combo 304 Tri-colour & Black Ink, £34.99 Palmtree Compatible 903XL Ink Cartridges Multipack for HP, £38.89 £29.89 Canon PG-545 Black Ink Cartridge, £19.99 Canon PG-540 XL & CL-541 Black/Colour Twin Pack, £39.90 Epson 29XL Black Inkjet Cartridge, £22.22 Epson 603 Black/Colour multipack, £49.99 999inks Compatible Multipack Epson T0711, £15.49 Essentials HP 301 Black/Colour multipack, £23.39 Brother LC3217 Black Cartridge, £21.99 Brother LC223 Black & Colour Cartridges, £63.29 Skip to our full printer ink recommendations. How to find the right printer ink OK, so it may sound simple, but searching Google for your printer model number followed by “ink cartridge” will bring up a list of compatible options. The second way is to look via the manufacturer’s website. For example, both HP and Canon let you search for matching ink using your printer’s model number. The same searches can also usually be made via the third-party seller websites: Search printer model ink at Canon Search for printer model ink at HP How to buy the right printer ink Printer cartridges and toners vary wildly in price – and there’s a lot of jargon that you will encounter when shopping around for new ones. So before we start, here is a run-down of the main terms involved – and what you should look out for. Inkjet vs Toner Broadly, there are two types you can buy: ink and toner. This is the first thing you need to look out for – don’t buy the wrong type as it may not be compatible with your home printer. If you have an inkjet model you need to buy ink cartridges, but if you have a laser printer you will need to be shopping for toner cartridges. Each store usually lists an approximate number of prints you will get with the pack. Single vs combination packs You can buy ink as a single cartridge or in a combination multipack. It’s just like it sounds, with the single options containing one colour – usually a cyan, magenta, yellow or black – and the multipack coming with every tone that you need. The single cartridges will be more affordable, but the combination packs may turn out to be a better longer-term investment if you will be using the printer often. OEM vs Compatible When searching in stores for printer ink, you'll find lots of cartridges and toners marked as OEM products, which stands for Original End Manufacturer. This means they were made by the brand that manufactured the printer they’re designed for. The bigger home printer brands out there are HP, Canon, Epson and Brother. Xerox and Kodak are two prominent makers of laser printers. On the other side, there are what's known as compatible printer cartridges, which is just the industry term for those made by third-party sellers. For comparison, it is often said to consider these ones like you would off-brand supermarket goods. You’ll often find compatible ink labelled as remanufactured, which means they are previously-used toner cartridges that have been recycled, and re-filled. Because of the lower cost, these are usually the most affordable ink options out there. While it is generally accepted that OEM cartridges contain a higher overall quality of ink, you will definitely save some money by looking at compatible ranges. Read this inkjet vs laser printers buyers guide for a comparison about the two types. Where to buy your new printer ink Here’s our list of online stores where you’ll find the best prices on cartridges and toner for both inkjet and laser printers – whether that’s OEM or compatible. Amazon It’s going to come as a major surprise to absolutely nobody that Amazon stocks a wide range of ink printer cartridges. You’ll find cartridges both from OEMs and third-party manufacturers, with the occasional small price drop on both. Buy cartridges now at Amazon Currys Currys stocks OEM cartridges, but it's the store’s own-brand Essentials range that is really worth looking at for your home printer ink needs. These are compatible with HP, Epson and Canon printers and come with a two-year guarantee. Buy cartridges now at Currys 999inks.co.uk You'll find a range of both toner and cartridges available at this online ink retailer, with a total of 27 different printer brands covered. You can either search for your cartridge by printer model or by selecting the ink cartridge model number. Buy cartridges now at 999inks.co.uk Cartridge People Another retailer that offers an easy search process via a drop-down tool, Cartridge People stocks both OEM cartridges and its own-brand ink alternatives – which, unsurprisingly, are significantly cheaper than the manufacturer's options. Buy cartridges now at Cartridge People Cartridge Shop Cartridge Shop’s store stocks a range of office equipment alongside its range of printer cartridges and toner. Despite prices being very low, the company offers a two-year 100% satisfaction guarantee, meaning if your cartridges aren’t up to scratch or you face compatibility issues, you can return them at no cost. Buy cartridges now at Cartridge Shop Ink Factory Ink Factory makes its own line of ink cartridges compatible with the main brands, including HP, Canon, Epson and Brother printers. We have seen price drops listed against bundle products, so if you regularly replace your cartridges, it’s worth taking a look here to see if any offers are compatible with your printer. Buy cartridges now at Ink Factory Internet Ink Nottingham-based Internet Ink both manufacture and sell compatible cartridges that are – according to the company’s website – both half of the price of OEM equivalents and of a higher capacity. You’ll find cartridges compatible with HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Kodak, Advent and Ricoh available at this store. Buy cartridges now at Internet Ink Ryman The UK high-street stationery brand has ink cartridges available on its website and offers some of the best prices on OEM cartridges. Some of the offers are exclusively online. However, if you take your old cartridges in-store, Ryman will recycle them and offer a discount on your next purchase of printer ink, so it’s worth a look. Buy cartridges now at Ryman Staples High-street stalwart Staples sells both ink cartridges and toner, with a dropdown search function on its website that will find the right product for your machine. Keep in mind, though, that only OEM cartridges are on sale at this outlet. Buy cartridges now at Staples Wilko Wilko stocks OEM cartridges from Canon, Epson, HP, Brother and Samsung – but if you’re shopping at Wilko, it’s the store’s own-brand remanufactured ink cartridges you ought to look at. They’re particularly cheap, and available for each of the big brands we’ve already mentioned. Some deals are exclusively online. Buy cartridges from Wilko now Best printer cartridges to buy in 2023 By this stage, you should have a good idea of what type of cartridge you are looking for – and if not you should know how to search for the right ones online. Of course, there are dozens and dozens of different printer models – and there’s no one-fits-all ink or toner that we can point you towards. But if you need some general recommendations, here are our top picks of the best printer cartridges. HP 305 Original Black Ink Cartridge, £15.49 Approximate number of prints: 120. Compatible with: HP DeskJet 2710, 2720, 2721, 2722, 2723, 2724. HP DeskJet Plus 4110, 4120, 4122, 4130, HP Envy 6010, 6020, 6022, 6030, 6032 and Envy Pro 6420, 6422, 6430, 6432. A reliable choice, the HP 305 cartridge is perfect if you just need black ink for an HP DeskJet or Envy-series home printer. Not only do you get more than 100 pages, but the results “dry fast and resist water,” according to the manufacturer. Buy HP 305 Original Black Ink Cartridge at Currys HP 305 Original Black/Colour Twin Pack, £28.49 Approximate prints: up to 120 black, 100 Tri-colour. Compatible: HP DeskJet 2710, 2720, 2300, DeskJet Plus 4100, Envy 6000 and the HP Envy Pro 6400. If your HP DeskJet or Envy inkjet printer needs a top-up of black and colour ink, this HP 305 Original set is a great price and should have you fully covered. Buy HP 305 Original Black/Colour Twin Pack at Currys HP 305 Tricolor Original Ink, £11.99 Approximate number of prints: 100. Compatible with: HP DeskJet 2700, 2730, 4100, 4134, Envy Series 6020, 6030, 6420, 6430. If your black ink levels are fine but you need a dash of colour, this 305 Tricolour Original Ink is not only reliable and affordable but quite widely compatible. Buy the HP 305 Tricolor Original Ink at Amazon HP Combo 304 Tri-colour & Black Ink, £34.99 Approximate number of prints: 120 Black/100 Colour. Compatible: HP AMP 130, HP DeskJet 2000 series, 3000 series and 5000 series. Great for colour photos and everyday documents, this HP multipack of black ink and coloured ink is great for the money, and once the cartridges are finished you can recycle them for free with HP Planet Partners, a sustainability project. Buy the HP Combo 304 Tri-colour & Black Ink at Currys Palmtree Compatible 903XL Ink Cartridges Multipack for HP, £31.11 Approximate number of prints: 960 for black, 832 pages per tri-colour. Compatible with:HP OfficeJet 6950 All-in-One, OfficeJet 6960 All-in-One, OfficeJet Pro 6960 All-in-One, OfficeJet Pro 6970 All-in-One This is a compatible multipack for HP Officejet printers. Black, cyan, magenta and yellow colours are included in the set, each with a high page yield. Buy Palmtree Compatible 903XL Ink Cartridges Multipack for HP at Amazon Canon PG-545 Black Ink Cartridge, £19.99 Approximate number of prints: 180. Compatible with: Canon PIXMA iP2850, MG2450, MG2455, MG2550, MG2555, MG2555S, MG2950, MG3050, MG3051, MG3052, MG3053, MX495, TR4550, TR4551, TR4650, TS1150, TS205, TS3150, TS3151, TS3350, TS3351, TS3352, TS3355, TS3450, TS3451, TS3452. Canon’s Pixma series of home printers is hugely popular, and if you need a top up of black ink alone then this cartridge has a great 180 page yield. Print away! Buy Canon PG-545 Black Ink Cartridge at Currys Canon PG-540 XL & CL-541 Twin Pack, £39.90 Approximate number of prints: 180. Compatible with: Pixma MG2150, MG2250, MG3150, MG3250, MG3550, MG3650, MG4150, MG4250, MX375, MX395, MX435, MX455, MX475, MX515, MX525, MX535. Suitable for Pixma MG and MS home printers, this multipack has everything you could need for a re-fuel, promising a “smudge free and fade resistant finish.” Buy Canon PG-540 XL & CL-541 Twin pack at Amazon Epson 29XL Black Inkjet Cartridge, £22.22 Approximate number of prints: 470. Compatible with: Expression Home XP 235/245/247/332/335/342/345/432/435/442/445 series printers. If you have an Expression Home XP inkjet, here’s the perfect black ink for your documents, promising hundreds of pages and “sharp and well defined” results. Buy the Epson 29XL Black Inkjet Cartridge at Amazon Epson 603 Black/Colour multipack, £49.99 Approximate number of prints: 150. Compatible: Workforce WF-2835DWF, WF-2830DWF, WF-2850DWF, Expression Home XP-3100, XP-2100, XP-4100. If you have a Workforce or Expression Home printer from Epson, this is a great multipack, with the coloured cartridges coming with Starfish Cyan, Magenta, Yellow tones. You get up to 150 black pages and 130 pages of each colour. Buy EPSON 603 Black/Colour multipack at Currys Epson Compatible multipack (999inks), £15.49 Approximate number of prints: 495 pages per cartridge. Compatible with: Epson Stylus DX, SX series of home inkjet printers. (See full compatibility). This is a compatible (third party) multipack that will work with Epson Stylus DX and SX series inkjet printers. It’s not official, but it's so much more affordable. Buy Compatible Multipack Epson T0711 at 999inks Essentials HP 301 Black/Colour, £23.39 Approximate number of prints: 480 pages for black and 380 pages for tri-colour. Compatible with: HP Deskjet & Officejet & Envy home inkjet printers. This is a compatible multipack for HP Deskjet, Officejet and Envy inkjet printers from Currys. It’s more affordable than the official version, and has a wide range of compatibility and page yields, enough for an impressive 480 pages of blacks. Buy Essentials HP 301 Black/colour at Currys Brother LC3217 Black Cartridge, £21.99 Approximate number of prints: up to 550 pages. Compatible with: MFC-j5330dw, MFC-j5730dw, MFC-j5930dw, MFC-j6530dw, MFC-j6930dw, MFC-j6935dw. Suitable for a variety of Brother home printers, this is a single black ink cartridge that’s perfect if you need a top-up to reliably print some basic documents. Buy Brother LC3217 Black Cartridge at Argos Brother LC223 Black & Colour Cartridges, £63.29 Approximate number of prints: up to 550 pages per cartridge. Compatible with: DCP-J4120DW, MFC-J4420DW, MFC-J4620DW, MFC-J4625DW, MFC-J5320DW, MFC-J5620DW, MFC-J5625DW, MFC-J5720DW. This official Brother multi-pack includes coloured (Black/Cyan/Magenta/Yellow) and black ink cartridges – and that's all you could ever need for your home printer. Not only that, but each has an impressive page yield of more than 500 prints. Buy Brother Four Colour multipack at Argos For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter.
Apple iPhone 14 UK release date, specs and UK pricing
The iPhone 14 and its new big brother, the iPhone 14 Plus, have arrived. Here's what you need to know about Apple's new smartphone.
The iPhone 14 is here. Apple revealed it alongside the Apple iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max at its 'Far Out' live stream event last week. The iPhone wasn't the only new Apple products released either, it was announced alongside new AirPods Pro, a new Apple Watch Ultra and an Apple Watch 8 release date. The new iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch display, an improved camera set-up, crash detection and new colours to choose from. Don't miss our iPhone 13 review, iPhone 13 mini review, iPhone 13 Pro review and the iPhone 13 Pro Max review. Shopping for add-ons? Here are our guides to the best iPhone accessories you can buy in 2022, the best smartphone tripods and the best portable chargers, too. Apple has announced huge savings across its iPhone 14 models, so be sure to check out the best Black Friday iPhone deals. iPhone 14 UK release date The iPhone 14, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max are all on general sale and available now, as of today, 16th September 2022. This follows a short week-long pre-order period, as per Apple tradition. The iPhone 14 Plus will be available at the later date of 7th October 2022. iPhone 14 UK pricing and availability The iPhone 14 has a starting price of £849, a little more expensive than the £779 of its predecessor, the iPhone 13. The iPhone 14 is the most affordable iPhone 14 model, with the iPhone 14 Plus having a starting price of £949. iPhone 14 specs at a glance Here are the new iPhone 14's key specs: Powered by the A15 Bionic chip New sensors that can detect a car crash Magsafe compatible Supports 5G Five colour options All-day battery life A 6.1-inch display iPhone 14 design Apple has kept the nostalgic squared design of the iPhone 13 for its successor, the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 14 Plus has a larger 6.7-inch display. The iPhone 14 will be available in five colours; (PRODUCT) RED, starlight, black, purple and a new blue. The lightning port remains, along with the notch at the top of the screen. iPhone 14 camera The iPhone 14 has a new front camera with autofocus, a new 12MP main camera and an ultra-wide camera. The new iPhone comes with a range of camera modes including new action and cinematic modes for video. Best iPhone 14 deals The iPhone 14 is on sale now and we've been hunting down the best bundles and deals to help you save on Apple's latest phone. Of course, it's brand new, so there aren't huge savings to make yet. However there are some bundles and some competitive prices worth noting. Buy iPhone 14 from £34 per month and £0 up-front at Sky Mobile [contract] Buy iPhone 14 from £56 per month with £70 up-front at EE [contract] Buy iPhone 14 from £849 at John Lewis Buy iPhone 14 from £849 at Amazon Buy iPhone 14 from £849 at Currys Best iPhone 13 deals If you want to get your hands on a new iPhone but you can't wait for the latest model, then it's worth sizing up the best deals on the iPhone 13. Looking for a new contract? Some of the best offers include getting the iPhone 13 from £24 a month at Sky Mobile and the iPhone 13 Pro from £35 a month at Carphone Warehouse. We've also collated some of the very best SIM-free deals available right now on the Pro, Pro Max, standard and mini models, plus the latest prices on the iPhone SE. For the latest news and deals, check out RadioTimes.com Technology section and consider signing up to receive our tech newsletter updates twice a week.
Google reveals Pixel 6a UK price, specs and how to buy it today
Google's latest smartphone is available to buy now. Here's everything you need to know, plus the latest on pricing and availability.
Google released the new Pixel 6a to eager smartphone fans this week and it's another promising handset. Here's everything you need to know about the new phone, plus the latest advice on where to buy it. The new handset is powered by Google's Tensor chipset and boasts a 6.1-inch display, making it a little smaller than the typical smartphone of 2022. We like it's slightly smaller size as it makes it a nice pocketable, tactile phone that's easy to use with one hand. Elsewhere there's a dual-camera setup and up to 60Hz refresh rate. In terms of design, it mirrors the other two phones in the most recent Pixel line-up, with a two-tone colour scheme and a camera module that protrudes across the entire width of the back. Multiple built-in camera modes – Magic Eraser, Real Tone and Face Unblur – will be supported on the new more affordable model, which is priced at £399 and comes with 5G connectivity. The Tensor chip is the same as found in the flagship Pixel 6 Pro. For those who don't want to splash out on, or wait for the Google Pixel 7, the 6a is a very tempting value proposition. For more on Google's next phone, be sure to check out our Google Pixel 7 release date guide. Buy the Google Pixel 6a for £399 at Currys Buy the Google Pixel 6a for £399 at Argos Buy the Google Pixel 6a (+ 40GB data) for £25 a month with O2 Buy the Google Pixel 6a (+ 100GB data) for £27 a month with Three Buy the Google Pixel 6a with a monthly plan at mobiles.co.uk undefined Google Pixel 6a release date: when is the new phone coming out? The phone launched on Thursday (28th July) and is is priced at £399 in the UK. That makes it an interesting addition to the mid-range landscape, set to go toe-to-toe with the Samsung A53, which we ranked as one of the stand-out mid-rangers of the year in our full Samsung Galaxy A53 review. The new Google mid-ranger was unveiled alongside other products, including the Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds and the Google Pixel Watch at May's Google IO event. The Pixel 6a was never much of a secret before its release. Google has maintained a similar release pattern for the mid-range A-series of handsets for years now – with the affordable alternative being unveiled a few months after the main flagship smartphones. Last year was slightly different, however, as the Pixel 5a was given a limited release and only came out in two markets: the United States and Japan, at $449. So the two big questions this year weren’t around whether it existed, but more if it would actually come out in the UK, and how much it would cost. The selling point hasn’t changed: providing a similar experience to the flagships (with a handful of small compromises such as wireless charging and refresh rate) but knocking a couple of hundred pounds off the selling price. Given that the high-end Pixel 6 Pro is the most expensive Google phone that's ever been sold (£849 RRP) and the standard Pixel 6 being around £600, there is likely an appetite for getting the most recent Pixel design without having to pay so much. Google confirmed the Pixel 7 series — a standard and a Pro model — is also coming later this year. It will have a triple camera system and a similar camera bump, but this time with an aluminium chrome module. They will each use a next-gen Tensor chip, and both of the new models will ship with Android 13 software. Buy the Google Pixel 6a for £399 at Currys Buy the Google Pixel 6a for £399 at Argos Buy the Google Pixel 6a (+ 40GB data) for £25 a month with O2 Buy the Google Pixel 6a (+ 100GB data) for £27 a month with Three Buy the Google Pixel 6a with a monthly plan at mobiles.co.uk Not sure if you want to go for Android or iOS with your next smartphone purchase? Don't miss our detailed Apple iPhone 13 pro vs Pixel 6 Pro comparison guide. Google Pixel 6a: specs and features While IO is mostly a software-first event, Google used it to showcase the newest iteration of the more affordable mid-ranger. Here’s everything we know about the Pixel 6a smartphone, including the main specs. UK price: £399 Release date: 28th July Display: 6.1-inch, 20:9 aspect ratio Refresh rate: up to 60Hz Camera: 12.2MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 8MP selfie front lens OS: Android Battery: 4410mAh, up to 72 hours using 'extreme saver' mode Memory/Storage: 6GB RAM, 128 Storage Chip: Google Tensor processor Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 Features: 5 years of security updates, fingerprint unlock Security: Anti-phishing and malware protection The Pixel 6a joins Pixel 6 Pro and the Pixel 6. Google has discontinued the earlier handsets in the series, including the Pixel 5, 4a and 4a with 5G, although some models may still be available via a handful of retailers including Argos and Amazon. The most recent Pixel phones are still widely available in the UK and beyond. Shop Google Pixel phones at Amazon Shop Google Pixel phones at Currys Shop Google Pixel phones at John Lewis Shop Google Pixel phones at Argos We have been hands-on with multiple Google phones in recent years, which have been popular due to their minimalistic design, top cameras and ease of use. In our guide to the best smartphone of 2022 and best Android phone of the year, we rated the Google Pixel 6 Pro as one of the best handsets you can buy. For more, here’s our in-depth Pixel 6 Pro review, Pixel 5 review and Pixel 4a with 5G review. Google Pixel 6a: how to buy The Google Pixel 6a smartphone is available to buy right now. At both the Google Store and Currys, if you purchase the Pixel 6a, you get Pixel Buds A-Series for no extra cost. You can get your hands on the Google Pixel 6a at Argos for £399, the Google Store for £399 or £16.63 per month for 24-months, plus get up to £200 back with an eligible phone trade-in. Similarly, the Google Pixel 6a is available to buy at Currys for £399, and they offer a 12-month pay delay, too. Make sure you check out mobiles.co.uk, as well, for the monthly phone and data plans. Buy the Google Pixel 6a for £399 at Currys Buy the Google Pixel 6a for £399 at Argos Buy the Google Pixel 6a (+ 40GB data) for £25 a month with O2 Buy the Google Pixel 6a (+ 100GB data) for £27 a month with Three Buy the Google Pixel 6a with a monthly plan at mobiles.co.uk undefined For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter.
Google Pixel Buds Pro release date and how to pre-order in the UK today
Google has finally launched pre-orders for the Pixel Buds Pro. Here's everything you need to know, plus how to get your hands on a pair.
Pre-orders for the Pixel Buds Pro launch today, after they were unveiled at Google's IO showcase back in May. The stylish, premium earbuds have an eye-catching design and plenty of appealing features. Importantly, the buds have active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time in the series alongside a transparency mode. The battery has up to 11 hours listening time, or 7 hours with ANC on. An update for spatial audio is coming later this year, Google confirmed. Pre-order Pixel Buds Pro today for £179 at Amazon They're joining the Google product roster at a busy time for the brand, which is also launching pre-orders for the Google Pixel 6a today and preparing to launch the Google Pixel 7 and the Google Pixel Watch later this year. Whether or not the Pixel Buds Pro will rank among the best wireless earbuds remains to be seen, but we'll be keeping you updated on the latest news around all these new releases and hopefully getting hands-on with them soon. Google Pixel Buds Pro UK release date and pricing The new Pixel Buds Pro wireless earbuds cost £179 come in four different colours and are available to pre-order right now. They'll go on general sale on 28th July. The wireless earbuds come with built-in Google Assistant for your voice commands, and will support Find My Device for locating lost buds, even if it's just one of them. The Pixel Buds Pro support wireless charging, and total amount of battery capacity goes up to 31 hours when using the charging case. The Pro model will join the Pixel Buds A-Series, which are priced at £99.99 and offer solid audio quality, battery life and basic touch controls but lacked some of the more premium earbud features - mainly active noise cancellation (ANC). Prior to the A-series buds, Google released the original Pixel Buds in 2020, priced from £179. Despite lacking ANC, these had some top features including wireless charging and on-bud volume control, but have since been discontinued. Following a series of hands-on tests, here’s what our expert had to say about the original set in their Google Pixel Buds review: “Are the Google Pixel Buds worth the money? The simple answer is yes if you have a Google Pixel phone. “Set-up is quick and easy, the touch controls are intuitive and responsive, and Google Assistant works seamlessly. However, these mid-range earbuds have tough competition and don't offer the active noise cancellation technology many are after. If that's you or if you aren't already invested in the Google ecosystem, you may be better off paying a little bit extra for all the bells and whistles of ANC.” It remains to be seen if the latest Pixel Buds Pro will be able to compete with the leading premium earbuds in 2022, such as the AirPods Pro or Beats Fit Pro, but it certainly sounds like they will nicely round out Google’s own tech ecosystem. Pre-order Pixel Buds Pro today for £179 at Amazon Read more earbud reviews: Our team of expert technology reviewers routinely go hands-on with wireless earbuds of all shapes, sizes and prices. Here's some of the latest coverage: JLab Go Air Pop review Sennheiser CX True Wireless review Sony LinkBuds review Beats Fit Pro review Sony WF-1000XM4 review EarFun Free Pro 2 review Apple AirPods 3 review Pre-order Pixel Buds Pro today for £179 at Amazon For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter.
Amazon Echo Show 15 review: the biggest Alexa display, but is it the best?
The Echo Show 15 is an Alexa display that can be mounted on your wall. How does it compare to the rest of the series? Here's our review.
The Echo Show 15 is a logical next step for Amazon’s smart display series. Having covered the home counter space with Alexa-powered devices of various shapes and sizes over the past few years, the only way is up. Up on the wall, that is. One glance at the Echo Show 15 is all you really need to know its intentions. It’s a wall display to help oversee your smart home, and look good while doing it. With a black border and white bezels that more resembles an artistic frame than a piece of cutting-edge tech, the recently-released device will be a head-turner when placed on a wall of your home – and is especially well-suited to the kitchen. Like the rest of our guide to the best smart speakers, you can ask questions, play music, hear news reports, check recipes, set alarms, make calls and more. Unlike the others, the Echo Show 15 gives you a selection of customizable widgets and the ability to get that big 15.6-inch 1080p display – the largest you can get in an Amazon smart display as of writing – off the counter and onto your wall. The display size isn’t the only thing that's bigger. At £239.99, the Echo Show 15 is also one of the most expensive in the series, and if you want to place it horizontally for some reason, the cost rises by £30 as you have to buy an extra stand. So how does it compare to the other Echo Show devices? What makes it special? And crucially, is it actually worth your money? Here’s our Echo Show 15 review. Jump to: Echo Show 15 review: summary What is Amazon Echo Show 15? How much is Amazon Echo Show 15? Echo Show 15 design Echo Show 15 features and software Echo Show 15 sound quality Echo Show 15 set-up/installation Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 10 Our verdict and rating Where to buy the Echo Show 15 Echo Show 15 review: summary We tested the Echo Show 15 over the course of a week, setting it up inside an office and kitchen while pairing it with devices including a phone via the Alexa app and a Eufy video doorbell, alongside services including Spotify and Prime Video. Almost immediately after opening the box, we had one main question: Is there more to the Echo Show 15 than meets the eye, or is this simply a fancy new design? Ultimately, the Show 15 justifies its existence. It not only provides the typically-solid Alexa experience but doubles as an accessible entertainment centre, while the widgets make it visually pleasing and intuitive to navigate with touch controls and finger swipes - even if most are still a little too limited to be fully enjoyed. The display is big and bright, using a simple layout that’s easy to follow for all types of users and accomplishes its core mission of being a centre-piece for a family to share. Unfortunately, the Echo Show 15 does not have Zigbee compatibility so using it to actually power your smart home is much trickier than it should be. After setup, which takes approximately 10-20 minutes, it's clear that the Echo Show 15 will be best if you are already in Amazon’s ecosystem of devices. In terms of extra apps or widgets, there’s little-to-no wiggle room. The same goes for resizing and placing those widgets around the home screen, and we were constantly having to remember this is not a "proper" tablet when it comes to scrolling through apps – although it thankfully does have YouTube and a web browser. From online shopping to watching video content via Prime to listening to audiobooks, Amazon happily provides all of the add-ons and services you could possibly need. Often at a price or by signing up to a monthly subscription, of course. If you are already a keen user of Amazon’s services, you will likely have a blast with the Echo Show 15, although anyone used to Google Nest devices may find themselves a little lost at first, especially when it comes to navigating the system. For most users, the Show 8 has similar functions at a much more pleasing price point. And while the aesthetic is minimalist – there’s no getting around the fact that this is a beefy, heavy, piece of kit and essentially a digital photo frame on steroids. Subscription cynicism aside, the Echo Show 15 is the logical next step for the smart display series, and one that we hope continues to be refined in its future iterations. While this one doesn’t always hit the mark, it’s still a very promising direction. Price: £239.99 Key features and specs: 15.6-inch Full HD (1080p) smart display Alexa-powered -on screen widgets Five megapixel (MP) camera Portrait or landscape orientation Doubles as digital photo frame Can play YouTube. Netflix, Prime Camera cover switch is built in to frame Comes with wall mount in the box Pros: Great design that looks stylish New widgets are a welcome addition Works well as a smart control centre Wall mounting is a nice change Cons: Rigid widget placement options Touch navigation can be limited Takes up a lot of space when not mounted What is Amazon Echo Show 15? The Echo Show 15 is Amazon’s latest smart display that is powered by Alexa voice assistant technology. Unlike the other devices in the range – Echo Show 8 (£119.99), Echo Show 5 (£74.99) and Echo Show 10 3rd gen (£239.99) – the Echo Show 15 is designed to be a wall-mounted smart home and entertainment centre and stands out among the crowd by being based around interchangeable widgets. How much is Amazon Echo Show 15? The Amazon Echo Show 15 is priced at £239.99. It was released in the UK on 9th December 2021. The official Tilt Stand is sold separately, costing £29.99. Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at Amazon Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at Currys Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at AO Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at John Lewis Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at Argos Echo Show 15 design Whether it's on the wall or the countertop, the Show 15 essentially looks like a giant digital photo frame. Build quality is really good, with the thick black border and crisp white bezels giving off a premium, artistic, vibe. In our opinion, the model is meant to be wall-mounted and looks best at eye level. The fact it also serves as a literal way to display photos means it can seamlessly blend into your home’s décor. On top, you will find the camera cover slider, a button to mute Alexa and the volume controls. Speakers run down each of the sides, and the back is where you will plug in a power adapter and affix the plate for wall placement. Thankfully the front is free from logos or branding – with only the camera visible in the top left corner. It’s stylish, but not what we would describe as a subtle or nimble device - and that will be a pro or a con depending on your own personal design tastes. At 148 x 86 x 73 mm (W x H x D) and weighing 2,215 g – the Echo Show 15 is a bit of a chunky beast. On the wall, this won’t matter at all, but it’s something to be aware of as it lacks the portability of some of the other models in the range. Overall, it’s an attractive design that’s sleek, inoffensive and should work well in most homes. Read more Amazon reviews Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) review Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) review Amazon Echo Show 10 review Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) review Amazon Fire HD 10 review Amazon Fire HD 8 review Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids review Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus review Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) review Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite review Echo Show 15 features and software Until now, if you had used an Echo Show device you would be familiar with them all. But Amazon has shaken up the formula with the Echo Show 15 by basing the entire main layout around widgets that can be customised, re-ordered and re-sized. There are 14 in total – and from the Widget Gallery menu, you can add them to the home screen with a quick click. You can display up to six at a time, and pressing down on one will bring up a menu that lets you either remove or reorder them. Two of the default widgets – “Calendar & Reminders” and “Music & Audio” – have a large version that switches up the home layout completely by taking up much more real estate on the top left, and instantly limiting the widgets on-screen to four. This will also reduce the size of the left side’s gallery/clock. It’s all personal taste. Here’s the full list of the widgets you get as default: Alexa Suggestions Calendar and reminders Calendar and reminders (large) Cookpad recipe of the day Favourite photos Music and audio Music and audio (large) Reorder suggestions Shopping list Smart home favourites Sticky notes To-do list Weather What to eat In our set-up of choice, we decided to remove the large widget version to give that home screen gallery more room to breathe and to better show off the imagery, which you can change by swiping left or right. We chose to have four widgets on the right: music (via Spotify), weather forecast, shopping list and sticky notes. After a few days of using the device, we think that it works well as a first iteration but we would have liked Amazon to have gone a little bit further with personalisation and customisation. Widgets aren’t resizable and the layout ends up feeling rigid. You feel like you should be able to swipe the entire widget tray away, but it doesn’t let you. You can't change the position of the home screen clock in real-time, and having just two widgets doesn’t reduce the tray to match, it just leaves a menu open. It's can be frustratingly limited at times, and we would like to see a greater variety. However, the Echo Show 15 widgets are a welcome addition overall and the customisation irritants can be hopefully be improved in future software updates. As expected, navigating the Show 15 can be done via touch controls – swiping like a smartphone or tablet – or exclusively by using Alexa. We found that the performance of the device was solid throughout, although slightly less responsive than we would have liked. To be clear, it’s not laggy or sluggish –- but there were some slight loading delays when pressing down on some apps or opening up some of the menus. You can access the main menu by swiping down from the top of the screen, letting you alter settings, alarms, communication features, music, video, routines, smart home controls and more. Here is the full list of every menu option as default: Home Settings Do not disturb Alarms Brightness Notifications widget gallery Discover Communicate Music Smart home Video Routines Photo frame Aside from widgets, one of the next big additions to the Show 15 is Visual ID – which makes you take photos of your face (images are stored on-device) and can then tell who is using it – tailoring reminders, music, reminders etc to that person. It’s a really neat feature, but it is one that’s also rolling out to other Show devices, too. We paired the Echo Show 15 up with a Eufy smart video doorbell and it was a fairly seamless process by following the steps on the Alexa app, which you will definitely need to download to get the best out of the device. After the set-up, we could use the Show 15 to check the live feed of the doorbell. Although there was a slight delay in the feed loading, audio feedback when the button was pressed was immediate. We found the Show 15 to be a great digital frame. Not that you would pay more than £230 for that feature alone, but the choice of pre-set images was nice (we opted for the ‘nature’ pre-set) and you can have it display your own family photos, too. You can access additional features via the Video tab in the menu. It not only provides a portal to watch Amazon Prime Video, but also Netflix, YouTube and a Bing browser. It's a real shame that the Echo Show 15 does not have built-in Zigbee compatibility, unlike the Echo and the Show 10. Zigbee is a smart protocol that essentially lets devices communicate with each other. The fact it's missing from the Echo Show 15 means the device is instantly at a disadvantage as a true smart home hub. Echo Show 15 sound quality We moved to the Amazon Echo Show 15 after a few months of using the smaller and more affordable Echo Dot. To our ear, the overall audio profile coming from the two speakers was similar, and more than loud and clear enough for most users. We tested the speakers using a broad range of music genres – Foo Fighters, Laura Marling, The Villagers and Radiohead – alongside some Prime shows and movies – Bosch, Reacher and The Fast and the Furious. Bass was fine without being muddy, and the volume went louder than we would ever need it to be in a kitchen. There’s not too much customisation via touch controls when a movie is playing, and that includes a lack of volume control on the screen. Still, we didn’t have any major complaints here. While the Echo Show 15 is never going to provide a home cinema experience, it’s more than enough for background music or streaming content. Echo Show 15 set-up and installation Setting up the Echo Show 15 takes a little longer than the other devices in the series if you decide to physically mount it onto a wall – but luckily it comes with all the parts needed to do so: including a metal mount plate and the necessary screw fixtures. While you should use a spirit level (not included but there are phone apps for this) to make sure it’s straight, it comes with a paper template so you can identify the best place for it – and that has a guide for both horizontal or portrait hanging. From there, you drill through the holes in the template then attach the mount using the four screws. At this stage, pop in the power cord (which isn't long so it will need to be close to a socket) and slide the Show 15 onto the metal mounting plate. Make sure to have a glance around your kitchen and make sure it’s far away enough from cabinet doors or appliances – and we highly advise keeping it around the rough eye level of your family members. Remember that everyone is different heights and you don’t want one person to be forced to awkwardly stretch to use the device. Software-side installation is as straightforward as ever – especially if you are in the Amazon ecosystem with other devices and subscription services. Note that you will need an Amazon account to sign in, and you should download the Alexa app. You connect to your home Wi-Fi, set up personal details such as address, name and where the device is located. From there, the Show 15 lets you choose your photo display preferences and goes through a series of software updates if needed. Echo Show 15 vs Echo Show 10: what's the difference? Both the Echo Show 15 and the Echo Show 10 are the same price, costing £239.99 in the UK at the time of writing. So which one is the best Echo model for you? First off is appearance. It’s an obvious point, but the Show 15 is designed to be wall-mounted while the Show 10 will sit on your desk, sideboard or countertop. The Show 15 looks like a fancy photo frame, but the Show 10 has a chunkier round body with a more traditional display that’s similar to the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8. While the new Show 15 offers the Alexa experience on the biggest possible display, the Show 10 has more interesting technology – thanks to Zigbee and a unique mode that automatically tracks your movement to keep the screen in view at all times. The Show 10 has a 10.1-inch display so it’s definitely smaller, but certainly not tiny. Complimenting the tracking tech on the Echo Show 10 is a much better camera (13 MP) compared to the Show 15’s serviceable but disappointing 5MP set-up. The Show 10 comes in black or white colours, while the Show 15 only has one style. Here’s the bottom line: If you have the countertop space and are constantly on video calls, buy the Echo Show 10. It has a better camera and will keep you in the frame with its neat tracking mode. If you want an Alexa smart speaker for the entire family with a big screen that can be kept on your wall, the Echo Show 15 is your choice. Our verdict: should you buy the Echo Show 15? The Echo Show 15 makes sense in the context of the wider series of Alexa smart speakers and marks a natural evolution by moving the device from the countertop to the wall of your home. It’s got the biggest screen out of all the models available in 2022 so far and works brilliantly as a family planner, video player and digital frame. The device is stylish and is likely to turn the heads of your visitors, especially those who aren’t used to seeing such technology so prominently displayed. Some aspects, however, could benefit from a bit more refinement – in particular the widget resizing and customisation, general responsiveness and the ability to add more third-party apps and services. The Show 15 is thicker and heavier than you may expect, and it’s a shame that the tilting stand is not included in the box. While some may see the lack of motion tracking as a downside, we get why it's not included. After all, Amazon has to differentiate it from the Show 10 – although we still would have liked to see Zigbee and a slightly better camera on the Show 15. If you don’t need a large screen, the Echo Show 8 is much more affordable and has similar capabilities. But with the Echo Show 15, Amazon has made an Alexa-powered family pinboard. We do like the vision. So if you don’t mind paying for the luxury and are a big user of Amazon services, this is a great companion for your home. Our rating: Design: 4.5/5 Sound quality: 3.5/5 Ease of set-up: 4/5 Value for money: 3.5/5 Overall rating: 3.9/5 Where to buy the Echo Show 15 The Amazon Echo Show 15 is priced at £239.99. It was released in the UK on 9th December 2021. The official Tilt Stand is sold separately, costing £29.99. Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at Amazon Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at Currys Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at AO Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at John Lewis Buy Amazon Echo Show 15 at Argos For the latest news, reviews, guides, and deals, check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
HelloFresh offers Lightyear fans a chance to win Florida trip and 'astronaut training'
Do you want to experience what it’s like to be a real-life Space Ranger? Recipe box brand HelloFresh has the competition you are looking for.
If you loved the latest Disney Pixar movie Lightyear, a competition from the recipe box brand HelloFresh could give you a taste of what it would be like to be a real-world astronaut during an exclusive visit to the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. Following the release of the Toy Story spin-off, the promotion gives a family of up to four people a chance to experience a training experience at the Orlando-based facility alongside five nights of luxury hotel accommodation. Alongside the "ultimate astronaut training experience," HelloFresh is releasing 10 new Lightyear-inspired recipes every week, with Buzz-themed names including “Rocket Ship” Chicken plus a Spiral Spaghetti in “Cosmic” Creamy Sauce. Here’s what you need to know about the HelloFresh competition, including what you can win and how to enter. Why not read what we thought of the movie in our Lightyear review, and check out our picks of the very best Lightyear merchandise. How to enter the Lightyear competition Luckily, entering the competition is extremely easy: simply choose a “Lightyear” inspired recipe from the weekly menu. When the box arrives at your home, you can use your mobile phone or tablet to scan a QR code that’s found in the recipe card. From there, you will enter your personal details to be in with a chance to win. The competition is open until 23:59 on the 29th June 2022. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over and at least one of the winning travellers must be 21 or over. Sign up to HelloFresh now HelloFresh Lightyear competition: what can you win? The winning family – selected at random according to the terms and conditions – will get an all-inclusive trip that features some fantastic adventurous activities. Flights to Florida for a family of up to four people Five nights of luxury hotel accommodation in the heart of Orlando Astronaut training at the Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex A microgravity spacewalking experience Guided tour of the Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex The space training adventure includes multi-day access to the visitor complex, one two-hour guided tour with an expert, plus a 5-7 hour “Mars base experience.” Prefer to stay home and just enjoy Lightyear recipes with your family? HelloFresh has said there will be more space-themed recipes on the horizon, including veggie fajita “supernova” tortizzas with peppers, yoghurt and a corn on the cob plus cheesy chicken in tomato sauce and “starchips” with garlicky green beans. Sign up to HelloFresh now Check out what's on with our TV Guide, or visit our Movies hub for news and features. Love Pixar content? Here's the best Disney Plus offers of the month.
Best Lightyear merchandise: Buzz toys, LEGO and costumes to buy right now
From classic action figures to family-friendly LEGO, here’s our favourite toys and merchandise featuring your favourite animated astronaut.
Whether it’s battling with aliens in space or taking up room inside a toybox on Earth, the adventurous animated astronaut Buzz Lightyear has been a well-loved Disney character ever since Toy Story was first released way back in 1995. This month, with the Lightyear release date on the horizon, Buzz is set to return to the big screen, now voiced by Marvel’s Captain America actor Chris Evans. That not only means we are getting an exciting new movie – but also new toys! From LEGO playsets to action figures, top retailers including shopDisney, Zavvi and Amazon will all have products that are suitable for both kids and adults. So if you’re a fan of the original 90s-era series or introducing your kids to the character for the first time, here’s our breakdown of the top merchandise that is available to purchase online in 2022. Say it with us: to infinity and beyond! Best Lightyear merchandise to buy at a glance LEGO XL-15 Spaceship playset, £44.99 LEGO Zurg Battle playset, £24.99 LEGO Lightyear Zyclops Chase Buzz, £17.99 Mattel Buzz Lightyear Action Figure, £16.99 Disney Store Lightyear Pyjamas For Kids, £18 Mattel Disney Pixar Lightyear Laser Blade, £34.99 Classic Talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure, £42.80 Rubie's Buzz Lightyear Fancy Dress, £20.68 Kids Backpack Toy Story Buzz Lightyear, £19.95 Buzz Lightyear Spaceship Wheelchair Cover Set, £50 Pixar Lightyear Movie Logo T-Shirt , £18 Best Lightyear merchandise: Buzz toys, LEGO and costumes to buy in 2022 LEGO XL-15 Spaceship, £44.99 Here’s a LEGO playset that’s perfect for anyone who is excited for the upcoming Lightyear movie. Suitable for users aged eight and up, this 4970-piece model is a replica of Buzz’s starship, and also comes with three additional minifigures. Buy the Buzz Lightyear XL-15 Spaceship at LEGO LEGO Zurg Battle, £24.99 Face off against Buzz Lightyear’s nemesis Zurg with this 261-piece LEGO playset, which has poseable arms and legs and is suitable for ages seven and up. Perfect for hours of play, and comes with two minifigures, including Buzz himself. Buy the Lightyear Zurg Battle playset at LEGO LEGO Zyclops Chase Buzz Lightyear set, £17.99 Great for younger Buzz fans (4+), this 87-piece playset of the evil mech Zyclops is easy to build as it comes with clear pictorial instructions. The robot is poseable and there are also two LEGO minifigures, alongside three weapons from the new movie. Buy the Lightyear Zyclops Chase Buzz at Zavvi Mattel Buzz Lightyear Action Figure, £16.99 This action figure showing the space ranger in the latest movie outfit stands at around 30 cm and is suitable for ages four and up. It has 12 poseable joints and “authentic design details,” so it’s perfect for recreating favourite scenes. Buy the Mattel Buzz Lightyear Action Figure at shopDisney Disney Store Lightyear Kids Pyjamas, £18 If your child is a fan of Toy Story or just the Buzz character, these pyjamas are a great gift. The 2-piece set shows stylish Lightyear and Zurg artwork on the front, while the bottoms – made of 100% cotton – are elasticated, for a comfy fit. Buy Disney Store Lightyear Pyjamas For Kids at shopDisney Mattel Lightyear Laser Blade, £34.99 The Laser Blade DX is wielded by Buzz during the new movie, and this toy from Mattel is a child-friendly replica of the weapon. The play sword, which is around 40.5 cm (16-inches) long, gives off light and sounds – so it is great for recreating scenes from the blockbuster, especially when combined with the Utility Belt and Space Ranger Training Visor. This toy is suitable for users aged four and up. Buy Mattel Disney Pixar Lightyear Laser Blade at shopDisney Classic Talking Buzz Lightyear, £36.94 When it comes to Buzz Lightyear action figures, there’s a good chance that you’ll recognise this one. This one looks like it has been pulled from the original film, standing at 30 cm (12-inches) height and comes with pop-out wings, a laser arm and 10-plus phrases and sounds. It is suitable for children aged three and up. Buy Classic Talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure at Amazon Buzz Lightyear Fancy Dress, from £20.68 Fancy dress party? This official Buzz Lightyear outfit – complete with a full-body jumpsuit, wings and a snood – is just what you need. There are multiple sizes, from small to toddler, and the fabric has printed details just like the character. Buy Rubie's Buzz Lightyear Boys Fancy Dress at Amazon Kids Buzz Lightyear Backpack, £19.95 This is the perfect backpack for fans of Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story, with the design mirroring the character’s look - complete with wings on each side. Buy Kids Backpack Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Green at Amazon Buzz Spaceship Wheelchair Cover Set, £50 If your child is a huge Buzz Lightyear fan who requires a wheelchair, check out this amazing cover set that replicates the character’s spaceship. It includes two felt pieces, 16 support bars for stability and cut-out window panels. Buy Buzz Lightyear Spaceship Wheelchair Cover Set at shopDisney Disney Lightyear Movie Logo T-Shirt, £18 This official T-shirt is stylish but minimalist, coming with the Lightyear logo on the front and available for men, women and kids. It has a classic fit, is machine washable and 100% Cotton. Want more personalisation? You can choose from multiple colours, including black, slate, navy, white, purple, royal blue, silver and heather grey. Buy Disney Pixar Lightyear Movie Logo T-Shirt at Amazon For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section.
iPhone 13: here's the latest 2022 availability for the Apple models
You can buy Apple's iPhone 13 series, but you may have to wait for some of the handsets to be delivered to your home. Here's the latest.
The iPhone 13 series is available from a variety of UK retailers, and consists of some of the most sought-after handsets of the year. Here’s a guide to where you can pick up one of the Apple smartphones in 2022 – including current pricing. Multiple Apple products launched last year, including four handsets – iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max alongside two new iPads, the iPad Mini (6th generation) and Apple iPad (9th generation). The products were revealed during an event on 14th September 2021 that was also used to confirm the release window of the Apple Watch 7. Fans of the tech giant were recently treated to a new MacBook Air release date at the June WWDC keynote. Compared to the previous model, iPhone 13 design changes were minimal aside from a smaller notch and some new colours, but they do come with a powerful A15 Bionic chip, upgraded cameras, better battery life and more expansive storage options. While the new devices are available via Apple’s website, retailers and providers have stock and contract deals or offers so you don’t have to buy the iPhone 13 outright. The latest series starts at £679 for the 13 mini, up to £1,049 for the 13 Pro Max. Here’s everything you need to know about picking up the iPhone 13: where to buy the new handsets and how much it will cost on a contract or outright. Scroll down for a full list of specs to help you decide. Still not sure what smartphone you should be buying? Be sure to read our in-depth iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12 comparison. In a hurry? Quick links for buying an iPhone 13: Sky Mobile Amazon Apple Currys AO Argos Very EE Vodafone O2 Three Affordable Mobiles Latest iPhone 13 contract promotions There are some top iPhone 13 contract promotions available now via fonehouse. <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=radiotimes-1354446&awinmid=6224&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fonehouse.co.uk%2Fmobile-phone-deal%2Fcontract%2Fiphone-13-5g-128gb-midnight%2Fthree-100gb-new-24-month-38.00%2Ffree-delivery%3Fsource%3Dsecret%26awc%3D6224_1655291892_67936571dca81b4467c30fa60953aa4b%26utm_source%3DImmediate%2BMedia%2BCompany%2BLimited%26utm_medium%3DAWIN%26utm_campaign%3Dimmediate.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">iPhone 13 128GB, 100GB data | £38 per month, £4.99 upfront (24 months) <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=radiotimes-1354446&awinmid=6224&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fonehouse.co.uk%2Fmobile-phone-deal%2Fcontract%2Fiphone-13-pro-5g-128gb-gold%2Fthree-100gb-new-24-month-50.00%2Ffree-delivery%3Fsource%3Dsecret%26awc%3D6224_1655291756_f611739e3a6bcd37b17a6da7a3be3d6d%26utm_source%3DImmediate%2BMedia%2BCompany%2BLimited%26utm_medium%3DAWIN%26utm_campaign%3Dimmediate.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">iPhone 13 Pro 128GB, 100GB data | £50 per month, 34.99 upfront (24 months) For more on top devices and deals, check out our best smartphone guide and best budget smartwatch guide. Where to buy the Apple iPhone 13 Although there are always some wait times, several UK stockists have dedicated sections on their website for the new iPhone 13 where you order and buy. Here are the networks with iPhone 13 offers and availability. This list will be consistently updated. All pricing was correct at the time of writing. Sky Mobile | Available to order now Apple iPhone 13 mini | from £22 per month, £0 upfront, 24 months (order by 9pm Monday to Friday for next day delivery) Apple iPhone 13 | from £24 per month, £0 upfront, 24 months (order by 9pm Monday to Friday for next day delivery) Apple iPhone 13 Pro | from £33 per month, £0 upfront, 24 months (order by 9pm Monday to Friday for next day delivery) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | from £37 per month, £0 upfront, 24 months (order by 9pm Monday to Friday for next day delivery) EE | Available to order now Apple iPhone 13 mini | £53 per month, £50 upfront (In stock. Usually despatched within one day) Apple iPhone 13 | £43 per month, £90 upfront (In stock. Usually despatched within one day) Apple iPhone 13 Pro | from £69 per month, £40 upfront (In stock. Usually despatched within one day) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | from £71 per month, £50 upfront (In stock. Usually despatched within one day) Vodafone | Available to order now Apple iPhone 13 mini | from £36 per month, £29 upfront on a 36-month plan (Free delivery. Usually with you in 2 - 3 weeks.) Apple iPhone 13 | from £43 per month, £29 upfront on a 36-month plan (Order before 10:00pm today and get it tomorrow) Apple iPhone 13 Pro | from £49 per month, £49 upfront on a 36-month plan (Order before 10:00pm today and get it tomorrow) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | from £52 per month, £49 upfront on a 36-month plan (Order before 10:00pm today and get it tomorrow) O2 | Available to order now Apple iPhone 13 mini | from £48.49 per month, £20 upfront (In stock. 150GB data) Apple iPhone 13 | from £48.98 per month, £30 upfront (In stock. 150GB data) Apple iPhone 13 Pro | from £58.53 per month, £30 upfront (In stock. Unlimited data) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | from £61.59 per month, £30 upfront (In stock. Unlimited data) Currys | Available to order now Apple iPhone 13 mini | from £32.99 per month, £29 upfront (Delivery by 14 July) Apple iPhone 13 | from £36.99 per month, £29.99 upfront (Delivery by 17 June) Apple iPhone 13 Pro | from £49.99 per month, £49 upfront (Delivery by 23 June) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | from £52 per month, £79 upfront (Delivery by 30 June) Three | Available to order now Apple iPhone 13 mini | from £49 per month, £30 upfront on a 24-month plan (Delivery by 13th July) Apple iPhone 13 | £52 per month, £50 upfront on a 24-month plan (Delivery by next day) Apple iPhone 13 Pro | £65 per month, £70 upfront on a 24-month plan (Delivery by next day) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | £67 per month, £90 upfront on 24-month plan (Delivery by next day) iD Mobile | Available to order now Apple iPhone 13 mini | from £34.99 per month, £29 upfront on a 24-month plan (Available from 7th July) Apple iPhone 13 | from £39.99 per month, £29 upfront on a 24-month plan (Free one day delivery) Apple iPhone 13 Pro | from £42.99 per month, £99 upfront on a 24-month plan (Free one day delivery) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | from £50.99 per month, £99 upfront on a 24-month plan (Free one day delivery) If you want to find out more information about the previous Apple series or the best iPhone model for you, don’t miss our iPhone 12 review, iPhone 12 Pro review, iPhone 12 mini review and iPhone 12 Pro Max review. And for a full breakdown of all the products revealed during the launch event last year, read our Apple September event summary or head to our Apple Watch 7 release date and iPad mini 6 pages for more information. iPhone 13 pricing: how much is the new iPhone 13? Prices for the standard iPhone 13 start at £779 ($799). The smallest model, the iPhone 13 mini, is marginally cheaper at £679 ($699). These prices shouldn’t be too much of a surprise and match up with the iPhone 12 models released last October. It is the same deal when it comes to the new iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Pro starts from £949 ($999), while the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the most expensive, priced from £1,049 ($1,099). In general, the prices go up based on the amount of storage you need, as you can see in our iPhone 13 comparison table below. iPhone 13: which model should you buy? Apple iPhone 13 mini The smallest iPhone 13 of the new line-up, the mini has a 5.4-inch display and is priced from £679 in the UK. Don’t miss our in-depth iPhone 13 mini review. Our tester wrote: “The iPhone 13 mini [comes] into its own, however, with people looking to enter the world of smartphones. Whether that’s teenagers, and their parents, looking for a way to increase independence and older or less tech-savvy people who have never owned a device like this before. The combination of great design, easy-to-use software and premium tech makes it a great starting point.” undefined Apple iPhone 13 The iPhone 13 has a 6.1-inch display and is priced from £779 in the UK. We have had hands-on time with the model so be sure to read our iPhone 13 review. Our expert tester gave the flagship handset 4.5 out of 5 stars and wrote: “You don’t get all the bells and whistles seen on the Pro range, so there are some sacrifices to be made, but it’s very clear why Apple has continued with its four-way handset release – the iPhone 13 offers the most appeal to the widest group possible.” undefined Apple iPhone 13 Pro The iPhone 13 Pro has a 6.1-inch display, but better specs than the standard model and is priced from £949 in the UK. Don’t miss our full iPhone 13 Pro review. We gave the handset five out of five stars, writing: The iPhone 13 Pro represents the best option of the entire iPhone 13 range because it combines next-level hardware with optimised software, all within a form factor that will suit most people.” undefined Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max The iPhone 13 Pro Max is not only the biggest model released this year – boasting a large 6.7-inch display – but also easily the most expensive, priced from a whopping £1,049 when bought outright. Our in-depth review is currently in progress. undefined iPhone 13: specs at a glance Four models (like the iPhone 12): iPhone 13, mini, Pro, Pro Max Five colours for iPhone 13 and 13 mini: pink, blue, midnight (black), starlight (silver) and Product (RED) Four colours for iPhone Pro and Pro Max: Sierra blue, gold, graphite and silver Smaller notch for iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 mini has a 5.4-inch screen iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have a 6.1-inch screen size iPhone 13 Pro Max has a display size of 6.7 inches Features new A15 bionic chip – fastest ever All models come with 5G connectivity as standard 1TB storage available on iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models iPhone 13 battery life should last 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 “Biggest camera advancement ever” in the Pro and Pro Max models iPhone 13: comparison iPhone 13: design and display With an IP68 rating, all the new iPhone 13 models are water and dust resistant. This matches up with what we’ve come to expect from the iPhone 12, which also had the same protection. While the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini have a new smaller notch, their screen sizes remain the same as on the iPhone 12 models. The iPhone 13 mini features a 5.4-inch Super Retina display, while the screen on the standard iPhone 13 is 6.1 inches. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max come with display sizes of 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches, respectively. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are in five colours: pink, blue, midnight (black), starlight (silver) and Product (RED). The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max are available in a range of four new colours, including Sierra Blue, gold, graphite and silver. iPhone 13 performance The iPhone 13 features a new chip from Apple called the A15 Bionic. The tech giant claims that this is the fastest ever smartphone chip. All four models will be 5G phones, too, so they can handle super-fast internet speeds in areas with 5G coverage. When it comes to storage, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations. However, if you love to binge Netflix episodes or download podcasts, you may want to take advantage of the huge 1TB offered by the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. iPhone 13 battery life With any new release, one of the main demands from users is to improve the battery life. And, Apple has listened. According to Apple, the new iPhone 13 has a battery life that should last 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12, while the smaller iPhone 13 mini will last 1.5 hours longer than its previous counterpart. This is extended even further when you get to the iPhone 13 Pro models, which will last up to 3.5 hours longer and can easily be classed as an ‘all-day battery’. iPhone 13 camera All four iPhone 13 smartphones feature a new camera set-up. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini come with a new dual-camera set-up fitted with the biggest sensor Apple has ever put in a camera set-up of this size. On the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, you’re paying a little more for a triple-camera set-up, including a wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lens. Apple describes it as its “biggest camera advancement ever” with 3x optical zoom on the telephoto lens. Naturally, this comes with specialist modes, including a cinematic mode and night mode. For the Pro models, a new ProRes video mode will also be available early next year and is designed to shoot in 4K and up to 30 frames per second. Still unsure about what iPhone to pick up? Read our iPhone 12 vs mini vs Pro vs Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini vs iPhone SE guides to compare previous models.
Win a Pixel 6, Fitbit or Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 in this new Currys Jubilee offer
To celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, Currys is offering a "royal giveaway" and the chance to win some great tech when you spend £25 or more before 7th June.
The Platinum Jubilee is a time for street parties, family get-togethers and parades to mark the Queen’s historic 70-year reign on the throne. Thanks to Currys, it’s also a time for offers on tech, with the retailer launching a “royal giveaway” this week that’s a great chance to win some top products. Running alongside its Epic Deals – which features discounts on TVs, computers, smart home, audio and appliances more – the Jubilee promotion’s prizes include a Google Pixel 6, Fitbit Charge 5 tracker, Dyson V15 vacuum and more. So whether you will celebrate the anniversary by watching the parades on TV or buying the best Queen’s Platinum Jubilee merchandise, you won’t want to miss this offer. Here’s what you need to know about eligibility, and when it ends. Shop the full Currys Epic Deals What's the Currys Jubilee offer? The promotion is a chance to win one of 70 tech prizes by filling an entry form on the Currys site between 25th May and 7th June. It is a maximum of one entry per person a day. Five winners are selected every day, and they are notified via email within four working days. The winner has 14 days to confirm their details. How to enter the Currys Jubilee offer To enter the promotion, you have to buy a product for £25 or over either in-store or online between 25th May and 7th June and fill in the online entry form. You have to register the transaction by entering a receipt number (in-store) or order number (online). Gift cards and SIM contracts are both excluded. There will be 70 winners in total and they are all “randomly chosen and randomly allocated a prize.” What are the technology prizes? Here is the full list of prizes, per the promotion’s small print. 10 x Google Nest Doorbell 5 x Fitbit Charge 5 5 x Dyson V15 Absolute 5 x Logitech PRO X 7.1 Headset Wireless 5 x Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 3 x Samsung Galaxy A53 3 x Google Pixel 6 34 x Xbox Game Pass For PC – 3 Month Top Currys ‘Epic Deals’ available now Not sure how to spend the £25 needed to be eligible? Why not check out the tech that’s currently discounted on the Currys website as part of its "Epic Deals." Our top three Currys deals: Samsung 50-inch QE50 4K QLED TV (save £450) With stunning display quality and support for multiple voice assistants – Bixby, Alexa and Google Assistant – the QE50 offers a stunning experience for movies, TV shows and sports events. It’s down from £1,249 to £799 – a £450 discount. Buy the Samsung 50-inch QE50 for £799 at Currys Fitbit Charge 5 fitness tracker (save £50) With some of the best fitness and health tracking tools on the market, the Charge 5 is an attractive and comfortable wearable. It has an RRP of £169 but is down to £119 – a solid £50 off. For more, here is our full Fitbit Charge 5 review. Buy the Fitbit Charge 5 for £119 at Currys For more on top devices and deals, check out our best budget smartwatch guide. Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro 46 mm (save £40) Compatible with both iOS and Android, the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro is a stylish smartwatch that has an impressive battery life of up to 14 days. It’s got everything you could want from a smart wearable, and is currently discounted by £40. Buy the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro for £139 at Currys More Currys Epic Deals to buy now: PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller | £59.99 £49.99 (save £10) Samsung QE55 Smart 4K QLED TV | £899 £699 (save £200) Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite | £149 £119 (save £30) Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 14" Laptop | £699 £499 (save £200) Amazon Fire 7-inch Kids Pro Tablet | £99.99 £49.99 (save £50) Shop more Epic Deals at Currys For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter.
Best Queen’s Platinum Jubilee merchandise to buy ahead of the Bank Holiday
From personalised teapots to cute Corgi cross stitch kits, here's the top merchandise to celebrate the Queen's historic royal milestone.
There are many ways to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, a historic milestone that marks Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years of service on the throne. Whether it’s going to a street party to eat copious amounts of sandwiches, dressing up in Union Jack flags or taking the more measured approach of using the four-day bank holiday to catch up with loved ones, let’s just say you have options. But whatever you choose to do – from attending the birthday parade to searching the web for the Platinum Jubilee Barbie – you definitely don’t want to miss this selection of merchandise and memorabilia to commemorate the special anniversary. There’s something for every budget at a range of popular UK retailers, including John Lewis, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, M&S, Emma Bridgewater and Harrods. Best Platinum Jubilee merchandise at a glance The Queen's Corgis biscuit set, £25 Fortnum's Platinum Jubilee Mug, £35 Fortnum's Jubilee Chocolate Selection, £200 Light-Up Embroidered Crown Cushion, £17.50 The Jubilee Tea Gift Box, £50 Radio Times: Her Majesty The Queen, £9.99 The Selfridges Jubilee hamper, £80 Jubilee God Save The Queen Mug, £22 Buckingham Palace 500-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle, £5 Fortnum's Mini Musical Biscuit Tin, £14.95 Queen's Platinum Jubilee Shopper Bag, £30 Personalised Jubilee 4 Mug Teapot, from £66 Platinum Jubilee shortbread Tin, £12.99 The Jubilee Commemorative Gift Box, £100 Best Platinum Jubilee merchandise to buy this year The Queen's Corgis biscuit set, £25 Biscuiteers has a variety of Jubilee-themed treats on its website for the celebration (see the full range here!) and we love this biscuit set of the Queen’s Corgi dogs – which contains five lemon biscuits presented in a hand-illustrated gift box. Buy The Queen's Corgis biscuit set for £25 at Biscuiteers Fortnum's Platinum Jubilee Mug, £35 Drink in style this Platinum Jubilee with this limited edition mug, which is made in Stoke-on-Trent from exclusive fine bone china. As the retailer’s website says, the 200ml mug is a “perfect keepsake or a wonderful gift for any dedicated sipper.” Buy Platinum Jubilee Mug for £35 at Fortnum And Mason Fortnum's Jubilee English Chocolate Selection, £200 If you want a taste of luxury this Platinum Jubilee bank holiday, check out this 1.2 kg assortment of milk, dark, white and rose milk chocolate truffles and domes that are deserving of royalty. These treats come “infused with ingredients from across the British Isles,” including Jersey Caramel and Blackberry & Welsh Honey. Buy English Chocolate Selection for £200 at Fortnum And Mason Light-Up Embroidered Crown Cushion, £17.50 Want some new décor for your home this Platinum Jubilee bank holiday? Look no further than this light grey embroidered cushion from Marks and Spencer. The front shows the Queen’s crown, but the best aspect is that it lights up! Buy Light-Up Crown Cushion for £17.50 at M&S The Jubilee Tea Gift Box, £50 The Jubilee Tea Gift Box from Fortnum & Mason makes a great keepsake, coming with limited-edition tea – including a loose-leaf blend and a fine bone china Platinum Jubilee Mug branded with a crown design finished with gold detailing. Buy the Jubilee Tea Gift Box for £50.00 at Fortnum & Mason Mini Corgi Cross Stitch Kit, £10 (sold out) The Make Arcade’s cute Corgi-themed stitch kit is great for beginners (14+) who want to take part in a craft project to celebrate the Jubilee. You get everything you need in the pack, including a "How to Cross Stitch" leaflet that will guide you. Buy the Mini Corgi Cross Stitch Kit for £10 at John Lewis (sold out) Radio Times: Her Majesty The Queen, £9.99 To celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Radio Times is releasing a 116-page commemorative edition, Radio Times: Her Majesty The Queen. The bookazine features covers, articles and illustrations from the Radio Times archive, along with adverts and photography from Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign. Significant events covered in the edition include multiple jubilees, Princess Elizabeth’s very first BBC broadcast in 1940 and her Coronation as Elizabeth II in June 1953. Buy Radio Times: Her Majesty The Queen for £9.99 at Radio Times Shop Selfridges Jubilee hamper, £80 Selfridges has this packed Jubilee hamper available for £80 that includes a Walkers 300g shortbread tin, Ahmad Platinum Jubilee tea tin 60g, House of Dorchester Jubilee salted caramel milk chocolate crowns 80g, House of Dorchester milk chocolate bar 80g, Tiptree preserve trio 112g and a 16-inch wicker basket. Buy the Jubilee hamper for £80 at Selfridges Jubilee God Save The Queen Mug, £22 There are a variety of Platinum Jubilee mugs available at Emma Bridgewater to mark the anniversary, but we have chosen this strikingly red 1/2 Pint Mug that comes with the words “God Save The Queen” printed along the front. Buy the God Save The Queen mug for £22 at Emma Bridgewater Buckingham Palace 500-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle, £5 Looking for an activity to do over the long weekend? This 500-piece jigsaw puzzle from Corner Piece features the Queen, a flag-waving crowd and the Queen's Guard outside of Buckingham Palace. Measuring 48cm x 34cm, this puzzle is a great option for the whole family to get involved in. Buy Buckingham Palace 500-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for £5 at The Works Fortnum's Mini Musical Biscuit Tin, £14.95 An item that’s exclusive to Fortnum & Mason, the Platinum Jubilee Mini Musical Biscuit Tin plays a rendition of “God Save the Queen” as it gently spins. Not only that but it’s filled with yummy dark chocolate and macadamia nut biscuits, too. Buy the Mini Musical Biscuit Tin for £14.95 at Fortnum & Mason Queen's Platinum Jubilee Shopper Bag, £30 This limited edition navy bag from Harrods has been released specifically for the Platinum Jubilee. It has a crown graphic and Royal Cypher printed on the front and will be perfect for showing off your love of royals while out shopping. Buy the Platinum Jubilee Shopper Bag for £30 at Harrods Personalised Jubilee 4 Mug Teapot, From £66 If you want to add your own personal touch, this four mug Emma Bridgewater set lets you add a name or special message onto the front of the teapot, which comes with a pattern of red and blue crowns and golden hearts to mark the occasion. Buy the Jubilee 4 Mug Teapot from £66 at Emma Bridgewater Platinum Jubilee shortbread tin, £12.99 This commemorative Platinum Jubilee tin showing Queen Elizabeth II on the front includes 300g of pure butter shortbread branded with union jacks. Tasty. Buy the Jubilee shortbread tin for £11.99 at Selfridges Platinum Jubilee Cocktail Party Picnic Bag, £40 (sold out) If you want to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with a cocktail this Marks and Spencer picnic bag set has you covered. One for the adults, it contains a selection of drinks to fill the Jubilee-themed Cool Bag, including Mojito, Cosmopolitan, Pina colada, Gin and Diet Tonic, plus some Jubilee-branded Napkins and 20 Jubilee paper straws. Buy the Jubilee Cocktail Party Picnic Bag for £40 at M&S (sold out) The Jubilee Commemorative Gift Box, £100 This Fortnum & Mason limited-edition gift box includes Platinum Jubilee Blend Tea, a jar of very-berried Rose & Berries Preserve, a miniature musical biscuit tin — alongside a Platinum Jubilee Tea Towel and Plate great for keepsake items. Buy the Jubilee Commemorative Gift Box for £100 at F&M Want to watch coverage of the special anniversary on TV? Here is the Platinum Jubilee BBC schedule of shows and programming up until Monday 6th June. Fancy a day out over the Bank Holiday weekend? Try our recommendations for the best West End shows in London.
OnePlus Nord 2T: Here's where to buy the new mid-range phone
Here's what you need to know about the new OnePlus Nord smartphones, including how you can purchase one in the UK today.
OnePlus is a company with a reputation that’s built on the concept of “flagship killer” smartphones – offering premium specs at lower prices. The latest handset taking this approach is now on sale, and it’s called the Nord 2T 5G and it costs £369. It’s being released alongside two other devices, the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G and the OnePlus Nord Buds, the first audio product under the Nord branding. The phone-maker has already had a fairly busy 2022 – releasing the flagship 10 Pro in April (£799) and the more affordable Nord CE 2, priced from £299, the month prior. Those joined the Nord 2 5G, released in July last year, starting from £399. That’s a lot of Nord. Intrigued about the latest devices? Here’s what we know so far about the new Nord 2T, including features, specs, UK price and availability. Buy the Nord 2T 5G via OnePlus Buy the Nord 2T 5G via Amazon Buy the CE 2 Lite 5G via OnePlus Buy the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G at Amazon Buy the OnePlus Nord Buds If you are shopping for a competitively-priced phone, don’t miss our guide to the best mid-range phones of 2022 so far, plus our OnePlus 10 Pro review. Want an even more affordable handset? Here’s our detailed guide to the best budget smartphone. OnePlus Nord 2T specs and features Here’s what you need to know about the Nord 2T’s specs: 6.43-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display Resolution: 2400 x 1080 pixels Up to 90Hz screen refresh rate MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset 80W SuperVOOC charging 4,500 mAh battery capacity 8GB RAM and 128GB storage Android 12 (OxygenOS 12.1 skin) 50MP main camera (Sony IMX766 sensor) 32MP front-facing selfie camera New OnePlus Nord devices UK pricing The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G are priced from £369 in the UK. This model comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. In addition, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G will start at £279, while the 3D audio-playing OnePlus Nord Buds are priced at £49. OnePlus Nord 2T UK release date The OnePlus Nord 2T was unveiled to the world on 19th May 2022, at 3pm. Pre-orders opened the same day. The new smartphones and wireless earbuds became available to buy from various UK retailers beginning at 11am on the 24th May. Where to buy the new Nord devices Here’s how you can buy the devices via OnePlus: Buy the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G Buy the OnePlus CE 2 Lite 5G Buy the OnePlus Nord Buds The phones are also available to buy via Amazon: Buy the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G at Amazon Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G at Amazon We will update this page as stock becomes available at retailers and carriers. Still shopping for a new smartphone? Don’t miss our guides on the best smartphone of 2022, plus the best Android phone and the best budget smartphone. For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section.
Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: which is better?
Android or iOS? These mid-range handsets from two industry heavyweights go head-to-head as we compare features, specs, pricing and more.
When it comes to buying a mid-range smartphone, you typically want to spend between £300 and £600, roughly. Anything less gets into the budget territory, while anything more starts to encroach on the higher-end flagships. Two of the standout mid-range handsets of 2022 so far are the Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen and Samsung A53 5G, both priced around the £400 mark (RRP) in the UK. The Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen starts at £419 and the Samsung A53 is priced at £399 (RRP). The cost may be similar but the handsets are very different – at least because the iPhone SE runs iOS and the A53 is Android. So which one is most suited to you? Let’s delve into that question – comparing their specs, features, pricing and much more. For more phones at this price point, read our guide to the best mid-range phone in 2022 so far. Decide that you want to save some cash? Here’s a full breakdown of the best budget smartphone of this year, plus our full Samsung A53 5G review. Save 28% on the Samsung Galaxy A53 The Samsung Galaxy A53 mixes top-of-the-range features with some lesser components, resulting in an appealing cocktail of value, performance and design. Right now, you can pick up the Samsung Galaxy A53 with a great 28 per cent discount - it’s down from £399 to £288.99. Samsung Galaxy A53 | £399 £288.99 (save £110.01 or 28%) at Amazon Jump to: Key differences at a glance Design Specs and features Price Storage Battery life Camera Display 5G connectivity Our verdict: which should you buy? Where to buy Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: key differences at a glance Aside from the design and size, the biggest difference is that the iPhone SE 3rd Gen runs Apple’s iOS 15, while the Samsung runs Android 12. The iPhone SE is smaller in size, with a 4.7-inch display compared to the A53’s 6.5-inch display (6.3-inch measures using the rounded corners.) Staying on screen tech, the iPhone SE has a max refresh rate of 60Hz, but the Samsung A53 offers an extra 120Hz option (but it’s not adaptive). The iPhone SE has a single camera 12MP setup, while the Samsung A53 has four: a 64MP main, 12MP ultra wide, 5MP depth and 5MP macro. The Apple SE has a physical home button and larger bezels. The Samsung A53 5G has no front buttons, using an on-screen fingerprint sensor. Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: design Let’s just say you will be able to tell the two phones apart. The iPhone SE 3rd Gen has the “classic” (ie old) Apple aesthetic – with large bezels surrounding the display and a physical home button that holds the Touch ID sensor. It’s retro and takes a lot of inspiration from 2017’s iPhone 8. It’s definitely an acquired taste in 2022. The Samsung A53 5G is significantly more modern thanks to the larger overall size, a full-screen display with an on-screen fingerprint sensor and much smaller bezels. There are more cameras in the rear module and a pinhole lens on the front. Here is the iPhone SE 3rd Gen family of phones: And here is the Samsung A53 phone series: Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: specs and features When it comes to software selection, the iPhone SE 3rd Gen uses the iOS App Store while the Samsung A53 5G uses the Google Play Store. The Android phone is a little bit more open, and you will need an Apple ID to download via the Apple store. The processors inside each of the phones are different, too. The iPhone SE 3rd Gen uses an A15 Bionic chip – which is highly impressive as it’s the same line found in the much more expensive iPhone 13 series. The A53 houses a Exynos 1280 (5 nm) processor from this year. It’s a mid-range chip but definitely no slouch. Sticking with performance, the iPhone SE display has a locked 60Hz refresh rate, while the A53 has the option of boosting it to 120Hz. This may drain the battery faster but results in a smoother scrolling experience when using the display. Both handsets are rated IP67 for water and dust resistance – which means they can (theoretically) survive in up to one metre of liquid for up to 30 minutes. We don’t recommend testing this, but it’s helpful if you are using them for exercising. Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: price Pricing is one of the main reasons we are comparing these two phones. If you have around £400 and don’t care about iOS or Android, then it’s possible that you will be considering these handsets. Still, here’s a full breakdown of the UK pricing: Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen 64GB: £419 128GB: £469 256GB: £569 Samsung A53 5G: 128GB: £399 256GB: £456 Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: storage The iPhone SE 3rd Gen has more storage options: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB, with the cost going up based on how much internal space you are getting. The Samsung A53 has two options, 128GB and 256GB, but has an additional bonus in that it supports a microSD card with up to 1TB. The Apple phone does not support expandable card storage at all, so the Samsung is a better bet if this is needed. Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: battery life If you are comparing based on the specs sheet alone, you would think the A53 will easily outpace the iPhone SE 3rd Gen because the Samsung has a 5,000mAh battery while the Apple model has a 2,018 mAh battery. But that’s not the whole story. Due to the tight integration with the iPhone and the A15 chip, the lifespans are similar. For moderate use – a general combination of calls, streaming, internet use, messaging and emails – both of the handsets should be able to last for between one and two days before needing to be charged back up. The iPhone SE offers up to 15 hours of video playback, while the A53 has up to 18 hours video playback. The iPhone SE delivers up to 50 hours of audio playback, while the A53 will give you up to 60 hours, approximately. This is never an exact science, and how much power you have will always be dependent on usage. One factor to note is that only the iPhone SE offers Qi wireless charging. Using a 20W adapter (not included) you can get up to 50% charge in 30 minutes. The A53 comes with up to 25W fast charging, and that adapter is also sold separately. Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: camera Both setups are very capable of taking great photos, with multiple shooting modes for pictures and 4K video. There are some clear differences, however. The Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen has a single camera 12MP setup that relies more on the AI running in the background. It has a dedicated portrait mode, a digital zoom of up to 5x and optical image stabilisation. The “selfie” camera lens is 7MP. The Samsung A53 5G has a quad camera setup, with a 64 MP main, 12 MP ultra wide, 5 MP depth and a 5MP macro. The phone offers you a digital zoom of up to 10x and optical image stabilisation, too. The A53's “selfie” camera lens is 32MP. Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: display You will notice it right away if the two phones are placed side by side. The screens are very different sizes, and the iPhone definitely looks much more snug. The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch LCD display with around 625 nits max brightness while the A53 has a larger 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display (FHD+) with up to 800 nits of brightness. The iPhone has thicker bezels, which are the borders around the display, with the Samsung much more of a full-screen experience. Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: connectivity Both handsets support 5G, which means they will be able to take advantage of faster internet and download speeds on the new networks currently rolling out. Like prior models, the iPhone SE 3rd Gen uses Apple’s Lightning connector for charging, while the Samsung A53 uses the more widely-adopted USB Type-C. Pairing with wireless buds? The SE 3 has Bluetooth v5.0, the Samsung has Bluetooth v5.1. Which should you buy: Apple or Samsung? There’s no doubt that the Samsung A53 is a more modernised smartphone, largely thanks to the bigger display size, 120Hz refresh rate, expandable storage and a full-screen design that’s much more in line with what many people will expect a smartphone to look like in 2022. If you prefer Android, go for this one. The iPhone SE’s look may look outdated, but the Apple A15 Bionic chipset is a big plus, and it has one key audience: anyone who wants iOS on a budget. So here’s the bottom line: Like always, the question of which one to buy may be quickly answered by choosing if you want to be on iOS or Android. So if you are in the Apple ecosystem – with a MacBook and Apple Watch, for example – then it is likely you should stick with the iPhone SE 3rd Gen. But if you want to avoid an older design and don’t mind shifting over to Android, the Samsung A53 is a very worthy alternative. The handset has more storage options, smaller bezels and is slightly more affordable. Where to buy Where to buy the iPhone SE 3rd Gen: Buy the Apple iPhone SE at Very Buy the Apple iPhone SE at Amazon Buy the Apple iPhone SE at Currys Buy the Apple iPhone SE at John Lewis Buy the Apple iPhone SE at Argos Where to buy the Samsung A53: Buy the Samsung A53 at Very Buy the Samsung A53 at Amazon Buy the Samsung A53 at Currys Buy the Samsung A53 at John Lewis Buy the Samsung A53 at Argos For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter.
Google IO 2022 highlights: Pixel 7 sneak peek, plus new Android tablet
The popular developer conference returned with a bang. Here are the five biggest product announcements from the opening keynote.
While software remained the focus of the event, Google used the opening keynote of IO 2022 to unveil several exciting new Pixel devices, including multiple smartphones, a set of wireless earbuds, a smartwatch and even a new tablet. Some of the key announcements were expected, including the Pixel 6a – a £399 mid-range handset that shares the same design as the flagship devices – and the Pixel Watch, a WearOS wearable that integrates Fitbit’s health capabilities. Also aligning with speculation ahead of the event, Google showcased a higher-end set of true wireless earbuds with noise cancellation, called the Pixel Buds Pro. Others were more of a surprise, including a very early glimpse of the next flagship Pixel 7 series of phones, alongside a mysterious new Google Pixel tablet. There was a lot to digest, so if you want a breakdown or need a TL:DR following the 11th May keynote, here are the biggest product announcements from the IO 2022 opening, including a brief run-down of specs, availability and UK pricing. Google IO 2022: Top 5 product highlights The Pixel 6a smartphone is coming The Pixel 6a is a more affordable version of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro handsets. It has a 6.1-inch display, 4410 mAh battery, dual 12MP camera setup and contains the same Tensor chipset found in the more expensive models. There are a couple of sacrifices: the refresh rate is 60Hz and it doesn’t come with wireless charging. But all the camera modes are intact, and it retains the same overall design of the flagships. The Google Pixel 6a is priced from £399 ($449) and pre-orders open on 21st July and it will be available to be bought outright via retailers from the 28th July. Read more on our full Google Pixel 6a release date page. Pixel Buds Pro get noise cancellation Earlier versions of Google's wireless Pixel Buds had one major issue, and that was a lack of active noise cancellation (ANC). The new Pixel Buds Pro has solved that, while a future update this year will bring in support for spatial surround audio. The new model has IPX4 water resistance and the case is IPX2 water resistant so the small circular buds should be a great companion for exercise sessions. Available in four colours - called Coral, Lemongrass, Fog and Charcoal - they are made in a soft matte finish and offer 11 hours of listening time (7 with ANC turned on). The Pixel Buds Pro are priced at £179 in the UK and will be available to pre-order on the 21st July. They join the Pixel Buds A-Series, which are priced at £99. Here's our full breakdown of the new Google Pixel Buds Pro. New Pixel Watch releases this ‘autumn’ The Google watch is real, we repeat, the Google watch is real. After many years of rumours and speculation, the company used IO 2022 to showcase the Pixel Watch - a wearable that will run the latest WearOS software and boast “deep integration” with Fitbit’s industry-leading health and fitness tracking tools. The design looks premium, too, with a neat circular frame made from recycled stainless steel. There was no UK pricing revealed, but Google has confirmed that it’s coming in the autumn and more details would be shared with us in the coming months. Find out more about the wearable via our Google Pixel Watch page. What leaks? Pixel 7 design is shown off in full Many of Google’s phones are known to be the focus of intense amounts of online speculation - many leaking online ahead of the official announcement. Google has effectively put a stop to this by teasing the next premium smartphones on its own. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro were both unveiled, with images showing off the new metallic camera bump and confirmation that the new series of handsets would be released with the next generation Tensor chip and the Android 13 software. The final pricing and exact UK release date, of course, remains a mystery for now. Finally, there was a tiny glimpse of a Pixel tablet Unlike the other devices on this list, the final big reveal was definitely an early tease - and little more. That’s right, Google is releasing an Android Pixel slate housing its own Tensor chip. According to the keynote speaker, it’s “designed to be the perfect companion for your Pixel phone.” Think iPad-iPhone. While the release date was murky, Google asserted they are “aiming to make it available next year.” Watch the full Google IO 2022 keynote: View oEmbed on the source website If you're shopping for a mid-range phone, check out our full guide to the best mid-range phone of the year, and don’t miss our Google Pixel 6 Pro review. For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter.
Google shows off new Pixel Watch with autumn release date
It has been rumoured for years, but the Google Pixel Watch is finally a reality. Here's what was unveiled at Google IO 2022.
Speculation about a Google smartwatch that could potentially rival Samsung and Apple has swirled around social media and industry outlets for years. Now, it is finally a reality, with the wearable device officially unveiled during Google IO 2022. It has been a long time coming. Chatter about Google’s venture into the wearable space – which is dominated by the Apple Watch – has existed for years, becoming heightened following the 2019 announcement that it was buying Fitbit. Until now, rumours never turned out to be true, but hype once again gained traction in the lead-up to this year’s IO after signs suggested a reveal was coming. The watch section was made more prominent on Google’s online store and images circulated claiming to show a test kit that was left inside a restaurant in the U.S. It remains to be seen if the Google Pixel Watch can rival Apple or Samsung devices but it marks another attempt by the company to create its own ecosystem that also includes its Pixel line-up of smartphones and Google Nest smart home tech. Here are the top five highlights from the Google IO 2022 keynote. Google Pixel Watch: what we know so far The Pixel Watch is coming later this autumn and Google confirmed that it will release alongside the Pixel 7 series of smartphones. It will be running WearOS software and will have Android apps including Maps, the new Google Wallet for payments and a Home app can be connected to your smart home tech for instant alerts. There will also be "deep integration" with Fitbit for health and sleep tracking metrics, Google confirmed in the keynote, also teasing a new Pixel tablet for 2023. There was no official confirmation on UK pricing or pre-order dates right now but stick with RadioTimes.com for the latest updates. The upcoming Pixel Watch was unveiled alongside the mid-range Google Pixel 6a smartphone and the Google Pixel Buds Pro wireless earbuds. Smartwatches have become popular in recent years, especially as they can be paired with the best smartphones, and our team of experts have reviewed models from loads of top brands including Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, Huawei and more. In our best smartwatch guide for 2022, we rated the Apple Watch Series 7 as the best overall device, while noting the Samsung Galaxy Watch3 was a top Android wearable. It remains to be seen if the Pixel Watch will be able to earn a place on that list, but we are looking forward to finding out how it can compare to the industry leaders. Read more smartwatch reviews: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review Huawei Watch 3 review Huawei Watch Fit Elegant review Xiaomi Mi Watch review Apple Watch Series 6 review For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section and why not consider signing up to receive our technology newsletter.
LEGO Star Wars unveils new Luke Skywalker Landspeeder – here's how to buy it today
The 1,890-piece model is priced at £174.99 and is available to buy from today (May 4th) - here's how and where to buy it.
It’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan. Not only is a much anticipated Disney+ show about to bring the legacy character of Obi-Wan Kenobi back to the screen, but LEGO has unveiled a stunning addition to its adult collection series. The new 1,890-piece model is another blast of nostalgia from the original Star Wars movie A New Hope: a faithful recreation of Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder. This is no children’s toy, either. With an 18+ age restriction, this is a set for the adult fans. Priced at £174.99 ($199.99, €199.99) and coming in at 49cm long and 30cm wide, this new model will make a fine addition to your collection thanks to the bundled display plaque and two exclusive LEGO mini-figures: Luke and C-3PO. When can you buy one? It was available for VIP members from 1st May, before going on general release today (4th May) from LEGO stores and at LEGO.com. Shop all Star Wars sets and models at LEGO Star Wars fans will instantly recognise the hovering transport vehicle as it played a key role in multiple scenes from the original 1977 film. It was driven by Luke as he sped to find the droid R2-D2 in Tatooine, before later appearing as the then-farmhand travelled to the Mos Eisley spaceport alongside aged Jedi Master Obi-Wan. Here's a closer look at the new Landspeeder model: View Gallery on the source website The replica features the two-seater cockpit, the turbine engine without a cover and a curved cockpit windscreen that are key features of the battered vehicle. The speeder is the latest addition to LEGO's Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) line-up, which also features other legendary Star Wars vehicles including the Millennium Falcon, the A-Wing, the Republic Gunship and the recently released AT-AT. The latest adult model was made by LEGO set designer César Carvalhosa Soares. In a press release on 21st April to mark the release, the creator said: “It’s been an amazing adventure creating Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder in LEGO brick form. “It is such an iconic vehicle in the Star Wars saga. We’ve ensured no detail has been forgotten and have even included some of the scratches. The finished product makes an incredible display and is the perfect addition to the UCS collection.” Buy LEGO Star Wars Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder for £174.99 at LEGO Shop more Star Wars LEGO sets: Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Fighter (9+) | £44.99 Boba Fett's Throne Room (9+) | £89.99 Millennium Falcon (18+) | £699.99 Star Wars AT-AT (18+) | £699.99 Dark Trooper Attack (8+) | £24.99 Imperial TIE Fighter (8+) | £34.99 Mandalorian Starfighter (9+) | £59.99 Shop the full Star Wars range via the LEGO website today. For more on LEGO, take a look at our pick of the best LEGO games, LEGO gifts for adults and the new LEGO sets out in 2022. For more on Star Wars Day, head straight to our Star Wars Day deals live blog for offers across LEGO, PS5 and shopDisney.
May the 4th 2022: Save on Pandora Darth Vader, Lightsaber and Baby Yoda-themed charms
Star Wars Day has arrived, so why not treat yourself to some branded jewellery today in this "buy two get the third free” promotion.
Star Wars Day is here – and if you want to celebrate in style then be sure to check out these themed charms, pendants and bracelets from Pandora. The jewellery has incorporated iconic characters and vehicles from the much-loved movies and TV shows, including R2-D2, Darth Vader, Yoda, Grogu, Chewbacca and the Millennium Falcon – and includes multiple online-only exclusives. The items are currently available under a “buy two get the third free” promotion, so you can save some money if you are planning to buy multiple charms today. Shopping for Star Wars goodies today? Don’t miss our breakdown of the best Star Wars gifts and best Mandalorian gifts that you can find online. If you’re a gamer, why not check out our in-depth LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review. For everything in one place, head straight to our Star Wars Day deals live blog. Shop the full Star Wars x Pandora range now Top 5 Star Wars Pandora charms and sets to buy on Star Wars Day 2022 Rebel Alliance Symbol Spinning Pendant, £60 A stunning item for fans of the light side, this pendant comes in a two-tone metal finish and features the iconic Rebel Alliance logo. The word rebel is engraved onto the back of the charm and features three Cubic Zirconia stones on front. Buy the Rebel Alliance Symbol Spinning Pendant at Pandora Star Wars Darth Vader Charm, £55 Anyone who is more attuned to the dark side of the force should definitely check out this charm of Darth Vader’s instantly-recognisable helmet. This jewellery item is hand-finished in sterling silver, with black enamel that makes it stand out. Buy the Star Wars Darth Vader Charm at Pandora Star Wars Grogu Charm, £45 Everyone loves Grogu, who also goes by the more lovable nickname of Baby Yoda or The Child among the Star Wars Mandalorian fandom. This charm, which will make a great gift, is finished in sterling silver with hand-applied black enamel. Buy the Star Wars Grogu Charm at Pandora Lightsaber Double Dangle Charm, £55 The classic jedi weapons from the movies are the focus of this item, which is hand finished in sterling silver. The front shows two crossed lightsabers, one with red stones and one with blue, while the rear reads “May the Force be with you.” Buy the Lightsaber Double Dangle Charm at Pandora Millennium Falcon Dangle Charm, £60 One of the most well-known star ships from both the original and sequel trilogies, the Millennium Falcon makes a fantastic charm. The main dangle is of the ship itself, while a second shows an engraving that reads "Never tell me the odds." Buy the Millennium Falcon Dangle Charm at Pandora More Star Wars Pandora sets Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet Charm, £55 Light & Dark Side Logo Open Bangle, £90 Star Wars R2-D2 Dangle Charm, £60 Star Wars BB-8 Charm, £60 Star Wars C-3PO Charm, £70 Star Wars Chewbacca Charm, £45 Star Wars Snake Chain Clasp Bracelet, £70 For news, reviews, and deals check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section.