Innehållsförteckning för Issue 191 från T3 Australia

1 MOTOROLA RAZR $TBA, motorola.com The Motorola Razr is a cutting-edge, foldable phone that’s also a throwback to one of the most iconic handset designs of all time: the original Razr V3 that launched in 2004… it’s the future wrapped in the past. We got a chance to test it, to see whether this synthesis is novel enough to be worth flipping out over. We assumed that foldables would bridge the gap between phones and tablets by unfolding horizontally into a wider display. Motorola has other ideas, however, and its take flips open to reveal an elongated touchscreen that’s just a bit longer than the iPhone 11’s display. So, no, you don’t get much more screen real estate. The novelty lies in what you can do when the phone is…

How are you meant to get into shape if you keep getting injured? Nike is aiming to minimise this inconvenience with its new React Infinity Run trainers. Designed for moderate runs, they’re built on a wide platform and supportive foam, which work together to guide the foot in a smooth, straight line. And the results have been incredible – in a recent comparison test, athletes wearing the React Infinity Run were found to have a 52% lower injury rate than those wearing a similar running shoe. $TBC, nike.com…

I SHOULDN’T BE TELLING YOU THIS Jeff Goldblum’s jazz album, despite the wacky ivory-tinkling star collaborating with Miley Cyrus at one point, is a truly wonderful thing. FOR ALL MANKIND The real star of the Apple TV+ launch capsule, this drama imagines a space race that the Soviets won – and America’s apoplectic determination to continue the fight. ENTER THE DRAGON How’s this for a classic? Now on Netflix, Guru’s favourite: the uncut 1973 Bruce Lee violence festival, unquestionably one of the greatest kung fu flicks of all time. Jim Kelly’s fab, too.…

1 LEGO IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER A wonderfully challenging build, with almost 4,800 pieces to work through, an incredible amount of detail, and even a scale model of the Tantive IV starship to show just how gigantic it is, this is the ultimate Lego display piece. $1,100, lego.com 2 SQUARE OFF Every chess player’s dream come true: a smart board with pieces that move themselves. You can play the computer, attempt to best online opponents, or even sit back and watch realtime matches between the grandmasters as they happen. So neat. From $585, squareoffnow.com 3 OCULUS QUEST Riding the VR train has never been easier – your ticket is the Oculus Quest, a bargain standalone package with a pair of controllers, a Snapdragon-powered Android headset, and now the ability to plug…

1 THERAGUN LIV Get deep into those muscle tissues with an impact massager that really pulls its weight. The Liv is intense – if you actively press it into your flesh you’re liable to injure yourself – and perfect for pre- and post-workout stimulation. $375, theragun.com 2 BOWFLEX MAX TRAINER M6 Everything you need for cardio in a space far smaller than a treadmill or cross trainer, with a host of invigorating built-in programs – or if you want something different, the Explore The World app offers a world tourof virtual workout locales. $2,499, bowflex.com 3 OPTOMA NUFORCE BE SPORT 4 Bluetooth earbuds, resistant to water and sweat, that won’t let you down – a massive 10-hour battery life will withstand all but an ultra-marathon, the grippy ear buds won’t…

HALO INFINITE One first party launch title is official: 343 Industries is once again responsible for the return of Master Chief but with all new tech. The Slipstream Engine promises to deliver even more bombastic performances with greater fidelity. It wouldn’t be an Xbox with Halo… EVERWILD Rare’s Xbox exclusive follow-up to Sea of Thieves is all about playing in a “natural and magical world”. It’s perhaps a little too much like wishful thinking to expect it for launch, but it’s good to know the legendary studio is busying away on something charming. WATCH DOGS LEGION Trigger-happy octogenarians forming a resistance force in a violent post-Brexit London? If any game deserves the trip to next gen, it’s Ubi’s latest open world dronefest. Thankfully there’s no need to threaten to hack…

HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the finest gadgets out there, and we believe that you – our loyal reader – deserve only the best tech in your life. We don’t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and that’s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here you’ll find only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3’s experts. We only choose people with specialist knowledge for each test, so you know you’re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective field. As well as our traditional five-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these,…

SIGNATURE TYPE COVER This connects magnetically to the Surface Pro, and gives you a keyboard plus trackpad in a super-thin screen cover. There are cheaper versions of the Type Cover, but this is the more luxurious, and nicer feeling, option. $249, microsoft.com LOGITECH MX ANYWHERE 2S Our pick of the best travel mouse options, this is thin and comfortable, and can use Bluetooth or a dongle for wireless connectivity. There’s also high-precision tracking, if you do decide to get a bit of gaming in… $69, logitech.com LG 27UD88 If your Surface Pro 7 is your mobile work machine, get yourself a nice big monitor at your desk. This 27-inch 4K screen is also a USB-C hub, so you can connect video and peripherals over a single cable. $1,299, lg.com…

From $4,399 apple.com/au This is kind of a banner occasion. There hasn’t been a new size of Apple pro laptop since 2009 – before the iPad even existed. And with 17-inch screens now more the preserve of unwieldy gaming devices than sleek pro machines, the idea of 16 inches of working space is a damn tempting one. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is actually only around two percent larger than the 15-inch MacBook Pro that it has replaced in Apple’s line-up – Apple has finally got with the times to slim down the bezels, affording an extra inch of screen space. The display is 3072x1920, and while it’s a bit of a shame not to get a full 4K panel for this price, that’s the only complaint we have about it.…

If you’re looking for the very best tech available today, you’ve definitely come to the right place. Best of the Best is the most useful gadget-buying guide you will ever encounter. To create it, we’ve extensively tested the best tech the world has to offer, to bring you rock-solid recommendations for your home life, daily commute and the tech you use all the time. In many different categories, we’ve chosen the top four products, so you can choose one that’s just the right mix of features and budget for what you need. These rankings come from real testing by our team of experts – they’re the products we’d choose for ourselves, and we can’t recommend any higher than that. SMARTPHONES APPLE iPHONE 11 PRO From $1,749, apple.com/au Packing the best…

The year ‘2020’ has a super cool sci-fi ring to it, and after reflecting on all the incredible tech that’s come our way – it certainly feels like we’re living in some kind of fantastic future. Let’s pause for a moment and remember that Blade Runner was set in 2019… The year just passed was a rather good one for tech. We saw 5G roll out – and while getting to the point where everyone enjoys speedy coverage is still a while away, we’re going to get there. 8K TVs are now a real thing, and upscaling technology has evolved so that even if you’re not feeding your car-priced telly native 8K content, almost anything will look good on one of these. Old is new again with the new Motorola…

BEATS BY DRE POWERBEATS PRO A great pair of earphones will keep you in the zone while working out – and they don’t get much better than the Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro. With exceptional sound, sweat resistance and a nine-hour battery life, these are a champion choice. $349, beatsbydre.com DOT WATER BOTTLE Keeping hydrated is vital when you’re exercising. Joseph Joseph’s simple but ingenious Dot Water Bottle adds a dot to its lid every time you fill it with water, helping you to keep tabs on how much you’re quaffing. $20, josephjoseph.com OSPREY MUTANT 22 A streamlined 22L bucket with a huge opening up top that’ll eat all the climbing gear (and food) you’ll need on short trips to the crag. There’s a nifty rope carry on top, 3-point…

Travel journalist Tamara Hinson takes a walk on the wild side to round up the top safari camps to adventure at in 2020 Today’s safari camps are hi-tech yet sustainable retreats packed with innovations that make it easier than ever to admire the world’s most majestic wild creatures, whether you’re desperate to see the ‘big five’ or hoping to spot more elusive species, such as pangolins or wild dogs. Here are our favourite spots for those of you who are keen to channel your wild side in the new year… You’ll find Great Plains’ Mara Nyika (greatplainsconservation.com), which opened in August 2019 and stays open year-round, on the western side of the 50,000-acre Naboisho Conservancy, the second largest conservancy in Kenya’s greater Maasai Mara region. Green Safaris’ Chisa Busanga Camp…

ROSS HORNBY, WENTWORTH FALLS Q How can I look better on webcam? A Tough one, this, as Guru’s cosmetic surgery licence has (quite rightly) been suspended, so he can’t exactly whip out a scalpel or a syringe full of questionably-sourced Botox to help you out. But he can, at least, diagnose some of the reasons a webcam makes you, an otherwise beautiful person, look like an only vaguely humanoid bag of butter. Positioning is one issue, and if you’re unlucky enough to have a last-gen Dell XPS 13 or any other laptop with the camera in its hinge, you’ll likely have noticed the big problem with a cam that points directly at the underside of your chin and up your nose: that ain’t flattering. Grab yourself a solid external webcam…

1 PANASONIC TH-55FZ950U Low price doesn’t mean low end; Panasonic’s cheapest OLED pulls down the HCX Pro processor from higher models which means it does some fantastic things. These include Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and HDR10+ – and the picture is just amazing. From $3,099, panasonic.com/au 2 BEATS POWERBEATS PRO Resistant to sweat and fitting super-snug on any ear, Beats’ fitness-focused earphones have everything you need to pump your way through a private workout – and that includes Apple’s H1 wireless chip, which stops signal dropouts. $295, beatsbydre.com 3 LG C9 If you’re a gamer this is a top-line TV, with a 1ms grey-to-grey response time on its OLED pixels, a tiny 12.9ms input lag, and Nvidia G-Sync support via a firmware update. Even if you’re just kicking back, it’s…

GHOST OF TSUSHIMA The movement of Sucker Punch’s Sony-exclusive samurai ’em up to late 2020 doesn’t officially guarantee a PS5 release as well as PS4, but it’s quite the coincidence. As beautiful open worlds go, it’s hard to think of anything hungrier for ray tracing than feudal Japan HORIZON ZERO DAWN 2 It’s not been confirmed to exist yet, let alone be a PS5 launch title, but studio Guerrilla Games’ job listings heavily hint at a sequel to Aloy’s adventure. Vegetation Artist for the world of Horizon anyone? We’ll bet a robotic dinosaur on an announcement soon. ASSASSIN’S CREED 2020 Rumoured for a reveal at Sony’s PlayStation Event in February and apparently called Ragnarok, Ubisoft’s newest Creed will definitely sync with new-gen consoles. A Viking setting should still be taken…

It’s been a long time since visuals in games were the very first things we noticed. Every console generation has come with its own jump in quality, but in the years since PS4 and Xbox One were first released, we’ve become accustomed to a certain graphical standard, making every new leap forward seem somewhat small. Ray tracing is not small. It’s the future of how we see digital worlds, and probably the reason you’ll wear out your screenshot button. Put simply, ray tracing simulates the physical behaviour of real light. Where previously developers had to create specific lighting effects to fool you into thinking something looked real, ray tracing delivers a real-time recreation of your favourite worlds in their glowy glory. It’s also what Hollywood has been using in its…

LIVING ROOM Bringing smart design and huge sound, these fit right into the busiest room SONOS BEAM $525, sonos.com It might feel most at home under your TV, with its highly tuned and individually amplified five-speaker array blasting through movie soundtracks, but don’t discount the Beam’s many other abilities or its music playback. It’s one of the most versatile smart speakers around, with the option of employing either Google Assistant or Alexa depending on your personal preference, and it also supports AirPlay 2 streaming. LINN SERIES 3 $3,900, linn.co.uk Engineered for sound it may be, but the Series 3’s key strength is its elegant design. Linn has created a subtle, unassuming alien pod of a wireless speaker, one which can work either standalone (rocking a pair of 100W Class D…

$585, sonos.com Most portable water-resistant, rugged wireless speakers are lightweight, cost less than $250 and are designed for party super-fun time. The Sonos Move is $585, weighs a hefty three kilos, and is as happy playing classical or prog as it is playing pop hits. It’s everything you’d expect from Sonos, but it ventures outdoors too. The Move sits on a barely noticeable charging pad, and you can also charge it via USB-C. The speaker manages 10 hours of playback per charge, with a power-saving mode keeping it alive for five days if you don’t use it. The Move is set up via (and runs on) the same app as any other Sonos speaker, and can access the same streaming services as any Sonos speaker. The Move supports AirPlay 2…

From $199 store.google.com The likes of Eero, TP-Link and more are now offering mesh networking kits, so you’ve got more choice than ever when it comes to picking a system to cover your home in fast, reliable Wi-Fi – and now Google has released the second generation of its own kit. If you’re new to the idea of mesh networking, the idea is that rather than having just one router stuck in a corner of your property, you have a router and several nodes or satellites spread around your living spaces – with the Wi-Fi signal spread evenly between them, eliminating dead zones. Google says a two-pack Nest Wifi system is good for 210m2 of coverage. Full marks to Google on the setup, because it’s a breeze through the Google…

$279 jabra.com.au For those willing to look beyond AirPods (or AirPods Pro) there are rich true wireless pickings to be had right now. From Powerbeats Pro to Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1, there are loads of very good options. They’re broadly similar in terms of sound quality, battery life and the comfort and security of their fit. Many of them also offer one-button or voice-only access to Siri, Google Assistant and/or Amazon Alexa. In that light, Jabra Elite 75t could be seen as yet another pair of AirPod rivals. However they’re good enough in all the key areas that they could in fact be considered the true wireless AirPod rivals. T3’s favourite in this field are the Powerbeats. They sound great and fit brilliantly, but they are quite large buds and…

$1,099 garmin.com Anyone who wants a truly high-end running watch – which is also a golf watch, a gym watch, a ski watch and a hiking watch, among others – should give this Garmin consideration. The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro’s closest predecessor is the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus. The Fenix 6 Pro has improved on a few key parameters, like battery performance and screen size, all the while not increasing the overall physical size or weight of the watch. In fact, the Fenix 6 Pro is actually thinner and lighter than the Fenix 5, but offers a bigger 1.4-inch screen, at 260x260 resolution. There’s also 32GB of on board storage, for keeping music playlists synced to it. Battery life has been greatly improved thanks to the different modes that can…

If you’re looking for advice on how to get and stay fit: on your bike! No, we’re not being rude – cycling is one of the most effective forms of exercise you can do, offering a workout for the legs, lungs and heart. And indoor cycling is even better, as there are no traffic lights or big scary lorries. Most gyms have exercise bikes, but if you’d rather cycle at home, your two options are a dedicated training bike like the Wattbike Atom (from $3,499, wattbike.com) or a turbo trainer, which will convert your regular bicycle into a static machine –we’re fans of the Tacx Neo 2T Smart ($1,599 approx, tacx.com). And if you get bored while you pedal, you could always download a cycling app: Zwift (from Free, zwift.com),…

SWAROVSKI OPTIC CL COMPANION NOMAD The CL Companion Nomad binoculars are packed with carefully-considered features, whether it’s Swarobright coating for maximum colour fidelity across the whole light spectrum, or the titanium screw components, for unbeatable durability. $3,390, swarovskioptik.com LIFEVENTURE TIV VACUUM BOTTLE This hi-tech bottle will keep chilled drinks cold during the day and hot drinks hot (surprise surprise) during those all-important night safaris. A large neck makes it easy to add ice cubes, and it’s made entirely with recyclable materials. $33, lifeventure.com PETZL SWIFT RL A head torch is a safari essential, and Petzl’s hi-tech RL features an ultra-bright, 900-lumen beam. The best bit? Switch to reactive mode and the Swift RL monitors ambient light and responds accordingly. For example, it will activate full power mode when you stare…

1 Y-BRUSH Brushing your teeth in 10 seconds may sound like a terrible idea, but the Y-Brush can reach all three visible faces of all 32 of your teeth at once. Coat it with toothpaste, activate its sonic vibrations, and you’re fresh in a flash. $85, y-brush.com 2 APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 Simply the best smartwatch you can buy. The design is nigh-on perfect, with two size options fitting a majority of wrists. The Apple Watch truly straddles the line between tech and fashion, especially variations like the Gold Stainless Steel Case with Milanese Loop. From $649, apple.com/au 3 FOREO LUNA MINI 3 Not only will Foreo’s latest little Luna cleanse your skin and unclog dirt from pores in 30 seconds, it’ll help you better control your skin’s natural oil…

1 HP ENVY 13 As adept at entertaining as it is at accompanying you through the work day, the Envy is a light, powerful and tightly designed laptop that impresses on every front. It’s secure, too: there’s a webcam kill-switch and a built-in fingerprint reader. $1,499, hp.com 2 ONEPLUS 7 Generous both in terms of RAM, with 6GB as the minimum, and in its high-end Snapdragon 855 processor, the OnePlus 7 is the perfect Android work companion. If you’re after a premium feel at an affordable price, you won’t find much better. $849, oneplus.com 3 SATECHI ALUMINUM MULTI-PORT ADAPTER V2 The sleek design of modern laptops has meant death to ports – so if you’re going to push that laptop to its limit, a capable USB-C hub is a must.…

1 TESLA MODEL 3 With a massive 15-inch touchscreen, the option of all-wheel drive that reacts to the road, up to 348 miles on a single charge and enough room for five adults and a whole stack of cargo, Tesla’s most practical EV ever is truly built for the driver. From $67,900, tesla.com 2 MOSHI SNAPTO CAR MOUNT Moshi’s cool SnapTo concept started in the home, but the car is where it really shines: install its magnetic mount points inside your phone’s case, snap it to the mount, and take advantage of convenient dashboard placement and its Qi charger. $106, moshi.com 3 LUME TRAVELER 360 NO.1 Hand-made furnishings, a luxurious double bed, a full kitchen and a 40-litre fridge: the Lume Traveler gets you a lot of touring comfort in…

NAIM MU-SO 2 $2,499, naimaudio.com WE’RE IMPRESSED Great sound from a wide variety of sources, with an excellent performance across compressed, lossless and hi-res audio files. Support for Chromecast, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2 as well as Naim’s own app means control is easy for everyone. HDMI input is potentially handy if you don’t have a soundbar. WE’D IMPROVE In-app support for Amazon HD and Qobuz would be great although, as noted, they can be streamed over AirPlay or Chromecast. THE LAST WORD Still the best wireless speaker you can get without spending truly insane amounts of money. LINN SERIES 3 $5,700, linn.co.uk WE’RE IMPRESSED This is everything you’d expect in terms of audio quality. Really breathtaking with hi-res audio. WE’D IMPROVE We’re not crazy about the look. AirPlay not…

Let’s face it, 8K gaming in 2020 seems hopeful. While both Series X and PS5 claim to have maximum resolution outputs of 8K - yes, that’s 7680x4320 - there are a few technical reasons why we probably won’t be playing launch games with more pixels than we thought would fit in our eyes. This isn’t to say that 8K won’t eventually be possible with next-gen consoles, but there are definitely some limitations when it comes to what these new boxes will be able to achieve. Not to be too negative, but the good news is that you don’t have to upgrade your TV yet… It’s a little cheeky but, to say they are 8K ready, technically all PS5 and Xbox have to do is use the new standard of HDMI,…

From $928 microsoft.com Microsoft has come out hitting hard with the new Surface range, releasing the Surface Pro 7, the Surface Pro X and the Surface Laptop 3. Two Pro tablets? That’s a bold move. Granted, they serve different markets; the Pro X is a higher-price, sleeker new professional tablet, while the Pro 7 is a potentially more affordable version that has a lot more in common with the older Surface Pro models – so much that it actually feels a little lazy. Yes, that is a bit uncharitable of us, but comparing it even back to the Surface Pro 4, you can barely tell the difference. Three generations of the Surface Pro have come and gone with only the slightest hint of design innovation. The bezel looks large for…

THE GEARBOX AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE MKII Gearbox Records, a London label that originally made a name for itself as a purveyor of archival jazz, is what you might call a music connoisseur. So it should come as no surprise that its turntable is a bit special. Inspired by Dieter Rams’ iconic 1955 Braun turntable (which also inspired Jony Ive’s first iPod), the Automatic MkII is a plug ’n’ play, Bluetooth-connected design masterpiece that would hold its own in the most exquisite surroundings. Naturally, Gearbox wanted it to sound great too, which is why the turntable contains a number of audiophile features. These include a precision belt drive, a pre-mounted Ortofon OM10 cartridge, a solid glass platter and a low-vibration synchronous motor with built-in electronic speed control. Our favourite feature? The track…