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There are a lot of good Samsung phones out there from today and yesteryear, but how do they rank against each other? We're here to help you find out. Samsung is the biggest name in Android phones, and for good reason: the company's flagship Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 are among the best handsets you can buy. But Samsung doesn’t only make headline-grabbing flagships – it has a wide range of smartphones which may be the perfect fit depending on your needs and budget. With that in mind, here’s our guide to the best Samsung phones available right now. It covers new and old(er) at a range of price points, along with different screen sizes, specs and features. The best smartphone of 2019: 15 top mobile phones tested and rankedhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Gz2KiGo4AxZvHsXbqktGz7.jpg Image credit: TechRadar As Samsung’s latest and greatest mainstream flagship, is it any wonder that the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus tops this list? It’s a big upgrade over the previous year’s model, with a new all-screen design, enabled by Samsung ditching bezels in favor of a punch-hole camera. Speaking of the camera, you get three on the back and two on the front, making this a very versatile camera phone. The fingerprint scanner is in the screen now, which is far more ideal than it being on the back, and there’s a big 4,100mAh battery, which gives the Galaxy S10 Plus a lot of life. So much so you might even consider using the new Wireless PowerShare feature to juice up other devices with it. The Galaxy S10 Plus also has a massive 6.4-inch screen and all the power you’d expect from a flagship in 2019. It’s Samsung’s best and at the time of writing also tops our list of the best smartphones from any manufacturer. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KBgqaSeu4NmuwVwKJyBeLE.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 isn’t just one of the best Samsung phones you can buy today, it’s one of the best phones, period. It’s an expensive device, sure, but with more than double the starting storage of the iPhone X at around the same starting price. It actually comes out to be a better deal over Apple’s comparable offering. Its key selling point this time around is the unique S-Pen, which no longer requires a charge. Not only will you be able to do normal stylus-like things with the new S-Pen, you’ll also be able to use it to take selfies remotely, giving you shots you otherwise would be incapable of getting. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also one of the best camera phones in Samsung’s lineup, with a camera that easily outshines most of the competition. That’s on top of the improved cooling and battery life, which will see this jumbo device last you through most of the day without burning a hole through your pocket – even if the price does. Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/szFnGQYKh29LzA6raTEJ4B.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is big, in fact its 6.2-inch screen would make it very big, were it not for the almost complete absence of bezel and the curved edges, which ensure it’s actually quite manageable in the hand. The screen is one of the best around too – it’s sharp and sports great colors. The Galaxy S9 Plus also stands out through its dual 12MP cameras, one of which is a dual-aperture one, meaning it can switch between f/1.5 for dark scenes and f/2.4 for everything else. Other highlights include impressive stereo speakers and a big 3,500mAh battery. There’s flagship power too of course, and all the bells and whistles that tend to go with that, like a stylish metal and glass build, water resistance, wireless charging and various biometric security options, including a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner and a face scanner. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7EU7n5ct4YonsBoXXTZBd.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a smaller, cheaper (but still expensive) alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. The 5.8-inch screen makes it potentially preferable if you have smaller hands or pockets, and as with the S9 Plus it’s more compact than you might expect, thanks to its slim bezels and curvy screen. The Samsung Galaxy S9 has many of the same high points as the S9 Plus, including a sharp, vibrant display, a high-end build, plenty of power and various biometric security options. It’s only got a single-lens camera, but it’s still a very good one, and the battery is smaller, so this is definitely the weaker phone overall, but it’s still one of the more impressive handsets you can buy in 2018. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S9 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SXMfoCkp4Zv5Zzh9cLUvsP.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an older model of Samsung’s other flagship, designed for those who want a truly massive 6.3-inch screen and a stylus (known as the S-Pen) to help make the most of it. Other than that, it has much in common with the Galaxy S range, with a similar (and similarly stylish) glass back and metal frame, a QHD curved screen and a dual-lens rear camera. There’s lots of power too, though it’s using a 2017 chipset rather than a 2019 one, so it’s not quite a match for the S9 or S10 range. But then it’s also now a little cheaper than the S10 Plus and still has water resistance, wireless charging and loads of storage. Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PDF2aikFmaZkgiRkQxzs7a.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is a big-screen alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S8, but it’s not just the 6.2-inch display that’s bigger, the 3,500mAh battery is too. Otherwise this is a very similar phone, with many of the same pros and cons. You get a sharp display with great contrast and colors, a powerful – if now slightly dated – chipset, a 12MP single lens camera that excels in most lighting, and more biometric options than you’ll know what to do with. It’s also cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus or Galaxy Note 8, making the Galaxy S8 Plus a slightly more affordable big-screen option – though it lacks the dual-lens cameras of those phones. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bsszViMnMhGN4CGFqHQk2N.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S8 was one of the best phones of 2017 and it still ranks high now. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is only a fairly minor upgrade - though the S10 range has it well and truly beat. The S8 has a sharp 1440 x 2960 5.8-inch OLED screen, which of course, is curved. It’s got a great design, with a metal frame, a glass back and minimal bezel, it’s got a 12MP camera that outperforms most phones and even now it’s still very powerful. It’s also water-resistant, supports wireless charging and has a fingerprint scanner, a face scanner and an iris scanner – though the latter two don’t work as well as on the Galaxy S9 and the former is in a more annoying position. Still, they’re small complaints about what’s otherwise a minor classic in the smartphone world. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S8 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tpm77JwuQyECGfELPGA2h9.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy A9's big draw is its four rear cameras: a 24MP main shooter, an 8MP 120-degree wide-angle lens, a 5MP depth-sensing camera and a 10MP telephoto lens supposedly capable of 2x optical magnification. (There's also a 24MP front-facing camera, too.) Not bad for a midrange phone! Of course, the A9 is perched at the top of the company's midrange offerings and just below its flagship S line, so it's pushing the label "midrange." Its specs, however, aren't entirely cutting edge with its Exynos 7885 chip, though its 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and 3,800mAh battery are respectable. Whether the rest of the phone lives up to its camera cluster will be a far more serious question to answer when more phones replicate its four-lens trick, but for now, the A9 hold bragging rights – and serious photo clout at the midrange level. Read our hands-on: Samsung Galaxy A9 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MWcuipNX3WwGZ7BcEzirT5.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy A8 finds the sweet spot between Samsung's flagship S range, and the slightly more basic J and lower-numbered A devices with a mix of high-end features and more affordable compromises. One feature that is unique to the Galaxy A8 compared to most other Samsung phones in this list is its dual front-facing selfie cameras. There's a 16MP primary sensor, which sits alongside an 8MP snapper and allows you to access the Live Focus feature, which blurs the background of portrait shots to create a bokeh effect. The Galaxy A8 delivers many of the core features offered by the flagships. You can get more for your money elsewhere, but if you're set on Samsung there's little to complain about here. Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy A8 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/47b62d8fd48762325e30254e9e477bea.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S7 was one of the best phones of 2016, which means it’s still very decent now, especially given that the price has dropped a lot since launch. But it could appeal not just to those on a budget, but also those who want a fairly compact phone, as its 5.1-inch screen is small by modern standards. It’s as good as you’d expect from Samsung though, thanks to its use of Super AMOLED and its QHD resolution, though unlike most Galaxy S handsets from the last couple of years this one’s screen is flat. The Galaxy S7 also has a water-resistant build and a highly capable 12MP camera, plus specs that were once top-end and still hold their own in the mid-range. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S7 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8e6811958d647516910f8442d19d8ada.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is a bigger, curvier alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S7. The larger 5.5-inch screen is the same resolution (and therefore slightly less sharp) but still super crisp and vibrant, while the curves ensure the design is more modern. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge also has a big 3,600mAh battery, making it one of the longer lasting Samsung phones you’ll find, and it has the same great camera as the standard Galaxy S7. Its chipset is getting on a bit, but still stands up to similarly priced phones, and there’s only 32GB of built-in storage, but you do also get a microSD card slot, so even the bad that points aren’t that bad. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohzRAnQJjm7dK6sENo5j3b.jpg Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) was launched as a mid-range alternative to the Galaxy S range, and it holds up well, thanks largely to its 1080p AMOLED screen capable of punchy colors. The Galaxy A5 is also packing mid-range power and a quality metal and glass build that’s quite similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S7. Battery life is far better than you might expect too, with the phone comfortably lasting well over a day, but the 16MP camera is a bit of a step down in quality from the S7 range. Read our full Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) review Check out the best phones from any manufacturerhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_lR0eBkwKvA

After a pretty glorious pre-order stage, filled with freebies, giveaways and exciting exclusives, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is now officially available to buy. So whether you've been waiting for your pre-order to arrive, shelves to become stocked or for all the special offers to begin - this is the day you've been waiting for. And there's good news if you've waited until now to buy. Those ordering a S10 or S10 Plus straight from Samsung will receive a free Ultra-Thin wireless charger if they order within the first month of the phones' official launch. While Argos is offering a buy now pay later offer. So if you've been holding out for the phones official launch, head to our Samsung Galaxy S10 deals page to see all of the best offers now available. Rather go for one of Samsung's other recent devices? Samsung Galaxy S10e deals and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus deals are also now available to buy. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg What is so great about the Samsung Galaxy S10?Samsung's newest release, the Galaxy S10 is a powerhouse of a phone. With a full-length notch-free screen, in-screen fingerprint scanner, triple camera set up and a powerful processor to back it all up - this is a phone worth your consideration. Read our Samsung Galaxy S10 review here Fitting all budgets, Samsung has also released two other devices alongside the S10. For those wanting the best money can buy, you'll want the S10 Plus - bigger screen, bigger battery but also a bigger price. Or the opposite direction, the Galaxy S10e, Samsung on a budget. Both of these devices are also now widely available to buy. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/SbEihYyFwE0

The biggest drain to your monthly data limit on a phone contract is always the streaming, but luckily for Sky Mobile users that may not be such a problem any more. As of today, Sky Mobile is launching a new Sky Watch proposition, offering up unlimited streaming away from Wi-Fi on all of its apps (such as Sky Go) without using any of your data. That means hours (and hours) of data-free Sky Sports, Sky Kids, Sky Cinema and all of the other movie and TV services it has. Watch will be available to all Sky Mobile customers, although what you can stream depends on what you are already subscribed to. If you don't have any Sky TV subscriptions, you won't suddenly be able to watch that. But you will still have access to free streaming of services such as Sky News or the classic Freeview channels. Sophia Ahmad, Director of Sky Mobile, said: "Streaming films and TV shows on-the-go is now one of the most popular ways to pass time while travelling or commuting – and our new Watch offer makes it easier for our customers to stay up to date with the unmissable must-watch television." This service is coming just at the right time to watch new episodes of Game of Thrones, catch the end of the Premier League season or just watch the latest and greatest films on Sky Cinema. Head to Sky Mobile to discover more about this offer and grab a Sky mobile phone deal. Want to upgrade your Sky plan to stream all of your TV for free on the go? Check out our Sky TV deals pagehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/y5oYgSH3Xoo

No matter how it changes over the years, E3 is still the biggest event in gaming. Whether it’s held at a hotel, a convention center or somewhere out in Hollywood, it is the definitive industry event of the year, where gamers from around the world get together to see what comes next for consoles, handhelds, PCs, mobile phones and everything in between. That said, while E3 2019 has the heritage of the world’s most illustrious gaming convention, this year’s show will be a bit different: EA announced recently that it wouldn’t hold a traditional press conference and would opt instead to host several smaller live stream events, while Sony says it won’t be attending the conference at all. If E3 is your go-to source for gaming news, that may raise a few questions: Will E3 still be the same? Is it dying? Does that mean we’ll all get a discount on a conference pass? The answers to all of the above, for now, are no. While we won't be sure exactly what’s going to be different about this year’s event until we get there, we can hopefully provide some insight - and some predictions - as to the games we’ll get to see at this year’s show. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4bpxmFZcwrfYnfs2UMtfZW.jpg Officially, the 2019 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 2019) will begin on Tuesday, June 11 and end on Thursday, June 13. Those dates, however, are just for the portion of the show held inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. In reality, the first big event of E3 2019 is the EA Play kick-off event that’s slated for Friday, June 9 at the Hollywood Palladium. While EA has told us not to expect a keynote speech, that Friday afternoon is the first time we’ll be able to play the publisher’s upcoming titles, as well as get some info about games coming out in the next year or two. Between EA Play on Friday and the opening of the show floor on Tuesday morning you can also expect a press event for Microsoft sometime on Sunday afternoon with a chance of Bethesda, Square Enix, Ubisoft and Nintendo announcing a keynote later. We expect to be in Los Angeles from Friday until Thursday, and gamers with an entry pass should try to do the same. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dTRCqvkf4JaX42swYcJwbf.jpg FIFA 19 (Image Credit: EA) EA has an early lead going into 2019 with its plans already detailed on the publisher’s website. To that end, EA says it will be hosting its annual EA Play event from Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9 with free tickets to be distributed shortly. While EA hasn’t told us which games, exactly, it’s bring to E3 2019, chances are good we’re going to see Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order from Respawn Entertainment, as well as some addition to the Titanfall universe - either a second spin-off title or Titanfall 3. Speaking of Respawn, we’ll also likely hear about its plans to expand its successful battle royale shooter, Apex Legends. Elsewhere inside EA’s event we’re predicting that we’ll see announcements for the next version of the Madden, FIFA, NHL and NBA Live franchises, as well as another expansion for The Sims 4 that might continue StrangeVille’s story-first approach. Less likely but still possible are new games from EA’s DICE studio, the developers behind the Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront games who have yet to announce a project for 2019, as well as projects from PopCap (famous for Plants vs Zombies) and Ghost Games, the new stakeholders of the Need for Speed franchise. Last but not least, BioWare debuted a teaser trailer for Dragon Age 4 at last year’s The Game Awards, and we expect to hear something about its development at EA’s event. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gPm2WzMKQbJzRWxLwukKCF.jpg Final Fantasy VII (Image Credit: Square Enix) After the long-awaited release of Kingdom Hearts 3 in early January, Square Enix has been fairly quiet. What we know for sure is that Square Enix is currently working on Dragon Quest Builders 2 on Nintendo Switch, as it was announced during a Nintendo Direct earlier this year, as well as Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition. Outside of those two games, it’s likely we’ll hear more about the next episode in Life is Strange 2, as well as DLC for Kingdom Hearts III. Less likely but still possible is the chance that we’ll hear about The Avengers Project that’s being developed by Crystal Dyamics and Eidos Montreal and Final Fantasy VII Remake which, back in 2017, switched developers from CyberConnect2 to Square’s in-house team. ‘But is it too early to hear something about Final Fantasy 16?’ Yes. Yes, it is. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/og8u7yyfhDLPwvq56uw2Q9.jpg Halo Infinite (Image Credit: 343 Industries) As of right now, Microsoft is the only one of the big three console makers that’s definitely going to E3 2019. That gives Microsoft a bit of an advantage if it decides to debut its next-gen Xbox codenamed Project Scarlett, and it might be the reason why Sony is avoiding the show altogether. While we’re still not sure exactly what Microsoft is going to show us in terms of hardware, chances are good we’ll at least see the new Xbox One S All-Digital Edition somewhere at the show, either on-stage during the keynote or, in the case it releases beforehand, throughout Microsoft’s booth on the show floor. We’ll also hear more about XCloud, Microsoft’s new game streaming service and new updates to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service which has grown immensely in the last 12 months. Less likely, Microsoft could have demos of the HoloLens 2 in a similar setup to a few years ago when it paired the hardware with a demo of Halo 5: Guardians, but that’s on the far fringes of what’s likely to happen. In terms of games, we’re predicting that Microsoft’s first-party studios should be there in full force with new footage of Gears 5, Halo Infinite and, as always, a new Forza title. Last year Microsoft announced the acquisition of several new studios including The Initiative, Undead Labs, Playground Games, Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games, so hopefully we’ll start to see some of the projects these companies have been working on. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Znre2a3h8R96ZZWv5mKCJW.jpg Elder Scrolls VI (Image Credit: Bethesda) As of right now, Bethesda has yet to confirm its regular Sunday-evening keynote ahead of the conference. It seems likely that they’ll keep the tradition going another year, but there’s always a chance they could pass or change up the formula the way EA has done. That said, if Bethesda shows up in its regular slot, it should have a lot of interesting games to show off. It’s almost a given that we’ll hear updates for legacy titles like The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76, two of the developer’s largest MMOs to date, as well as the previously Doom Eternal from partner iD Software. In between bombshell announcements, we’re also likely to hear more about Bethesda’s free-to-play and mobile offerings like Elder Scrolls Blades, which is due out later this year, and The Elder Scrolls: Legends, a free-to-play card game that’s in the same vein as Hearthstone. What’s harder to predict is if Bethesda will show up with new trailers for the next hotly anticipated entry in the Elder Scrolls franchise, Elder Scrolls VI, and its ambitious sci-fi project, Starfield, that only received a teaser trailer at E3 2018… but we can hope. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UjQwdNZyHnaPDMWygYxUdG.jpg Sorry guys, unfortunately Sony is skipping the E3 festivities this year and has said that it will instead find another venue to showcase the games and hardware coming down the pipeline. We’ll have more info on this shortly, but for now, we’ll just have to wait to hear more about The Last of Us Part II, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DpMyJEXogfCtto7zJzMDuX.png Beyond Good & Evil 2 (Image Credit: Ubisoft) Another entry in the unconfirmed-but-will-likely-attend category is Ubisoft. The developer-slash-publishing house has a lot on its plate for early 2019 including Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 as well as Trials Rising, both of which came out in the February-March window, but hasn't said what's coming later this year. The game we know the most about from Ubisoft that would likely be at this year’s show is Skull and Bones, the ship-focused combat game that looks to carry the torch from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Ubisoft has yet to give us a solid release date for the game, but it’s likely that’s the sort of thing it’s saving for an E3 2019 keynote. It’s also likely we’ll hear more about Beyond Good and Evil 2 and potentially get our first look at the gameplay at Ubisoft’s keynote... but that could just be wishful thinking on our part. Beyond those two games, we’ve heard rumors that Ubisoft will announce three to four new AAA titles in between March 2019 and March 2020, but we can only speculate what’s to come. The only franchise that’s definitely not going to be there is a mainline Assassin’s Creed game as Ubisoft has said that it will be skipping a release in 2019. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KC2CU6HbUwhXewMDVZpk5h.jpg PC Gaming Show (Image Credit: PC Gamer) If you’re a PC gamer, you won’t want to miss the PC Gaming Show, which will make its fifth consecutive return to the convention. We’re not sure what to expect from the two-hour event, but if it’s anything like previous years it will feature a number of indie games that wouldn’t usually get time up on the big stage alongside hardware announcements. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qp6WuN5Re2jSuHS4uXtDf.jpg Animal Crossing (Image Credit: Nintendo) While Sony won’t be at this year’s event, Nintendo most certainly will - first digitally in a Nintendo Direct that usually airs Tuesday morning and then physically when its massive booth takes over West Hall. In terms of what games Nintendo is going to bring with it this year, it seems likely that we’ll hear more about Pokemon Sword and Shield, as that’s due out by the end of 2019, as well as well as Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch, which was announced in 2018, and given a 2019 launch window. Fans of The Legend of Zelda franchise have the Link’s Awakening Remake to look forward to while fans of Mario will likely get a chance to play Mario Maker 2 on Nintendo Switch - as that’s due out sometime in June. Beyond those core games, we know Nintendo is developing Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Fire Emblem Three Houses, the latter of which should be available in August unless it’s delayed. Nintendo could also use the time to show off its next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC character pack. There’s also this weird Nintendo Labo VR kit that maybe Nintendo should lose on the plane on its way to the show. (Kidding!) Last but certainly not least, we couldn’t leave out Devolver Digital, who has confirmed via Twitter that it would be posting another off-the-wall pre-recorded keynote which may or may not involve fictional CEO Nina Struthers. Expect it to be just as weird as year’s. PS5: All the games, specs, news, and rumors for Sony’s Playstation 5http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/OVBiocETqzw

Xiaomi backed Black Shark is all set to unveil the Black Shark 2 on March 18 at an event that will be hosted in Beijing, China. Earlier in February, Wang Teng Thomas, Black Shark Product Director had confirmed that the company was readying their second gaming phone. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4Z2eirAMWZbP24nDcrEnS8.jpg Just this past week, Black Shark 2 made an appearance on Geekbench by the moniker “blackshark AAA”. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and 12GB of RAM to boot. It was awarded 3516 points for single-core performance and 11413 points as the multi-core score. Additionally, Black Shark 2 will feature advanced Liquid Cool 3.0 which was also confirmed by the company earlier. Through the 3C certification that Black Shark 2 has received, it can also be confirmed that the upcoming phone will support 27W fast charging. The rear panel design has also been tweaked a bit and is expected to feature a vertical dual camera module. Black Shark is also setting up offices in India and its operations in the country are spearheaded by David Li, Global VP and General Manager India, Black Shark. While there is no word on the official launch, it could be possible that the Black Shark 2 is brought to India to test the water. Interestingly, Xiaomi is also announcing the Redmi Note 7 Pro in China on March 18. The Note 7 Pro has already been launched in India and will be going on sale for the first time on March 13 starting at Rs 13,999. Also Read: Mi Band 3 users can now go trendy with colorful new strapshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Rr8rf1ksx5A

Hybrid laptops are always trending and options in the market grow with every new launch. They're light, easy to travel with and compact. Most of the 2-in-1 laptops available come equipped with Windows 10. However, not all hybrid laptops are the same. Some are bundled with styluses as neat little designer-centric embellishments, while others are free of bells and whistles. At the same time, you’ll notice that certain 2-in-1 laptops make use of 360-degree hinges while the rest take advantage of detachable screens, independent of their physical keyboards. However, if you don't care whether your laptop can rotate 360-degrees and just want the best notebook there is, then you should check out our list of the best laptops in 2018. If you're on a budget then you should check out our price point specific buying guides: The best laptops under Rs 30,000 The best laptops under Rs 40,000 The best gaming laptops under Rs 50,000 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GGeLJ8B6FxQgdLmWaZCLDm.jpg Microsoft's Surface Book 2 is the perfect 2-in-1 for anyone looking for performance and mobility. Especially the 13.5-inch version, which is a very premium convertible laptop with no expense spared, so you get excellent performance and incredible battery life. Having said that, it does not come cheap which is why it is going to put off a lot of potential customers. But if you can afford it, then you will be getting a brilliant laptop, an absolute bang for your bucks. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qRKz6MCBK2xCrxHPL5964m.jpg With an overhauled keyboard, a stylus in the box, excellent speakers and a gorgeous touchscreen, the HP Spectre x360 holds its own against anything Apple can show. In fact, some of the features have even drawn their inspiration from Apple's design. The four-speaker arrangement, reminiscent of the iPad Pro, ensures user-facing sound regardless of its orientation. Meanwhile, the new x360 dual-wields USB-C ports for faster charging and data transfers. Sound familiar? At the same time, none of this stifles the battery life, which manages to exceed eight hours of straight use. What’s more, the HP Spectre x360 can now be configured with a 4K screen and 1TB of SSD storage at a reasonable premium, making it even more deserving of the top spot on our list. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yYdBghopFcYe9bRCoVDiMa.jpg The Asus ZenBook Flip S is an incredibly thin, light, capable and versatile laptop. Asus may have taken some obvious inspirations in its design and aesthetic from the the 12-inch MacBook, but has done so in such a way that outclasses those rivals. It doesn't neglect the wholly aluminum chassis of the yesteryear. Although it’s still strikingly thin, the Asus ZenBook Flip S still manages to bear more weight than many other laptops in its class due in part to its reversible display. On the upside, the keyboard and trackpad, which are notably large and comfortable, also contribute to the laptop’s heft. Having said all that, the ZenBook Flip S makes for some really exciting buying quotient which is why it is one of the best 2-in-1 available right now. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Flip S http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xTSp9VRuvZEiwYHqDMuSGj.jpg Somewhat inevitably, the hybrid nature of the Pavilion x360 leads to its undoing. It's underpowered compared to similarly priced laptops, and lacks the responsiveness and lightness of dedicated tablets. It doesn't do a great job of being a truly compelling example of either of these things. But its usability, attractive and sturdy design, along with the impressive price tag means that it shouldn't be completely dismissed – especially if you really want a machine that offers both laptop and tablet use modes. Read the full review: HP Pavilion x360 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/byrzn3YSv3SFBEVrhvjny7.jpg Like every 2-in-1 on this list, the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 does it all. During the day it can be a laptop used for work or study, but flip that sucker inside out and it’s equally proficient as a tablet, optimal for watching movies or serving up a fresh dose of memes to your friends on Facebook. The Inspiron 13 7000 is not unwieldy nor is it overwhelmingly loud and sultry. Rather, it manages to pull of an exquisite design without any of the pitfalls that usually afflict notebooks like this one. It’s not perfect, seeing as the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a tad weak in the audio department. There’s a bit of a muffled sound dispelled from its middling speakers. This makes for a case where you’ll almost definitely want to shell out for a pair of nice headphones to go with it. Despite this, the keyboard feels great, the screen looks great and the tablet mode leaves plenty of room for procrastination. There’s nothing that particularly stands out with the Dell Inspiron 7000, but if it ain’t broke... Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UpY4Ag9PPih9SzJdnf6okY.jpg The Lenovo Yoga 720 is a rare instance of a hybrid that feels just as homely as a laptop as it does a tablet. Although it’s the kind that flips 360 degrees rather than toting a detachable hinge, the modest pricing and formidable design choices more than make up for a slight deficiency in versatility. What’s more, the Lenovo Yoga 720 shows off the pristine capabilities of Windows Hello by means of a neatly placed fingerprint scanner. For the price, the Yoga 720 gives you a nice, crisp screen (even if the 1080p starting model isn’t ideal) as well as a nice and comfy keyboard and trackpad. The only caveat is the ports, which are limited to two USB 3.1 Type-C’s and one very pertinent USB 3.0 slot. Everything else, such as HDMI output and SD card fidgeting will have to be done using pricey adapters. Then again, if you’re living in the future and handling everything through the cloud, there’s a lot to love about the Lenovo Yoga 720. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 720 You may also want to check out, The best 13-inch laptops in India The best laptops for students The best business laptops in India http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/V3VWA483zbo

Although they were originally conceived to compete with the likes of Apple’s MacBook Air, Ultrabooks now stand on their own as unique, Intel-based laptops that are thin and light and feature long-lasting battery life that puts the Windows laptops of yesteryears to shame. A lot of Ultrabooks not only measure in at under an inch thick, but they’re also capable of carrying out tasks rather swiftly. Whatever your needs may be, you can be certain that one of top Ultrabooks listed below will meet them. Dell XPS 13HP Spectre x360Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FNAsus ZenBook 3Acer Aspire S 13Acer Swift 7Lenovo Yoga 910HP Spectrehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/46AkJQeyNiw4hahATrfdr9.jpg The new, 7th-generation Intel Core i-powered Dell XPS 13 is nothing short of a miracle, in terms of both design and pricing. Once again, Dell has done the universe a favor by squeezing a 13.3-inch display into a measly 11-inch figure, and weighing in at only 2.9 pounds (1.29kg), the XPS 13 is blessed with extravagance. The Dell XPS 13 not only bears a lengthy battery life exceeding 7 hours in accordance with our in-house movie test, but it does so with a virtually bezel-less InfinityEdge display. What’s more, not only is the starting cost of the laptop relatively low, but the Dell XPS 13 is sold in a variety of different flavors, all the way up to an i7-7700U model. And to top it all off? It comes in Rose Gold. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HKn9q4SREuVVkGQVcKhmB4.jpg Among the first to sport 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors, the HP Spectre x360 is more than a CPU upgrade. Sure, the 2-in-1 zips by faster than it did last year, but it’s also thinner and lighter than it was before – not to mention more stylish. From the revamped HP logo on the outer shell to the higher quality keyboard, the Spectre x360 is a force to be reckoned with. Two USB Type-C ports are present while only one traditional, USB Type-A port is onboard. Sure, this equates to better transfer rates, but it also necessitates the need for an onslaught of new cables and peripherals. The Spectre x360 is a thrifty little Ultrabook no matter what your use case, made even better by the recent addition of a 4K display option paired with an optional 1TB of SSD storage. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZDBgyPGhexDk9cg3yZgSF.jpg Sporting an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 configurations comparable to the top-notch Dell XPS 13 and an all-aluminum shell, this truly is a candidate to vie for the MacBook Air’s throne. And that’s thanks to the Asus ZenBook 13 housing all the latest ports, including USB Type-C, and the option of a gorgeous Full HD display, complete with 143-degrees of rotation and a serious case of the anti-glare. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 13 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MnX3Ugyc8SELF4iqx7aGyj.jpg The Acer Aspire S 13 may not win prizes for being the thinnest or the lightest Ultrabook around, nor does it offer more than 10 hours of battery life. But it's an impressive machine none-the-less with speedy and reliable performance. It's nearly as affordable as the Asus ZenBook UX305 and the touchscreen is standard, something you won't find on most budget Ultrabooks. Read the full review: Acer Aspire S 13 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VyLXhpTjQi4TXpnpAhXkzX.jpg It’s no surprise that the world’s thinnest laptop doesn’t come without its own share of port shortages; however, it’s also unfair to judge the Acer Swift 7 by its pair of USB-C twins alone. Sporting an Core i5 processor from Intel’s 7th-gen Y-series lineup (previously Core M), the Swift 7 is by no means a powerhouse, but it doesn’t need to be, really. The Acer Swift 7 is a testament to just how luxurious a laptop can look and feel without facilitating a lofty price tag. It also serves as a reminder that everything looks better in gold. Though admittedly short on battery life, clocking in at only 5 hours and 41 minutes in our in-house movie test, the Acer Swift 7 soars in areas such as portability and style. Read the full review: Acer Swift 7 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SygUGjkKS3yJjcUEb6DVF.jpg The Lenovo Yoga 910 is a fine example of a laptop that takes two steps forward and one step back. It may be heavier and colder to the touch than the Yoga 900, no thanks to its aluminum finish, but it’s also substantially more stylish. Not only that, but Lenovo even managed to keep the same frame size and fit a larger, 14-inch screen inside it. As a result, it’s still not perfect, but the Yoga 910 is – rest assured – a clear upgrade over its predecessor. Because it’s wholly adorned with sharp angles galore, the Yoga 910 is a feat in fashion. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it’s outfitted with a 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and the option of a 4K screen. Unfortunately, even though the battery is larger, its longevity is underwhelming. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 910 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1fdec600e7ce45503f90758e27fc70a7.jpg One glance at the HP Spectre, and you'd think it belongs in a mansion. As if looks weren't enough, this gilded machine is actually more powerful than the latest MacBook and for a lower price at that. You won't find laptops thinner than this and with an optional Intel Core i7 configuration to the trio of USB-C ports, it's supremely capable and not to mention future-proof. Even when it only boasts a 1080p screen, it renders deeper blacks and brighter colors than most. If there were ever a such thing as a MacBook killer, it would be called the HP Spectre – front and center, folks. Read the full review: HP Spectre http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/bpN40uouIc4

The demand for budget notebooks have always been high, be it for a college student or a home user. The sub-Rs 30,000 segment in laptops is a crowded one which is why we have come up with our very own list of the best entry-level laptops which offer good performance but are not heavy on one's pocket. Looking for something portable? Read our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2018, the top hybrid laptops in the market.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H4WzdLanYzqowQnGubUjhY.jpg The Dell Vostro 3568 is another laptop that offers exceptional price to performance ratio. It is powered by 7th generation Intel Core i3 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 1TB of HDD storage. The Vostro 3568 has integrated graphics and runs on Windows 10. The built quality of the Dell Vostro 3568 is exceptional and it manages to handle day-to-day tasks very easily. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6pC46NMi72NDBhBxLrj5f4.jpg The Asus Vivobook serves the needs of most students and working professionals. The build quality of the laptop is good and doesn't feel cheap. While it is a strict no-no for gamers because of the integrated graphics chipset, this laptop from Asus is a good choice if you want a machine for casual and entertainment purposes. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HmnbwwejWxhWvhcpgcyQPB.jpeg The HP 14q-CS0005TU is powered by 7th gen. Intel Core i3 processor making it a good performer in this price bracket. Users can play normal games on the machine but don't expect it to run some graphics intensive titles. On the outside, the laptop looks quite decent and has a good display panel. Overall, this HP laptop fits the bill for anyone looking for one under Rs 30,000. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xJKDmFxfhDt6yygsMXTSrQ.jpeg The Lenovo Ideapad 330 features a 14-inch full HD display which is rare for laptops in this budget and is powered by 7th Generation Intel Core i3 coupled with 4GB of RAM. It is a good performer when it comes to entertainment or your office work and can well be your daily driver. If size is what matters, you should check out the best 13-inch laptops in India.If the price isn't important, you can check out the best laptops of 2018 available in the market, to get an all-rounding laptop. Otherwise you can always check out our list of laptops under Rs 40,000.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_RJC77PpxIQ

No matter how much you play on our smartphone, tablet or console, nothing really beats gaming on a PC does it? And PC gaming is often better served by a laptop. There are several of these, which offer a great deal of performance without sacrificing much on portability. Here we have listed the best gaming laptops you can buy for less than Rs 50,000. However, it is actually a bit tricky to choose the perfect gaming rig below Rs 50k, as none of them are properly suited for a hardcore gamer. You should aim for the right balance between processing power and graphics capability in the laptop you wish to buy. We have selected the top 10 laptops that boast of optimum gaming capabilities while costing under Rs 50,000. Please note that the prices mentioned below are based on what was available at the time this article was written. These may slightly vary as deals and offers keep changing from time to time. But before we begin with the gaming laptops, here's the best value for money all-round notebook you can buy under 50k right now. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tAM7wZKPWt8BHrBxjNivwW.jpg Buy Dell Vostro 3578 on AmazonDell Vostro 3578 is the first suggestion from us if the purpose is all-round usage, from office/college work to a slice of multimedia at home. It packs the latest set of Intel i5 8th gen processor with 8GB DDR4 RAM to power all the basic office chores. It's 15.6-inch display is not the best in the range, but still does its job quite well. The design is as basic as you can expect but the build is quite solid with premium finish on the outer shell. It has the most common connectivity ports and ample power for the price. Budget gaming laptops from next page http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nrxg6jeh7CrqZUbDWJzDR.jpg With the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, the ASUS VivoBook 15 X510UF clearly has impressive processing power. However, this is not evenly matched with a capable graphics card. The 2GB GDDR3 NVIDIA GeForce MX130 simply doesn’t support hardcore gaming. Still, the laptop should be good enough for casual gamers to play on medium settings. The battery life is average, but the laptop supports fast charging and battery health charging technologies. Externally, the ASUS VivoBook 15 X510UF is built quite decently. It supports a host of connectivity options ranging from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to a DVD Writer, as well as variety of USB ports- Type C, USB 3.0, USB 2.0- as well as an HDMI port and a microSD card slot. It comes preloaded with Windows 10. It retails for Rs 49,980 on Amazon. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CaZJRaRoFhcQjeeC77evzF.jpg This is a very good under-Rs 50,000 gaming laptop by Lenovo. The IdeaPad 330 brings above-average specs to a budget laptop, and is a good option for casual gamers. While the device lacks both a dedicated GPU and a user-friendly OS, its superior RAM, multitasking ability, and impressive processor performance make it a worthy entrant into this list. It retails for Rs 41,890 on Amazon. Lenovo announces a full range of budget IdeaPad laptops http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UYiYZkXDoYaXGEaoZE9aRc.jpg It is quite surprising to find a laptop with GDDR5 graphics priced below Rs 50,000. For starters, GDDR5 GPUs are significantly faster than GDDR3 options and offer enormous improvements in gaming and other graphics intensive works. This does make the Lenovo Ideapad IP 320 80XL033MIN one of the most powerful gaming notebooks on a budget, starting from Rs 41 If you can bear with the tiny 2-cell battery here, buying it is a no-brainer. Furthermore, the notebook also comes with Windows 10 preinstalled, relieving you from the troubles of installing a fresh OS. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eptVEhQvEvHCpRYTdoQvM5.jpg As we said: arguably the best gaming laptop under 50K. The GDDR5 GPU puts it miles ahead of most of its competitors in the budget gaming laptop segment, and the performance and RAM are hard to beat as well. The only let-down is the HD screen- a full-HD display is probably the only thing that could make this laptop better. But best not to look a gift horse in the mouth- considering the specs, it's a steal. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BsnFUapxWz3GMHVjwsCdNj.jpg This is the DOS version of the Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575G and comes with identical specifications. The combination of 7th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor and 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce 940MX GPU is quite potent indeed. Even laptops costing upwards Rs 60,000 will have a tough time beating the Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575. The Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575 takes the crown of being the best gaming laptop under Rs 50,000. It is simply unbelievable what the company is offering at only Rs 40,990. Besides, the notebook also rocks dual-band Wi-Fi, Stereo Speakers, DVD Writer and HD Webcam. These are the absolute best gaming laptops you can get within Rs. 50,000. Go through each of these notebooks carefully and choose the one that is best suited to your needs. A little tip: swap the Hard Disk with an SSD and you will unlock these machines’ true potentials. Best laptops for students for under Rs 40,000http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Ju0JJA2l6lo

After Sony pulled out entirely, EA is taking a very different approach to E3 2019, the company announced today. Instead of a press keynote that shows gamers what they have to look forward to in a single sitting, EA will instead offer multiple live streams throughout the weekend leading up to the show. Love EA's games? Here's what we thought of AnthemPlus, we've got all the latest on Apex LegendsNot sure where to start? Here's a beginner's guide to Apex LegendsThe live streams will go hand-in-hand with the annual EA Play event that will be held in Los Angeles, California from June 7 through June 9. Gamers in the area for E3 will be able to attend EA Play in-person, but will need to register through EA’s website when registration becomes available. While this sounds like a complete 180 for a company that just a few years ago had a keynote alongside the likes of Sony and Microsoft, EA has slowly been moving away from the traditional approach that other publishers take at the industry’s largest trade show. The times they are a'changingAccording to a blog post on EA’s website, the new format will offer “more gameplay and insights from the teams making the games” and less time with someone up on a stage. And while EA’s blog post explains some of the reasoning behind the approach, it’d be easy to believe there’s more happening behind closed doors that we don’t know about. Some gamers took to Twitter and Reddit during last year’s EA Play event to announce their discontent with the content of EA’s presentation - all of which could be potentially side-stepped this year if EA allows creators, streamers and developers headline their own mini presentations. As IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews Ryan McCaffrey pointed out on Twitter, it could also indicate that EA has less to show off and announce this year than in former years when it had games like Star Wars Battlefront 2, Battlefield V and Anthem. That being said, we're still expecting a few interesting titles at the show, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and FIFA 20, plus new projects from EA's PopCap and Ghost studios. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is set to be one of this year's must-have titles. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/-VkGZAyGzF8

The Google Assistant feature built on Duplex tech that makes restaurant reservation calls for you is expanding. Now you’ll be able to use it in 43 US states and, in the coming weeks, it’s expanding to non-Pixel Android and iOS devices, as per a Google blog post. Sure, the feature’s current capability is more of a cute trick (and lovely for those of us who hate speaking to other humans over the phone), but it represents the first possibilities of what Google’s Duplex technology can do: interface with other humans on our behalf, whether it’s making inquiries or using Google Assistant as a more complex secretary to phone out requests. That’s all in the future. For now, it’s exciting that this tech is finally coming to more users, especially to those who don’t have Pixel phones. Our list of the best Android phones out thereCould Duplex come to the long-rumored Google Pixel Watch? Here's all we knowMissed MWC 2019? Here's everything we sawDuplex possibilitiesWhen Google debuted Duplex tech at Google IO 2018, the feature – again, simply live-demonstrating its ability to make phone reservations – wowed the crowd. Not just by doing a menial task, but by imitating human speech idiosyncrasies on the fly, inserting “umm” and “yeah” like American English speakers are wont to do. At the event, we tried to put Duplex through its paces by throwing it curveball questions, and while we didn’t succeed in tricking the vocal Assistant feature, we did understand a bit more about its limits... or, rather, how tricky it was to find them. Google claimed then that its Duplex tech made accurate requests 80% of the time, and it’s only improved since then. Google introduced Duplex to Pixel owners in select cities back in November, and in a stroke, it’s now available to most of the US, expanding to users in Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, and Texas, as you can read on the features' FAQ page here. It's a good bet Duplex is coming to the Samsung Galaxy S10, the latest Android flagshipVia Android Policehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/fF1WJjuIslo

Sonos One is getting an upgrade this week ... but it's not worth tossing out your old speaker for. According to Sonos, the second-generation Sonos One will feature a few new improvements like an updated processor and increased memory, but it will still look and act a lot like its predecessor. To that end, a Sonos representative confirmed that there would be no difference to how the speaker functions or looks. These are the best stereo speakers in 2019Denon has three new noise-cancelling headphones for 2019Here's our list of the best Bluetooth speakersWhy upgrade at all then? Sonos has noted that a lack of memory and processing power prevented some of its oldest speakers from receiving the AirPlay 2 update that came to the Sonos One and Sonos Beam. There’s potential that this could eventually happen to the Sonos One, where the 2nd generation speaker might receive an update and the first will not, but that's unlikely to happen any time soon. In fact, Sonos explicitly stated in an email that “the original Sonos One will continue to be supported through regular updates." Apparently, this upgrade is more about future-proofing the speaker more than anything else. Sonos One (Gen. 1) at a discount The second part of today’s news is that Sonos will drop the price of the Gen. 1 speaker as it transitions to the updated hardware, which means you can expect to see the original Sonos One on sale for around $179 (£179) while Gen. 2 picks up the previous price tag of $199 (£199). Interested in buying a Sonos One but can’t figure out which one is which? Sonos says that the 2nd Gen. speaker will have a label to help differentiate it. The Gen. 2 Sonos One will be on sale officially starting March 7. But, if you're lucky, you might be able to find them out in the wild today at the time of writing. If you're after cheap speakers, we've rounded up the best cheap Sonos dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/3b2MpPMDoiw

Microsoft will reportedly issue an upgrade to its entry-level, 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 in the middle of its product cycle, according to several leaked retailer listings in the US and Europe. First picked up by a German outlet, WinFuture, this beefier version will swap out the current model’s 7th-generation Intel Core i5-7300U dual-core processor for a new, 8th-generation Intel Core i5-8350U quad-core processor. At the time of writing, the only way to get quad-core processing in the 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 is to undertake a massive, $850 (about £650, AU$1,185) upgrade for more storage and an Intel Core i7 processor you may not need. What will the Surface Book 3 bring?Microsoft’s looking to make Surface Pen more accurateThese are the best 2-in-1 laptops to dateNow, WinFuture reports – and US online retailer MacConnection corroborates – that this new version will be priced exactly like the $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$1,899 version with 256GB of storage. However, it’s unclear right now whether the 128GB version will be updated with this fresh processor. Also unclear is when – or if – this not-so-mild upgrade will be available. At the time of writing, all listings simply state that the product is available for pre-order. We’ve contacted Microsoft for comment and will update this story should we receive a response. These are the best laptops the world overhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/MSN4vZm17IE

The one crime statistic that is falling across the US year-on-year is burglary, and that's because homeowners are turning to home-based security systems that can help prevent crime. It's not just about trying to deter opportunists, but also making sure that even determined burglars will have difficulty forcing their way into your home without being caught. Yet there's such a wide array of home security options available to the homeowner, from CCTV and security cameras, to monitoring solutions, it can all seem overwhelming. Luckily, there are an increasing number of all-in-one solutions that use the latest technology to bring together different aspects of surveillance, monitoring, and prevention, to help homeowners feel safer. What's even better is that you no longer need a complicated setup of monitoring cameras, as most modern security systems are unobtrusive, easy to install and use, and even stylish. So we have done the legwork for you – we're good like that – to present this list of five of the best home security solutions. We think these products bring together the best in security, safety, and technology, to help give you peace of mind and better protect you, your family, and loved ones, from unwelcome intruders. We've also chosen the best security camera systems for businessesWant your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRUYeKrogNJHrJzNEZdbD3.jpg Image Credit: Ring The Ring Alarm Security Kit is an all-in-one security solution that's simple to set up, and doesn't require a service subscription to use. The standard Alarm Security Kit is priced at just $199 – cheaper than most competitors – yet comes with a base station, keypad, contact sensor, motion detector and range extender. You can buy additional components individually to extend your protection, or purchase one of the larger Alarm Security Kit bundles. The Ring Alarm Security Kit uses smart sensors and motion detectors that send mobile alerts when triggered. Everything is managed from the Ring app, which allows you to monitor everything from a single panel on your phone or tablet. It can also be integrated with other security devices from other brands, and you can even operate it using Amazon's Alexa. A backup battery in the kit ensures that even in the event of a power failure, the Ring kit will continue to run for up to 24 hours, using your cellular network to keep connected. As mentioned, there is no need for a subscription plan, though there are contract-free Ring Protect Plans available, for either $3 or $10 a month, which allow you to store more video using the Ring app, as well as access member benefits and discounts on additional security product purchases. These might be useful if you plan to buy other equipment from Ring, such as its video doorbell, sirens, smoke detectors, cameras, and more. You can sign up for Ring Alarm Security Kit herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R2MffxsAduTqvUiBtBCwuX.jpg Image Credit: Canary Those with more modest homes, such as a rented apartment, may want a simpler plug-and-play solution, such as the Canary All-in-One which retails for $169. One plastic canister provides a 1080p HD camera with night vision, a 90dB siren, an integrated temperature, air quality and humidity monitor, and the device is available in white or black to match a variety of decors. Setup can be completed in a few minutes as the device just needs to be connected to electrical power and the internet for protection to kick-off. While the Canary All-in-One can be used with free access, a membership plan of $9.99 monthly is needed to get the most out of it. Features included are full length videos that are stored for 30 days, unlimited video downloads, and two-way Canary talk. You can sign up for Canary All-in-One herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/afNnxz6dE2aua6eTUR9bH9.jpg Image Credit: Nest Nest made its name in home technology with its thermostat which debuted in 2011. These days, Nest is part of Google, and the company has expanded into home security with Nest Secure. This is sold as the Nest Secure alarm system, commanding a premium fee of $399, and it includes a base station, two Nest Tags, and two sensors. The Nest Tag is a key fob-style device that can arm or disarm the system when in proximity with the base station – other options for arming include a passcode, Google Assistant, and the Nest App. The sensor is Stick Nest Detect, which is a versatile piece of hardware, as each one can be used to secure a window, door, or even a wall, as it detects motion, with additional sensors available for $49. All of these sensors feed their information through the base station to the Nest App. Nest Secure works over Wi-Fi, but cellular access as a backup is a $5 additional monthly option. The system can also be expanded with options for indoor and outdoor cameras, and compatible Yale electronic locks. While this system is designed to be used for self-monitoring through the Nest App, there is also an option for professional monitoring via Brinks Home Security for $29 monthly, or $19 monthly with a three-year contract (more about that later). You can sign up for Nest Secure herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jErjvV65SgXrmyeuEUp6nG.jpg Image Credit: Abode Abode offers a security solution that is professional-grade, and yet easy to install for the homeowner. Like its competition, the company offers a starter kit that includes the essentials: a gateway, a mini door/window sensor, a remote key fob, a motion sensor, and a security sticker – that package retails for $299. This does not include a keypad which will run you $79 extra, and is designed for self-monitoring via a smartphone app. There are a wide variety of expansion options available, including indoor add-on sirens, a water leak sensor, and a glass break and vibration sensor, to name just a few of the many offerings. Upgrade to the next plan for $329, and this includes the same starter kit, plus a year of cellular backup on the T-Mobile or AT&T network, and 50% off the add-on keypad. The top plan goes for $379, which includes everything from the lower plans, complete with a year of professional monitoring. You can sign up for Abode herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4anSDj2Ug5JX4d5XauhHgM.jpg Image Credit: SimpliSafe SimpliSafe is a well-known brand in the security space. Unlike some other solutions, the company offers five different options for its starter kit. At the low-end is the aptly named Foundation Kit, which has a base station, keypad, an entry sensor and a motion sensor, all for $229. At the top-end, the Haven Kit, which is priced at $489, includes the same base station and keypad, as well as a key fob, four entry sensors, two motion sensors, a 105dB siren, a panic button, freeze sensor, water sensor, and a smoke detector, which is suitable for a larger home, and obviously protects you from more than just burglary. All kits are backed by a 60-day guarantee – the product can be returned if it does not work out for you – and you have a choice of monitoring plans that include professional monitoring and cellular backup (and neither requires a contract). You can sign up for SimpliSafe hereOther home security systems to considerBrinks works with a wider variety of smart home devices than most other companies, plus it offers both DIY and professional installation options as required. You can buy into Brinks Home Complete, or purchase the Nest Security System (see above) at a discount through Brinks. The service is really focused on providing the monitoring for you, which comes in relatively cheap in industry terms at $29 per month, after hardware costs. The one caveat is to expect to sign a three-year contract, with early exit penalties coming into play 30 days after purchase. ADT is an established security company that offers equipment tied to a subscription-based monitoring service, most of which will require professional installation that the company can provide. Like Brinks, ADT pushes for a three-year initial contract, which afterwards is renewed monthly, but unlike all the other firms listed it's not very transparent about pricing. While other companies are happy to offer a single fee per product/package, ADT pushes on custom sales for custom packages, which means it’s difficult to make a direct price comparison. Frontpoint Security sells itself on ease of use, with a DIY home surveillance and security kit based on free-standing sensors that don't require any wall mounting, drilling, wires, etc. However, the equipment is sold as part of a contract-term package, and pricing will depend on the period committed to upfront. Plans cost between $34.99 to $49.99 a month, with the cost of equipment discounted to $99 if you commit to a three-year contract. Like its rivals we’ve just mentioned, Vivint offers a combined equipment and monitoring service package, with everything run through a cellular network with backup batteries. However, Vivint SmartHome is something of a premium option, requiring a five-year term and monthly prices that can stack up. Even so, some argue that you get what you pay for, and Vivint certainly has a strong reputation in the security industry. Link Interactive costs less than most of the other solutions listed here, plus it boasts an admirable range of security options you can customize yourself. Promoting itself as "the best value in home security", the company runs on a cellular network rather than a landline, and puts less reliance on using a phone app for monitoring. By providing a two-way voice panel, if you can't get to your phone, the firm can contact you or the emergency services directly if they suspect there's a need to. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/CWTGEb1wvkk

Testing and developing AI applications can be a difficult process which is why Google is bolstering its range of AI products and services with three new hardware devices aimed at developers. The devices themselves have not yet been officially announced by the company, though a web page promoting them under a new brand called Coral was discovered by Hackster. The trio of new AI devices includes a development board for $149, a USB accelerator for $75 and a 5-megapixel camera add-on for the development board for $25. Worldwide AI investment to top $200bn by 2025AI took over the world in 2018Overcoming the AI talent gap isn’t as hard as you thinkThe dev board and accelerator both utilize Google's Edge TPU chips which are tiny ASIC processors capable of running AI models more efficiently than traditional chips. Coral platform for local AIThese new products from Google are not intended to be used to train ML algorithms but rather to help with the inference part of AI where trained models are used in the field. This is why the company has included support for its AI framework for mobile and IoT devices, TensorFlow Lite. The USB accelerator can help boost inference on any machine running Linux while the dev board offers a number of pins and ports to help developers prototype hardware and other experimental applications. Intel launched its own USB accelerator several years ago called the Neural Compute Stick and Google has likely followed suit as it looks to boost adoption of its own AI services. Now that the news is out, we will likely hear more details from the company itself on its intentions with Coral and the future of this new developer-focused hardware brand. Via The Verge This is everything you need to know about AIhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/dfoOi3CN4lI

Despite organizations continued attempts to improve their cybersecurity positioning, new research from BAE Systems has revealed that human error is still a major vulnerability in network security. To compile its latest incident response report, the firm surveyed board level executives, IT decision makers and security professionals to better understand the current state of corporate incident response capabilities and readiness. A major finding from the results of BAE Systems' research showcases how many organizational breaches are caused by human error as cybercriminals prey on human nature and employees that make honest, though costly, mistakes in the workplace. The cybersecurity incident response team: the new vital business teamThe cybersecurity measures needed to protect flexible workersHuman nature as the Uber threat to CybersecurityOf the breaches caused by human error examined by the firm, 71 percent led to phishing attacks while 65 percent resulted in untargeted viruses or malware. Rise in incidentsBAE Systems also discovered that incident response teams are dealing with an increasing number of incidents per month. Of the organizations surveyed, 66 percent responded to between one and 25 cybersecurity incidents per month, 26 percent responded to between 25 and 99 incidents per month and almost eight percent responded to 100 or more incidents per month. The research also revealed that many organizations are just not prepared to respond to cyber threats with 23 percent of incident response teams not conducting readiness exercises with senior management while 22 percent only have temporary or no incident response resources in place. To help organizations deal with today's growing cyber threats, BAE Systems has published its 22019 incident response report, 'Why Ignoring Incident Response Could Spell Disaster'. We've also highlighted the best antivirus to protect your systems from today's growing cyber threatshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ojYli70ezJc

As the global rollout of 5G approaches, Australia's former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has brought attention to the fact that the Five Eyes nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US) do not have any telecoms capable of winning the 5G race. During a recent speech in London to the British foreign policy think tank the Henry Jackson Society, Turnbull shared his views on the matter and expressed his disappointment over how the Five Eyes nations do not have their own champion in 5G, saying: "In many discussions with my western counterparts, I raised the concern that we, and in particular the Five Eyes, had got to the point where there were now essentially four leading vendors of 5G systems -- two Chinese, Huawei and ZTE, and two European, Ericsson and Nokia. With the benefit of hindsight it beggars belief that the countries which pioneered wireless technology -- the United States, the UK, Germany, Japan and with WiFi, Australia -- have got to the point where none of them are able to present one of their own telcos [as] a national, or a Five Eyes, champion in 5G." 5G could solve major 4G congestionFive Eyes nations want access to your encrypted communications dataSecurity flaws in 4G and 5G revealedTurnbull also explained that Australia's decision to ban Huawei and ZTE last summer was carried out to defend the country's sovereignty and as a “hedge against changing times”. Distinction between core and edge networksThe Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) recommended the ban on Huawei and ZTE due to how the distinction between core and edge networks disappears in 5G. This means that any potential threat on a network will be a threat to the whole network. Director-general of the ASD Mike Burgess explained his reasoning behind the ban, saying: "In consultation with operators and vendors, we worked hard this year to see if there were ways to protect our 5G networks if high-risk vendor equipment was present anywhere in these networks. At the end of this process, my advice was to exclude high-risk vendors from the entirety of evolving 5G networks." Currently the UK is considering following in Australia's footsteps which is why Turnball spoke so passionately on the issue while in London. Via ZDNet This is everything you need to know about 5Ghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/z5e5cQMvEsc

March Madness 2019 is almost here, and that means retailers are slashing the prices on some of their best-selling 4K TVs. A standout deal from Amazon is on a TCL 6- Series TV that has Roku TV built-in. You can get the TCL 55-inch 4K Smart TV on sale for $579.99. That's a $220 price cut and the best price we've seen right now for this top-rated TV. The TCL 55R6174K has Roku TV built-in which allows you to stream thousands of movies and TV shows from the home screen of your TV. You can access Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video and even your gaming console without having to switch inputs on the TV. The Roku TV also features an enhanced remote that allows you to use your voice to find movie titles, change channels, launch streaming services and more. The UHD TV also features Dolby Vision HDR which delivers bold colors and sharp contrasts for a premium picture experience. This is a fantastic price for a 4K 55-inch TV and only $30 more than the Black Friday price. March Madness is a great time to grab a discounted TV, so you should take advantage of this deal while you can. If you're looking for a larger screen size with a slightly higher price tag, Amazon also has the TCL 65-Inch 4K Roku Smart TV on sale for $929.99. That's an excellent price for the screen size and features. Shop more of best cheap TV deals and sale prices that are currently going on and read our review on the TCL 6-Series Roku TV. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/f0mc7l-7-lE

Nintendo has issued a word of caution to its partners in the mobile development space: go easy on the micro-transactions. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal (behind a paywall unless you have a WSJ subscription), Nintendo has asked its mobile partners to limit possible in-game spending, so that players aren't pressured to spend unreasonable amounts on a single game. How to download and play Super Mario RunWhat to expect from a new Nintendo Switch modelCheck out our guide to the best Nintendo Switch gamesMicro-transactions can be hugely lucrative for free-to-play games, allowing players to buy cosmetic items – as in the battle royale game Fortnite, or Apex Legends – in-game currency for new weapons and items, or just advance more quickly through a game. While a dizzyingly successful business model for some, micro-transactions can also be exploitative, pressuring players to spend more than they can afford to unlock tempting content or overcome intentional roadblocks to their progression. (Just remember the player vitriol over Star Wars Battlefront II's loot boxes.) While limiting overall profit, the thinking goes that Nintendo will retain its positive reputation by not looking to exploit young players, or those with cash to burn. New shoresBeing a Nintendo fan isn't always cheap either, as shown by the company's reluctance to let older games drop in price. The move towards a paid subscription for the Nintendo Switch Online service, too, seemed like money-grubbing to some – even though both Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus did the same already. But seeing some restraint in a new source of income is, sadly, surprising in today's market. Nintendo is no doubt mainly interested in stopping any bad press, but it's reassuring for players nonetheless that they won't be asked to shell out more than they're comfortable with – or be refused a basic level of fun if they're not big spenders. Many of us were surprised when Nintendo started paying attention to mobile games, after years of dismissing smartphones as a poor substitute for a dedicated handheld console like the New Nintendo 3DS XL – or the Nintendo Switch, of course. So far we've seen the likes of Super Mario Run, which veered on the side of up-front purchase, and Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, which went for a free-to-play model supported by micro-transactions – as did Fire Emblem Heroes and surprise hit Dragalia Lost. Nintendo Switch Online: price, NES games, and online playhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/6KmwiZRlkvg

“This sounds kind of romantic, but from a character perspective, the way I think about it is that I’m not inventing the character, says Dei Gaztelumendi, character lead at Anki. “The character is there, and we are discovering it. We are unearthing it.” Dei Gaztelumendi, a former visual artist at Paramount Pictures, has spent the last four years discovering personalities for Anki’s friendly companion robots, including Cozmo and Vector. That might seem like a big leap, but Gaztelumendi explains that it was quite a natural progression. He began his career illustrating children’s books before moving into animation, where he later specialized in character design. Anki reached out to him in 2015. “The first task that they needed help with was trying to figure out Cosmo’s eyes,” he says. “They were struggling to create appealing eyes and expressions, and that was definitely in my area.” For Gaztelumendi, the biggest difference between working at Paramount and Anki was moving from just focusing on the outward appearance of the characters to considering their inner workings – the emotional side, and their personality – which has become the core of his work. Discovering a characterWhen Gaztelumendi is creating a character for Anki, the first step is to find out what the purpose of the robot will be, and who it will be a companion for. “Getting that information from the company executives, from a character perspective, gives us the plot of the movie,” he explains. “And then it’s really about designing that character that we hope will fill that void on an emotional and companionship level. “Suddenly when you think about it that way, there are right and wrong answers about how the character should be, how the personality should be,” he explains. “Something that is made for ages 5-10 for entertainment and fun will bring about very different answers than something like Vector, where it’s a little more adult and sci-fi enthusiast oriented. Those parameters are what begin to inform the early stages of the character.” Even if their starting point is just a bundle of vague objectives, Gaztelumendi and his team can use that to come up with a bundle of traits that will evoke the right kind of feeling. He compares it to the core of a snowball that rolls downhill, growing as it goes. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PfmbeEMdLJ2XSiCAzZDxTn.jpg Gaztelumendi and his team share sketches to get an emotional reaction from their colleagues. Image credit: Anki At the same time, the character team can use their backgrounds in animation (and in Gaztelumendi’s case character design) to visualize their ideas. “Just little doodles of the character doing this, doing that, while trying to infuse it with all of the qualities from that checklist,” he says. “It sounds clichéd to say it, but a picture is worth 1,000 words.” They can then show these images to the product team – with interesting results. “Suddenly you are no longer having a rational conversation about ‘Should it be a rascal, or should it be more like a critter’,” he says. “Suddenly you have people going ‘Aww!’ or people going ‘Ooh!’ – and those actually become even more valuable to our team. “We’re engineers of the emotional kind, I guess. Based on those reactions, we’ll continue to fine-tune the character, the behaviors, the antics, the expressions, and eventually these will inform the product itself with all its facets, industrial design, animation, audio. Those are the initial stages of designing a character robot.” Making it realCreating a character is one thing, but making people grow attached to it is something else. For Gaztelumendi, the most important part of creating a believable character is ensuring its behaviour is consistent and coherent. “Just like a person in your life - whether it’s a relative or a friend – there is a certain built-in coherence. If you go out for coffee with someone that is very close to you and they suddenly do something that is incoherent with how they usually behave, you will notice right away, and you’ll be likely a little freaked out – what’s going on? Is everything OK?” As humans, we’re very sensitive to anything that’s out of character – but if behaviour is consistent, we can become very attached. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QaJuhC9PPt6RXxB2CnCvPn.jpg Gaztelumendi says giving a robot a character elevates it above simply being a device, and opens up new possibilities for human interaction. Image credit: Anki “With a robot, we hope to bring about a sense of familiarity, and ideally ultimately bonding, that we believe can only happen if you have a solid sense that you know this character. That you know this little guy. Whether it’s with Cozmo or with Vector, I think that comes from continuously getting coherent demonstrations of that character. Whether it’s sad or happy doesn’t matter – it just behaves in a certain way.” Once the pre-production work is done, most of Gaztelumendi’s work as a character director involves maintaining that consistency, working with other teams including animation and audio. “At that point I’m not working on producing that many assets,” he says. “Mostly what I’m watchful for is coherence of character. I would say that’s the key thing to do well.” A sense of presenceSo why is character so important for Anki’s little bots? “What we have found, and it’s what I believe also, is that character and personality is the thing that elevates us from being a mere device,” Gaztelumendi says. “It brings about this sense of presence – like ‘He’s over there, doing his thing!” Even if reviews of the robots are negative, Gaztelumendi relishes them when they refer to Cozmo or Vector as ‘he’. “From a character perspective, whenever we read someone referring to one of our robots – Cozmo or Vector – as a being, not as an ‘it’, that indicates to us that we’re on that other tier, and then more things are possible, such as companionship and our robot having an emotional effect on the users. Those things, we feel, wouldn’t be possible without any character or personality.” http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YLhrLTyxcWB47NgivxmowW.jpg Gaztelumendi's first project at Anki was creating Cozmo's expressive eyes, and it's still the project he remembers most fondly. Image credit: Anki After all his years working with Anki creating characters that users can connect with, Gaztelumendi’s favorite project is still the one he was initially hired for: creating Cozmo’s expressive eyes. “Maybe I’m just biased because it was my first project at Anki when I first became involved, but I do have a special place for that challenge,” he says. "There’s a character who fills, in a certain way, the goal of this robot and we’re chiselling the marble away to find it. And I feel like designing the eyes was almost that same exercise. The moment I felt I succeeded, I was looking into the eyes of the robot that is now Cozmo. I was there tweaking and tweaking, and eventually I got there and I said ‘This is him’. We were looking at each other.” The best robot toys of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/RUuSYdOBZpk

Audio company Denon has just dropped three new pairs of over-ear headphones, including wired, wireless, and noise cancelling models. Part of the company's Global Cruiser range, the new headphones combine stylish design features with Denon's proprietary driver technology, and are designed with commuters and travelers in mind with ergonomic memory foam earcups and long battery lives. Check out our favorite over-ear headphones in 2019Best noise cancelling headphones 2019Read our Microsoft Surface headphones reviewThe most expensive of the new headphones, the noise-cancelling AH-GC30s are available to buy in the US now for $399. This works out at around £300 / AU$570, but Denon hasn't released official pricing and release dates for these territories yet. These wireless headphones uses Denon's own 40mm Free-Edge drivers, which the company says "block out unwanted resonances to provide detailed, accurate sound." Constructed from soft, flexible materials, these drivers promise to deliver "crisp highs, deep bass and precise imaging without flexing or distorting the music signal", which means these premium cans should be suitable for even the most discerning audiophiles. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rTjenD4C58ZpaRCJ3gPGVN.jpg The Denon AH-GC25Ws Image credit: Denon Situational noise cancellationIf you'd rather stick to a wired connection, you may prefer the noise-cancelling wired over-ears, the AH-GC25NC, which cost $299 (around £230 / AU$420), and will be available to buy in April if you live in the US. Then, in May, Denon is set to release the cheapest of the three new models, the wireless AH-GC25Ws, which are set to cost $249 (around £190 / AU$350). Although this model doesn't offer noise cancellation, it does support aptX Bluetooth playback and can be used with a USB connection if desired. Both wireless models can handle up to 20 hours playback from a single charge, while the noise cancelling models support different noise cancellation modes depending on your method of travel. Denon hasn't said when the models will be available to buy outside the US, but they are appearing on the UK Denon website, so UK customers may be getting them ahead of their Australian release (if there is one). How audio is changing in 2019: the biggest trends we've seen so farhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/pRH6EoNyqXg

It used to be the case that if you bought a compact camera you’d have a small sensor, and if you went for an interchangeable-lens camera like a DSLR you got a much larger one. This would also typically be reflected in the quality of the images from those cameras, with larger sensors typically producing higher-quality results than smaller ones. To some extent this is still the case. Sensors are typically the most expensive part of a camera to manufacture, and the larger you go the pricier the camera gets. For this reason you won't find expensive models toting 1/2.3-inch sensors, just as you wouldn't find cheap, basic compact cameras with full-frame ones. Sensors are typically the most expensive part of a camera to manufacture, and the larger you go the pricier the camera gets. However, as manufacturers started offering compact cameras with relatively large sensors, and interchangeable-lens cameras with smaller ones, the situation become more complex. Today, we find some small sensors work very well in a range of conditions, while some larger ones may present a handful of benefits over smaller ones in one way, but fall down in another. Sensor technology has advanced rapidly over the past few years, and the breadth of options across all kinds of cameras is likely to confuse many users, particularly first-time buyers who may not be sure what to expect from different kinds of sensors. Furthermore, as the size of sensor has a bearing on the effective focal length of your lens, this becomes yet another thing to consider when choosing a new camera. Here, we list the different types of sensor sizes used in cameras today, in ascending order of size, and how each affects image quality. But before we do that, we need to briefly talk about the relationship between sensor size and focal length. Sensor size and focal lengthThe size of the sensor inside a camera has a direct effect on what kind of lenses can be used with that camera. If you buy a compact camera the lens is built into the body, so there's less to think about here from a buying perspective. But with interchangeable-lens cameras like DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, any lens used needs to be able to have an image circle – the diameter of the light that exits the lens – that can sufficiently cover the dimensions of the sensor. Whether they're built into the body of a camera or supplied separately, lenses are marked with their actual focal length, rather than the effective focal length when used on a particular camera. The problem here is that different lenses marked with two completely different focal lengths may provide the same effective focal range to work with when used on the bodies for which they are designed. To make things easier to understand, manufacturers often provide an ‘equivalent’ focal length, which uses the full-frame sensor as its reference point. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr4QhECSQ9BBJtskTwJ6kK.jpg A 18-55mm lens used on a camera with an APS-C sensor has an effective focal range of 27-82mm, although the exact length depends on the camera used. Image Credit: Nikon/TechRadar. Here’s an example. A camera with a sensor that’s smaller than full-frame may be used with a lens that has a focal length of 18-55mm, but in reality the effective focal range you’ll end up with is closer to 27-82mm. This is because the sensor is not large enough to take advantage of the lens to the same extent as a full-frame sensor can. By discarding some of the peripheral areas of the lens, it ends up appearing as though you’re using a longer focal length. Similarly, a compact camera may have a 19mm lens built into it, but if the size of sensor is smaller than full-frame, it will only ever be able to offer a longer effective focal length on that body, perhaps 28mm or so. This figure is determined by the ‘crop factor’ – that is, the number by which you need to multiply the focal length to work out the effective focal length of the combination. This will be examined in greater detail for some of the sensor sizes below. Sensor sizesHere, we take a closer look at the main sizes of sensor used in today’s cameras. Note: not all sensors within the same category have exactly the same dimensions. The measurements provided are an example of one such sensor within that format. 1/2.3-inchhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VjC9MtVjvDR8obmogc3ArJ.jpg Canon PowerShot SX70 HS. Image Credit: Canon/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx. 6.3 x 4.7mm This is the smallest sensor that's commonly used in cameras today, and is typically found in budget compacts. They usually offer between 16-24MP. These used to be common across these types of cameras, but the gradual shift in focus by manufacturers towards enthusiast cameras with larger sensors means they aren't as common in new cameras. Their size allows manufacturers to make very compact cameras with long lenses, such as superzoom compacts like the Panasonic ZS70 / TZ90 and Canon PowerShot SX730 HS. They're also found inside DSLR-style superzoom compacts such as the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS. Using a larger sensor in such cameras would necessitate a larger, heavier and more expensive lens. For general snapshots taken in good lighting conditions, cameras using these sensors may deliver perfectly acceptable results, but otherwise they can struggle to hold on to highlight detail and may produce images with a grainy, noisy texture. 1/1.7-inchhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FTyXkS5AYLstMTFPfkfwAa.jpg Pentax QS1. Image Credit: Ricoh/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx. 7.6 x 5.7mm Slightly larger than the 1/2.3-inch types above, these sensors make it a little easier to separate a subject from its background, and typically offer better performance with regards to holding onto detail in shadow and highlights. As they can capture more light than smaller sensor, they're also likely to perform better in low light. These were once the default choice for enthusiast compact cameras, but their popularity has waned in the face of larger and more advanced 1-inch sensors (discussed below). Some of the most recent cameras to use these include the Pentax QS1, which was announced five years ago. 1-inchhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DunrzzsSiiwRQqpydURX6E.jpg Sony RX100. Image Credit: Sony/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx. 13.2mm x 8.8mm This type of sensor is currently a popular choice across a range of compact cameras, with its size making it a versatile but high-performing option. It’s most commonly used in pocket-friendly enthusiast compact cameras. Lenses on these cameras will typically be limited to around 24-70mm or 24-100mm (in 35mm equivalent terms), such as on the Panasonic LX15, Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II and Sony RX100 VI. It has, however, also now featured in a handful of superzoom cameras from both companies too, like the Panasonic FZ1000 II and TZ200, as well as the Sony RX10 IV. Cameras that use these sensors can typically provide very good quality images, particularly as many of the compact cameras that use them have wide maximum apertures that let in plenty of light. This enhanced image quality is partly the result of their size, but also on the technology on which they're based. Recent versions may be built with an unconventional construction, for example, which enables them to capture light more effectively than standard sensors. Photography basics: angle of viewFour Thirdshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LqBQLg5nQ7YKbLH4BDXMTi.jpg Panasonic GH5S. Image Credit: Panasonic/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx. 17.3 x 13mm This is the format used by Olympus and Panasonic for its Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, such as the Olympus OM-D E-M1X and the Panasonic GH5S. These are a fair bit larger than the 1-inch sensors described on the previous page, but still smaller than APS-C types described below. As this type of sensor has a surface area that’s around a quarter of the size of full-frame sensors, calculating the effective focal length of compatible lenses is easy: you simply double it. So, a 17mm lens used on such a camera will provide an effective focal length similar to a 34mm lens on a full-frame body. Similarly, a 12-35mm lens provides a focal range equivalent to 24-70mm lens on the same camera. A 17MP version of this sensor was also used by Panasonic in its recent Lumix LX100 II compact camera. Here this was paired with a lens that gave a focal length equivalent to 24-75mm on a full-frame camera. APS-Chttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wdjnqR9Jksh7RyCFLCjnci.jpg Canon EOS M50. Image Credit: Canon/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx. 23.5mm x 15.6mm Long used in entry-level and mid-range DSLRs, and now in many mirrorless cameras too, this type of sensor provides a good balance between system portability, image quality, and flexibility with regards to lenses. Not all APS-C sensors are equal in size, however. Canon’s APS-C sensors, such as those used inside its EOS Rebel T7i / EOS 800D and EOS M50 models, are a touch smaller than those inside the Nikon D5600 and Sony A6400, and other models from those two manufacturers. Canon's APS-C sensor apply a crop factor of 1.6x rather than the 1.5x seen elsewhere. In any case, these cameras are still a good all-round, versatile option, and models that use them are often preferred over full-frame models by some nature and sports photographers, as the crop factor enables them to get closer to their subjects with a given lens. APS-C sensors have also been employed in a number of compact cameras, such as the Ricoh GR III and Fujifilm's XF10 and X100F models. Here, in order to keep image quality high and the camera portable, they're paired with fixed focal length lenses. The Ricoh GR III, for example, has a 19mm lens, while the Fujifilm X100F has a 23mm lens and the XF10 has an 18.5mm lens. These provide focal lengths equivalent to 28mm, 35mm and 28mm respectively. These lenses also have fairly wide maximum apertures, which allows the user to more easily capture a shallow depth of field. APS-Hhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cU5VAvE7uKWEbxtjzvsSNN.jpg Sigma sd Quattro H. Image Credit: Sigma/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx. 26.6 x 17.9mm This type of sensor was commonly associated with Canon’s older EOS-1D models, such as the EOS-1D Mark III and EOS 1D Mark IV, although the company appears to have moved away from the format, adopting a full-frame alternative for its current EOS-1D X Mark II. Being smaller than full frame but larger than APS-C sensors, the crop factor of these is accordingly between the two at 1.3x. So, a 24mm lens used with such a sensor would provide an effective focal length closer to 31mm. More recently, a 51MP version of this type of sensor was employed in Sigma’s sd Quattro H model. Canon also announced that it was developing 120MP and 250MP APS-H sensors within the last few years, although it stated that the likely applications for these would be for surveillance, crime prevention tools and industrial equipment among other things, rather than for commercially available DSLRs. Full framehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Him96bZVFYftfzncUQ8CWi.jpg Nikon Z7. Image Credit: Nikon/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx 36 x 24mm Full-frame sensors are used in many enthusiast and professional cameras, including the flagship DSLR and mirrorless models in many manufacturers’ lines. Their relatively large surface area allows them to collect plenty of light, which in turn helps to produce high-quality images, while the larger area gives the manufacturer more space to play with when it comes to deciding on the number of pixels. Currently, some have as few as 12MP, while others have 24MP, 36MP and even 51MP. Full-frame sensors are (roughly) the same size as a 35mm film negative, so there's no crop factor to think about here. If you use a lens designed for a 35mm film camera on a digital body with a full-frame sensor, the effective focal length will be the same. Depending on the system and manufacturer, some lenses designed for APS-C cameras can be used on full-frame bodies at a reduced resolution. Here, the camera essentially crops away the edges of the frame so that you don't get any darkening of the corners. You should, however, always check that your camera supports this, as using incompatible lenses can damage the mirror. Popular current models that sport full-frame sensors include the Nikon Z7, Sony A7 III and Canon EOS RP mirrorless cameras. Panasonic has also started to use this format for its first two S series cameras, the S1 and S1R. Many DSLRs also continue to make use of these sensors, such as the Canon EOS 6D Mark II, Nikon D850 and Pentax K-1 II. Medium formathttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cXYTZy5pfXJ65FR9Pjyk3i.jpg Fujifilm GFX 50R. Image Credit: Fujifilm/TechRadar. Dimensions: approx 44mm x 33mm Medium-format sensors are significantly larger than full-frame types, and the arrival of a number of recent cameras using them has sparked a huge amount of interest in the format. These include the Fujifilm GFX 50R and Hasselblad X1D, and the slightly older Pentax 645Z. Theoretically, medium-format systems allow for a higher standard of image quality than cameras with smaller sensors, mainly because they capture a lot more light that goes on to make up the image. A larger sensor can also make it easier for manufacturers to fit more pixels on the surface; Fujifilm is currently promising a 100MP medium format camera, for example. Their practicalities and cost, however, largely confine them to professional use. DSLRs are typically easier to handle, for example, offer a much wider choice of native lenses, and can also autofocus much faster. If, however, we’re to base our expectations for the format on recent developments, we’ll no doubt see these sensors appearing in more affordable and compact bodies, along with improvements to performance and greater lens ranges. What camera should I buy?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/V00aTWerPPo

Fitbit has just launched its new range of wearables, consisting of the Versa Lite, Inspire, Inspire HR and Ace 2, but we’ve also heard word of a sequel to the company's first smartwatch – the Fitbit Ionic. The Ionic, Fitbit’s first proper smartwatch, launched in 2017 with a mixed reception – we found it a little too bulky to be enjoyable to use, and it had a hefty price tag too. We weren't certain that we'd see the brand name appear again, but Fitbit CEO James Park has confirmed that there will be an Ionic 2 at some point in the future. This is what we thought of the Fitbit VersaFind out the best fitness tracker for youIs the Apple Watch 4 the best smartwatch?Speaking to Wareable, Park said “Ionic will get refreshed at some point”, clarifying that he saw the device’s place “at the high end of our roadmap.” One of the problems with reviving the Ionic right now, Park suggested, was that GPS was an integral part of the Ionic experience. Park said, “GPS isn’t really a mass-market thing yet". For now, Fitbit is concentrating on converting more fans to the wearable game with its latest range of fitness trackers aimed at kids and people who haven’t used the devices before. The Ionic 2 doesn’t fit in with that aim, as it’s firmly a high-end device for people who are accustomed to something strapped around their wrist. We could see the Fitbit Ionic 2 later in the year. The original Ionic released in October 2017, after all, so Fitbit could be saving it for a late 2019 release, but with Park’s vague language, we’re not holding our breath for it to come out before 2020. Here's what we'd love to see on a Fitbit Ionic 2http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/6H2HwWVP43w

BT’s Internet of Things (IoT) ambitions have been boosted by a new pilot programme with Northumbrian Water. The utility company wants to use the IoT to monitor its water network so it can identify efficiencies and potential issues to better serve customers. The pilot will see 150 sensors deployed in Sunderland, tracking data such as water, flow, pressure and quality. This will help spot leakages and even allow for predictive maintenance – lowering costs and speeding up operations. Vodafone: Partnerships are key to IoT successEverything you need to know about IoTWhat is 5G? Find out more in our hubBT smart waterData from the sensors will be collected via BT’s Low Power Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), allowing Northumbrian Water to analyse the information and gain insight into its network. “The idea first came out of our Innovation Festival and the innovative technology that BT uses made them a great choice of partner for developing and delivering our Smart Water pilot project,” explained Nigel Watson, Group Information Services Director for Northumbrian Water. “We’re keen to understand whether it can be rolled out across our entire North East network to deliver benefits for all of our customers.” “It represents a real step forwards towards the Smart Water network of the future transforming the level of insight we have into our network’s operations and driving improvements.” Utility networks are seen as an ideal use case for LPWAN networks because they cover long distances and have relatively low data requirements. Crucially, LPWAN networks consume low levels of power, extending the battery life of sensors. This is essential for utilities as it isn’t cost effective to send an engineer out to change a battery and any operational gains would be offset. Mobile IoT network standards such as Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-M will play a crucial role in delivering the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications promised by 5G. The GSMA predicts that by 2025 there will be 3.1 billion cellular IoT connections, including 1.8 billion on LPWAN “It’s a great example of how the Internet of Things can be used to deliver a better experience to customers,” added Chris Sims, Managing Director, Strategy Market and Digital at BT. “And with 5G on the horizon, which will provide benefits such as lower latency, higher speeds and greater reliability, we’re thrilled to work with one of the most innovative water companies in the UK to fully realise the transformational benefits of IoT.” Here are the best BT broadband deals for March 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/L2rpThgnbnU

Barclays is set to merge its two wearable contactless payment products as it looks to keep pace in the mobile payments space. The company is preparing the move for its bPay wearable products and the Pingit app, which allowed users to send money to contacts both local and internationally. Bloomberg reports that the move comes as Barclays looks to combine the two services into a more competitive product that can take on the likes of Apple Pay. MergerThe report claims that bPay, which launched back in 2015 and is available as a wearable wristband as well as a key fob and sticker, only has tens of thousands of users, compared to Pingit, which has more than 3.5 million users. The bank hopes that combining the two will make both bPay and Pingit more appealing to a wider range of users, and will look to launch a new Pingit wearable device in May to support this. Users will still be able to make payments to friends and family in over 40 countries, fee free, with a mobile number; and pay directly from the messaging app. But Pingit will also get a range of new services, including the ability for users to split their account into “jars” to set aside money for specific uses, such as saving for a holiday. Barclays adds that all current bPay users, including those with third-party products featuring an embedded bPay chip, will be contacted and provided instructions for a free upgrade to the new Pingit wearables. Best e-commerce platform of 2019: get an online store nowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/hI7NXuGwmZU