Choosing a new gaming monitor is not a decision you want to rush. You're going to be spending a long time looking at this screen, and it needs to be one that matches your requirements exactly – and that's where this buying guide comes in.

I've reviewed many a gaming monitor down the years, so I know the sort of features to look out for, and what the difference between refresh rate and response time is. And here, I've picked out three excellent models that should definitely be on your radar.

The best gaming monitor for you will depend on your own particular tastes and preferences, but this should give you a good starting point to work from – and at least one of these models is likely to make its way onto your shortlist.

Best compact

Alienware AW2725Q

Alienware has a solid heritage when it comes to gaming monitors – to go with its gaming laptops and desktops – and the Alienware AW2725Q lives up to the reputation that the brand has built up. With a 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) pixel resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03 millisecond response time, it offers some gorgeous-looking visuals.

As we put it in our Alienware AW2725Q review, this "does plenty to stand out from the pack" and is an "excellent choice" for those who want games to look their best. As well as showing off PC and console games really well, it's also great at everything else you might want to do with a connected computer (including watching movies and shows).

Add in two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, three USB-A ports, one (non-input) USB-C port, and one USB-B upstream port, and you've got plenty of connection options as well. With the 27-inch size of this model – accompanied by some nice stand and back casing styling, by the way – it's our current pick for the best compact gaming monitor.

Best for most people

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8

When we say a product is the "best for most people", we mean it scores highly across all the categories that matter – performance, price, design, connectivity, and everything else. With that in mind, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is a leading contender for the title, as it's proved to be a brilliant gaming monitor and also very good at everything else as well.

Our Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 review will give you the details: this is a monitor that's "one of the best [gaming monitors] out there", with a "superb OLED display" and a "subtly stylish aesthetic". Measuring 32 inches corner to corner, it also hits something of a sweet spot when it comes to giving you lots of screen space without being overly large.

As for the key specs, you get a 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) pixels resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03 millisecond response time. When it comes to connectivity, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 port, plus a USB-B port and two USB-A ports which you can use as a hub – adding to the appeal of the Odyssey OLED G8 as a superb all-rounder.

Best curved

LG UltraGear 45GX950

Curved, ultra-wide monitors, of course, take up a lot of space on (and above) your desk, but they also offer the ultimate in immersive experiences. With something like the 45-inch LG UltraGear 45GX950 in front of your eyes, you really are going to be right in the action, whether you're flying through space or shooting your way through a bunker.

Our LG UltraGear 45GX950 review has lots more on this monitor, detailing the 5,120 x 2,160 pixel resolution, the 0.03 millisecond response time, and the maximum 330Hz refresh rate. When it comes to ports around the back of the screen, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports, a single DisplayPort 2.1 port, and a USB-C port with display and power delivery.

In the review, we described the monitor as offering "rock-solid" OLED performance across all titles, with "all the vibrancy and deep colours that you'd expect" from a panel like this. Oh, and the built-in sound is fantastic too. In short, "there's no other curved monitor that can touch this" and "it's genuinely unbelievable – in the best of ways".

Verdict

I've tried my best to pick out something for everyone in this top 3 list, and even with a small selection like this, you can see how many options you've got in the gaming monitor department. Need a relatively compact screen? Try the Alienware AW2725Q. Need a giant screen that wraps around you? Consider the LG UltraGear 45GX950.

I'm happy to recommend all of the monitors you can see above, but if you want an overall pick, then the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 would be it. The entire Samsung Odyssey OLED series is worth a look if you're a gamer, and you won't be in any way disappointed by the way the Odyssey OLED G8 renders your games on screen.

Few gadgets offer as much fun as the humble Bluetooth speaker – these portable gadgets let you take your music (or podcasts or audiobooks) anywhere you like, whether you're chilling in the bedroom, dancing on the patio, or having a picnic on the beach.

We all know the criteria for the best Bluetooth speakers as well. These speakers need to be able to pump out top-quality sound at respectable volumes, while also being well engineered enough that audio playback doesn't completely destroy battery life.

Aesthetics that are easy on the eye always help, of course, and all those considerations have fed into these picks for the best Bluetooth speaker that money can buy. If you're looking to invest, one of these options should suit you nicely.

Best durability

JBL Xtreme 4

The whole point of a portable Bluetooth speaker is that you can take it on your travels with you, so you don't want to be worried about splashing one of these gadgets or putting it down on a table that you might not be able to eat your dinner off. With a rugged design and an IP67 rating, the JBL Xtreme 4 will survive sandy beaches and sudden downpours.

As our JBL Xtreme 4 review explains, there's much more to it than its durability and waterproofing, though. This is a speaker that pumps out a serious level of sound, and can be relied upon to deliver a top-notch audio experience – "loud enough for bustling parties, yet refined enough for solo listening" as per our review.

With 24 hours of battery life, support for the Auracast standard (so you can combine it with other speakers too), and even a bottle opener on the strap, this is a versatile and capable Bluetooth speaker that we're happy to recommend. It is a little on the hefty side, but that also means more oomph for your audio (and it does come with a shoulder strap).

Best for most people

Bose SoundLink Flex

This gets our vote as the best Bluetooth speaker for most people – if you want a device that ticks all the boxes and does everything well – and our Bose SoundLink Flex review gives you some idea why. In that review, we described it as "undeniably more refined" than its immediate predecessor, offering "clean" and "balanced" sound on demand.

We, of course, know that Bose has a long and storied history when it comes to audio products, and the second-generation SoundLink Flex does nothing to harm that reputation. It can connect to multiple devices simultaneously, and via the companion app you can easily tweak the audio output as needed.

This is a speaker that's really well designed, too, while also being durable, and it's nice and compact at the same time. The Bose SoundLink Flex will particularly appeal to those who don't want to spend too much on their Bluetooth speaker – it's hardly bargain basement territory, but it's competitively priced compared to its rivals.

Best sound quality

Bang & Olufsen A1

The Bang & Olufsen A1 scores highly in a variety of different categories, but we're particularly impressed with its overall sound quality. In our Bang & Olufsen A1 review, we described the Bluetooth speaker as offering "major sound" that's "a level beyond its scale", so you really won't be disappointed when you hit the play button.

There's lots more to talk about besides the sound quality: just look at the design of this little speaker, for example. It's a gorgeous gadget, and one that you're not going to be embarrassed to pull out at parties and picnics. It's not as rugged as some other options, though, so you'll need to treat it with a bit more care.

Add in superb battery life, and it's a really difficult Bluetooth speaker to beat – even in a market as crowded as this one. At the size of a CD (only significantly thicker), it can pretty much go anywhere too, and there's a neat carry handle as well, if you want to tie it to something (like the outside of a rucksack).

Verdict

There's something for everyone in the selection above, even though there are only three speakers in the list: whether you want something durable, compact, or relatively cheap, there's a gadget that's going to match. If you just want one speaker that will do everything well, then the Bose SoundLink Flex is a perfect pick.

However, the other two options are brilliant as well. Go for the JBL Xtreme 4 if you want a speaker you can take anywhere – really anywhere – without worrying, and don't mind a bit of extra bulk. Alternatively, pick the Bang & Olufsen A1 if you need something significantly smaller and appreciate a speaker with style.

In Australia, BBQs are more than just a summer fling and get used all year. Thanks to our amazing weather across most states and territories (OK sure, it has been a bit wetter of late), you can fire up the grill any time to feed your family and friends in true Aussie style. That said, summer BBQs have their own special vibe and are a perfect excuse to gather your mates and enjoy a summer (or winter!) afternoon.

Barbeques (or barbies, if you’re keeping it casual) come in all shapes and sizes, with a variety of cooking styles to suit your style, no matter if you prefer gas, charcoal, or a smoker. While this guide focuses mainly on full-sized BBQs, we’ve also given a shout-out to the Weber Q series – including the portable Baby Q that will appeal to those cooking up away from home.

These outdoor grills are your ticket to culinary creativity. From juicy steaks and sizzling sausages to kebabs, chicken legs, and grilled fish, the possibilities are endless. Feeling adventurous? Try smoking a cut of meat low and slow, or branch out with grilled halloumi, flatbreads, and veggies like corn on the cob and charred broccoli. Your BBQ – your rules, so go ahead and make it unforgettable.

And, if you've always considered yourself a BBQ king but struggle to actually prove it, you'll do well to check out T3's library of advice from three masters of the grill. One thing we can tell for free is that you'll certainly appreciate having one of the best meat thermometers to hand when grilling, helping to ensure meat and poultry are at the best temperature before serving.

The best barbecues to buy in 2026

There's a reason the saying 'now we're cooking with gas' exists, and it's because it's by far the fastest and easiest method to turn raw ingredients into a delicious meal.

The Weber Q series comes in 3 sizes, the Baby Q, the Premium and the Family Q Premium. While they all keep the iconic clamshell case, these three BBQs actually vary by grill size and maximum heat produced, in addition to offering various portability options.

The Baby Q is the smallest of the three, designed to chuck in the car on your next camping trip, but also still just big enough to cook the occasional flame charred dinner at home. With a max heat output of 9MJ, you won't want to be cooking anything too large, but this handy unit is great for little steaks, snags, and any seafood you might want to sizzle. The upside of the limited output is that your 8.5kg gas cylinder will keep you over the flame for up to 45 hours.

The Weber Q Premium is the option that we suspect will suit most, offering the best balance of heat, portability, price and grill size out of the three. With an output of 12.7MJ, this hotter barbecue can tackle bigger cuts like full eye fillets and will speed up how long it takes to finish a perfectly cooked sausage. It also offers a 20% bigger cooking area than the Baby Q with more places for direct flame cooking. You'll be able to get away with cooking for 6 people on this one if you supplement it with salads or non-barbecued dishes and its design means that it can be used on an outdoor countertop or taken with you when travelling.

The biggest of the bunch is the Weber Family Q and if you're planning on regularly entertaining or you have a larger family then this is the Q you'll probably want. The most obvious difference here is the fact that it comes with its own freestanding frame on wheels, which allows you to put it anywhere you please. While the surface area of the Family Q is only 10-20% bigger than the Q Premium, it generates almost twice as much heat. This means you'll spend less time over the grill and more time enjoying your company, but it will also mean you only get around 20 hours of cooking time from an 8.5kg LPG cylinder.

The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560 indirect charcoal grill-cum-smoker certainly takes the fight to the Weber Q series for the top spot on this list. This remarkable app-enabled model (seriously, everything has an app these days) uses simple gravity and computer-controlled heat management to provide consistent grilling, searing and smoking with very little input by the user.

Some may think this takes the fun and skill out of bbq-ing, but when the resulting food tastes exceptionally good, you may reconsider your opinion. For not a lot of money in BBQ terms, you get the convenience of hands-off cooking, reversible cast iron grill grates plus twin-level wire shelves amounting to 560 square inches (3,613 cm²) of cooking space, an easy-to-use charcoal hopper and a powerful fan to feed the flames.

Unlike most charcoal grills that take ages to reach cooking temperature, this one is ready to grill on in about ten minutes. And because it uses indirect heat, chances are you won’t burn anything.

If you prefer charcoal to gas or can’t afford a pellet grill that does much the same thing only for a lot more money, make a beeline to this amazing model and you will not regret it. Highly recommended.

Read our full review of the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560

A previous T3 award winner, this superbly designed and very well engineered Canadian charcoal kettle comes with a wave-shaped 22-inch (57cm) cast-iron grill that can be adjusted to three different heights.

When it comes to charcoal barbecuing, one cannot express enough the importance of having an adjustable grill like this. It means you can drop the height of the grate to just above the coals for searing steaks at high temperature and raise it when the inferno becomes a little too hot to handle. It’s also worth its weight in gold when it comes time to put on quick-grilling ingredients like kebabs and prawns near the end of the cooking session when the charcoal may not be hot enough with the grate at normal height. The grate itself also features built-in hinges for easy charcoal reloading, not that you’d want to do that mid-grilling.

Like the similarly-styled Weber Master-Touch GBS E-5755, the Pro 22 also comes with a removable ash-catcher with adjustable air intake holes for keeping temperatures consistent. Unlike the Master-Touch which has a loose lid system, this one comes with a hinged lid that lifts towards the left-hand side, making it easier to raise without scorching an arm in the process.

Someone at Napoleon clearly knows what elements go into making a great barbecue system and this exemplary model is the outstanding result.

When your friends start calling you Crispin because you have a habit of carbonising every barbecued meal you get your hands on, you know it’s time to get rid of the lidless brazier you’ve been using for years and embrace the simple technology of convection-based kettle cooking.

The Master-Touch GBS E-5750 is a doddle to use. Simply load one or both crescent-shaped charcoal baskets and place them on either side of the bowl. Leave the lid off – there’s a catch stand at the rear – light the charcoal and retreat for about 25 minutes. Now drop your food onto the ample 57cm plated steel grate – which has enough space for about six placements – put the lid on and go chat to your guests.

This system only requires occasional intervention, whether it’s turning food or adjusting the air intake on the aluminium ash catcher (which now also includes a new ‘smoke’ setting). If you follow the rule ‘if you’re lookin’, it ain’t cookin’, the food should come off the grill perfectly cooked with chicken skin just the right side of crispy.

This model is also designed to accept Weber’s Gourmet BBQ System of optional inserts. Simply remove the grate’s centre section and drop in the sear grate, pizza stone, Dutch oven or poultry roaster.

Webers are renowned for their durability, and you can safely expect this one to last many winters. That said, a cover is always advisable to keep out the elements.

If you’ve decided that gas grilling is for you, you won’t find a more aesthetically pleasing contender than this strikingly simple (if slightly pricy) model, approved by slaphead food sorcerer, Heston Blumenthal.

Available in four colours, the two-burner Force is a joy to use, doesn’t take up too much space and heats up very quickly – just four minutes to reach a searing temperature of 350˚C. It also boasts the most accurate gas controllers in the business.

Build quality is exemplary. This fine slab of artistic minimalism comes with four heavy-duty legs, tough wheels, a rust-free aluminium frame and a thick aluminium hood that ensures the food is cooked evenly with very little intervention from the apron-clad man or woman in charge. The Force’s cast-iron grate comes with integrated flame tamers and provides enough grilling space for six to eight guests.

If you’re in the market for a gas barbecue that delivers in spades and don’t mind forking out so you can, uh, fork in, you won’t find a more capable model than the Everdure Force.

The Traeger Pro 575 is more like an outdoor oven than a barbecue. It uses wood pellets, an electrically-powered auger to deliver them to a fire pot, a temperature probe and advanced computer technology to make cooking much easier for everyone from newbies to pros.

Traeger’s nailed its algorithm so well that if you pick a temperature of, say, 180ºC, it will actually stay at that temperature for as long as required, or until the meat probe it comes with signals the end of the cooking process. Purists can call that cheating all they like, but I haven't burned a single thing on the Traeger to date and I'm more than happy with that. A superbly designed iOS and Android app adds a multitude of hints and tips, and hundreds of exotic barbecue recipes for beef, poultry, pork, fish. Traeger also produces a wide range of different wood pellets and some of the best dry-rub seasonings in the business.

Is it the perfect barbecue? Not quite. Wood pellet BBQs are a bit more expensive to run than their charcoal or gas counterparts – a 9kg bag of pellets is $40 a pop, although one bag should last a few sessions. Also, while pellets are readily available online, they’re not the kind of thing you’ll easily find on a Sunday. You will also need a cover for it, more so than other barbecues because of the electrical components. The noise it makes – the built-in fan and burning wood pellets make it sound like a quieter version of an industrial blow heater – is also a little eccentric.

However, the Traeger Pro 575's excellence at smoking and slow cooking – and its highly reliable conventional grilling – more than make up for this. For incompetent barbecuists and those who’d like to spend more time with the guests rather than being chained to a grill, the Traeger Pro 575 is more than worth its price. But you might wish to consider forking out a few hundred bucks extra on Weber’s new SmokeFire, when it's available locally.

Read our full Traeger Pro 575 review

Designed for – or at least marketed to – people who want to BBQ on the balcony without breaking the terms of their lease is the Weber Pulse 2000 electric barbecue.

Grill purists will have already moved on by now having read that opening sentence, but it's actually a great device. The best way to think of it is more like an absolutely enormous George Foreman type grill. Or, more accurately, like the Sage by Heston Blumenthal take on a George Foreman grill.

At 2.2 Kilowatts, this is actually less powerful than the Sage one, but it's otherwise ostensibly similar, if you ignore the fact that it is huge. There's a bright temperature display, instant control over heat – the precision is far greater than what any non-BBQ ninja could ever achieve with charcoal, although I don't think gas has anything to worry about – and also a plug-in probe for monitoring the internal temperature of food.

For some reason, this is not done on the main display but via Weber's iOS and Android app, but it works so well, it almost takes the fun out of it. Everything from chicken to a side of salmon comes out perfectly done, so long as you properly pre-heat the grill.

Slightly to my surprise, as well as being perfectly cooked every time (so long as you keep an eye on the aforementioned app), food cooked on the Pulse 2000 does seem to have a more barbecue taste to it than what you'd get from a standard electric grill. Weber reckons that's down to its porcelain enamelled cast iron plates, but maybe it's just the fresh air.

On the subject of fresh air, I ought to address the main marketing claim of the Pulse 2000: that it's more neighbour-friendly. It's true to say that there's no charcoal smoke or potentially deadly and probably lease-violating gas canisters involved, but due to science, smoke and fumes coming off your food is pretty much unavoidable.

I would say this is more likely to annoy your neighbours by making them suddenly incredibly hungry and envious of you, rather than by enveloping them in thick clouds of pungent and possibly carcinogenic fumes. But you're kidding yourself if you think this will enable you to barbecue in secret, like some guerrilla griller.

As barbecues go, the Pulse 2000 is pretty easy to clean, and there's a 5-year limited warranty as standard. I would not recommend using it during a rain storm, for hopefully very obvious reasons, but you will be pleased to know that all the electric/electronic elements can be easily removed and stored safe from the hostile elements during winter. And, indeed, during summer.

While we don't have a full Weber Pulse 2000 review, it's worth checking out the smaller Weber Pulse 1000 review.

The Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker is the first ever BBQ from Ninja. It's all electric, and grills and smoke food with the best. But of course, Ninja is known for (amongst many things) great air fryers (check our best air fryer guide) – so it's perhaps no surprise that the Ninja BBQ has a built in air fryer. It can also be used to bake, roast, dehydrate and reheat all your favourites.

The BBQ is pretty portable (and has big side handles) – measuring in at 60 x 47.2 x 33.8 cm and weighs 13.6kg. So it can be moved or carried by one person in a pinch, but is easier with two. It's 1760 watts, so will work on any normal power point, and can be run on an extension cord.

While the Ninja BBQ does get a bit grubby in use (what BBQ doesn't), most of the parts can be put into the dishwasher for cleaning. There are also a range of accessories available, such as a cover, a collapsible stand with wheels, and wood pellets for smoking.

The BBQ has a range of smoking options, from fast flavour infusions, to low and slow cooking for options such as brisket, pulled pork and ribs. The BBQ heats up fast and cooks well, and is an ideal option for those with a smaller patio or balcony.

Read our full review of the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker

How to buy the best barbecue for you

With fine days becoming more frequent, the coast is clear to don the shades and start stocking up on grill-friendly grub to singe in the sunshine, with all levels and types of al fresco cooking catered for, from high-end smoking to, basically, setting fire to a bucket.

There are plenty of other brands that offer excellent, interesting and distinct takes on the outdoor cooking game, and we have plenty of them to pore over here.

Big Green Egg definitely offers something extra for the more 'pro' chef (at a more 'pro' price), while the likes of Char-Broil, Everdure, Napoleon, Traeger and LotusGrill offer some great innovations for fuss-free outdoor grilling.

Patio the size of a Subbuteo table? No problem, get one of these portable BBQs, and get busy with the tweezers.

Got a large and agreeable decking area? We've got altogether more serious grills starting right after these words from our sponsors.

Of course, you don't want all of the gear with no idea. Thankfully, T3.com is here to help with advice from three masters of the grill.

• These are the best pizza ovens

Car fans can be a picky bunch. They won’t be impressed by the generic, off-brand supercars on a Christmas card, and nor do they care much for anything that actually describes them as a petrolhead. Put that “car lover” supermarket t-shirt down and instead let T3 help with Christmas gifts that car fans will actually like.

Fair warning: these often aren’t the cheapest gifts under the tree. Car manufacturers – especially upmarket ones – know how to charge for branded goods, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had in browsing the annual gift guides from the likes of Porsche and Aston Martin.

Away from posh jackets, watches and lifestyle accessories, you’ll find plenty of more attainable car-branded gifts, like model cars, T-shirts, posters and Lego kits.

Gifts for Aston Martin fans

Gifts for automotive art fans

Gift for Bentley fans

Gifts for Goodwood fans

Gifts for Ferrari fans

Gifts for Lego fans

Gifts for McLaren fans

Gifts for Porsche fans

Gifts for Rolls-Royce fans

With a raft of mini heatwaves and far less rain than usual, I think it’s safe to say that Mother Nature has helped make 2025 one of the best camping years for outdoor enthusiasts, specifically in the UK and Europe.

And whether it’s luxury glamping, weekend car camping, festival going or backpacking in the wilderness, tent manufacturers have had our backs covered and produced a wide and very eclectic range of technical outdoor shelters for every conceivable scenario.

With this in mind, I’ve selected the three best tents in my ever-expanding armoury, and each one serves a purpose, whether it’s a weekend jaunt with my partner and two Labradors, a solo off-grid backpacking session in Wales or a luxurious family rest under a swathe of off-white canvas.

There are plenty of great alternatives in our guides to the best standard tents, best backpacking tents and best pop-up tents, but for my money, these three clinch the podium.

These are my favourite tents of 2025

Best overall

MSR Hubba Hubba NX

I tested this sterling 2-person, 3-season tent during the summer and it has become my go-to weekend backpacker. At 1.72 kilos (3lb 7oz), the MSR Hubba Hubba NX is a fraction heavier than some of the competition, but any extra grams can be considered negligible when its impressive range of thoughtful design flourishes is taken into account, including the extra living space and the addition of two entrances and two vestibules.

This freestanding tent – available in dark green or grey – is pitched inner-first using a double Y-shaped pole system that attaches to one of the most spacious and airy inner-tents on the market.

However, if it’s raining while you pitch, you’ll need to act quickly, or the inner may get wet before you’ve even started. On the other hand, if the weather is fine and warm, I would recommend foregoing the outer fly so you can enjoy a star-gazing experience under the red-and-white inner’s copious amount of no-see-‘em mesh.

And if the weather changes for the worse, simply unfurl the highly water-resistant outer and attach it to each corner of the tent for safe protection against the elements.

Unlike most two-person backpacking tents, the Hubba Hubba NX’s inner tent is rectangular and taper-free with plenty of space for two, though you’d naturally be better off keeping it all to yourself. Build quality throughout is exceptional, which is hardly surprising given that this model – and others in the MSR range – is a top choice among a myriad of committed backpackers. It’s a winner all the way.

Read my full review of the MSR Hubba Hubba NX

Best 3-person backpacker

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL

This impressive 3-person ultralight shelter from the Colorado-based house of Big Agnes is a perfect fit for two but equally accommodating for three.

Although it’s ostensibly designed for 3-season backpacking, I think its spaciousness makes it a perfect retreat for couples looking for a simple weekend break, whether it’s visiting a traditional campsite or embarking on a brief trek into the hinterland.

At 1.83kg (64.6oz), it’s certainly light enough for two to handle on a long trek and insignificantly light enough for any form of conventional camping, whether cycling or arriving by car.

This freestanding model not only looks fantastic – it’s available in Lichen Green or Tangelo Orange – but it sports a plethora of tantalising design details, including a spacious rectangular interior with two vestibules and two entrances, so occupants don’t have to crawl over each other to get in and out.

You also get silk-like proprietary HyperBead fabric that sports an ample hydrostatic head of 1,500 for rain repellence, a robust DAC Featherlite NFL pole system and storage areas galore, including an oversized bin pocket for your down jackets, as well as a gaggle of smaller mesh pockets littered around the interior. The fact that it all erects in just five minutes is the cherry on top.

Read our full review of the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL

Best luxury tent

Lotus Belle Air Bud

Despite the presence of some amazing synthetic tent fabrics on the market, nothing compares to the pleasantries of kipping under breathable canvas, or polycotton to give it its accurate description. With polycotton around you, there’s hardly any condensation, rain doesn’t make a racket and internal temperature levels are much more comfortable to live with. If looked after, the fabric also lasts for years with no UV degradation.

Take the UK-designed Air Bud, for instance. This off-white inflatable air-beam model measures 3m in diameter and 2.40m at its tallest point, and since there is no central pole to get in the way, it comfortably fits two or a small family of three under its single-skinned, environment-friendly polycotton flysheet.

For its weight (a substantial 31kgs) and size, the Air Bud couldn’t be easier to pitch. In fact, I pitched it on my own, though I would recommend an electric air pump for the air-beam frame, which makes the inflation process a lot less energy-intensive.

This adorable yurt-like safari tent delivers in spades when it comes to internal space, build quality, weather resistance, ambience and overall aesthetics. Unlike most modern tents, you are only offered a single space here (with sewn-in groundsheet, enormous entrance and two large portholes).

Still, it’s large enough to accommodate a luxury double air bed with plenty of room for lazing on a chair while you gawp at its beautiful internal construction, safe in the knowledge that you chose the best tent on the entire campsite.

Read my full review of the Lotus Belle Air Bud

Other recommendations

Best option for mountainous backpacking

Hilleberg Soulo

If you’re a committed mountain-top camper, you might not find a better all-season, one-person tent than this bomb-proof contribution from Sweden.

Best tent for families

Decathlon Quechua Air Seconds 5.2 Fresh & Black

Decathlon is a major force in the world of camping and this cavernous 5-person air tent with twin black-out bedrooms is an exceptional option for longer car-camping stints.

Best budget tent

Coleman Spruce Falls 4

When it comes to conventional family camping, you can’t go wrong with a Coleman. This four-person tent has a bedroom on either side of its living area, impressive headroom of 2.05m and a very high hydrostatic head of 4,500mm for reliable rain resistance.

Best roof-top tent

Dometic TRT 120E

If you fancy a spot of roof-top camping, Dometic should be among your first ports of call. The TRT 120E isn’t cheap, but it pitches electrically via your car’s 12v battery or a suitable portable power station. Once up, this all-season model comfortably sleeps two and is one of the best options for convenience.

Buying advice

Choosing the right tent comes down to understanding where you’ll use it, how often and in what conditions. So start by deciding on capacity: a two-person tent is fine for couples, but if you value comfort or carry lots of kit, size up to a 3- or even a 4-person variant. Next, consider the tent’s season rating. A three-season tent will suit most spring-to-autumn trips, while a four-season model will be built for harsh winds, heavy rain, snowfall, and winter reliability.

Weight also plays a major role. Backpackers, for instance, should prioritise lighter designs, while car campers can afford something roomier and heavier. Make sure to look closely at materials, poles and overall construction quality because a sturdy frame, durable fabrics and reliable waterproofing make all the difference when the weather turns nasty.

Likewise, check if the tent has decent ventilation because synthetic tent fabrics are not breathable, and this leads to condensation, especially in humid or cold conditions. Finally, think about ease of pitching (lightweight backpacking and inflatable tents are usually the easiest) and don’t forget to consider the tent’s packed size, especially if backpacking or bikepacking.

Finding the best action camera for your purposes in a quickly changing market can be challenging. A swathe of manufacturers, including Garmin, Sony, Drift, Yi and iON, have stopped selling new action cams, leaving the action camera market in the hands of brands including GoPro, DJI, Insta360, and a handful of others, plus a host of unbranded clones (some of which aren't too bad).

The good news is that the best action camera tech has become refined to an impressive point – the GoPro, Insta360, and DJI platforms, in particular, are challenging to shoot poor video on, no matter your skill level. Image stabilisation is quite astonishingly good at times, and quality is right up there with the pros.

You might be getting the picture that GoPro dominates the action camera market, and to be honest, you'd be right. Our best GoPro guide runs through the differences between all the available models. Beyond GoPro, we have a separate guide dedicated to the best GoPro alternatives. If price is the deciding factor, you might want also to check out today's best cheap GoPro deals.

Our current favourite action camera is Insta360's Ace Pro, thanks to its low light capability, excellent companion app and optical quality. If you're after a 360-degree action cam, the Insta360 X4, with its 8k maximum resolution, is your best bet. If you need a rugged camera for vlogging, we can wholeheartedly recommend the latest GoPro Hero 12 Black.

Best action cameras to buy right now

Best overall

The Insta360 Ace Pro features AI-powered features, Leica optics, rugged construction, and versatile shooting modes, making it the best action camera right now.

The large swivelling display enhances vlogging capabilities, while the large 1/1.3" sensor ensures excellent low-light performance.

Offering resolutions up to 8K and frame rates up to 120 fps in 4K, it provides plenty of creative flexibility. Despite some minor drawbacks, like the need to tip the camera for vertical shooting, the Ace Pro delivers impressive performance and unique editing options.

Its rugged design withstands depths up to 33 feet and temperatures as low as -20 °C, making it suitable for various outdoor activities. Priced at $450, it competes with the GoPro Hero 12 Black, offering complementary features for different user preferences.

The Ace Pro excels as a versatile, pocket-sized camera, ideal for creating high-quality videos and photos on the go, especially for bloggers and content creators seeking reliable performance in various conditions.

Read our full Insta360 Ace Pro review.

Best 360°

The Insta360 X4 is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, offering several enhancements that cater to the evolving needs of content creators and enthusiasts.

One of the most notable improvements is the increase in maximum resolution to 8k, coupled with a maximum frame rate of 100 fps. This allows users to capture incredibly detailed and smooth footage, which is particularly significant in a landscape where high-resolution content is increasingly valued.

Moreover, the X4 features a robust design, including rugged housing and a Gorilla Glass touchscreen, ensuring durability and ease of use in various environments. The inclusion of lens covers and a carry pouch in the box adds convenience and protection for users on the go.

One of the standout features of the X4 is its extended battery life, thanks to a larger battery capacity compared to its predecessor. With up to 135 minutes of recording time, users can capture more footage without the need for frequent recharging, enhancing productivity and creative freedom.

The 360-degree camera inherits advanced features from the Ace Pro, such as Gesture Control and improved tracking capabilities, empowering users with greater control and flexibility in their content creation process.

The Insta360 X4 offers a compelling combination of performance, durability, and advanced features, making it a valuable asset for creators looking to future-proof their content creation endeavours.

Read our full Insta360 X4 review.

Also, consider: the Insta360 X3 maintains excellent auto-levelling and stabilisation, offering a wide array of shooting and editing modes, making it an excellent action camera choice. Its features include bullet-time, time-lapse, HDR, looped recordings, and vivid, standard, and log picture profiles. See how the two compare here: Insta360 X4 vs X3.

Best for vlogging

The GoPro Hero 12 Black delivers the exact experience we expected from the brand. This new iteration builds on the two decades of innovation that made GoPro the premier action camera manufacturer and adds some exciting new features that will delight amateurs and pros alike.

Better still, the Hero 12 Black is sold for the same price the Hero 11 Black was sold for GoPro Members, but this time around, you don't need the membership to unlock the lower price. Essentially, you get a more competent action camera for no extra money. That's a pretty good deal, people!

Of the new features, the HDR video is probably the one that'll make most people happy. It helps those action shots pop a little bit more, making #shotonGoPro videos even more exciting to look at. Plus, you can record vertical videos on the camera, allowing you to create attention-grabbing footage for social media without post-processing in the Quik app.

Read our full GoPro Hero 12 Black review.

Best modular

The Insta360 One RS takes a different tack to GoPro, with an ultra-flexible modular design that's super fun to play around with. For all configurations, you'll need the ONE RS Core (the control model), Battery module and mounting bracket, but you can swap out various lenses depending on the situation – 4K Boost Lens, 360 Lens or 1-inch Wide Angle Lens (pleasingly, there's also backwards compatibility with the earlier One R model, if you already have one of those).

This premium action camera packs an impressive raft of features, both in terms of hardware and software. We were incredibly impressed with the build and image quality and found the swap-and-switch setup compelling, practical and fun to fiddle with.

Read our full Insta360 ONE RS review.

Best POV

The Insta360 GO 3 is both a niche action camera aimed at content creators wanting to create POV videos and also one of the most versatile action cameras allowing you to spread your creative wings and capture videos and images in ways you never thought was possible.

Fans of extreme sports and those who prefer most of their footage in the water are better off using a GoPro HERO11 Mini or a similar waterproof action camera than the GO 3. Not just because the Action Pod is only IPX4 rated but also because they can shoot higher-resolution footage.

However, if you produce content for social media (i.e. vertically), often record videos in selfie mode, and like to find unique ways to capture footage, the Insta360 GO 3 is your best bet. Even if you have the GO 2, you might want to consider getting a GO 3; the addition of the Action Pod, the new shooting modes, and the better image quality make it a worthwhile upgrade.

Read our full Insta360 GO 3 review. (See also: Insta360 GO 3 vs Insta360 GO 2)

Best for watersports

The DJI OSMO Action 3 is an excellent action camera that offers plenty of features and rugged build quality for less money than its main rival, which, admittedly, makes it more appealing in the eyes of many. Better still, most of the shortcomings are not significant and will only affect a small number of shooting modes/people.

Sure, the OSMO Action 3 isn't as good in low-light conditions as the GoPro HERO 11 Black, but how often will you use it in the dark? Not often, and it's not like you'll do cool tricks on your MTB/skateboard at night, risking injury. The main features this action camera has to offer will provide enough functionality for most users – again, at a much wallet-friendly price point. That's a win in our books.

Read our full DJI OSMO Action 3 review.

Best budget GoPro

We loved this action cam for being both extremely easy to use for beginners and still astonishingly capable for the pro – an impressive balance. This was the first HERO to feature that long-awaited front-facing screen, previously only available with the addition of a Mod. That means for anyone who wants to be able to frame themselves in the shot, it's the oldest GoPro you'll want to go for. There's also a removable lens cover, which is handy... although it's not hydrophobic as in the HERO 10.

Elsewhere, the GoPro HERO 9 Black appears similar to the HERO 8, with the bunny-ears mount present, along with caseless waterproofing to 10m. Look closer, though, and the improvements are many and varied. Under the hood, there's a bigger sensor (23.6MP), which means this cam can now shoot 5K/30 video and 20MP stills, and a very welcome 30% battery boost. Incredibly impressive horizon levelling now comes baked in, although you won't be able to tilt the camera quite as much as you can with the HERO 10 Black.

Read our full GoPro HERO 9 Black review.

Best mid-range

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is a fine all-round action camera with some excellent accessories and ease of use. Able to go deeper underwater than ever, its larger CMOS sensor addresses a problem with the DJI Osmo Action 3. However, it arguably achieves very little more than its predecessor, so it could be argued that unless you do plan to use the DJI Osmo Action 4 deep underwater and/or in the twilight, it’s probably not worth paying extra for.

That said, with excellent image stabilization, ease of use and a brilliant magnetic mounting system for accessories, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is an excellent rugged action camera that loses out to the likes of GoPro Hero 11 Black only in its lack of 5.7K video resolution. If that’s not important to you, then you’ll love the DJI Osmo Action 4.

Read our full DJI Osmo Action 4 review.

Best budget 360°

The Kandao QooCam 3 heavily relies on the fact that it costs less than big-ticket competitors, such as the Insta360 X3 and the GoPro Max. And for the price, it offers a decent level of functionality and shooting modes, albeit nothing mind-blowing. Build quality is excellent, and thanks to the large sensor, low-light performance is also pretty good. Plus, Kandao supports its products in the long run via software updates. If you come across a good Kandao QooCam 3 deal and are on a tight budget, we'd recommend at least considering getting one.

Read our full Kandao QooCam 3 review.

How to choose the best action camera for you

There's a huge amount of choice in this market, which can make finding the best action camera for your needs a little difficult. Image quality is one of the most important factors to consider, and it's always worth checking out frame rates rather than max resolution. This is because while a lot of cameras shoot in 4K resolution, some cheaper models use a frame rate of 15fps, which makes the video look jumpy. If you're shooting in 4K you want at least 30fps, or just shoot in 1080p HD at 60fps.

The best action cameras also come bundled with accessories and a versatile system of mounts – or least have the option to buy the ones you want. Waterproofing without a case comes as standard with some models, but with others you'll probably want to invest in waterproof casing to safeguard your cam for everything from watersports to an unexpected downpour.

Because things can get expensive at the top end of the market, it's key to consider which features are most important for how you're going to actually use your cam. Things like image stabilisation and GPS are mainstays, while newer additions such as voice control might be important to you depending upon your chosen sport and whether you need to be hands-free to do it.

How we test the best action cameras

When testing action cameras, we prioritise key factors, such as build quality, durability, and suitability for outdoor use, including waterproofing and resistance to extreme conditions.

(We won't necessarily travel to a volcano, but try to find the next best thing.)

We focus on performance, evaluating image and video quality, frame rates, resolution, and stabilisation. Usability is crucial, so we examine the interface, controls, and battery life for practicality.

We also explore versatility, testing shooting modes and compatibility with accessories and editing software. Finally, we consider value for money by comparing features, performance, and price against competitors.

FAQ

Veganuary has become a global phenomenon, inspiring millions to embrace a plant-based lifestyle for the first month of the new year.

What started as a grassroots movement is now a worldwide challenge that encourages people to explore the benefits of vegan eating, from health improvements to environmental impact.

However, switching to a plant-based diet can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re not used to preparing meals without traditional staples like meat or dairy. The good news is that with the right gadgets and tools in your kitchen, vegan cooking can become both simple and enjoyable.

We're looking at the best gadgets to make Veganuary as seamless as possible, based on hours of research by T3's team. These tools are versatile, user-friendly, and designed to make plant-based cooking as easy and efficient as possible, without comprising on taste.

Together, these recommendations will ensure you’re equipped to tackle Veganuary with confidence and enthusiasm. Of course, there are lots of other gadgets that can help, and this is only a small slice. Let’s get started!

1. High-speed blender

One of the most versatile and indispensable gadgets for any vegan kitchen is a high-speed blender. Whether you’re making smoothies, soups, sauces, or even nut butters, a reliable blender is a must-have for Veganuary, both for beginners and seasoned pros.

Its ability to blend tough ingredients like nuts, seeds, and frozen fruits into smooth and creamy textures makes it an essential tool for creating delicious plant-based recipes, like making your own hummus from chickpeas.

The KitchenAid Artisan K400 is our top pick for a high-speed blender based on hours of research. Known for its powerful motor and durable construction, this blender handles everything from hearty vegetables to dense nuts with ease.

The K400's intuitive control dial offers a range of speeds, ensuring you have full control over the blending process. Plus, its sturdy design and attractive color options mean it’s not only functional but also a stylish addition to your kitchen.

Start your day with a nutrient-packed green smoothie, blend creamy cashew-based sauces for pasta dishes, or whip up a velvety butternut squash soup to keep you warm in January. You can also create your own almond or oat milk, eliminating the need for store-bought alternatives that may contain additives or sweeteners.

2. Food processor

A food processor is a true powerhouse in any kitchen, especially when it comes to vegan cooking. This versatile gadget can handle a wide range of tasks, from chopping vegetables and blending dips to kneading dough and crafting vegan cheeses.

After extensive testing, our top recommendation is the KitchenAid 2.1L Food Processor, striking the perfect balance between functionality and ease of use, making it ideal for both daily tasks and more ambitious recipes.

With a spacious 2.1-liter capacity and a variety of attachments, it can handle everything from finely chopping onions to shredding carrots or mixing energy balls. Its intuitive controls and compact design make it user-friendly while ensuring it won’t take up too much counter space.

One of the greatest advantages of a food processor is its ability to streamline meal prep. Instead of spending time chopping vegetables by hand, you can dice an entire batch in seconds.

It’s also perfect for making hummus, a vegan staple, or blending cashews into a smooth, creamy cheese substitute. If you enjoy baking, the dough blade is great for mixing pastry or pizza bases.

3. Tofu press

For anyone embracing Veganuary, tofu is likely to become a staple ingredient in your kitchen. Packed with protein and incredibly versatile, tofu can be used in stir-fries, scrambles, salads, and even desserts.

The TofuBud Tofu Press is our top pick. Designed for efficiency and ease of use, this compact gadget quickly and effectively presses out water, leaving you with firm, ready-to-cook tofu.

The TofuBud features adjustable pressure settings, so you can customise it depending on the type of tofu you’re using. The simple, no-mess design makes it a practical and hassle-free tool, even for beginners.

Using a tofu press has a big impact on the quality of your dishes. Pressed tofu not only holds its shape better when cooked but also soaks up marinades more effectively, resulting in rich, flavorful dishes. Whether you’re preparing crispy tofu bites, a hearty tofu scramble, or a spicy stir-fry, the TofuBud ensures your tofu is always ready for the task.

4. Air fryer

If you’re looking for a way to make quick, crispy, and oil-free vegan meals, an air fryer is the ultimate kitchen gadget.

Our top recommendation is the Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer, a powerful device that is celebrated for its dual cooking zones, helping you cook two different foods simultaneously at varying temperatures and times.

Whether you’re roasting vegetables in one basket and crisping tofu in the other, this air fryer ensures you can prepare complete meals efficiently. The Ninja Foodi also includes multiple cooking functions, such as air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating.

An air fryer’s speed and convenience make it an excellent tool for Veganuary. Use it to whip up golden, crispy sweet potato fries, perfectly roasted chickpeas for snacks, or cauliflower wings coated in your favorite vegan buffalo sauce.

It’s also great for reheating leftovers, ensuring your meals maintain their crunch and flavour.

5. Spiralizer

Finally, for those looking to elevate their vegan cooking, a spiralizer and a nut milk maker are excellent tools to consider.

The OXO Good Grips Spiralizer makes it easy to transform vegetables like courgette, carrots, and sweet potatoes into noodle-like shapes, offering a healthy alternative to traditional pasta.

6. Nut milk maker

A nut milk maker, such as the Smeg BLC02WHMUK High Performance Blender, is another game-changing gadget. Its high-speed blending capabilities allow you to create fresh almond, oat, or cashew milk right at home.

By making your own plant-based milk, you can avoid additives and preservatives while customizing the flavor to your liking, whether sweetened, unsweetened, or infused with vanilla or cocoa.

While not essential, these tools are a fantastic way to make plant-based eating more enjoyable and versatile. They’re ideal for anyone looking to go beyond the basics and explore a wider range of vegan dishes with ease and style.

If you're looking for the best iPhone in 2026 and want no other brand in your pocket – none of the best Android phones to be seen here – then you've come to the right place. This is where all the current Apple iPhone models are compared, as rated and ranked by T3's expert team.

In this guide, we're largely focusing on the best iPhone models currently sold by Apple. You can still pick up older models on the second-hand and refurbished markets (which is ideal for those on a budget or headed back to school), so that's something else to bear in mind.

Beyond our iPhone coverage specifically, T3 also has a number of guides when it comes to the best phones. It may be that you're looking for the best compact phone, for example, or want the best cheap phone, and we can help either way.

T3's Top Picks

The best iPhones we recommend in 2026

Best premium iPhone

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the flagship to beat right now, and it's the most powerful iPhone Apple has ever released. It's also the subject of a pretty major and very obvious aluminium-based redesign, with a huge new island housing its three rear cameras.

You still get a small slab of back glass to play with, and that contrasts nicely in the vibrant new orange colourway, but the real focus here is on the hardware. The three cameras are all 48MP sensors for the first time, making for arguably the best photography you can get from any phone.

It also has a huge battery and can easily last two days if you're careful, while the Apple Intelligence features keep piling up for more and more convenient options while you're using it. If you want the best phone Apple makes, and you're also a fan of bigger displays on your handsets, this is a no-brainer.

Best for most people

Pretty often, the basic iPhone launches with much less fanfare than its Pro siblings – but this year Apple might have secretly made the iPhone 17 its best deal by far. There are normally big gaps between the Pro and the standard iPhone, but this time around, that gap closed a lot.

The iPhone 17 has a super-powerful chip, like always, but now for the first time, it has ProMotion on its display, unlocking smoother refresh rates for a hugely upgraded feeling while you're using it.

Its cameras are also way better than the iPhone 16's, including the brilliant new Centre Stage selfie camera, again matching the Pro phones, and it has the Camera Control button too. There's almost nothing missing, really, and this looks like a brilliant iPhone to upgrade to if you're in need.

Best budget iPhone

After years with just the 2022 iPhone SE to offer, Apple finally gave us a new affordable iPhone, and the iPhone 16e is quite a big departure from its previous work. It's basically an iPhone cobbled together from other more expensive options, but that means it's quite a good affordable pick moving forward.

You get a great, recent chip that can work really efficiently, and a design that looks really quite slick. The main compromises are on the slightly less fancy display compared to the iPhone 17 range, and a single-camera system that lacks some flexibility.

If you don't think you'll miss the ultrawide lens, though, then we don't think you'll exactly feel shortchanged, and the iPhone 16e gets you a huge amount of the way towards the flagship iPhone experience at a much lower price, making it a bit of a winner.

Best smaller premium

It's pretty clear from sales data and the way accessory-makers stock their wares that the best-selling iPhone is the Pro Max supersized version, but for those who don't want such a big display, there's a lot to be said for the smaller Pro model, in this case the 17 Pro.

It has all the same power, but trades down to a slightly smaller display and battery to be more pocketable. That means you still get all the camera upgrades and that new design, complete with the biggest camera bump Apple's ever made. It's a total powerhouse of a phone, in fact, with superb battery life and as much power as a laptop could have dreamed of a decade ago.

It's premium in price as a result, but should be more durable and repairable than ever thanks to an upgraded Ceramic Shield 2 coating on the screen – this is a powerhouse in a smaller body.

Best super-thin iPhone

The iPhone Air is a little bit of a hard sell if you're into specs – it can't really claim to be the best iPhone from a power perspective, or indeed from a camera point of view, but that's not why you buy it. You buy it because it's the thinnest iPhone ever, and one of the most gorgeous phones on the whole market.

Apple set itself the challenge to make as thin a phone as it could, and delivered in stunning fashion. Holding the iPhone Air (which has no numeral to suggest annual releases) is an experience in and of itself, and you can tell that it's made properly.

You still get a lovely 6.5-inch screen to enjoy, and the A19 Pro on board means it's no slouch, but it gets hot, doesn't have stereo speakers, can't match most iPhone 17s for battery life and is pricy – making it a niche proposition that we still couldn't ignore.

How to choose the best iPhone for you

If you're in the middle of deliberating about what iPhone you think will work best for you, the following sections should help you narrow things down. They're some helpful prompts and questions to ask yourself, as well as some straightforward buying advice.

Pick a budget

Look, I'll accept that this applies to almost any big tech purchasing decision, but knowing your budget is key before picking up a new iPhone. Whether you calculate this in terms of monthly costs, if you're going for a phone contract, or an overall price if you're buying it outright is up to you.

So, since there's a pretty huge difference between the price of a top-end Pro Max model and a lower-scale "e" version of an iPhone, work out your numbers and start from there to ensure you don't get carried away shooting for a phone you can't actually afford.

How much phone photography do you do?

Now that even the base iPhone 17 has a tremendous, ProMotion display, the gap between iPhone Pro models and the rest has shrunk even further, and the cameras on offer are now the biggest difference.

Anyone choosing between these two ranks of phone needs to think about (and perhaps actually research) how many photos they take in a given week on their phone. If it's only a handful, then you're almost certainly fine with the base iPhone or even the "e" or "Air" models, which have just a single camera.

Those who take way more shots, though, and who shoot a lot of video as well, might find that they get a lot of value from the Pro phones, which have triple camera setups of superb quality, and produce incredibly impressive photos and clips.

FAQs

Do iPhones all use the same software

For the purposes of this guide, since we're not aiming to help you find a used phone or a bit of hidden value from years ago, we're largely sticking to iPhones released in the last year or two, which simplifies things.

All iPhones run on Apple's in-house operating system, iOS, but the versions that they support out of the box do vary. Generally, iPhones get upgrades for a number of years after they release, to ensure that you can run the latest software, but this will eventually stop.

To know which version of iOS an iPhone comes loaded with, check the store listing before you buy it – and the same goes for which versions it can be updated to after you open it.

What chargers do iPhones use?

A few years ago, this would be a more complicated question than it is today. Apple, under duress by the EU, has now fully adopted the USB-C standard as its charging cable for iPhones, and the Lightning cable is no longer used.

Again, if you buy an older used iPhone you might find that it needs a Lightning cable to charge, but we're focused on newer models and can therefore confirm that every phone featured on this list uses USB-C.

They nearly all have MagSafe wireless charging, too – except for the iPhone 16e, which sadly doesn't include this excellent and secure standard. It still has wireless charging, but no magnetic seal.

How we test

There's a lot to consider when reviewing one of today's best phones, which includes iPhones! Much of it is comparing models in the range, judging these for suitability for different users, and comparing old models with new ones as value propositions.

We judge iPhones from a build quality and fit and finish point of view, of course, given the different materials used. Then we judge hardware and what difference that makes in day-to-day use.

We assess specific feature highlights per handset, plus the camera system's offering. We always use iPhones as if they're our own handsets, to gain a good judgement of these systems, battery life and software.

Only then do we award a score to a phone, with 5 stars being the highest rank any product can get. And a lot of iPhones hit this lofty height, given just how renowned and capable they are!

Find out more about our wider testing standards by checking out our dedicated How We Test page here.

Reviewer panel

The best earbuds available right now at those that deliver incredible sound directly into your ears, often alongside excellent battery life and features such as active noise cancelling (ANC).

The veteran team of experts here at T3 have spent many hours testing out these products, so we know what we're talking about when we make recommendations. If you prefer over-ears then be sure to check out our separate best headphones list too.

In our best in-ear list here we've covered a variety of price points, plus all the key brands, so there should be something for everyone when it comes to choosing ideal new earbuds.

Best earbuds overall

The Technics EAH-AZ100 are a phenomenal pair of wireless earbuds, and we think they're the best earbuds for most people overall: they combine full and punchy sound with great battery life, and a neat and slim design.

If you're not already convinced, you probably will be after you read through our Technics EAH-AZ100 review, which includes phrases such as "5-star recommendation", "excellent sound", and "comfortable fit".

Okay, these aren't the cheapest earbuds you're going to come across at the moment, but the investment is worth it – and then some. It could be a while before any earbuds knock the Technics EAH-AZ100 off the top spot.

Best earbuds for ANC

Some people prioritise active noise cancellation (ANC) above everything else, and with good reason and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are our winners here: expensive, sure, but excellent at blocking out all outside noise from your ears.

As we put it in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review, "if you're in the market for one of the best-sounding pairs of earbuds, these sit in scarce company". The accompanying app is really well done too, adding to the appeal of the headphones.

It's hard to find anything to complain about with the build quality, the design, and the comfort of these wireless earbuds either. While we've highlighted the ANC in particular here, these are earbuds that score highly in every category as well.

Best budget earbuds

The second-gen Nothing earbuds, the Ear (2), knocked the T3 team's socks off (well, ears off really). Our Nothing Ear (2) review describes these as "everything you need and nothing you don't", and they're a great pick for something more affordable.

We know that Nothing tries to be as fashionable and as innovative as possible, with its phones as well as its earbuds, and admittedly the design might not be to everyone's tastes – but from our perspective it's something refreshingly different.

It's hard to find any faults with these affordable ANC in-ears, unless you don't particularly enjoy the design, and you get audio quality that's better than you might expect for the price. You even get in-ear access to ChatGPT, via your phone.

Best earbuds for Apple users

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 come with active noise cancellation and a bunch of other audio-enhancing features that help to give you a more immersive experience compared to your average earbuds – and these extras are really effective, too

Have a peek at our AirPods Pro 2 review and you'll see we said that "Apple learned from the mistakes of the past and improved their top-performing true wireless earbuds to not only match the competition but, on occasion, surpass it."

The sound is brilliant, as is the fit in your ears, and the price isn't bad either. Bear in mind that all AirPods work perfectly well with Android phones and other equipment too, you just get more features when you use them within Apple's own ecosystem.

Best luxury earbuds

The Bowers & Wilkins PI8 earbuds aren't perfect, but they manage to get pretty close – and the exemplary sound quality and in-ear comfort is so good you're going to quickly forget about the negatives (like a high price).

In just about every aspect that matters, the sound offered up by the Bowers & Wilkins PI8 scores highly, from densest to the lightest audio experiences, and across multiple content sources and format types.

Our comprehensive Bowers & Wilkins PI8 review has all the details you're going to need on these earbuds: it describes them as "a deft, informative and thoroughly entertaining listen" and "very competitive indeed".

Best earbuds for sports

We've picked the Jabra Elite 8 Active as the best earbuds for sports at the moment, and that's down to a number of factors – including the durable, premium-level quality of their construction, and the tight fit offered by these wireless earbuds.

Of course it's not all about the tough design: these Jabra Elite 8 Active headphones are able to pump out some fantastic-sounding audio as well, complete with noise cancelling. Whether you're jogging out working out, you'll love the soundscape.

Read our full Jabra Elite 8 Active review and you'll see that we described these earbuds as "brilliant workout buds, the most rugged on the market, with excellent sound" – which is quite an advertisement if you're looking to make a purchase.

Honourable mentions

A small space for everything we couldn't quite fit in above...

Sony WF-1000XM4: these superb wireless earbuds are a little older now, but they used to top this list, and that's testament to what a fantastic pair of buds they are. The latency, quality, and features are all top notch.

Sennheiser IE600: earbuds don't have to be wireless, and if you don't mind wired, you can do a lot worse than these. You get elite-level sound and build quality here, though you will have to pay a bit more for it.

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 S2: they may not be the newest model in this particular series any more, but these earbuds still have a lot to offer, and the precision engineering deployed here results in a fantastic sound.

Sony WF-C500: if active noise cancellation isn't top of your priorities and you'd rather save some money instead, consider the Sony WF-C500. These stellar buds are lightweight and sound great, and increasingly cheap.

Denon PerL Pro: alongside truly astonishing sound, the Denon PerL Pro bring with them plenty of extra features – from personalisations to spatial audio – that make them well worth considering for your next earbuds.

How we test the best earbuds

At T3 how we test our headphones is beautifully simple: we listen to them. A lot. And not just sitting in the office or in a quiet room. Out in the street. On public transport. On planes. Out shopping. The only way to really test earbuds properly is to find as many different environments as possible to test them in.

That goes for music sources too. We hit every genre of music to make sure we can hear the full breadth of what each pair of buds can offer. Treble, bass, mid tones and EQ all come under an aural microscope to make sure we get the most accurate impression (and helps with testing battery life too).

Finally we also understand that our busy lives mean music is only half of what we expect from our headphones. We spend plenty of time testing call quality, not just in terms of speaker clarity but also making sure that those on the other end can actually hear what we have to say.

How to pick the best earbuds for you

When it comes to picking the best earbuds for you, the good news is that you don't automatically always have to go for the priciest pair. It's important to also think about where you want to use your buds. Are they for exercise? Wearing in the office? Or maybe to put the mute into your morning commute?

Dreadful puns aside, if you do want the rest of the world to disappear, you definitely want to invest the extra in a pair of active noise cancelling earbuds, and if you're a gym bunny you'll really want something sweat-proof too. You have to think about the factors you're keen to prioritise.

If you're shopping for wired or wireless in-ear buds, then you're looking for something that's compact and unobtrusive, that can still deliver high-end sound – and we've got you well covered here. We've also tried to give you a range of prices and designs to weigh up and choose between.

FAQs

Choosing the best earbuds for you isn't necessarily a straightforward decision – though hopefully our guide makes it a little easier – and these are some of the questions you might find yourself asking.

Reviewer panel

Ever since its launch in 2020, the Sony PlayStation 5 has established itself as the most popular console around. We've even had a second iteration since, in the form of the PS5 Slim, plus the uber-powerful PS5 Pro. Either version of the base PS5, though, has the same slight storage issue.

But never fear: Sony allows you to add a separate SSD card to expand the amount of space to store games on – handy when the likes of Call of Duty weigh in at over 100GB apiece.

Here then are the PS5-compatible SSD cards we recommend. They all meet Sony's standards (M.2 NVMe cards with a minimum speed of 5,500MB/s and a heatsink) and will stop you from having to download and reinstall games over and over again.

T3's top picks

The PS5 SSDs we recommend in 2026

The best PS5 SSD overall

Western Digital's WD_Black gaming range has been going great guns for years. It offers fast storage for a number of devices, including PlayStation 5, and differentiates itself with metal casings and solid build quality.

We've previously recommended the WD_Black SN850 as our favourite in the past, but the more recent SN850X is faster and therefore even easier to recommend now that it's available for a decent price.

It boasts read speeds of up to 7,300MB/s – more than fast enough for the PS5 minimum spec – and has an excellent, solid heatsink included.

This is the SSD I currently use in my console, and I'm constantly thrilled by its performance. It's even better, I feel, than the official PlayStation alternative also sold by the brand.

The best budget PS5 SSD

If you don't have the biggest budget and just want to boost your storage a bit, opting for a 512GB SSD could be a great option – especially when there's the likes of the Lexar Professional NM800 Pro around for relatively little outlay.

It features fast read speeds – much higher than the minimum required to run in a PlayStation 5 – and comes from a brand trusted by camera professionals. That should give you reassurance on its stability and endurance.

It's not the sexiest SSD on the market, but it does come with a heatsink preinstalled so you can slot it straight into the console. And, once you've put the cover back on your machine, you should never have to see it again anyway.

There are other storage sizes available too, as well as a version without a heatsink that is even cheaper – although you will have to source your own third-party heatsink that way.

The best premium PS5 SSD

Samsung is a hugely renowned brand in the world of storage, and its SSD cards are widely considered to be among the best – hence you often have to pay extra for them.

The Samsung 990 Pro is definitely in that category. Far from the cheapest on the market, it is nonetheless highly regarded. It almost matches the superb read speeds (7,450 MB/s) with its write speeds (6,900 MB/s), which allows for quick installation of PS5 games.

Build quality is also exceptional, with a lot of thought going into such a tiny device. So, if you are thinking of shelling out extra for additional storage – such as this 2TB model – you can rest assured that this one will last.

It's also worth noting that the 990 Pro is great with power efficiency, too, so it should keep your console's usage down a touch.

How to choose the best PS5 SSD for you

There are two big considerations to bear in mind when choosing a PlayStation 5-compatible SSD card.

To begin with, the card needs to be an M.2 SSD, and you can't just buy any model; it has to match certain criteria in terms of speed.

You absolutely cannot just buy one of the best SSDs on the market, for example, and bang it in the console. While that drive may be very good, it may not be fast enough to be PS5 compatible.

In addition, your SSD has to have a heatsink to keep the storage solution cool during persistent operation. And that heatsink has to be compatible with the size limits of the NVMe SSD expansion bay in the PS5. Fortunately, Sony has supplied a very useful guide that details these criteria.

If you choose the latter, you'll have to add your own. However, they are reasonably inexpensive and easy to fit.

As a final note, for an SSD to be PS5 compatible, it needs to meet the following criteria:

• PCIe Gen4 interface
• 250GB - 8TB capacity
• 5,500MB/s read speed or faster
• 22mm width heatsink required (included or third party)

How we tested the PS5 SSD cards

We have extensive experience of using multiple PlayStation SSD cards ourselves, in both standard and digital edition PS5 consoles, and in the PS5 Pro.

The best way to test how effective installed storage can be is to record how long it takes to load a game when it's running from the internal drive and then from the added SSD card. Which we have done on many occasions by transferring the same game between the different storage options and using a timer.

The end results can be surprising, with some expansion SSD cards even offering faster load times than Sony's own internal storage.

FAQ

Here we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about PS5 and PS5 Pro storage.

We're living in the big streaming platforms' world now – there's no escaping the allure of an evening in front of your TV catching up on the latest and greatest shows and movies from around the world. In fact, the biggest difficulty most of us face nowadays is in picking the platform we want to explore – which is where T3 comes in.

Across the team, we've got thousands of hours of experience in using all the biggest and best streaming platforms, and that's all fed into the ranking that you'll find below, compiling the best UK streaming options right now. The US is another world, but many of these platforms are available globally.

They often offer exclusive shows and movies, and with the highest quality pictures and sound – often in 4K with Dolby Vision or HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. It's hard for conventional TV channels to compete.

Read on to find out which streamer we think is best overall, and the best of the rest according to what you're looking for.

T3's top 3 streaming services

Want to see our top three recommended streaming services without checking out other alternatives too? Here are our quick and easy suggestions.

The best streaming services we recommend in 2026

The best streaming service overall

Apple TV (very recently renamed from Apple TV+) has come on enormously since Apple first launched it, and we think it clearly stands as the best-value streaming offering on the planet right now (and it won a T3 award in 2025, as such)

With generations of superb hardware under its belt, Apple has shown that it can build up a streaming empire impressively, too, and now churns out hits throughout the year, from crowdpleasers like Ted Lasso and Slow Horses to critical darlings like The Studio – and it was the first streamer to win a Best Picture Oscar with CODA.

Picture performance is superb, with 4K HDR visuals on just about everything, including Dolby Vision for those with a compatible TV, while Dolby Atmos audio elevates the immersion further.

To crown things nicely, the app experience is also superb, whether you're accessing it through a streaming device or on a native Apple product. Streams are easy to access on TVs, but also get superb spatial audio immersion if you're watching on iPad or iPhone – great for a commute.

Finally, while price hikes in the last 18 months have been unwelcome, Apple TV remains under £10 for the full experience in the UK. Given you'll pay nearly twice that for 4K streaming from Netflix, the value is self-evident.

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The best streaming service for movies

Amazon's Prime Video service is fairly unique in that it is available at no extra cost as part of Prime membership. So, those getting free delivery from Amazon might already have access without realising it.

Like Netflix and Apple, Amazon also makes a lot of original programming and movies, which are exclusive to its platform. This includes massive hit shows, such as Fallout, The Boys and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. It also has some live sports broadcasting.

Also like Apple, you can purchase and rent additional content from Amazon's Prime Video app. However, it can be a little confusing as to what is included with your subscription and what requires an additional fee. So, you do need to be a bit careful about what you click on.

Quality is superb though, with up to 4K HDR and Dolby Vision on offer, plus Dolby Atmos audio (on some devices). However, you do have to pay £2.99 / $2,99 extra per month to get the Dolby support. Still, it's well worth it for both picture and sound performance, plus the removal of adverts.

It might cost a touch more than it used to, but Amazon has really upped its game in recent times, and has earned its spot near the top of our list.

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The best all-round streaming service

Netflix is arguably the best-known paid streaming service and continues to provide a superb experience, even though it isn't spending as crazily on new TV and movie projects as it once did. It is a fantastic resource for many hundreds of shows and films, including some of the most talked about.

Highly-rated series, like Beef and Baby Reindeer, are exclusive to the platform, as well as The Witcher, Vikings: Valhalla and Cobra Kai. You can also catch up with Netflix Original classics such as Narcos, Squid Game, and The Crown.

However, Netflix can't sit still on pricing, and seems to raise its rates almost annually. A cheaper option that's supported by adverts is available, but the real shame is that you have to subscribe to its most expensive Premium tier to get the best picture quality, up to 4K HDR, with both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos supported.

Another quibble for us is that Netflix has a tendency to cancel seemingly popular TV series and remove others from the platform with relatively little notice. That means you might invest time in something that doesn't come to an obvious conclusion.

Still, it remains near the top of the best streaming services, for the sheer breadth of its offering, and the depth of content it has to offer.

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The best streaming service for families

Disney+ came along at just the right time – shortly before the pandemic – so it gained a huge amount of members in a relatively short time. In the years since, it's managed to retain plenty of them with an expanding library of content.

Split into sections, the service satisfies viewers of all ages, whether they be young children who love Disney and Pixar movies, Star Wars or Marvel fans, or those looking for real-world programming from National Geographic.

Those in the UK, Ireland and Central Europe also have the Star section, which includes an extensive library of more grown-up programming and films, such as the Die Hard movies and the entire run of Grey's Anatomy. Meanwhile, in the US, you can now get it bundled with Hulu, to similarly add extra programming for older viewers.

Sadly, as with many of its peers, Disney+ is now a multi-tiered service, with an ad-supported plan, a standard plan without ads, and a premium service now available.

Only the latter now has access to 4K HDR and Dolby Vision video, plus Dolby Atmos audio. The standard services can still access all the content, but at a maximum of 1080p and 5.1.

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Best for UK and US TV

Previously called Now TV, Now is Sky's standalone streaming service that gives you access to programming from the satellite broadcaster without needing to sign a long-term contract.

Instead, it offers different packages of channels and on-demand catalogues that you can subscribe to on a month-by-month basis. There is an entertainment package that includes Sky Atlantic for HBO programming in the UK, Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, and Hayu for reality TV.

Sky Cinema is particularly interesting as it provides access to movie releases long before they hit the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The Sports membership gives you every Sky Sports channel, so it includes live Premier League football, F1, cricket and much more. Almost everything is also available to catch up with on demand.

This all means a huge amount of top-quality content is on offer, with HBO in particular being hard to get elsewhere right now in the UK. There are a couple of caveats, though. To begin with, Now can be expensive if you want everything it has to offer - Sky Sports can cost £34.99 per month on its own. Plus, the service currently maxes its video at 720p by default, with 1080p, multi-streaming and 5.1 sound locked behind a Boost payment at £6 a month, with 4K streaming even pricier at £9 monthly for Ultra Boost.

Still, if you want live sports and some of the best programming available in the UK, but don't want to be tied to a contract, this is a great option.

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The best streaming service for documentaries and sport

As with its Stateside version, Discovery+ predominantly offers reality TV, including documentaries and nature programming, plus real crime TV shows and the like. However, due to a partnership in the UK between owner Time Warner and BT, it also shows live and on-demand sports coverage from TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport).

This means you can watch live Premier League and Champions League matches, WWE, and a host of other live and on-demand sports coverage alongside paranormal investigations and lifestyle series. That said, the pricing on its sports coverage is pretty steep.

If you're not a sports fan, you can still subscribe to Discovery+ without the TNT Sports add-on, and its prices start at just £3.99 per month.

Subscribers to TNT Sports on Sky or BT TV get access to the coverage through the Discovery+ app at no extra cost, while the main Discovery+ programmes are available to all Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream for free.

It's worth noting that Discovery+ in the US is quite different to the UK version.

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The best streaming service for cinephiles

There's no pretending that Mubi has the biggest roster of content to watch out of the streaming platforms on this list, but it's also the platform that tries hardest to reject words like "content" in the first place.

This is a streaming service for lovers of cinema (although it does have the occasional TV project to watch, too). It has a tighter roster that can be more easily browsed in its entirety, and offers movies that are often impossible to find elsewhere.

Best of all, its blurbs and themed collections are way more informative than what you get from the likes of Netflix, quickly helping you to know why you might want to watch a movie, and some themes to look out for. It's a personal favourite of mine, even if I have to acknowledge its more limited wide appeal.

Films can be in up to 4K, although that depends on their release date and the quality available to Mubi in the first place. Plus, if you opt for a more expensive membership at £15.99, you get a real-life movie ticket thrown in once a week for a given movie on release at the time, which can be hugely cost-effective if you love going to the cinema.

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The best streaming service for Star Trek

One of the newer UK streaming platforms, but having been around a lot longer in the States, Paramount+ is the home to a whole host of TV shows and movies made by Paramount and its offshoot studios. This includes Star Trek and Yellowstone.

Both make up a large portion of the content on the platform, when you take into account the main shows and all of the spinoffs in both franchises. In addition, you get the Halo TV series, the Quantum Leap remake, and programming from Showtime, including Billions and the entire run of Dexter.

Like with Disney+, Paramount often adds some of its movies to Paramount+ soon after they've been in theatres – this previously included Top Gun: Maverick, which was added to the service at the same time it appeared for purchase on digital storefronts.

UK Sky TV subscribers with Sky Cinema get Paramount+ included at no extra cost, which is great, and while the overall offering is niche, it's a great option to get for a month or two at a time, when a binge is on the cards.

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Honourable mentions

The world of streaming is so full of different services that at this point there are almost too many to mention, and making a list for T3 is made all the more complicated by the fact that there are US-only streaming platforms we can't access to accurately assess.

Case in point – HBO Max, the often-renamed streaming service from HBO that houses a wide range of the best TV shows ever made. It's coming to the UK at some point soon, but for now is a regional option depending on where you are.

Another interesting one to be aware of is Peacock, which similarly isn't available in the UK but is growing in the US (with The Office as the jewel in its crown).

For those who love anime and anime only, the giant in the sector is Crunchyroll, which has been eating smaller competitors in recent years (although AI-generated subtitles have recently seen its quality degrade).

Specifically in the UK, meanwhile, there are a host of broadcast TV options that bundle streaming into their packages. Sky TV is a pricy but potentially all-encompassing option that can offer stellar picture quality and a huge range of content if you pay enough.

Virgin Media, meanwhile, operates similarly although you'll probably find yourself paying for Sky services through it, making it a slightly secondary option. EE TV is also worth a look if you're with the brand for your mobile contract, too.

You can never forget the BBC iPlayer, either, which you get as part of your licence fee if you're paying it – it has a heap of great stuff to offer, and competes nicely with ITVX and Channel 4.

How to choose the best streaming service for you

Decide on a budget

Perhaps the first thing you should think about when choosing a streaming service is how much you are willing to part with on a monthly basis. They each range in price, depending on what you're looking for and often come with different payment tiers.

If you're a sports fan, for example, you might have to stretch your budget further to get live broadcasts. And, as some sports are spread across multiple services (such as live Premier League football on Now, Amazon Prime Video and Discovery+) you may even find yourself pushing your subscription fees higher.

However, if you are just after general entertainment, you shouldn't have to spend too much per month to get access to hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of shows and movies.

What are your tastes?

Some streaming services are more specialist than others. Discovery+, for example, favours documentaries and non-fictional programming, whereas Paramount+ is crammed with sci-fi shows.

It might be that you've heard a family member, colleague and/or friend talking about a specific show that you "must watch". If so, we advise asking them which service it is on and then checking back here to see how much it costs, etc.

Consider your device

Most streaming services work across multiple mobile and home entertainment devices, but not all. Some might not have a native application on PlayStation 5, for example.

That's why we've listed the most common devices that are supported by each service. However, the best tip is to boot up your phone, TV or streaming dongle and double check that there's an app for the service before you subscribe.

Think about your broadband speeds

Another thing to remember is that the best picture and audio quality may require faster internet connections. Netflix, for example, suggests you have at least 5Mbps broadband for HD streaming, 15Mbps for 4K HDR.

So, if you opt for the most expensive Netflix tier but don't have the internet connectivity to cope, you'll just be wasting money.

How we tested all the streaming services

The T3 team has extensive knowledge of streaming services. We subscribe to them all and will often use them professionally and in our personal lives.

We test the performance and picture quality across multiple devices too, including Smart TVs, tablets, phones, and dedicated streaming devices.

For more on our wider testing standards, check out our full "How We Test" page here.

Reviewer panel

As a regular T3 contributor and veteran tech journalist, I've tried dozens of pairs of headphones over the years, so when it comes to picking a definitive list of the very best headphones out there – whether over-ear or in-ear options – I can recommend some amazing options for you.

This guide rounds up the best of the best, as reviewed in depth by T3's team of experts – so you know you're looking at a group of elite-level headphones. I've highlighted key sells per product, so whether it's best ANC, comfort, or battery life, you know what you're going to get.

Elsewhere on T3 we have expert guides for the best active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones, the best earbuds, the best high-end wired-only headphones, and even the best running headphones if you have a specialism – but in this guide we've tried to have every base covered.

T3's Top Picks

Best overall

To be declared the best headphones overall on our best headphones list, it takes something special: and that's exactly what the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 deliver, with bold and confident sound quality that really excels.

As our Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review will tell you, once these cans are on your head, you'll be amazed at the fidelity and power of the audio experience. What's more, they look great, and are very comfy to wear.

"These over-ears are among the very best money can buy," we said in our review, giving out special praise for the active noise cancellation: this has been significantly upgraded in these headphones, and works really well.

Best for travel

Speak to anyone who owns a pair of Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones and they'll tell you how much they love them, which is a testament to the audio quality, comfort, style, and features that are available to you here.

In our Sony WH-1000XM6 review, we described the ANC as defying belief, and the sound quality as phenomenal. Sony has also brought back the folding design here, which makes them much better travel headphones.

We could've done without the price hike over the previous model, but this has been a consistently fantastic series of headphones from Sony, and the sixth version of the iconic cans are the best yet by every measure.

Best earbuds

You don't need to go far into our Technics EAH-AZ100 review to realise what a special pair of earbuds these are. They're an "easy 5-star recommendation" that could well be the best pair of earbuds around.

Just about everything has been improved from the Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds that preceded this pair, including the battery life, the active noise cancellation, and even the aesthetics – it's a superb all-round upgrade.

The sounds you're going to get from these are going to be full and punchy, no matter what source you're using, and the EAH-AZ100 are available for a competitive price too, compared to many of their rivals.

Best ANC

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are not only ultimate at audio, their active noise-cancelling is unrivalled too, amid strong competition. There's also a fantastic Immersive Audio (spatial audio) feature here.

The QC Ultra Headphones are versatile, and exceptional for travel – with a great carry case and folding design – which makes these Bose over-ears ideal for those on the go, as well as those who want to listen at home.

As we said in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: "All hail the noise-cancelling king! If you're looking for incredible travel headphones then you can do no better." Give your ears a real treat.

Best ANC earbuds

We can well understand those of you who prioritise active noise cancellation (ANC) above everything else, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are our winners here, for blocking out extraneous noise.

As we put it in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review, "if you're in the market for one of the best-sounding pairs of earbuds, these sit in scarce company". The accompanying app is really well done too.

It's hard to find anything to complain about with the build, the design, and the comfort of these earbuds either. While we've highlighted the ANC in particular here, these earbuds score highly in just about every category.

Best for Apple

If you live and breathe the Apple ecosystem, then the AirPods Max could well be the best headphones for you: these over-ear cans deliver simply stunning sound, wrapped up in a polished and streamlined package.

You (almost) always know that you're going to get quality hardware and software performance from Apple, and that's the case with these headphones too, even if they're a little bit pricier than some alternatives.

Our Apple AirPods Max review sums it up best, describing these headphones as offering "unbeatable sound and seamless Apple ecosystem integration" which make them "a standout choice".

Best comfort

The Sonos Ace headphones are the first pair launched by Sonos, and while it's quite a surprise that they don't offer full integration with existing Sonos Wi-Fi speaker systems, there's an awful lot to like about them.

For example, they offer a superior level of comfort, thanks to the memory foam headband and snug fit. In our Sonos Ace review, tech editor Mike Lowe called them the most comfortable headphones he's ever worn.

It's not just that they're super comfy though – the Sonos Ace pump out a fantastic level of audio quality, feature some really well thought out design choices, and offer a very respectable amount of battery life too.

Best outlier

In our Nothing Headphone (1) review, we called these headphones "a brilliant new option for those who want a different approach to their headphones" – they're certainly significantly different from the norm.

Of course, it's not just the design we like about these over-ear cans, the first to appear from the Nothing brand. They also supply listeners with impressive audio fidelity and superior build quality you can rely on.

Now this is a headphone design that's not going to appeal to everyone, but if you are a fan of the aesthetics, then you won't be let down by anything else here, and Nothing seems to have a bright gadget future.

Best AirPods

The AirPods Pro 2 have been out for a while (and rereleased with a USB-C port), but the noise-cancelling earbuds are still some of the best headphones for Apple devices – and for any other Bluetooth gadget too.

Not only do they have handy automatic pairing and switching ideal for those embedded in the Apple ecosystem, but they’ve also got wireless charging functionality, as well as handy IPX4 water resistance.

The audio still massively impresses, with solid noise cancelling and decent battery life as well. We described them as a "big win" for Apple in our Apple AirPods Pro 2 review, though keep an eye out for the 3rd-gen.

Honourable mentions

There are some mighty fine pairs of headphones in our list above, but we couldn't quite squeeze in all the gadgets we wanted to mention in this category. The headphones below are also worth a look:

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e: a really impressive pair of premium headphones, where the quality of the audio and the number of features you get justify the relatively high price you pay for the hardware.

Nothing Ear (2): Nothing's audio range started with wireless earbuds, and these can hold their own against any on the market at the moment – especially if you're looking for a budget, value for money option.

Sony WH-1000XM5: the predecessors to the WH-1000XM6 we've mentioned above remain on sale at a cheaper price, and remain a top-tier choice of you're looking for brilliant over-ears with superior ANC.

Jabra Elite 8 Active: these superior wireless earbuds will be of particular interest to sporty types, because they're extremely durable, extremely comfortable, and waterproof (and the sound is rather good as well).

Bowers & Wilkins PX8: another B&W option for those of you really looking to spend big on luxury headphones, these cans come with a fantastic level of sound quality, and impressive battery life as well.

Denon PerL Pro: not all wireless earbuds are created equal, and the Denon PerL Pro are proof of that. The quality of the audio you get from these earbuds is matched by the quality of their style and finish.

How we test

At T3 how we test our headphones is beautifully simple: we listen to them a whole lot. And not just when sitting in a quiet room – we do it out in the street. On public transport. On planes. When out shopping. That way we can judge seal and active noise cancelling (ANC) where applicable.

We also like to test out multiple genres of music to make sure we can hear the full spectrum of sound, which is different for rock or underground compared to, say, classical. The full soundstage, from treble to bass and everything in between, is analysed to ensure we get the most accurate real-world impression.

Such testing also means we get a good impression of battery life based on real-life scenarios. Not just imaginary ones. When a manufacturer promises a given amount of time using ANC, for example, we want to make sure that's achievable.

We also get that people's lives often mean music isn't the entirety of their wants and needs: that's why we test call quality, where applicable, to see just how well headphones can deliver voice. Whether in quiet or in noisy conditions, it's another key part of a headphones feature set.

All that combines, as does consideration to the design and comfort factors, to cumulate into a score out of a maximum 5-stars. We only rate in full stars, no halves, here at T3, so only the best-of-best get the full marks.

How to choose

When it comes to picking the best headphones for you personally, thankfully for your budget you don’t always have to go for the most expensive option – although sometimes you'll want to.

Firstly, it's important to think about where you want to use your headphones. Are they for exercise? Wearing in the office? Or maybe to put the mute into your morning commute?

Dreadful puns aside, if you do want the rest of the world to disappear, you definitely want to invest the extra in a pair of active noise cancelling headphones, and if you're a gym bunny you'll really want something sweat proof.

Once you've worked out what you need, your next choice is what style of headphone you want. And truthfully it's all about comfort and subjectivity. Maybe you want the subtlety of a pair of true wireless in ear buds or maybe you want the world to know you are actively listening to music.

We've given you the best headphone for all budgets, all you need to do is choose what's right for you. Try and weigh up what you want out of your purchase, and then spend your money accordingly.

FAQs

There are now a lot of different headphone models to choose from, and if you've got questions, that's understandable. These are some of the most common ones you might have, together with our answers.

Reviewer panel

The best portable Bluetooth speakers don't make you choose between sound quality and convenience. Gone are the days of dragging around a Boombox-like device as if you're in a 90's music video. Even the smallest of speakers can deliver room-filling sound, so it's all about finding the best one for you.

These Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes – and at all kinds of price points. Some are rugged so you can take them on adventures; others are bigger and designed for larger spaces or parties; some are waterproof and make a great choice for summer pool parties or beach trips.

Whether you want a Bluetooth speaker for a back-garden BBQ, to take on a business trip as your hotel entertainment, or to have as an at-home versatile option, there are plenty of portable options. The top picks listed below are suited to a whole host of budgets and needs, whatever you need from your new Bluetooth speaker purchase.

T3's Top Picks

Best overall

The Beosound A1 V3 finds its way to the top of this list thanks to sheer audio quality for the size – its full, punchy sound is far more expensive than its scale would suggest. That's why this new entry for 2025 won the T3 Awards trophy for Best Bluetooth Speaker.

This speaker (and its predecessors) is a T3 staple, one that has travelled around the globe extensively on various work trips, as it's small enough to fit into a travel backpack no problems. It's also able to take a tumble, and is IP67 dust/water-resistant – so ideal for not fretting about sand or rain wherever you may be on your travels.

It's got other smart tricks too: you can use Alexa from the device, despite it lacking Wi-Fi, thanks to the Bluetooth connection. And, being a B&O speaker, it's also an object of desire, and is available in a great range of colours – with new ones having been added to the range over time.

Think this is your ideal portable Bluetooth speaker? Check out our full B&O Beosound A1 3rd Gen review for extra details

Best premium

While most speakers in this best-of list are small and easily portable, the Sonos Move 2 is a different proposition: it's designed like the perfect at-home speaker, as it's substantially bigger than your typical carry-around, but can easily be detached from its dock to deliver ace audio without the wires.

That physical size gives the Move 2 substantial sound, though, which is why it's our preferred premium portable Bluetooth speaker – and a T3 Awards 2024 winner of the Best Speaker category too. You really need to hear it to believe it – as its sound is similar to the Sonos Era 100 wired-only speaker, just with a battery inside.

Want the best of both worlds, inside and out? Read our Sonos Move 2 review to see whether this is the perfect Bluetooth speaker companion for you

Best affordable

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is undoubtedly the best cheap Bluetooth speaker on this list, combining good sound with an ultraportable design and effective 360-degree audio. It's just a straight-up Bluetooth speaker (so no Wi-Fi) but you can pair two of them together either in stereo or dual mono.

Clearly meant to be taken to wherever the party is, it's also fully waterproof – in fact, it even floats. Being IP57-rated, it's also well protected against grit, saltwater, dust and beach-side sand, so long as you keep the USB charger cover in place.

In our testing, we were impressed by the sound quality – but we really enjoyed the Outdoor Boost mode to really amplify the audio. In an emergency, you can also still charge your phone from the Wonderboom, using any USB-C cable you have handy.

Sound good to you? Read the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review to find out more about it

Best waterproof

Ultimate Ears ('UE' for short) makes a whole variety of portable Bluetooth speakers. The original model of the bunch, the Megaboom, is a particular favourite – and here, in its third-generation form, it's even better-sounding than its predecessors (and improves upon the smaller Wonderboom model when it comes to audio too).

With a cylindrical design, sound is output through 360-degrees, meaning everyone can enjoy the audio output in whatever circumstance. That includes when underwater, too, as this speaker is fully waterproof, making it great for parties, festivals, when poolside, or just wherever you happen to be.

Interested in this waterproof wonder? Check out more in our UE Megaboom 3 review

Best for bass

The JBL Charge 5 is a relatively small speaker that doesn’t skimp on sound. Admittedly the audio is just a little less finely balanced than the B&O A1 at the top of this list, with the treble and bass punching harder than the mid-range, but with some serious volume capabilities, this is a great speaker for a barbecue on the beach or picnic in the park – especially if you like a big dollop of bass to go with your grilled goods.

The 20 hours of battery life will easily last you the day, if not the whole weekend. Plus, if your phone is running out of charge, you can use it as a power bank and keep the music playing. There are few downsides to this low-end deliverer – except for no 3.5mm audio port to play music without Bluetooth – but that's a small point against an otherwise fantastic speaker.

Like the look of this? Read more in the JBL Charge 5 review

Best multi-room addition

The Sonos Roam 2 is a small and easily portable speaker that includes full Sonos Wi-Fi multi-room features as well as being a battery-powered speaker to, well, roam with. The sound is strong, and while it's not the most open or expressive out there, nor quite the loudest, it'll still be big enough for most people – it's just maybe not the party speaker that some of the larger options here can be.

The real trick to it is that it can also function as a full member of a Sonos or Apple AirPlay 2 setup at home, over Wi-Fi, and it easily switches between the two options. So if you want a portable speaker that can also take a useful spot in your bedroom/office, the Roam is a great choice. However, be warned that with a playing time of 10 hours, it's not especially impressive for battery life – some of its rivals can hit double that.

Our full Sonos Roam 2 review talks more about what we liked in this speaker

Best Bose portable

If you don't mind splashing out on a speaker, then the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is one of the best that money can buy. It's not just a Bluetooth speaker, a portable speaker, or a smart speaker - it's a combination of all of those things. Make sure you check our Bose discount codes to save on your new purchase.

When we tested it out, we were struck by the sheer power of the audio and thanks to the 360-degree design it'll sound the same no matter where you are in relation to it. It's a fantastic party speaker but it'll also be accurate enough for listening to ballads or podcasts on your own. One downside is the battery life, it'll only last about 12 hours and then it'll take about 4 to recharge it to 100%. That's nowhere near the longest-lasting battery on this list but it'll still be enough for most uses.

Want to know more? Read the Bose Portable Smart Speaker review

Best for rockers

This Marshall speaker brings the brand's penchant for guitar-amp style to a smaller frame, and impressively still keeps most of the signature look. It has a good long battery life of 30 hours, and we loved its sound because it's lively and punchy which suits Marshall perfectly. It's not built for gentle nuance but delivers lots of bounce and fun while still being clearly detailed.

The only downside is that there are a few missing features – there's no mic (which can be handy for calls) and no way to adjust the sound's balance manually, but you do get 3 different preset sound modes to choose from in the app. But we're happy to forgive those overall.

Check out the full Marshall Emberton II review to read more about why it's so good

Best for audiophiles

Audio Pro is known for making speakers with a simple, modern design and fantastic sound. Their smallest is the Audio Pro P5, it doesn’t have tonnes of features but it does deliver music in the way that it was meant to be heard. Small enough to fit in your bag, it’s the perfect music-listening companion for those who care more about quality than anything else.

The battery life is by no means the best on this list, at full volume, you will only get about 4 hours of playback. But if you keep it at 50% then you’ll get about 14 hours from it which isn’t so bad. Where the Audio Pro P5 really excels is in sound quality, it is loud, energetic and punchy. It even supports Apple lossless which will please Apple Music subscribers.

You can read more about it in the full Audio Pro P5 review

Bluetooth vs wireless?

No. All Bluetooth speakers are wireless speakers but not all wireless speakers use Bluetooth as their main audio source, although most include it. This is going to become more of an issue as wireless speaker technology evolves: for all its benefits Bluetooth does have some limits when it comes to the very highest quality digital music. We've got a separate guide to the best wireless speakers, and that focuses more on home speakers with Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth also turns up as an extra option on speakers that are really meant to be used with Wi-Fi or an analogue or digital, wired input, such as the Naim Mu-so 2nd Gen or B&O Beosound Level – again, we're not really including those, and are focusing more on speakers where Bluetooth is expected to be the main way of using them and getting the tunes pumping.

How we test

When it comes to testing the best Bluetooth speakers – as you can see from our How We Test page – the T3 approach is to live with a product as if it were our own. That experience soon makes clear the pros and cons of any given device.

We're always on the lookout for important details, too, from design and build quality, to connectivity, sound quality in various settings, and in this case just how portable a speaker is. All important factors in weighing up your prospective purchase possibilities.

The best Bluetooth speakers differ from the best wireless multi-room speakers, clearly, so we merit them on experience for intended purpose above all else. That then translates into a score out of five, with the best-of-best netting a coveted 5-star award and badge. Those are the killer products to really look out for.

Reviewer panel

Thanks to a recent boom in the wellness industry, personalised nutrition tests have gained more and more popularity. Not only do they offer useful insights on digestion, gut health and glucose levels, but the results are completely tailored to the individual user. Yes, devices such as the best sleep trackers and best smart rings have been doing this for a while, but nutrition tests were originally accessible via clinics or GP screenings, so it's a pretty exciting development.

You've probably heard of the infamous Zoe programme, but did you know there are a number of other nutrition tests to choose from as well? This guide is certainly a work in progress, but as we try each programme out, we'll be sure to add it here for your perusal.

Keep reading to find out which personalised nutrition test is best suited to you, and why they're such a useful addition to the wellness tech industry altogether.

How to choose the best personalised nutrition test

There are many factors you should consider when selecting a personalised nutrition test, especially as you'll be using home-testing kits.

Firstly, you need to establish what you're looking to get out of the tests. If you're looking to singularly improve your blood sugar regulation, the Lingo Biosensor or FoodMarble AIRE 2 are the ones you should opt for. If you suffer from low energy levels or disrupted gut health but don't quite know what's wrong, the Zoe nutrition programme is a more extensive way of finding out.

You should also think about your budget. The Zoe programme is expensive, coming in at £299 without membership costs. The Lingo programme isn't as pricey, but you only wear the Biosensor for two weeks (unless you select the two-month programme) to understand the way your body reacts to certain foods. The FoodMarble AIRE 2 is probably the most cost-effective personalised nutrition test on this list.

The FoodMarble AIRE is also a good choice if you're not a fan of CGMs or needles. I've personally tested both the Zoe CGM and Lingo Biosensor and they're painless to apply. However, I understand how the thought can put some people off.

The best YETI coolers have your back, from hauling a mountain of cold drinks to becoming a treasure trove of snacks for the beach, campsite or local park. I found them to be like the Swiss army knives of chilling, complete with foolproof rubber and plastic latches for easy access anytime, anywhere.

Need to lug your cooler from the car to the beach? No sweat – some models come with carry ropes and grips, while others boast built-in wheels and trolley handles for a smooth ride. Let's not forget, they can also keep anything toasty, too, if required.

Sure, YETI coolers might dent your wallet a bit more than even the best camping coolers from other brands, but think of it as an investment in your chill future. Lucky for you, we have a dedicated page for the best YETI deals to help you save some money.

My current favourite is the YETI Tundra 35 Hard Cooler, which offers ample space for barbecue essentials and beverages, a dry goods basket, three inches of insulation, and a non-slip base. If you need more space, check out the Roadie 48 Wheeled Cool Box. After something more portable? The Roadie 24 Hard Cooler is your best option.

Best YETI coolers to buy right now

Best overall

While bulkier than your average carry-on luggage, the YETI Tundra 35 Hard Cooler is relatively compact within the YETI range, offering ample space for barbecue essentials and cold beverages for a family of four or about 21 cans of brew, with enough room to accommodate two-thirds of its interior with ice packs as recommended.

A unique feature is the inclusion of a metal-framed ‘dry goods basket’ nestled within the internal ledges, providing a separate space to keep buns cool and dry alongside other perishables.

Performance-wise, the Tundra 35 boasts three inches of insulation, coupled with pressure-injected polyurethane foam in its walls and robust rubber lid locks and latches, effectively maintaining cool temperatures while keeping out the sweltering heat.

Its non-slip base prevents unwanted sliding, ensuring stability whether on deck or in the trunk of your car. For those needing more space, Yeti offers an extensive range of size options, each slightly larger than the last, catering to varying needs and preferences.

Read our full Yeti Tundra 35 review.

Best wheeled

If you’re looking for the best large YETI cooler for easy transportation, this swanky 48Qt (45-litre) model is a sterling option. Available in eight stunning colours, the Roadie 48 is built like a tank and comes with a robust suitcase-style telescopic handle and big grippy wheels for traversing rough terrain. It also sits on four eraser-like rubber feet, so it won’t shift about when transported on a boat or the back of a pickup.

This model has an ice-retention figure of up to four days, though, that is dependent on filling the bucket with a lot of ice (YETI suggests a 2:1 ratio of ice to contents). We reckon there’s enough capacity here for about 10 x 1.5-litre bottles of water, and, crucially, it is also tall enough to accommodate the dimensions of the average full-sized wine bottle. A top choice for car camping, tailgating, boating, beach picnics and other social gatherings.

Read our full YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cool Box review.

Best compact

Similar to its YETI counterparts, the Roadie stands out as a robust and carefully designed cooler available in a variety of colours. It even serves a dual purpose, transforming into a convenient stool with an optional cushion attachment, perfect for lounging at our chosen spot while enjoying chilled beverages.

The Roadie 24's interior volume, measuring approximately 40cm square and 30cm in height, provides ample space for transporting various items, including upright bottles of wine or two-litre bottles. With no drain plug included, users simply need to tip out excess ice at the end of use.

Operating with plastic latches instead of rubber, the Roadie’s lid can be easily opened with one hand, while the carry handle can be adjusted for convenient access. Our only minor inconvenience was the lack of an adjustable strap, making it tricky to sling over a shoulder or prevent it from bumping against our ankles during transport. Nonetheless, it’s an ideal companion for camping or road trips, better suited to such excursions than casual picnics.

Read our full Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler review.

Best soft cooler

It won't double up as a stool, but YETI's Hopper Flip range of soft coolers is lighter and comfier to tote about than its hard coolers. In fact, it's super comfy to carry, thanks to an ultra-squishy rubber padding on the removable shoulder strap (that's just one of a carry options – there are also handles for shorter distances). Available in three sizes, these cool bags are robust, well designed, and high quality as you'd expect from Yeti.

On the outside, a high-density 'DryHide Shell' blocks UV rays and repels mildew, and will withstand bumps and scrapes. Beneath this is a thick layer of closed-cell rubber foam to lock in cool air, while the 'Hydrolok' zip ensures no leaking melted ice. The entire top opens up to give you easy access to the bag's contents, and the daisy chain loops down the front and back to give you somewhere to attach any extra bits and bobs.

Best for volume

For anyone who’d like an extra helping hand – or rather pair of wheels – when transporting their cool box, the aptly named Tundra is heaven-sent. Constructed in the same robust moulded plastic as the rest of the range, this one also features the same easy access rubber lid locks as the regular Tundra model – it just adds wheels, in doing so becoming the first and only model in the line-up that can be wheeled along.

Said wheels are manufactured from a solid single piece of plastic that’s both impact resistant and obviously puncture resistant. To pull the whole contraption along we’re gifted a ‘T’ bar design aluminium arm with durable grips, with the set up tracking left or right, in order to avoid the box bumping our ankles when towing it behind us.

Keeping our perishables cool, including two litre bottles stored upright, space for 45 cans of beer in total or 55 pounds of ice, the YETI Tundra Haul one offers two inches of pressure injected insulation. Yet, unlike the regular Tundra, this one doesn’t include a dry goods basket. However, overall, we’d happily trade that omission for the smoother transportation this option provides.

Best water cooler

Who wouldn’t want to have their very own portable water cooler, so as to enjoy those fabled ‘water cooler’ moments and conversations anywhere and everywhere, even outside the office?

Enter the YETI Silo, a standalone item in its range taking the form of six-gallon water cooler that, on the face of it very closely resembles the YETI Tundra in terms of size and chunky shape. Yet it obviously differs, in featuring a water nozzle secreted in a recess near its base. The idea is not only can you enjoy cool flowing water with a swift pour rate in the heat of the great outdoors, but this water cooler is robust enough to take a tumble or two on the way there.

Construction is, as we say, otherwise very similar to the rest of the extensive Yeti cooler range, in that once again we have an insulated interior lining to the plastic casing that keeps the cool in and the heat out. A steel handle is provided above the plastic nozzle, both as a way to protect said nozzle, and also to provide a spot to grip as the thumb of the same hand presses the nozzle to release its flow. Luckily the nozzle can be removed for cleaning individually, making this one as practical as it is fashionable.

Best for small parties

Having a little outdoor get-together? You need an ice bucket that is not only effective at keeping drinks cool but one that screams sophistication. That’s the YETI Rambler. Available in a range of eight luxuriant colours and finished in a tactile matt coating, the Rambler has enough space within its admittedly slim stainless steel wall to accommodate a sufficient amount of ice and up to six bottles of beer or six cans of pop. It has a transparent lid with rubber seal, too, to help keep everything nicely chilled for the duration of an average al fresco lunch or dinner.

The Rambler is superbly built and comprises a steel carrying handle with non-slip rubber grip and a circular rubber ring on the base to ensure it grips any surface like a limpet. It’s dishwasher safe, too. If want to keep drinks cool and impress your guests at the same time, you can’t go wrong with this pretty conversation starter.

Best for large parties

With all of YETI’s branded products built like a tank, it’s no surprise that it actually offers a ‘Tank’ Ice Bucket too – in a choice of ‘Desert Tan’ or plain white. But why would we want to pay a premium price for what’s essentially a plastic bucket? There are a couple of Tank Bucket Cooler options in its manufacturer’s range that are broadly self explanatory in terms of size difference: the YETI Tank 45 will in fact provide space to keep 52 cans of beer or 40lb of ice cool, or a quarter keg of the fizzy stuff. Alternatively there’s the Tank 85, which can hold a whopping 96 cans of beer or 80lbs of ice. Sounds heavy, right?

Fortunately then, ‘DoubleHaul’ handles aid transportation by allowing us to share its weighty load, while a Vortex Drain System allows excess or unwanted water to be released via a stopper near the base, once the party’s over. If we want to make sure our brews remain extra cold when the bucket is baking in the midday sun, it’s possible to buy an optional Tank lid separately.

How to choose the best YETI cooler for you

When selecting the best YETI cooler for your needs, consider factors such as size, insulation, durability, and portability. Assess how much storage space you require for your typical outings, whether it's for a small family picnic or an extended camping trip with friends. Opt for a size that comfortably accommodates your food and drinks without being too bulky to transport.

Evaluate the insulation capabilities of the cooler, as this will determine how long it can keep your items cold. YETI coolers are known for their excellent insulation, but some models offer thicker walls and additional features for enhanced cooling performance.

Durability is crucial, especially if you plan to use your cooler in rugged outdoor environments. Look for models constructed from sturdy materials like rotomolded plastic, which can withstand rough handling and extreme temperatures.

Consider the portability of the cooler, particularly if you'll be carrying it over long distances. Look for features like comfortable handles, shoulder straps, and wheels for easy transportation.

Lastly, think about any additional features or accessories you may need, such as built-in bottle openers, cup holders, or dividers to organize your items. Choose a YETI cooler that offers the features and functionality that best suit your outdoor lifestyle and activities.

How we test the best YETI coolers

Testing a YETI cooler involves several steps to ensure its effectiveness and durability. The first step is the temperature retention test. We fill the cooler with ice and monitor how long it keeps items cold. This test evaluates the insulation's effectiveness and helps determine its ability to maintain low temperatures over an extended period.

Next, we conduct a leak test to check for any potential issues with the cooler's seals, which involves filling the cooler with water and inspect it for leaks to ensure that the seals are tight, and there are no cracks or gaps in the construction that could compromise its performance.

After assessing its ability to retain temperature and prevent leaks, we perform a durability test. Subject the cooler to rough handling, including dropping it from a short height and applying pressure to the exterior. This test simulates outdoor conditions and evaluates the cooler's ability to withstand wear and tear.

We also evaluate the cooler's portability by testing how easy it is to carry when filled with ice and drinks. We assess the handles and straps for comfort and durability, considering how they will hold up during outdoor activities.

Finally, we conduct a cleaning test to evaluate how easy it is to clean the cooler after use. We check for any lingering odors or stains and assess its overall cleanliness.

FAQ

Have you ever been in the situation where you thought, "Well, this lukewarm beer tastes wonderful, especially now that the weather is roasting"? Me neither, which is why I think the best coolers are an essential buy for anyone who likes spending time in the great outdoors.

In this guide, I've tested and ranked the top cool boxes, cool bags, and electric camping coolers available today, ensuring you make the right choice for your outdoor needs. Car campers and outdoor enthusiasts alike can benefit from investing in reliable cooling receptacles to safeguard perishable goods during their adventures.

My current favourite cooler is Coleman's 50QT Xtreme Wheeled Cooler, thanks to its superb insulation and affordable price. If you prefer a more portable product, check out the Hydro Flask Day Escape Soft Cooler Pack, which is a cooler disguised as a backpack. If you prefer car camping, the BougeRV CRD2 40L is your best option.

Pair your chosen cool box with the best camping chairs and best tent, and you'll be well-equipped for a refreshing day under the sun, no matter the season. Looking for affordable YETI products? Head over to T3's best YETI coolers and best YETI sales and deals roundups.

Best cool box for camping to buy right now

The best camping cool boxes

Coleman’s monster 47-litre passive cool box on wheels has a durable and weatherproof design and earns a place in the best camping cooler ranking, partly thanks to its solid, rugged build. The Coleman 50QT is designed to keep food and drink fresh and cold for up to four days, making it an excellent choice for long weekend camping trips.

The lid features PU foam insulation, taking care of the cooling, and four cup holders for housing your bottles and cans. It'll also double as a makeshift camping seat and will support up to 113kg in weight. The only real downside is that according to the official guidelines, you'd need to add more than 13 kilos of ice for best performance, which would put a not-insignificant dent in the space left for food and drink.

Read our full Coleman 50QT Xtreme camping cooler review

The Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler is a well-engineered and super-rugged portable cool box that's just the ticket for keeping beers and food chilled outdoors. The interior has been proportioned to ensure it'll hold a bottle of wine, stood up (important), and Yeti encourages you to use it as a stool. In fact, it even sells an accessory cushion for that very purpose.

Thick rotomoulded walls, dubbed the Yeti ‘Fatwall’, and PermaFrost insulation are responsible for the chilling. That same rotomoulded construction makes this timeless ice chest nigh-on indestructible, so it’ll withstand the rough and tumble of outdoor life. It is slightly tricky to carry over long distances, but it's a solid choice for road trips, boating, car camping and short-haul picnics.

Read our full Yeti Roadie 24 cooler review.

The Bunker 66L Cool Box is a no‑nonsense cooler, delivering near‑Yeti performance at a notably lower price, making it a must‑consider for rugged outdoor use.

Its rotomoulded construction, sturdy interlocking latches, stainless‑steel lockable points (which double as bottle openers), tyre‑covered wheels, tie‑down anchors, drainage plug, non‑slip feet, and even an interior compass underscore the cooler’s practical, adventure‑ready design.

Our field test in central Wales confirmed its insulation prowess, keeping cans near‑frozen for two days in a hot car with remaining ice after a longer trip, validating the brand’s claim of five‑day ice retention.

That said, the cooler’s 18 kg empty weight (rising to 30–40 kg when filled) and requirement for large amounts of ice are potential drawbacks, especially for those lacking access to commercial ice sources.

Its sober beige aesthetic won’t win style points, but the dry, “no‑sweat” exterior even doubles as a usable seat or impromptu picnic bench.

Read our full Bunker 66L Cool Box review.

The best cool bags

From the brand that brought you some of the best hiking water bottles comes this cool bag tote that's perfect for day trips. The Hydro Flask Day Escape is a soft cool bag that's altogether much easier to tote about than a boxy cool bag with short straps. There is a hand-carry option, but there's also a removable cross-body strap that works perfectly with the tapered shape for carrying it comfortably over long distances. It's at the pricier end of things, but the build quality is impeccable, and there's reassuring attention to detail on the design front.

It delivers impressive insulation for such a thin, pliable bag – with ice, it'll keep the contents cool for up to a whopping 36 hours. Hydro Flask has added thicker insulation in the base, where most heat is lost. The sturdier flattened off-base also gives some structure and extra protection where packing is concerned, although you obviously can't bash it around like you could a solid plastic option, and a few customers commented they'd prefer if it were slightly wider. Watertight and welded seams ensure no water gets in or out on your travels, and if you need more space, there's also a 20L and 26L version.

The Outwell Penguin is sturdier than your average cool bag, thanks to 2cm thick foam walls. While this does mean you can't squish it down when not in use, it also makes it very easy to stack food inside, ensuring that it is well protected from getting squished. It will also keep said food cool for 13 hours if you add an 800ml ice block. We've been testing one out this summer, and even without the ice block, it has some impressive insulation powers.

Elsewhere, it's a simple but effective design. The inner is easy to wipe clean, and you can zip the whole top open like a lid, to easily access and shuffle around what's inside. Twin handles with a velcro-fastening grip enable easy upright carrying, and the zip pulls have wide, easy-grip plastic pulls. It feels high quality, and two mesh side pockets make for a useful place to pop any extra bits and bobs, like bottle openers. Finally, it's available in three sizes to suit different situations and party sizes.

The brand is better known for its hard coolers, but Yeti's Hopper Flip cool bag range is also well worth a look. They're robust, well-designed, and the quality you'd expect for an admittedly premium price tag. A thick layer of closed-cell rubber foam between the outer case and inner lining locks cool air effectively, and the entire top opens up (this is the 'Flip' part) for easy access to the bag's contents. Carrying is comfy thanks to an ultra-squishy rubber padding on the removable shoulder strap (there are also hand handles elsewhere for shorter distances).

The high-density 'DryHide Shell' blocks UV rays and repels mildew, and will withstand plenty of bumps and scrapes, while the 'Hydrolok' zip keeps liquid in reliably. Daisy chain loops down the front and back give you somewhere to attach any extra bits and bobs for your trip. There are three sizes to choose from, and instead of litre capacity, Yeti tells you what each will hold – the Hopper Flip 8 (pictured) is the smallest and will hold 8 cans or equivalent, based on a 2:1 ice-to-can ratio. In the middle of the range is the Hopper Flip 12, which holds 13 cans, while the Hopper Flip 18 holds 20 cans.

The best electric camping cooler

The BougeRV CRD2 40L proves you don’t need to spend EcoFlow money to get a genuinely capable camping fridge freezer.

Its dual-zone design, wheels, retractable handle and multiple power options make it impressively versatile for camping, festivals and van life, while the generous capacity comfortably handles several days’ worth of food and drinks. App control is a welcome bonus at this price, too.

That said, it’s not flawless. Temperature readings can be inconsistent, especially in freezer mode, and the insulation isn’t quite on par with more premium rivals, meaning the compressor needs to work harder in warm conditions. The interface also feels a little basic.

Still, for the money, the CRD2 40L offers remarkable value and practicality, especially for campers who want proper refrigeration without blowing the entire gear budget.

Read our full BougeRV CRD2 40L review

While the Anker EverFrost 30 Powered Cooler may not be essential for everyone, those who prioritise keeping their food and beverages chilled and have the means to transport it alongside their family will find its cooling capabilities invaluable. While lifting the unit may require some effort, its transport wheels and EasyTow suitcase-style handle make manoeuvring it a breeze, especially when utilising a ramp.

Admittedly, the price point of the Anker EverFrost series may give some pause, particularly when compared to passive coolers. However, for those who prefer the convenience of not having to sift through a pool of melted ice and salad leaves to retrieve their beverages, the EverFrost 30 Powered Cooler proves to be a superior solution.

Read our full Anker EverFrost 30 Powered Cooler review.

With both a car battery and electric hook up adapter, the DC/AC Electric 24 L Coolbox ensures that your precious bacon rashers, sausages and beers remain cool for the entire length of your trip.

Like all electric cool boxes, it's on the heavy and bulky side, and here the capacity is on the small side compared to other camping coolers in the list. However, if you require a reliable means to keep your food cool you can’t really go wrong. That said, if you’re looking to hook it up to your car battery intermittently throughout your trip, you may want to make sure your car is up to the job first – a jump start exit from the campsite probably won’t be your finest hour.

Honourable mentions

The EcoFlow Glacier is a premium off-grid fridge/freezer boasting dual-zone cooling and an integrated ice maker that produces cubes in ~20 minutes. With a hefty 23 kg build and a steep price tag (depending on the battery and solar pack), it offers kitchen-grade performance outdoors. However, its plug-in battery runtime is limited, at roughly 6 hours under full load, versus EcoFlow’s claimed 40 hours, which marks it as a luxury gadget rather than a budget workhorse.

Reviewer panel

How to choose the best camping cool box for you

There are plenty of sizes, styles and cooling methods on the market.

Hard cooler vs soft cooler

First, decide whether a cool box or a cool bag is better. The former will keep food protected from getting squashed, but tends to be bulkier and harder to carry (although some come with wheels and telescopic handles to make the job easier). The latter might be cheaper and easier to tote around, so a better option if you're walking long distances with your cooler.

Passive vs electric coolers

Most basic coolers use 'passive cooling', which means they're insulated to stay cold for as long as possible – you'd usually pop in frozen ice packs, loose ice, or gel packs to get them cold to start with. It won't keep things cool indefinitely, though, so if you're on a multi-day trip, you'll need to replace the ice (campsites often have a service where you can swap your defrosted ice packs for frozen ones).

What size cooler do you need?

If you're car camping and going on an extended holiday where an electric hookup is available, and weight isn't an issue, you might want to invest in either an electric camping cooler or a 12V compressor fridge. Bear in mind that there is a big difference between the two.

Ice retention explained

An electric cooler box will cool between 15˚C and 25°C below the ambient temperature, so, for instance, if the cooler is in a tent with an ambient temperature of 35˚C (typical for French campsites), the coolest the box will ever be is around 10˚C, and that’s too warm to keep a pint of milk fresh. In fact, any meat and dairy products will likely go off within 36 hours.

Conversely, a compressor-based camping fridge will keep food and beverages at a home-fridge temperature of 3 °C or lower, which means meats and dairy products will remain fresh for the entire duration of your camping trip. Not for nothing are compressor fridges much more expensive than standard electric cooler boxes.

Wheels, handles and portability

If you don't drive and will be heading to the campsite, park, or beach on foot or by public transport, you'll want a camping cooler that's lightweight, weatherproof (in case it rains), and easy to carry. In that case, look for a cool box on wheels with a pull-along handle or a cool bag that can be slung over your shoulder or worn like a backpack.

Shoppers in the US, especially, might be focused on one brand in particular, and to that end, we've got a separate guide to the best Yeti coolers.

How we tested these cool boxes and bags

T3's expert team of outdoor gear testers selflessly tested the best cool boxes and bags on the market to see which would keep their drinks and perishables the longest. Factors such as capacity, ease of transport, cost, and style were also analysed during the review process.

Our testing process usually involves taking the coolers on camping trips and other outings, equipping them with a thermometer, and checking their temperature changes over time. We only test coolers for cold retention, even though most of them can keep items warm, too, just like thermos flasks.

Even though we don't throw the products around, they are subjected to real-world usage, which involves some rough handling, including storing and moving them on uneven/abrasive surfaces. We always double-check manufacturer claims on durability and cold retention as best as we can.

Read more about this topic on T3's "How We Test" explainer page.

Buy one of 2026's best robot lawn mowers and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. That's because unless you're tootling around a large estate on a ride-on mower pretending it's a Formula 1 car, mowing lawns is like painting the Forth Bridge: no sooner have you done it than the grass grows back and you have to do it all over again.

Some robot mowers still involve installing a perimeter wire around your lawn – which is something you could do yourself though it is a pain and much better left to the company you buy the robot from – but you’ll be pleased to know that there are quite a few new high-tech wire-free autonomous models on the market that don’t require any form of boundary wire installation and management at all.

While you go about living your life, your autonomous servant will leave its charging station and, without arguing about it, head off onto the turf, snipping here and scything there until the whole lawn looks immaculate. And it will perform this thankless task everyday of its working life so that you never ever have to manually mow the lawn again.

Unlike the best cordless lawn mowers and best petrol lawn mowers, a robot mower isn’t the cheapest garden machine you’ll ever buy, but it will repay the investment over time with a sward that is the envy of the neighbourhood.

The top three

Best robot lawn mowers 2025 ranked

The best robot mower overall

The Segway Navimow X350E is one of this year's T3 Award winner – and it’s not hard to see why. With its sleek, advanced design and super intuitive app, this is easily one of the smartest robot mowers we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing.

Offering boundary-free mowing with advanced obstacle avoidance, the X350E delivers with precision. It can mow lawns up to 5000m² with remarkable accuracy, even near the edges, thanks to Segway’s clever Exact Fusion Locating System. During our tests, it produced a consistent, even cut and left the lawn looking impressively manicured – without ever once getting stuck or needing rescuing.

Build-wise, it feels strong and well put together, with a premium finish that matches the price tag. On top, there’s a charming little retro dot matrix screen that shows real-time info, and you’ve got physical buttons for stop/start and manual controls. You can even steer it using the app like a remote control car, or drop a pin and watch it scoot off to mow a missed patch.

Now, it’s true that the X350E only comes with a single cutting disc rather than a dual-blade setup, but unless you’re someone who really avoids mowing for months at a time, it’s not going to be a dealbreaker.

All in all, the Navimow X350E is an absolute standout – clever, reliable and enjoyable to use. It’s proof that mowing the lawn doesn’t have to be a chore anymore.

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The best affordable robot mower

For small to medium-sized gardens, the Kress Mission Nano 600 is a compact and clever little mower that punches well above its weight. Its smaller footprint makes it perfect for irregularly shaped lawns with curves and tight spaces, and with a coverage of up to 600m², it’s ideal for average-sized gardens.

Compared to many other robot mowers offering similar features, the Nano 600 comes in at a far more budget-friendly price. You get a lot of advanced mowing tech without having to splurge on a flagship model. It’s also incredibly easy to use – just press the one-touch start button and it’s off, gliding around your lawn with minimal fuss.

Behind the scenes, it uses InBound variable angle navigation, which helps it mow intelligently rather than randomly. That means less time mowing, better coverage, and a neater finish.

One thing to keep in mind is that the cutting blades do require regular maintenance and replacement, especially if your lawn has sticks or tougher patches. However, considering the clean, reliable performance and the price tag, it’s a minor trade-off.

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The best premium robot mower

If you're looking for a premium robot mower that feels every bit as sleek and high-end as its price tag suggests, the Husqvarna Automower 405XE NERA definitely fits the bill. With a solid build, advanced app integration, and the trusted Husqvarna name behind it, this is a mower designed for those who want smart lawn care without cutting corners.

Designed for lawns up to 600m², the 405XE NERA offers RTK GPS support, optional wire-free installation, and compatibility with Husqvarna’s AIM Technology, allowing you to create custom zones and cutting schedules through the app. It's impressively quiet, looks ultra-modern, and delivers a beautifully even mow once it's up and running.

That said, getting it up and running takes time. It requires a bit of patience and possibly a weekend afternoon to get everything dialed in. Once set up, though, it runs like a dream.

Another area where the 405XE could be stronger is its EdgeCut feature. Whilst the mower gets close to the perimeter, it sometimes leaves a narrow strip that might still need the occasional tidy-up with a trimmer.

Still, the cutting quality, quiet operation, app control and smart lawn mapping put this firmly in premium territory. If you want a robot mower that feels like a top-tier piece of garden tech – and you don’t mind investing a bit of time in the setup – the Automower 405XE NERA is a fantastic choice.

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The best wire-free robot mower

If you’re in the market for the best wire-free robot mower money can buy – and you’ve got the budget to match – the LUBA 2 AWD is as advanced and capable as they come. With RTK GPS on board, it can navigate lawns up to 1,000m² with human-like accuracy, delivering crisp, even results with no need for boundary wires or manual intervention.

During our testing, the LUBA 2’s performance was consistently exceptional. Whether it was laying down clean stripes with the zig-zag method or creating a checkerboard finish, the cut quality was nothing short of pro-level. You can even get creative by having it mow custom shapes or lettering into your lawn – a neat party trick that also showcases just how precise this mower really is.

One of its standout features is its all-wheel-drive system, paired with large, grippy wheels that allow it to handle steep inclines of up to 80% with ease.

Navigation is handled by a combination of RTK GPS and a 3D vision system, giving it the smarts to avoid obstacles and follow precise mowing paths across up to 10 programmable zones. The app is intuitive, and setup – whilst still a bit of a process – is far easier than burying boundary wires all over your garden.

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The best wired robot mower

Whilst many people tend to shy away from wired robot lawn mowers, the Stihl iMow 5 Evo proves that sometimes, sticking with the traditional setup can really pay off. It’s one of six models in Stihl’s impressive iMow collection, and although it sits closer to the affordable end of the range, it certainly doesn’t feel like a budget option.

In fact, the 5 Evo punches well above its weight in terms of features and performance. Setup is surprisingly straightforward – even for those new to robot mowers – and once it's in place, the Evo gets to work delivering consistently neat, reliable results across a wide range of lawn types.

Despite being tethered to a perimeter wire, it still brings a premium user experience to the table, thanks to its thoughtful mix of smart functionality and robust build quality. It’s equipped with GPS tracking, rain sensors, and programmable mowing schedules, all of which can be fine-tuned via the My iMow app or directly on the mower itself. Whether you're keeping an eye on it from indoors or tweaking its schedule on the fly, the 5 Evo gives you full control over your lawn's maintenance.

There are a couple of small drawbacks to note. The app, while generally easy to navigate, can occasionally log users out unexpectedly – a minor annoyance that we hope Stihl irons out in future updates. And like many robot mowers, edge cutting isn’t its strongest suit, so you might still need to bring out the trimmer now and then for those stubborn border tufts.

That said, it more than makes up for these niggles with its quiet operation, impressive mulching capabilities, and ability to handle slopes and uneven terrain without breaking a sweat. The mowing pattern is efficient and intelligent, giving your lawn a fresh, healthy look every time it heads out.

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The best user-friendly robot mower

If you're looking for a robot lawn mower that's genuinely simple to use, the Eufy E15 should be right at the top of your list. It’s Eufy’s first foray into the world of robotic lawn care, and much like its popular robot vacuum cleaners, the brand has nailed the formula for ease, efficiency and everyday practicality.

What makes the E15 stand out is how incredibly user-friendly it is from the moment you open the box. There's no boundary wire to install, no complicated calibration, and no steep learning curve. Instead, it uses RTK GPS and AI-powered vision to map your garden in just minutes, making setup refreshingly quick and stress-free – even for first-timers.

Once it's up and running, the E15 continues to impress with its intuitive app control, clean interface and reliable mowing schedule. You can create zones, adjust cutting height, or send it to specific areas at the tap of a button. Thanks to its quiet operation and smart obstacle detection, it just gets on with the job with minimal fuss or supervision.

Performance-wise, it delivers a neat, even cut and handles typical garden terrain with ease. Whilst it may not be built for extreme inclines or ultra-complex landscapes, it’s more than capable of handling most small-to-medium sized lawns with precision and consistency.

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The best robot mower for larger gardens

If you've got a large garden that needs serious coverage, the EcoFlow Blade is more than up to the task. This isn’t just a robot mower – it’s a smart, rugged machine built to tackle expansive spaces with precision, speed and style.

Capable of handling lawns up to 3,000m², the Blade uses RTK GPS, LiDAR and visual sensors to map and navigate your lawn without the need for boundary wires. It can cut wide swathes of grass quickly and efficiently thanks to its 26cm cutting width, making it an ideal choice for bigger properties where smaller models would take far too long.

That said, it’s not without a few quirks. The RTK GPS signal can be temperamental if the antenna isn’t positioned just right, which can lead to occasional hiccups in navigation. It also struggles with very tall grass, so if you’ve left your lawn to grow wild, it may need a trim with a regular mower first before the Blade can take over.

Still, for regularly maintained large gardens, the EcoFlow Blade is one of the smartest, most capable mowers you can buy. It’s powerful, packed with features, and takes the chore out of mowing – as long as you’ve got the setup dialled in.

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The best robot mower for smaller gardens

When it comes to smaller gardens, the Worx Landroid Vision M600 is a great choice. It’s compact, smart, and incredibly easy to live with, and if you want a robot mower that doesn’t feel like overkill for your modest lawn, this is the one to beat.

What makes the Vision M600 stand out is its use of camera-based navigation. Unlike most robotic mowers that rely on boundary wires or RTK GPS, this mower uses AI-driven visual recognition to identify edges, obstacles and lawn boundaries.

It’s designed to handle lawns up to 600m², making it ideal for small to mid-sized gardens. Its slim profile and agile movement means it's ideal for navigating narrow passages and tight corners that would trip up larger models.

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The best self-collecting robot mower

If you have a medium-to-large lawn (around 1,500m² or more) and want a wire-free mowing solution, the Mammotion YUKA is a strong alternative to any of the above options. Guided by RTK GPS, the YUKA offers efficient, consistent mowing and comes in two versions: a standard mulching model, or an upgraded version with an optional grass collector that sweeps up clippings and leaves, then dumps them in a set location.

Both the 1,500m² and 2,000m² models feature a generous 32cm cutting deck – larger than most robot mowers – and a wide cutting height range, though it must be adjusted manually. Whilst not quite as reliable as the LUBA 2 AWD at the moment (due to a recent firmware issue affecting connectivity), we expect this to be resolved soon.

Despite that, the YUKA still delivers impressive mowing performance, creating clean rows and lush lawn stripes. It’s a great option for those who want large-area coverage, flexibility, and a bit of extra lawn care tech without the need for perimeter wires.

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The best performing robot mower

This excellent model from two-wheel transporter specialist Segway uses GPS RTK+ Vision to navigate the lawn so you don’t have to get on hands and knees to lay a perimeter cable – which is a massive bonus.

Aside from installing the charging station and initially steering the bot around the edges of your sward, there is nothing else to be done with this model. Just sit back a relax knowing that the Navimow will head out and mow the lawn at the touch of an app button or, if preferred, stick to a scheduled maintenance programme at any time of the day or night. The Navimow features obstacle avoidance for most items above around three inches in height and is also near silent in operation so it’s 100% guaranteed that your neighbours will never hear a squeak.

Since this mower’s 18cm cutting deck is sited in the centre, it won’t cut grass to the very edge but then again not many standard push mowers do that either. Nevertheless, an offset cutting deck would have made edge cutting a bit neater.

We were mightily impressed by this keenly-priced mowbot’s performance and overall ease of use. After just two days of operation, our test lawn was looking immaculate and you can’t wish for more than that.

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How to choose the best robot lawn mower

Getting every piece of grass an even length, making sure that every area is covered, and so on can be annoying, and that's not to mention inclement weather conditions. As the name suggests, robotic lawn mowers are just that. They happily move around a garden, cutting grass to an equal length and navigating most tricky terrain while you kick back and relax.

Depending on your garden type, different mowers can work better than others – for example, if you have a MASSIVE garden you'll want a large lawn mower with plenty of battery life, and if you have a small-but-hilly garden you'll need a mower with grippy wheels and plenty of power to negotiate inclines. Blade width is important, as are other features, such as the ability to remote control the mower with your smartphone.

Nevertheless, you can't just buy most robotic mowers, unbox them, stick them on the lawn and expect them to start cutting immediately because many need a perimeter wire inserted around the entire lawn (preferably under it) and any obstacles like trees, benches, gazebos and arbours. The perimeter wire is a vital component that tells the mower when it's reached the edge so it doesn't run riot through the roses or tumble into a void. Instead, it'll turn around and mow somewhere else.

However, recent years have seen an upsurge in self-guiding robot mowers that don’t require any perimeter wire at all and these are the models we would recommend the most. Wire-free mowbots cost a lot more than their less-high tech cousins but what price convenience?

When it comes to navigation, you might also need to be mindful of natural obstacles like pine cones, beech nuts and dropped fruit. Most robot mowers will happily run slipshod over these types of small obstacles but to help prevent wear on the cutting mechanism, it’s advisable to clear most obstacles of this nature when possible.

Another more pressing concern is dog poop because most robot mowers will simply ride over it, their blades cutting it into little bits which will naturally be spread around. If you don’t fancy the idea of your robot mower’s underside looking like a cess pit, then remove dog poop where possible or don’t get a robot mower. The good news is it will eventually decomposes naturally leaving no signs behind so it shouldn't be an issue after a while. Out of sight, out of mind.

Another thing worth noting is that some robotic mowers tend to travel in a haphazard fashion that may make you wonder if you've bought a duffer. You haven't, it knows exactly where it's been and where it's going. So, bear with the zigzag patterns on your lawn for the first few days and eventually the whole sward will look evenly mowed and as smooth as a billiard table.

How we test the best robot lawn mowers

Testing robot lawn mowers is about more than just watching them roll across a lawn – it’s about evaluating how well they perform in real-world conditions, across a variety of garden types and sizes. We begin by setting up each mower as a typical user would, assessing how intuitive the setup process is, whether it's wire-free or requires a perimeter wire installation. This first step gives us a clear sense of how beginner-friendly each model is.

Once up and running, we test the mower over several days or weeks on different lawn types. We closely observe mowing efficiency, navigation accuracy and obstacle avoidance. If a model claims to handle slopes or cut close to edges, we make sure to challenge it accordingly. We also look at how well it handles narrow passages, flower beds, trees and other common obstacles.

Cutting performance is key, so we examine how evenly the mower trims the grass, how fine the clippings are mulched, and whether any patches are missed. Some models are tested on longer or damp grass to see how they cope under tougher conditions. We also check whether the lawn looks visibly healthier over time with regular mowing.

In addition to mowing performance, we assess build quality, battery life, noise levels and connectivity. App functionality is also tested in full – including scheduling, zone creation, manual control, firmware updates and security features like GPS tracking or theft protection. Finally, we consider overall value for money, and whether the mower justifies its price with smart features, reliable performance and ease of use.

Best Robot Lawn Mower FAQs

Do robot lawn mowers need a boundary wire?

Many robot mowers still use a boundary wire to define the mowing area, which must be installed manually around your lawn. However, newer models now offer wire-free alternatives using RTK GPS or camera-based navigation. These systems let you set virtual boundaries through an app, making setup much faster and less invasive.

Read our guide on wired vs. boundary-free robot mowers for more information.

Can robot mowers handle uneven or sloped lawns?

Most modern robot mowers can manage gentle slopes and uneven ground, but performance varies by model. Basic mowers typically handle inclines up to 25–30%, whilst premium models like the LUBA 2 AWD can tackle slopes as steep as 80%.

Do robot mowers collect grass clippings?

Generally, robot mowers don’t collect clippings. Instead, they use mulching blades to cut the grass finely, allowing clippings to fall back onto the lawn as a natural fertiliser. This improves lawn health and eliminates the need to empty a collection box.

Some models, like the Mammotion YUKA 1500, do offer grass and leaf collection, but these are the exception rather than the rule. For most users, regular mowing keeps the clippings small and unobtrusive.

Reviewer Panel

In the rapidly changing world of video streaming, even the best televisions need a helping hand regarding apps. That's why streaming devices are so popular.

Whether it's a set-top box or stick that plugs directly into the back of your TV, a dedicated device is a great idea if you want to keep up to date with the latest streaming services. Yes, TVs often come with many of the apps and platforms preinstalled, but as more features are added to the likes of Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, your set might not be able to keep up.

Streaming devices, on the other hand, are generally more powerful than the TV's processing and, if they become outdated, it's a lot cheaper to replace a stick or box than an entire screen.

So here are our choices of the different media streamers on the market that we recommend right now, with something for every budget. It's time to treat yourself and your TV to a feast of entertainment.

T3 Top 3

If you're short on time and want to see our top three recommended streaming devices without checking out other alternatives, here are our quick and easy suggestions.

The best streaming devices we recommend in 2026

The best streaming device overall

The Apple TV box has been around for many years but the latest iteration is the real deal. It not only offers elite performance when it comes to pictures and sound, the user interface is intuitive and wonderfully designed.

That's because the latest version of tvOS puts your content front and centre. There's the age-old menu page full of apps, but when the box loads it opens the Apple TV experience automatically, and this gives you a handy rail of shows you've been watching, the next episode, or content you've tagged to watch later.

This is gleaned from numerous apps, not just Apple TV+, and while there are some exceptions, it lets you get to your shows and films within very few clicks.

There's more to the Apple TV 4K box too, not least support for the latest 4K HDR and Dolby Vision standards, plus Dolby Atmos. And, as well as other apps available on the App Store, you can also download and enjoy the games included with an Apple Arcade subscription.

If there's one minor criticism it's that the included wireless remote is still starved of buttons and the circular touch panel can take a little getting used to. That being said, the voice functionality is a great way to jump straight into services, while its rechargeable battery lasts for months on end.

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The best streaming stick

Amazon's streaming devices have become the most popular over the years and for good reason – not only do they offer excellent video and audio performance, they are reasonably priced.

Certainly, if you don't fancy a dedicated set-top-box, the Fire TV Stick is a great option. It hides around the back of your TV, with the remote control not needing line of sight to work. And, the Fire TV 4K Max, while a bit of a mouthful, is the best of the range.

It includes faster, more powerful processing than others from Amazon, plus more stable wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E support. You also get faster Alexa responses, with the digital assistant baked into the whole experience, and the device has no trouble streaming 4K video with all the trimmings.

If you're an Amazon Prime Video subscriber, a Fire TV Stick is a no-brainer. Conversely, you might find the user experience a little off-putting if you don't – the system integrates Amazon's own content throughout. However, all the other major, rival services are available too, with many of them also appearing as part of the home page design.

Ultimately, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is among the very best streamers out there, and Alexa is still the smartest assistant. Its playback talents are also superb, so it's a very worthy option for making your TV smarter.

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review

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The best value streaming device

Roku has been synonymous with streaming devices since the year dot, and its strong heritage has resulted in one of the most complete solutions around.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is capable of full 4K HDR streaming, with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, but the real star of the show is the dongle's content library – just about every streaming service and app released around the world is included.

Of course, you might not need them all, but at least there's always something new to find if you get bored.

As for the device itself, like Amazon's Fire TV Stick, it can be plugged into the rear of your TV and forgotten about, with a dedicated remote control that doesn't need line of sight to work.

There is voice support, although not quite as detailed as Alexa, say, but you also get dedicated link buttons on the remote too, that can zip straight to the most popular services with one press.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is great value for a device with its level of performance, although the menu system doesn't quite have the same level of polish as others – it's more a page of apps, really.

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The best streaming device for Android TV

The Nvidia Shield TV Pro has been around for while now, but is arguably still the most powerful on the market. It's also the most expensive for that reason.

As well as provide the entire Android TV experience, which gives you access to (just about) every streaming service and app around, there are some clever features Nvidia has included that rivals cannot.

One of those is the ability to enhance streamed video using AI. The Shield TV Pro will assess images from the likes of Paramount+ and YouTube in real time and "upscale" them to suit a 4K TV even if the video isn't 4K to begin with. That results in sharper images and a better overall viewing experience.

In addition, the Shield TV Pro can act as a Plex server to store your media on – which is then accessible by other devices. And it gives you access to Nvidia's own cloud gaming platform, GeForce Now. Connect a controller via Bluetooth and you can play AAA PC games, basically.

The device can also double as a Chromecast, thanks to Google's software, and is pretty nifty in operation.

Read our full Nvidia Shield TV Pro review

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The best for UK TV streaming

While it is a streaming device, Sky Stream is different to most. That's because it is tied-in with a Sky subscription and won't work without.

However, if you do subscribe to the basic package at least – which includes Sky TV and Netflix in one – you get a rich user experience that provides the best UK TV has to offer, plus Netflix programming integrated with the menu system.

Then, if you add other services available through the box, such as Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+, they can be integrated too. Other apps are available too, including Apple TV+ and Disney+.

In almost every respect, Sky Stream is Sky Glass without the TV, allowing you to get the same experience on your own set, and all in 4K HDR where possible. There's Dolby Atmos sound support too, if you have a capable audio system.

Sky's voice search and commands system is excellent, and the picture quality is top-notch. Indeed, the only thing that will make some think twice is the cost, as you need to commit to a monthly payment for the TV packages, but it's also the only box here that offers pretty much everything in the one place.

Read our full Sky Stream review

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The best all-round streaming device

Google radically redesigned its Chromecast a few years back, opting to ditch the original device for a more conventional streamer. Before, you used your mobile phone as a controller and the Chromecast pulled content from the internet – it didn't house the services itself and had no menu system.

Now though, you get the full Google TV experience – which is similar to Android TV in many respects although, we feel, is still catching up in others.

Nigh-on every major service and app is included, although there are some strange holes, such as Channel 4's streaming app in the UK. But you can always cast to the device from your mobile phone, so can still play content from unsupported services.

As with Apple TV and Amazon's Fire TV, you can also control your smart home from your Chromecast, especially when Google's own Nest devices are involved. There's even the ability to make video calls on your set. And, with Google Assistant baked in, you get full voice control too.

The Chromecast with Google TV is a very capable streamer, generally, but as it's one of the newest on the block in this form, it's still finding its feet somewhat. We're sure it'll get even better in the coming years.

Read our full Chromecast with Google TV review

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The best entry-level streaming device

Amazon ranges a lot of Amazon Fire TV Stick models, including this, the latest version of the original device.

The basic Amazon Fire TV Stick actually sits above an even cheaper, Lite version but has enough about it for only a little more to be worth considering.

It is only capable of HD playback, so a maximum of 1080p, but you do get Dolby Atmos support if your sound system or soundbar is capable. There's the entire Amazon user experience on board, with enough processing to make it run smoothly, and Alexa is enabled through the included Voice Remote.

In all honesty, unless your main TV is 1080p, this dongle is best suited to a set in another room, as it is very capable but you will miss out on a lot of detail when streaming shows and movies at their best.

However, plug it into the rear of a bedroom TV and you're getting a great way to make the experience smarter.

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick review

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How to choose the best streaming device for you

What TV and/or system do you own?

The first thing to consider when choosing a streaming device is what type of TV you own, and if you have a sound system, when are its capabilities.

For example, if you don't own a 4K TV and have no intention of buying one any time soon, you really don't need to spend extra to get a 4K-enabled media streamer. The same with audio – if your soundbar isn't capable of Dolby Atmos playback, you don't technically need a device that provides it.

This can save you pennies, as the major brands often offer a HD alternative, which maxes the video to 1080p and audio to 5.1.

Look for the badges

If you do however own a 4K HDR TV set that supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, you might want to consider a device that can provide both. Check on the manufacturer's website to see what picture and audio standards it is capable of playing – most but not all on this list support both.

Think about the streaming services and apps you want

Sadly, not all services and apps are carried by all streaming devices. Some are strangely missing for one reason or another.

You might find that your favourite streaming platform isn't available on the device you've chosen, so can make the user experience frustrating as you have to swap between devices to watch different shows.

Again, it is best to check a manufacturer's website to ensure that its device carries all of the streaming services you want to access.

How we tested all the streaming devices

How we test the best streaming services

The T3 team has extensive knowledge of streaming devices. We often use them professionally and in our personal lives.

We test the performance plus picture and audio quality across the multiple devices too, often using the best TVs and AV receivers with full surround setups.

The best pressure washers can save you hours of cleaning time, from blasting patios and driveways to efficiently cleaning your decking, car, bike and more. It's essentially one of those gadgets you never knew you needed – in fact, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one sooner. All you need is access to the garden tap and a mains socket, and away you go!

Pressure washers have improved in many important ways. Powerful and efficient, they're considerably quieter than models of old – some of them are also seriously smart with pro-spec technology at home-spec prices. You can also use them on more delicate items with some of the best models being safe to use on bicycles, motorbikes and won't cut through paint if you get too close to your car.

Our top pick has been the Kärcher K4 Power Control Home for a while now, but keep reading to find the best model for you. If you need other tools, check out our guides to the best cordless lawnmowers and the best petrol lawnmowers to help keep your garden looking its best.

The top three

Best pressure washers you can buy in 2025

The best pressure washer overall

If you’re after the best pressure washer out there, you’ll struggle to top the Kärcher K4 Power Control Home. Whilst it has fewer specs and a lower price tag than the Kärcher K7 (number 3 on our list), it actually comes with the same accessories – and for most standard cleaning jobs, it’s a brilliant all-rounder.

When we took it to task on a filthy, neglected, mould-covered patio, the Kärcher K4 absolutely smashed it, peeling off years of grime like wiping a whiteboard clean. The best part? It required almost zero physical effort.

The K4 really came into its own when tackling a car, especially the alloys. As they have an open-face design, our test vehicle’s alloys usually trap dirt in tricky spots between the spokes. However, with the K4, those awkward recesses were spotless in seconds.

We also tried out the patio brush alongside the plug-in detergent dispenser, and it made short work of stubborn dirt. On a scorching hot day, the K4 also doubled up as a fantastic mist atomiser, filling the garden with a super fine, cooling spray.

Better still, the K4 is compatible with a wide range of additional accessories – including a handy car brush, which we reckon your neighbours will be queuing up to borrow.

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The best affordable pressure washer

If you’re looking for a small, budget pressure washer, this model is very easy to recommend. Crucially, the Kärcher K2 Compact Car & Home is a well-made unit and the lightweight design makes it a perfect model for lugging around the garden or the car when cleaning – the portability helps make up for the rather short four-metre hose. Although this model is lower powered than some of its stablemates, it still performs exceptionally well. It just takes a little longer to perform the same task.

Despite it being the baby of the Kärcher family, the K2 does comes with support for all Kärcher pressure washer accessories, and included in the box is a detergent bottle and Car Kit with car brush, which is ideal for keeping the pride and joy looking brand new. For smaller homes and car-owners who like to keep their wheels in tip-top condition, this model is a great choice.

To compare this model, check out T3's Kärcher K4 vs. Kärcher K2 comparison feature. And, for information on this pressure washer’s stablemate, the standard-sized K2 Power Control Home, consult our detailed Kärcher K2 guide.

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The best premium pressure washer

If you're after a premium pressure washer with a premium design, the Kärcher K7 Premium Smart Control is perfect. It’s powerful, capable of cleaning a large range of items with multiple pressure layers, and the fastest we tested, too. Also, the LED display on the handle makes it easy to keep an eye on how high the pressure is.

This is a sizeable pressure washer and that means you get plenty of on-board storage for its accessories, which include a telescopic handle, full control lances and patio cleaner.

The 3-in-1 multi-jet lance is the star of the show – simply twist it to select the perfect mode for any cleaning application. When used along with the K7's Plus 'n' Clean system, this lance will also allow delicate items like cycles to be cleaned without ruining the paintwork of purging grease from the hubs.

In terms of price, this model is at the premium end of the market, but if you want a pressure washer that will last for years and perform better than most others in all disciplines, then this is the model to grab.

To see how this pressure washer stacks up against our top choice, check out T3's Kärcher K4 vs Kärcher K7 comparison feature.

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The best cordless pressure washer

The Bosch Fontus 18V packs a range of features that make it a seriously versatile tool for outdoor cleaning – but what really stands out is its convenient, cordless design. Its 18V battery delivers up to an hour of cordless power, and combined with its wheels, lightweight 6.4 kg frame (without water), and sturdy carry handle, it’s a breeze to move around. This is a real game-changer if you’re planning to water plants, rinse down garden furniture, or clean up a variety of outdoor gear.

You get two main attachments: a spray gun and a detachable SmartBrush. The spray gun offers four different spray patterns, giving you options for different cleaning tasks. Both attachments can be neatly stored within the unit itself, which is a big plus if space is limited or you want to grab-and-go without hassle.

That said, the Bosch Fontus 18V isn’t without its downsides. The biggest letdown is its limited pressure. Even on the highest setting, it simply doesn’t deliver true pressure-washing power. With a maximum of just 20 bar, it’s clear this machine is built for light outdoor cleaning rather than heavy-duty grime removal. So if serious pressure washing is what you need, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

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The best compact pressure washer

The Nilfisk Core 140 is a solid performer for not very much money, so if you're looking for an affordable, compact pressure washer, it is well worth checking out.

It has three different power levels, which are selected via the control knob on the front of the machine. These are 100%, 80% and 60% respectively, and it makes it easy to alter the power depending on what you're cleaning. For example, when cleaning a cycle with delicate parts, you can opt for the 60% power option, and when blasting dirty patios you can crank things up to 100%.

The Core 140 also features an internal hose reel that is six metres in length, as well as a plug and play sprayer detergent system. The spray gun can also be attached with two heads, one for 'gentle' application and one for 'rough'.

Portability is easy thanks to the Core 140's light weight (only 8.6kg) and the fact that it has a raised grab bar handle and built-in wheels. In the pantheon of pressure washers, it’s actually rather attractive looking as well.

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How to choose the best pressure washer for you

Most pressure washers are mains powered, meaning you’ll need either an outdoor socket or a 13-amp extension cable, plus a hose for water supply. Admittedly, that’s a bit of a faff to set up, but you do get a decent-length pressure hose so you can cover a good area before moving the unit itself. Mains models typically offer between 110 and 180 bar of pressure, adjustable from a wide spray (great for cars and light cleaning) to a narrow, dirt-blasting jet for patios and paving stones.

Cordless pressure washers are a different beast. They’re much less powerful (usually 22 to 56 bar), but far more portable. Most can work with a hosepipe, but they also come with a suction hose that lets you draw water from a bucket, which is ideal for off-grid cleaning. Don’t expect to clean a whole driveway, but for quick jobs like rinsing bikes, clearing moss, or cleaning out-of-reach areas, they’re brilliant.

When picking a pressure washer, think about what you actually need. A basic £110 model will handle occasional pathway cleaning, but if you want flexibility to clean everything from trainers to a multi-car driveway, you’ll need to spend more for extra power and accessories.

Most pressure washers will tackle the usual jobs – patios, driveways, brickwork – but pricier models do it faster and with less effort. One word of warning though: pressure washing can make things too clean. We once blasted a fake York stone path and it ended up looking newer (and cheaper) than anyone wanted. Sometimes, a bit of weathered charm is a good thing.

Oh, and one last tip – on a sweltering day, switch to a fine mist setting and you’ve got an instant outdoor cooler. Just don’t spray anyone up close, unless you fancy a trip to A&E.

How we test pressure washers

The applications of pressure washers are wide-ranging, and at T3 we try to use each pressure washer we review in multiple applications before bestowing a score on it. However, from our extensive testing of pressure washers over the years, we've learned that the two primary uses of a pressure washer are cleaning patios and decking, as well as cleaning vehicles such as cars and motorbikes.

As such, we always use a pressure washer for both of these things, as they are what the vast majority of buyers will use the kit for. It helps us give the prospective buyer the most accurate take on a pressure washer that is possible.

In terms of each piece of hardware, we first evaluate how easy it is to setup the pressure washer, which includes the clarity of instructions. Once the pressure washer is setup we take a look at design and build quality. Here we're looking to see what the fit and finish is like on the main body, as well as how well-made any spray lance or included accessories are.

From there we move on to performance, which involves using and moving the system in a cleaning scenario. We're looking at effectiveness of cleaning, reach and power of the spray gun, what different spray modes are on offer, and how the washer handles any detergent or cleaning agent.

Some sample cleaning scenarios we undertake include: patio cleaning, decking cleaning, masonry cleaning, window cleaning, automobile cleaning, push bike cleaning and gutter cleaning, among others.

Next, we have look at any included accessories included in the pressure washer package, such as dedicated patio cleaners or spray gun extenders. We also test out any companion app at this stage to see what it offers in terms of unit control and customisation.

Finally, we compare the pressure washers to others on the market at a similar price point, or those that offer the same sort of functionality. With all this considered we then bestow a star score on the pressure washer and, if it is high, consider it for our best pressure washers buying guide.

Best pressure washer FAQs

Should you consider a petrol-powered pressure washer?

Petrol pressure washers do exist, but they deliver buckets of power and portability for serious pressure washing tasks. They're also not really much more expensive than quality electric pressure washers, too.

However, they do need a supply of petrol to operate, which adds in an extra stage in getting one up and running, and truth be told the performance they deliver is likely overkill for most people who just want to clean their car every month or two.

What are pressure washers best for?

It doesn't matter what time of year it is, anytime is a great time to buy a pressure washer and clean that horrible grime off your stuff. And this is especially true in the spring, summer and autumn months, as there are simply so many tasks that are made easier with one.

For example, after the grim winter months cleaning the accumulated grime off a patio or driveway is a doddle with a pressure washer. You simply point and shoot, then stand back and enjoy a pristine, new-looking surface.

Equally, if you need to clean outdoor furniture, cycles, cars, motorbikes, gutters, windows, brickwork, garage doors and much more than doing so with a pressure washer is quicker and far easier than even attempting the same with a hose. For truly immaculate results you need to invest in the correct equipment.

And that is what T3's buying guide here is designed to help with. It has been crafted like our best barbecue and best cordless lawnmowers guides to help people find the perfect product for them.

Reviewer Panel

We’re huge smart lighting enthusiasts here at T3 and have been testing indoor and outdoor smart lights for over half a decade. However, in our opinion, if you’re shopping in this space, Philips Hue is where you should start.

This is because Philips Hue not only offers the biggest and most versatile range of smart lights, but its app is also best-in-class, making customisation and personalisation effortless. For us, that’s really the heart of smart lighting – the ability to tailor the look and mood of your home, both inside and out.

If you’re looking for the best outdoor lights or best smart lights, the Philips Hue models in this guide are some of the most reliable and versatile on the market.

The top three

Best Philips Hue light ranking 2026

The best Philips Hue light overall

It’s no secret that Philips Hue is widely regarded as the best smart lighting ecosystem you can buy right now, even with so much competition on the market. However, there’s one smart light that truly stands out from the rest, earning the number one position in this guide.

The Philips Hue Play Wall Washer launched last year as a way to cast broad, seamless colour gradients both up and down your wall, instantly transforming the feel of a room. With the right setup, it can also sync with your TV or gaming screen, extending on-screen colours beyond the display for a much more enveloping viewing experience.

Our reviewer was seriously impressed, calling it a powerful smart light that can completely elevate your living space – particularly when paired with a TV. It’s certainly a premium option, but if you’re looking for a high-end product that delivers on performance, it's more than earned its place at the top.

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The best affordable Philips Hue light

If you want to access the Philips Hue ecosystem without spending a fortune, the new Hue Essential bulbs are by far the most affordable way to do it.

Unlike the standard White and Colour Ambiance bulbs – which offer full RGB colour, higher brightness levels and deeper customisation – the Essential range is designed to strip things back. You still get reliable performance and app control, but at a lower price point.

The main thing to remember is that the Hue Essential bulbs still benefit from the wider Hue ecosystem. They’re Matter-compatible and can be paired with a Hue Bridge to unlock automation and integration with other smart devices. So, whilst they’re more budget-friendly, you’re not sacrificing the reliability or stability Philips Hue is known for.

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The best premium Philips Hue light

The Signe Gradient Floor Lamp is one of Philips Hue's most recognisable smart lights, especially as not many smart lighting brands have created a competitor. It's the perfect light to complement any decor, especially when it comes to its slim, stylish design. Just like the brand's Gradient Lightstrip, the Signe blends multiple colours together to paint the walls with a unique gradient of light.

It's available in black, white and oak, and can be controlled via the Philips Hue app or connected to an existing smart lighting setup using the Philips Hue Bridge. There's also a table lamp version if you're after something a little smaller.

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The best Philips Hue light for entertainment

The Play Light Bar is great for creating a wide wash of colour in a relatively compact form, which is why it's our top choice for entertainment lighting. It also comes with a power supply that can support up to three light bars, which helps reduce the number of plugs needed if you plan to expand your setup.

In terms of placement, you can stand it upright, lay it horizontally, or mount it to the back of your TV using the included brackets, depending on the effect you’re trying to achieve.

It’s available in black or white, and you can choose from a base kit, a two-pack, or extension packs. This makes it easy to scale your lighting setup over time, whether you’re adding subtle background lighting or building a more immersive TV or gaming arrangement.

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The best Philips Hue string lights

Whilst brands like Nanoleaf and Govee offer compelling alternatives, Festavia remains Hue’s most fully featured and versatile string lighting option – particularly since the arrival of the second generation.

Although the newer model looks similar to the original, it’s now suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, which significantly expands where and how it can be used. There’s also far more flexibility in sizing, with options including 100 LEDs (8 metres), 250 LEDs (20 metres) and 500 LEDs (40 metres). Brightness varies depending on the length you choose, making it easier to match the lights to your space.

One of Festavia’s biggest strengths is its gradient LED zones, which allow multiple colours to appear along the string at the same time. You can display up to three colours simultaneously, creating a more dynamic look than traditional single-colour string lights.

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The best Philips Hue pedestal

You’re certainly not short of pedestal light options in the Hue range, and the Nyro is easily one of the most distinctive. Its angular design gives it a bold, architectural look that’s quite different from the softer styles found in many outdoor lights. For some people, that modern aesthetic will be a real highlight, but it’s also fair to say it’s not going to be to everyone’s taste.

Design opinions aside, it’s still a very high-performing outdoor light. It has a high IP rating and a 1035 lumen output, so it does a great job of lighting up pathways and surrounding areas once switched on.

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The best Philips Hue spotlight

Whilst the Hue Lily Spotlight is pretty much the only dedicated spotlight Philips Hue offers, that doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the best options in its category. It’s available as a starter kit that includes three spotlights, and you can easily add extension lights later if you want to expand your setup. Each light comes with both a ground stake and a surface mount, along with a generous 23-foot extension cable, giving you plenty of flexibility when it comes to positioning them around your garden.

When all three lights are used together, they create a soft and atmospheric glow across a space. That said, they’re designed primarily as accent lights, so they’re best suited to mood lighting and colourful scenes rather than fully illuminating a large outdoor area on their own.

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The best Philips Hue wall light

Of all the outdoor wall lights Philips Hue has released, the Appear Outdoor Wall Light remains our favourite. Its sleek, modern vertical design perfectly complements doorways, whilst the 1,180 lumen output at 4,000K is noticeably brighter than many other outdoor options on the market today.

Thanks to its shape, the Appear casts crisp triangular beams both upward and downward, creating a striking architectural look. It’s even more effective when used in pairs on either side of a doorway, coming across as incredibly stylish and practical at the same time.

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The best Philips Hue floodlight

The Philips Hue Secure Floodlight Camera is the brand’s most advanced outdoor floodlight, combining powerful lighting with built-in home security. Designed to replace a traditional outdoor security light, it delivers an impressive 2250 lumens, making it one of the brightest lights in the Hue outdoor range.

That said, some of its more advanced camera features rely on the Philips Hue Secure subscription plan. Without it, you still get basic functions like live viewing and alerts, but extended video history and certain smart detection tools are locked behind the paid tier. Even with this limitation, it’s still the best floodlight Philips Hue offers, thanks to its extremely bright output and strong build quality.

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The best Philips Hue outdoor lights

If you’re after some great outdoor lighting, the Globe Outdoor String Lights from Philips Hue are absolutely worth considering. They have a relatively low lumen output, so they’re less about visibility and more about creating atmosphere. That actually works in their favour, making them ideal for areas where mood matters more than brightness.

The large globe-style bulbs also give them a more premium look than typical outdoor fairy lights, especially when paired with Hue’s colour-changing features and scenes. You can switch between warm white for relaxed evenings or more vibrant colours when hosting friends, all controlled through the Hue app.

How to choose the best Philips Hue lights

Choosing the best Philips Hue lights really comes down to where you plan to use them and what you want them to do. Philips Hue is obviously a huge ecosystem, so if you’re just starting out, smart bulbs are usually the easiest entry point, especially the more affordable Essential range. However, if you’re looking to build a more immersive setup, products like light bars, gradient strips and outdoor spotlights can completely transform a space.

It’s also worth thinking about how deeply you want to integrate your lighting into a smart home. Whilst many Hue lights can work with Bluetooth for basic control, adding a Hue Bridge unlocks the full experience. This includes remote access, automation, motion sensors and deeper integration with platforms like Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit.

Finally, consider brightness and purpose. Some Hue lights are designed for practical illumination, whilst others focus on ambient or decorative lighting, so picking the right type for your room or garden setup makes a big difference.

How we test the best Philips Hue lights

When we test Philips Hue lights, we live with them as part of a real smart home setup. That means testing installation, app setup and integration with the Hue ecosystem, including how easily the lights connect to the Hue Bridge and other devices.

As different Philips Hue lights are designed for different purposes, we always judge them based on what they’re actually meant to do. Outdoor lights are tested in a range of weather conditions where possible, whilst indoor lights are assessed on how effectively they create atmosphere.

Best Philips Hue light FAQs

Do Philips Hue lights work without a Hue Bridge?

A lot of Philips Hue lights can be controlled via Bluetooth without a Bridge, especially a lot of the smart bulbs. However, a Hue Bridge unlocks full features, including remote control, automation, routines, smart home and the ability to connect more than 10 lights.

Do Philips Hue lights need a subscription?

No, basic functionality like turning lights on/off, dimming and colour changes doesn’t require a subscription. Some advanced features, like the Secure Floodlight Camera’s video history, are locked behind the optional Hue subscription plan.

Do Philips Hue lights consume a lot of energy?

This obviously depends on you own energy consumption, but Philips Hue LEDs are energy-efficient, using far less than a traditional incandescent bulb.

Reviewer Panel

Interested in a bit more browsing? Check out our guide to the best Philips Hue alternative lights!

The best petrol mower is more powerful than the majority of corded and cordless models, and for people with lots of lawn to mow they are also extremely convenient. Petrol mowers are generally very reliable if used with a specialist alkylate fuel like Aspen 4, they’re excellent for long grass, they’re easier to get up hills thanks to the motor assistance, and the noise they make is fun if you're a petrolhead, too.

If you have a typical inner city lawn or a small suburban plot then a petrol lawn mower is clearly not going to be your ideal choice since your neighbours might not like the noise and smell of an internal combustion engine. In which case you'll be much better served with one of the best cordless lawn mowers.

With a petrol-powered mower you can mow and mow for hours on end – or as long as you have a can of unleaded petrol or Aspen 4 to hand. Petrol mowers are more than powerful enough to tackle even the kind of long damp grass that might flummox a cordless or corded model. As experts who’ve tested dozens of petrol mowers in real-world conditions, we’ve seen which models truly deliver on power, efficiency and ease of use. Our top pick is the Hyundai HYM480SPER, and we'll explain why in just a moment.

Just as we've done in our best robot lawn mowers and best pressure washer buying guides, we've filled our best petrol lawn mowers buying guide with a variety of models that offer different features and price points. Take a look below to find out more:

The top three

Best petrol lawn mowers 2026

The best petrol mower overall

The Hyundai HYM480SPER is a premium petrol lawn mower tailored for larger lawns, offering a blend of power, convenience and design. Equipped with a 139cc Hyundai OHV four-stroke engine delivering 3.5hp, it features a 48cm cutting deck and a 70-litre grass collector, reducing the frequency of emptying. The mower offers five adjustable cutting heights ranging from 25mm to 75mm, accommodating various grass conditions. Its six-speed self-propulsion system ensures ease of use, whilst the rear roller provides traditional striped lawn effects.

That said, the HYM480SPER's weight of 41.5kg makes it less manoeuvrable in tight spaces and challenging to lift, and the handlebar's inability to fold further complicates storage in smaller sheds. However, despite these drawbacks, the mower's performance and features make it our top choice for those seeking one of the best.

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The best affordable petrol mower

The Titan TTLMP300SP40 provides a strong balance of power and affordability, making it well-suited for medium to large lawns. It features a 125cc engine that delivers enough power to handle thick or damp grass, and its self-propelled design makes it easier to move around, especially on slopes.

As mentioned, it's well priced, but it does require a little more maintenance than other options. It also lacks some convenience features like electric start or blade brake that are available on some competing models.

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The best premium petrol mower

Stihl is the go-to brand for professionals, and the RM 448 C lives up to that reputation. It’s a powerful 166cc 4-stroke petrol mower with a 46cm cutting deck, ideal for lawns up to 1,200 square metres. The mower features a large 55-litre grass collector with a convenient rear opening and comes with a mulching kit for finer clippings that improve lawn health. Its standout cutting height adjustment uses a unique sprung finger pad, offering six positions between 25-75mm. The height-adjustable mono handlebar folds for easy storage and simplifies emptying the grass box.

Unlike many petrol mowers with a single speed, this model offers variable self-propulsion controlled by a lever, making it easy to adjust speed while mowing. It runs quietly and efficiently, handling long grass and leaves well. Despite being on the pricey side, a five-year warranty and Stihl’s solid reputation means this mower promises durability and ease of use.

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The best petrol mower for smaller lawns

The Einhell GC-PM 40-1 S is ideal for smaller gardens, thanks to its compact 40cm cutting deck handling lawns up to around 300m² with ease. Powered by a 99cc Einhell single-cylinder 4-stroke OHV engine, it’s surprisingly quiet for a petrol mower and delivers precise, consistent cutting. The self-propulsion is set at a steady pace, making it easy to manoeuvre around tight corners, flowerbeds and narrow paths...and of course, more compact spaces.

It comes with a 45-litre grass catcher and a cutting height range of 25–60mm across seven increments. Our reviewer found assembly straightforward, and after priming the fuel, it started on the second pull. For anyone with a smaller garden who wants the convenience of self-propulsion in a petrol mower, this Einhell model is a strong contender.

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The best cylinder petrol mower

If you want a pristine, striped lawn, the Cobra Fortis 17B cylinder mower delivers professional-level results. Unlike rotary mowers, it cuts grass cleanly like scissors, offering millimetre-precise height adjustment down to 6mm. It’s ideal for smooth, flat lawns, but keep in mind it doesn’t handle bumps, sticks, or stones well, and at over 83kg, it’s seriously heavy. That weight does help press those classic stripes into the lawn though, thanks to its solid front and rear rollers.

Setup is user-friendly, and its twin levers allow separate control of the blade and drive. Our reviewer also found it outperformed rotary mowers with a finer cut and stronger finish, making it a top-tier choice for those who prefer cylinder models.

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The best petrol mower for larger lawns

The VonHaus 171cc Petrol Lawn Mower is a brilliant choice if you’ve got a larger lawn and want something that feels powerful without being overly complicated. It’s driven by a robust 171cc engine, giving it plenty of grunt to cut through thicker or slightly overgrown grass without struggling. Starting it is straightforward with a classic pull cord, and once it’s up and running, it feels particularly consistent across longer mowing sessions.

With a wide cutting deck and multiple height settings, it’s well suited to lawns over 600–700m². The large grass collection box also means fewer stops to empty, which makes a noticeable difference on bigger jobs. It handles tougher conditions well too, including damp patches, whilst still leaving a neat and even finish. Like most petrol mowers, it’s not the quietest option out there, but the trade-off is strong, dependable performance.

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How to choose the best petrol lawn mower

Choosing the right petrol mower isn’t just about picking the most powerful model. There are some key factors to consider to make sure you get one that fits your garden and your needs.

Lawn Size

Small lawns (up to 500m²): A compact mower with easy manoeuvrability is ideal. You don’t need a huge engine, but one that starts easily and handles curves well is a must.

Medium lawns (500–1,000m²): Look for a balance of power and efficiency. Larger wheels and a bigger cutting deck can save time, whilst still being manageable to push.

Large lawns (1,000m² and above): A heavy-duty mower with a wide cutting width and strong engine will make short work of bigger areas. Self-propelled or ride-on models are worth considering.

Terrain

If you have a flat lawn, almost any mower will do, so you can prioritise features like mulching, storage or noise levels.

If your lawn is hilly or uneven, a self-propelled mower with larger rear wheels is best. Petrol engines generally handle slopes better than electric ones, but look for one with good traction and stability.

Ease of Use

Petrol mowers can be heavier than electric ones, so consider starting mechanisms (push-start vs pull-cord), handle ergonomics and manoeuvrability. Adjustable cutting heights and foldable handles also make life easier.

Maintenance and Durability

Check how easy it is to access the oil and air filter, clean the deck, and store the mower over winter. A well-built mower may cost more upfront but will last longer and require less frequent servicing.

Budget

Petrol mowers vary widely in price. Set a budget but think long-term, especially as a reliable, efficient mower can save time, fuel and frustration over several seasons.

By combining these considerations with our hands-on testing insights, you’ll be able to pick a petrol mower that’s perfectly suited to your lawn.

How we test the best petrol lawn mowers

To find the best petrol lawn mowers out there, we put each one through its paces with hands-on testing in real-world conditions – just like you’d use them at home. We look at all the essentials: how well they cut, how easy they are to start and steer, how powerful the engine feels, how much fuel they guzzle (or hopefully, don’t), and even how noisy they are.

We also try them on different grass types and lengths to see how they cope with everything from tidy lawns to wild patches. Build quality, safety features, and how much effort they need to maintain all factor into our final verdict.

You might notice this guide is still growing, but don’t worry – more in-depth reviews and top picks are on the way!

Best petrol lawn mower FAQs

Is E10 unleaded fuel good for my petrol mower?

Just so you don't make one of the most common petrol lawn mower mistakes, it's important to know that petrol at the pump in the UK and Europe is now E10. This means it contains 10% ethanol – a plant-based fuel that's great for the planet but not so great for older lawn mowers. Ethanol attracts moisture, goes stale in about three months, and can mess with your mower’s engine.

To avoid rough starts and spluttering, it’s worth adding a fuel stabiliser every time you fill up. This won’t remove the ethanol, but it’ll protect your engine and help the petrol last longer.

Or, if you want the gold-standard solution, try Aspen fuel. It’s ethanol-free, cleaner-burning, and lasts up to five years. It’s pricier – about £22 for five litres – but one can will likely power you through a full mowing season.

Do petrol mowers need much maintenance?

Petrol lawn mowers do need a bit of TLC, but it’s nothing too intense. The basics include changing the oil once or twice a season (depending on how much you mow), checking and cleaning or replacing the air filter, and sharpening the blade so you get a nice clean cut instead of tearing the grass.

It's also important not to leave old fuel sitting in the tank over winter, as it can go stale and clog things up. Make sure to add a fuel stabiliser if you’re storing the mower for a while, or better yet, run the tank dry before putting it away. A quick annual service can also help your mower stay in top shape for years.

Take a look at our guide on how to clean a lawn mower for more tips and tricks.

What’s the difference between push and self-propelled petrol mowers?

Push mowers are powered by the engine for cutting only, meaning you still have to do the pushing. They’re usually lighter and cheaper, and they’re great for small, flat lawns where manoeuvrability matters more than muscle.

On the other hand, self-propelled mowers have a drive system that powers the wheels – so once you start it up, it practically walks itself across the lawn. This makes them ideal for larger gardens or hilly terrain where pushing a heavy mower would be a workout. Some models even come with variable speed settings, so you can mow at your own pace.

Reviewer Panel

The best pizza oven can turn your outdoor space into your very own slice of Italy. Pizza ovens make way better pizza than a standard oven, giving you that stone-baked finish and an authentic taste.

Believe us, when you taste the first pizza from your very own pizza oven, you'll wonder how you ever managed without one. For those who’ve never cooked pizza in a pizza oven before, it’s super simple and difficult to go wrong really, but we do have a guide on how to cook pizza at home so you can get the best results every single time.

Pizza ovens are a fun way to get the whole family together to eat outdoors, so if you’re looking for something a little different to the best barbecues, a pizza oven is a great alternative.

Now we’ve got your taste buds tingling, let's take a look at the best pizza ovens that 2025 has to offer…

T3's Top 3

Best pizza ovens 2026 ranking

The best pizza oven overall

There are several reasons why this stealthy gas-fired 14-inch pizza oven from Italian celebrity chef and presenter Gino D’Acampo is our new number one choice. Firstly, it’s a lovely looker from every angle but more than that, it’s just a brilliantly designed and very efficient domestic pizza oven that’s light enough to carry a short distance and small enough to easily store away. It also happens to make excellent pizzas with minimum fuss. Just follow Gino’s ingenious tip which is to turn off the oven just before launching the pizza and turning the gas on again to low after turning the pizza for the first time. This sage advice applies to all gas-fired pizza ovens and it may just revolutionise your pizza baking.

While the narrow gap to the oven makes it a bit trickier to launch and turn a pizza, it also prevents too much cool ambient air from mixing with the hot stuff and that means the 14-inch edge-to-edge cordierite stone can reach optimum temperature (between 420˚C and 450˚C) in just 15 minutes – possibly quicker on a very hot day. The smaller mouth also ensures that the heat stays in for subsequent pizzas.

The Gino is available in three luscious liveries – the faux carbon-fibre Carbonio we received plus two matt black models, one bedecked in Italian flag racing stripe – and it’s not as expensive to buy as you’d think when looking at it. The four sturdy fold-out legs, meanwhile, ensure that the oven remains rock steady when placed on a suitable table, though a stand is also available for those who wish to spend more dosh. And it comes with the longest propane pipe in the industry.

There are many superb domestic pizza ovens in this guide – especially the Ooni Volt 12, Witt ETNA Rotate and Sage Pizzaiolo – but for design, size, weight, functionality and price, the Gino D'Acamp Pizza Oven takes the chequered flag. At least for the time being.

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The best luxury pizza oven

The Gozney Arc is the best pizza oven in terms of design and capacity, which is why it won Best Outdoor Cooking Appliance at the T3 Awards 2024. With its classic dome design (which features below in this guide), it has an impressive size and power, and can fit a huge amount of food inside, including 14-inch pizzas.

The fancy stand, weather cover and shiny accessories means you'll be an expert pizza maker and aficionado... although it might hurt your bank balance a little. Its gas power and controls makes it easy to set up and use, and it's incredible versatile s you can cook a bunch of BBQ classics and skillet-based meals, too.

Compared to its other Gozney siblings, the Gozney Arc is our favourite by far. The brand is also so reliable, trustworthy and high quality, so we couldn't recommend it more. Read our full Gozney Arc review.

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The best budget pizza oven

Many people are put off buying pizza ovens because they don't eat as much pizza as expected. But the beauty of pizza ovens is that they can cook so many dishes, outside of pizzas, flatbreads and calzones. But if you'd prefer a cooking appliance that does it all while having a pizza oven-inspired design, the Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven is what we'd recommend.

Ninja makes some of the best small appliances, including air fryers and multi-cookers, so the Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven acts in a similar way as it has many different functions to choose from. Aside from pizza cooking, the Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven has eight settings, including max roast, gourmet roast, top heat, bake, smoker, dehydrate and keep warm.

With a stylish design and easy controls, the Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven is super versatile and affordable. It also comes with Woodfire pellets to add extra flavour. Read our full Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven review for more.

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The best two-burner pizza oven

The16-inch Witt ETNA Rotante is one of the first outdoor pizza ovens to feature a revolving stone. And that means you won’t need to turn the pizza mid-way through the bake while singeing the hair on your hand in the process. I believe the Rotante is also the world’s first gas-fired pizza oven to feature a second burner under the stone for both consistently even top-and-bottom baking and speedier start-up times.

The Rotante is one of the easiest gas-fired pizza ovens you’ll ever use. As long as both burners are running and you give it 20 minutes or so for the stone to reach a temperature of around 400˚C – a laser thermometer is essential to keep tabs on stone temperatures – you will produce pizzas up to 16 inches in diameter that will knock the socks off your guests. What’s more, those very same guests will positively drool over the design and build quality of this oven, which is available in four tantalising colours.

The Witt ETNA Rotante is designed for table-top use and comes with four very sturdy flip-out legs. However, I should add that it is 63.3cm wide and 76.1cm in depth and it weighs 40 kilos, so it is pretty much impossible to lift safely on your own.

If you’re in the market for a feature-packed gas-powered 16-inch pizza oven that blows most of the opposition out of the water while not costing as much, the Witt ETNA Rotante is the best all-round option money can buy. It may even change your pizza-baking life.

Now read our full review of the Witt ETNA Rotante

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The best dual-fuel pizza oven

For dual fuel power, the Delivita Flow is hard to beat. Its gas mode offers quick heat-up, and easy consistent cooking with more control over the heat. Alternatively, there's a wood-fired fuel option which adds that delicious, authentic smoky flavour to your pizzas. What's better is it's easy to switch between the two so you get the best of both worlds.

The Delivita Flow definitely has the looks that could give Gozney a run for its money. It looks similar to a traditional Italian pizzeria oven with its wide mouth, and dome-like shape. Available in multiple colours, it can suit stylishly in all colours, and it takes up minimal space.

Despite its space-saving capabilities, we wouldn't suggest lifting the Delivita Flow if you can help it. At a whopping 30kg, it's extremely heavy so leave it where it is! Other than that, there's a lot to like about this pizza oven as you'll find in our Delivita Flow review.

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The best gas-only pizza oven

The gas-fired Ooni Koda 12 wins a raft of points for design, low weight and portability. Simply unfold its three legs, stick it on a table, connect it to a standard propane gas bottle and bake.

The Koda doesn't come with a built-in thermometer so you may wish to purchase Ooni’s optional infrared thermometer with integral laser beam for accurate stone temperature readings. Once the temperature has reached 400°C and above, it's time to load the stone. However, you will need to turn the pizza a few times during its 90- second cooking sequence and keep an eye on the crust at the rear where the flame is at its hottest.

If you don't fancy splashing out on a product you might use only a few times a year, then this is the one get. It makes exceptional pizzas with little fuss and is one of the easiest models on this page to store away or take on holiday.

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The best electric pizza oven

A smaller version of the original Ooni Volt 12, the Ooni Volt 2 is the brand's newest and better electric pizza oven. For indoor and outdoor use, the Ooni Volt 2 is easy to use and makes delicious pizzas in mere minutes.

If you're new to pizza ovens, the Ooni Volt 2 is a great model to start with, as it has touch presets and manual controls for you to experiment with. It can be used to cook everything (not just pizzas) but of course, it is best at making delicious 12-inch pizzas with authentic charred crusts.

Where the Ooni Volt 2 falters slightly is the balance of its top and bottom heating elements. In our Ooni Volt 2 review, our reviewer found that the oven would decide what temperature and temperature balance was best at any given time. The ability to adjust the heating element below the stone wasn't always there, as we found in testing that the preset temperature of the stone for the Neapolitan option was a bit too OTT.

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The best indoor pizza oven

It comes to something when one of the very best home pizza ovens turns out to be electric and for indoor use (or outdoors on a sunny day). But stay with me. I’ve been using this amazing piece of tech for the past three years and not once have I had a disaster – every pizza I’ve thrown into its maw has come out with miraculous results and I haven’t burned my hand once. Admittedly I have been using some top-quality pre-made dough balls – which you can read about in our how to cook pizza at home guide – but most of my successes have been down to this machine.

The Sage Pizzaiolo runs on electricity instead of charcoal, wood, pellets or gas. Now I’m the first to admit that the most authentic pizzas are arguably baked in a wood-fired oven but I’m also the first to admit that in a blind test I might not be able to tell the difference. All I know is that the Sage Pizzaiolo delivers the goods every time, and with an evenly browned light-as-a-feather crust replete with obligatory leopard spots and perfectly cooked ingredients to boot.

The Pizzaiolo has a number of automatic settings – 160˚C, defrost, pan, thick crust, thin & crispy, wood fired and 400˚C – but I just bung it on the howlingly hot ‘wood fired’ setting which bakes the pizza to perfection every time. You often don’t even need to turn the pizza halfway through because the simple circular oven rings above and below the pizza stone do a sterling job of ensuring the entire top and bottom are properly cooked.

Of all the pizza ovens I’ve tested, this model is still the easiest one to use. And, what’s more, because it’s essentially designed for indoor use, it’s the only model on this page that can be used all-year round, come rain or shine.For even more information on this stupendous pizza oven, read our Sage The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo review.

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The best looking pizza oven

If you can stretch your dough a long way and hanker after one of the most handsome 16-inch pizza ovens on the market, put the Gozney Dome on your wish list. This behemoth weighs a monstrous 58kgs and can be placed on a strong table or, better still, the optional stand which is strong enough to support a house.

No question, the dome is a thing of beauty but it’s also massive in size (660mm H x 630mm D x 732mm W), so make sure you have a patio large enough to accommodate it. Aside from the gorgeous exterior, the superb insulation, the kindling storage area and the built-in digital thermometer, the very best thing about this oven is that it can run on gas or wood and without adding any extra parts.

I tested it using the gas method and it’s as easy as pizza pie to operate but not as easy as the Witt (reviewed above) to gain the same results. Like all wood fired pizza ovens and indeed most outdoor domestic models, the flames from the gas lick over the ceiling of the oven which ensures toppings are properly cooked.

However, you really need to keep an eye on things and turn the pizza regularly or the crust nearest the seat of the flame will burn very quickly – as in seconds. Also, be sure to let the temperature climb to as close as 500˚C or the 16-inch cordierite stone may not be hot enough to properly bake the base as well as the toppings (this happened on my first attempt at 440˚C). The optional oven-style rope door is a great help in this respect, especially in lower ambient temperatures. Also be sure to use a laser thermometer to check the temperature of the stone itself because the oven thermometer only gives the overall interior temperature.

Available in olive green or bone white – and also available as a wood-only option – the Gozney Dome is a stunning pizza oven on every level, from the materials used, build quality and design to its undeniably attractive aesthetics. No question, it bakes pizzas superbly well but there is still a steep learning curve involved which simply doesn’t apply to the Sage, Gino or Witt. Read our full Gozney Dome review.

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The best portable pizza oven

The Roccbox is a top sub-£400 choice for those who like the idea of being able to bake pizzas using either gas or wood kindling (Gozney provides two different clip-on assemblies). It’s a heavyweight beast, mind, so it’s not something you’d want to take on a picnic, despite the inclusion of a heavy-duty carrying strap.

This model is so well insulated you can place a whole hand on its rubberised outer surface and you won’t need to pay a visit to A&E; a handy innovation for those with inquisitive kids or cats that like to jump on things.

We tested it using both gas and wood and gas was definitely best because it allowed for easier temperature control and we didn’t have to keep filling the hopper with wood. That said, both methods produced excellent results even though we couldn’t taste any difference between the two power sources.

If you’re concerned about surface heat and fancy the choice of both gas and wood, then consider plonking this one on the patio table. Just don’t think of taking it on a picnic or your arm may fall off!

See our full Gozney Roccbox review for all the details.

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The best pizza oven with revolving stone

When Witt came out with the winning Etna Rotante reviewed above, its battery-powered revolving pizza stone represented a major shift towards ease of use and therefore better pizza-baking results for inexperienced users. Well here comes a smaller, lighter and cheaper option with the same type of revolving function that ensures even cooking of ingredients without much need for interjection.

At 18.6kgs, the gas-fired Revolve is just about light enough for one person to move it around the patio though I would recommend using the supplied cover with integral carry straps if hauling it a longer distance.

Tested in tandem with the Witt Rotante, this reviewer was extremely impressed with the Revolve’s performance even though it took 10 minutes longer than the Witt to achieve the 400˚C temperature I was looking for. This is because its straight rear-mounted gas burner doesn’t arc around the edges like the Witt and, unlike the Witt, there is no secondary burner beneath the stone. Nevertheless, the results ticked all the right boxes with good crisp on the base, well cooked ingredients and an excellent outer crust with customary leopard spots.

I was also impressed by the method used to turn the stone. Unlike the Witt which has a hidden AA battery housing, this model comes with a separate battery and motor housing that attaches to the base of the unit using magnetism. This makes it easier to change batteries and, if ever necessary, a new motor should it ever malfunction due to excessive heat.

The Revolve currently retails for a smidge under £500 and comes with a 13-inch pizza stone which is a little larger than the 12-inch average. It also ships with three crescent-shaped boundary stones – one spare in case of breakages – the aforementioned cover, a digital infrared thermometer and a high-quality perforated pizza peel. When you figure in these extras – worth around £95 – along with the revolving stone tech, it doesn’t take a degree in math to come to the conclusion that this is arguably the best-value outdoor gas-fired pizza oven on the market right now. Highly recommended.

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The best lightweight pizza oven

This great-value gas-fired stainless steel pizza oven from outdoor fire-pit specialist Solo Stove bakes 12-inch pizzas to near perfection – but only when its split stone is enough. And that could take up to 45 minutes on a cool wintery day.

Although slow heat-up times affect most outdoor gas-fired pizza ovens, in this case the Pi Prime’s larger-than-average oven mouth can be accused of letting in more ambient air when heating up and that arguably means higher gas consumption when used in winter or during windy periods. But on the plus side, the Pi Prime’s 13 x 3.5-inch opening provides excellent access to the oven area when launching, turning and removing pizzas. Swings and roundabouts spring to mind.

Cast mostly from stainless steel, the Pi Prime is light enough to carry a short distance and it’s very easy to use, too. In our test, it produced an excellent pizza first time out though the base could have done with an extra 30 seconds or so on the stone. In hindsight, I should have waited another 10 to 15 minutes – 60 minutes in total – to allow the stone to heat up to nearer 400˚C before launching the first pizza but truth is I was getting hungry.

There are a lot of very good pizza ovens on this page and this one most definitely deserves a spot on the list mostly because it’s very keenly priced, easy to use, light enough to carry and, when the stone is hot enough, it works as well as any other pizza oven on the page. Read our full Solo Stove Pi Prime review for more.

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How to choose a pizza oven

When it comes to choosing a pizza oven, the first step is pretty simple – do you have outdoors space? If you don't, then you'll need to look for an indoor pizza oven, or a hybrid appliance, like an air fryer or grill that also has a pizza-making setting – that might sound outlandish, but there are a surprising amount of these on the market nowadays.

If its an outdoor pizza oven you want, the next thing you'll want to decide is the fuel type you want to use. Most pizza ovens are powered by gas, electric or wood pellets, all of which have their own values. For example, gas is convenient, electric is cheaper and wood pellet is more authentic.

Once you've picked fuel, look at size. Pizza ovens can get pretty big so you'll want to take that into consideration if you have a small garden or balcony.

Finally, picking a specific brand can help you narrow down your options. Gozney and Ooni are the two big names within the pizza oven market (see our Gozney vs Ooni comparison for more) but Witt and any other brands on this list are worth looking at too.

How we test the best pizza ovens

Testing the best pizza ovens is a tough job, but we're more than happy to do it. Once we've called in the latest pizza oven, we start by setting it up and checking the accessories and everything it came with. Next, we start cooking which essentially involves making as many pizzas as possible!

We look at every aspect of a pizza oven you can think of, like how easy it was to assemble, what the controls were like, how it looks and if it's easy to move, pricing, and how quickly it cooks pizzas and other food. Once we've published our review, we continue testing the pizza oven to see if our opinions change overtime.

See how we test at T3 for more details.

Pizza oven FAQs

Do I need a proper pizza oven?

Forget using your home oven because its maximum temperature is usually just 250˚C and you need between 350˚C and 500˚C to properly bake a pizza like the pros. All of the pizza ovens in this guide are easily capable of reaching the magic 400˚C and they’re all equipped with cordierite baking stones, which not only retain and emit intense heat but also absorb the moisture from the dough, turning it perfectly crispy and with a nicely blackened bottom to boot.

Which fuel type do I need to use a pizza oven?

Wood is arguably the best bet if you want an authentic restaurant-type pizza. The downside is that wood-fired ovens take longer to heat up (sometimes hours) and require constant nurturing to keep the fire going. For that reason, many domestic oven manufacturers are now erring towards the use of propane gas as a fuel.

Some people may not even be able to tell the difference between a pizza cooked in the best wood-fired pizza oven and one cooked in the best gas-fired pizza oven. However, as with barbecues, one thing is for certain: gas pizza ovens heat up way more quickly – usually within 30 minutes or so – and the heat they emit is much more easily controlled.

And that leaves one more heat source to consider – electricity. An electric model like the excellent Sage The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo bakes exquisite pizzas with the least fuss of all. Naturally you can’t take it outside in inclement weather but being electric means it can be used indoors – and all year round.

Where should I put my pizza oven?

Pizza ovens are typically outdoor appliances, unless specified otherwise. If your pizza oven is for indoor use only, place it indoors in your kitchen on a cooking-approved surface.

For outdoors, put your pizza oven at least two metres away from your home, fences and any flammable materials. Ensure the surface is fireproof, or mount your pizza oven on its accompanying stand (brands like Gozney and Ooni supply these).

Make sure your pizza oven gets plenty of ventilation and isn't underneath a covering while in action.

How do I clean a pizza oven?

Like a barbecue, pizza ovens get very dirty so you should be cleaning them often. First, put your pizza oven on at full heat to burn off any food or residue. Turn it off and let it cool before removing any ash.

From there, you can clean the pizza stone and the exterior. See how to clean a pizza oven for more details.

Reviewer panel

There's much debate surrounding what is the best way to barbecue, but for ease and convenience, it has to be the best electric barbecue.

Whether it’s sizzling steaks, seared skewers, toasted sandwiches or cooked vegetables, the best electric barbecues and grills are a quick, easy and healthy option for a whole range of meals, as they reduce the amount of artery-clogging fat that seeps into your food, by draining it off during cooking.

By contrast to the standard George Foreman-style of electric grill, the electric barbecue grill works on the opposite principal of having the main heating element underneath the grill grate instead of above and below, just like a charcoal or gas barbecue. This means the fats drip on to the heating element below to create that delicious smokey barbecue flavour we all love and crave. Because there is no naked flame, electric barbecue grills can be safely used on balconies and other areas where charcoal or gas barbies aren’t welcome.

The best outdoor electric barbecue we've tried so far is the Weber Lumin but if it's an indoor grill you're after, we like the Sage The Smart Grill Pro. We've also got full guides to the best barbecues, and separate guides for the best gas barbecues and best charcoal barbecues and smokers.

But without further ado, embrace the future of grilling and start going electric with the best indoor and outdoor electric barbecues.

T3's Top Three

The best electric barbecues and grills 2026

The best outdoor electric barbecue overall

The Weber Lumin specialises in five main disciplines – grilling, searing, steaming, smoking and warming. This cracking table-top model is available in two sizes – the standard Lumin and the smaller Lumin Compact we’re reviewing here. Both models are available with or without a dedicated stand.

The Lumin Compact uses a simple oven-style heating element beneath a split 180in² high-quality cast-iron grate. In our test, it heated up to 315˚C in about 15 minutes and seared the skin of our chicken wings so quickly we had to immediately drop the temperature to a more manageable level. Impressively, the temperature dropped as quickly as a gas grill and the wings came off the grate with lovely sear marks, crispy skin and succulent centres.

Admittedly, the main plug-in temperature controller is labelled using a series of confusing icons for its various functions – warming, smoke infusion, steaming and high-heat searing – but you can ignore them if simply grilling because each setting is essentially just a different level of heat, from low to high.

Aside from the aforementioned grate, the Lumin Compact also ships with two stainless steel trays that are used for steaming and smoking. Since the grill is split into two parts and the tray is half the size of the grill, you simply remove one of the grates and replace it with the steel trays. Hence, for steaming, you fill the lower tray with water and use the top-mounted perforated tray to cook the ingredients and for smoking, you just replace the water for damp wood chips and place ingredients either on the steel tray or the main grate on the side.

I found this barbecue to be amazingly controllable and, as expected with electricity, temperatures remained constant throughout the cooking process. Yes, at 12kgs, it’s too heavy to carry long distances but it’s a brilliantly versatile option for use on a patio, balcony, boat or campsite – in fact, anywhere charcoal or gas isn’t welcome.

Now check out our review of the Weber Lumin Compact and why the Lumin might just be the easiest barbecue you'll ever use

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The best indoor electric barbecue overall

It's not just the name that’s a mouthful with this feature-packed grill, which is sold under the Breville name in the USA and Australia. You can just use the grill freestyle if you prefer, but its killer feature is an integrated probe for checking the internal temperature of your food – it's most useful for meat, of course.

In auto mode, an alarm sounds when it's reached your favoured grilling level, from rare to charred, letting you know when it’s time to let meat rest so it retains moisture and is ultimately juicier, tastier and more flavoursome.

So, just tell the Smart Grill Pro what you're cooking – there are specific cooking modes for beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fish – stick the probe in and it does the rest. There’s a useful LCD display and a 180-degree opening. That's handy for eggs and pancakes, and also means it can double as a back-up barbecue when British summer inevitably goes wrong.

The grill can be set at a height or angle to suit what you’re cooking, and the grill plates are removable and interchangeable, with one ridged and the other flat. They’re not dishwasher safe though, which is a bit of a pain.

Given its size and price, the Smart Grill Pro can be considered a rather more serious proposition than the other grills here. You should either be intending to use it very regularly, or have an enormous kitchen that it can be stashed away in.

Read our full review of the Sage Smart Grill Pro

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The best full-sized electric barbecue

Until now, the majority of electric grills have been small and compact and therefore designed for use on balconies, smaller patios, glamping sites and other areas with restrictions on the use of charcoal and gas. Well here’s a full sized all-electric BBQ that grills as well as any gas or charcoal model, and a lot more conveniently, too.

The Char-Broil Smart-E measures 71.5cm in width, 80cm in depth and 50cm in height, so it will also possibly fit on a large balcony that’s big enough to accommodate outdoor furniture. At just 2.4kW, it’s pretty frugal on electricity consumption, too, at least for a full-sized unit.

The Smart-E’s cooking grate measures 57cm x 39cm which equates to enough grilling space for 4-6 people and many more if grilling skinnier dishes like sausages, kebabs, drumsticks, wings or corn on the cob. Like all Char-Broil grills, the Smart-E utilises the US company’s TRU-Infrared technology which ensures succulent results with out drying out the food. Two collapsible shelves, meanwhile, provide ample space for ingredients waiting to go on the grill while making the whole shebang easier to store.

However, the very best thing about this barbecue is the large silver dial and enormous LED interface that you simply can’t miss. In fact, it is possibly one of the most beautiful screen interfaces on any product, let alone a barbecue. Although the interface only provides temperature readouts, the 7cm tall characters are so sharp it’s like looking at an Apple Retina screen. The dial is also extremely tactile to use.

If you’re looking to embrace the world of electric barbecuing but have been waiting for a suitable family-sized model, this could be the one for you. It performs brilliantly well, it’s a doddle to use and you will absolutely love the interface and stupendous LED screen display. Just be sure buy a cover for it.

Read our full review of the Char-Broil Smart-E

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The best electric barbecue with air fryer

Another top electric barbecue and grill choice is the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker. This versatile piece of kit has seven cooking functions to choose from: Grill, Smoker, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate. So, if you're not in the mood for grilling, you can use this handy device to air fry your chicken instead.

When you buy the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker, you get the barbecue, grill plate, cook and crisp basket, pellet scoop and two Woodfire Pellet starter packs. Designed for barbecuing all year round on the balcony, patio, boat or campsite, the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker is perfect for grilling newbies and experts alike.

For authentic grilling tastes, you can use its Woodfire technology and pellet starter packs for extra barbecue flavour. The grill provides a great char without using this, and you get the grill marks perfectly seared on what you're cooking. The grill is easily removable but the inside of the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker does get dirty very quickly. Other than that, it's a top choice for both indoor and outdoor grilling.

Now read our full review of the Ninja Woodfire

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The best electric barbecue for balconies

The Weber Pulse 1000 is designed for people who want to BBQ on the balcony without breaking the terms of their lease, or causing their neighbours to come and kill them.

Grill purists will have already moved on by now having read that opening sentence, but it's actually a great device. At 1.8 Kilowatts, this is actually less powerful than its new stablemate, the Lumin. There's a bright temperature display, instant control over heat – the precision is far greater than what you could ever achieve with charcoal, although I don't think gas has much to worry about – and also a plug-in probe for monitoring the internal temperature of food. For some reason, this is not done on the main display but via Weber's iOS and Android app but it works so well, it almost takes the fun out of it.

Most food comes out perfectly done, so long as you properly pre-heat the grill.

Slightly to my surprise, as well as being well cooked every time, food done on the Pulse 1000 does seem to have a more barbecue taste to it than what you'd get from a standard electric grill like most of the others on this page. Weber reckons that's down to its porcelain enamelled cast iron plates, but maybe it's just the fresh air.