At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Acronis True Image is still the back-up utility to beat and the 2014 Premium product adds online storage to its arsenal of data security utilities. While we were a bit disappointed with the default level of compression, backups are created quickly and there’s plenty of flexibility in how you set them up and schedule them. The single PC product feels a bit dear; the 3-PC version is better value....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Good sound for a small device Useful tap gestures Works as a Wi-Fi extender with Eero systems Cons Distorts at higher volumes Sound isn’t hugely better than 4 th gen More expensive for UK buyers Our Verdict With better sound, more features and the potential to extend your home Wi-Fi, the Echo Dot 5 is the best Dot yet, and the best smart speaker under $50/£55....

At a Glance Our Verdict Best Prices Today: Google Nest Mini Where to buy Both the Nest Mini and Echo Dot have a retail price of £49.99. The Nest Mini is available from Google , Currys , Argos , and John Lewis . You can also still buy the older Home Mini, often for less, from Currys PC World , Argos , John Lewis , and AO.com . Design & Build Both these mini smart speakers feature a small puck-like design, and are covered in soft fabric....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Still one of the cheapest tablets around Hands-free Alexa Headphone jack & expandable storage Cons Performance isn’t really any better Limited selection of apps Awful cameras Our Verdict This new 2022 model is virtually indistinguishable from the 2020 model, but is now more expensive. Everything is more expensive, yes, but it grates to pay more for a new device with little in the way of real upgrades....

AMD’s remarkable rise in recent years means it’s now one of the leading component manufacturers worldwide. Much of the growth has been led by its Ryzen CPUs, which have proven to be more than a match for Intel. There’s been plenty of excitement surrounding the new Ryzen 7000 Series, which AMD debuted in August 2022. The bulk of its CPUs were then announced at CES 2023, but plenty have been revealed since – including some as recently as July....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Although it’s got a new name and a new number, Android 6.0 Marshmallow isn’t a huge departure from Lollipop. That said, many of the new features and tweaks are very welcome with highlights including Doze Mode and vastly improved app permissions. Now on Tap is a let-down at times but it should improve over time. Get the update as soon as you can and try the Google Now launcher if you’re not getting on well with the interface provided by the manufacturer of your device....

Ad-free streaming platforms are gradually becoming a thing of the past. Netflix, Disney+, Max and Prime have all introduced ads in some capacity, and now another service may be joining the fold. Many hires at Apple HQ seem to indicate that the tech giant is exploring the possibility of ads on its streaming service, Apple TV+ . So far, the platform has only had one tier for users with a flat fee – though the price has increased a few times since it was first launched....

The Apple Watch has been on sale several months now, but Apple has announced new models, launched watchOS 2 and it will be available from more retailers this Christmas. Apple Watch UK release date: When is the iWatch coming out? How to buy an Apple Watch The Apple Watch went on sale on 24 April, but was difficult for consumers to purchase until June. Read : How to choose your Apple Watch – The complete buying guide ....

At a Glance Our Verdict We’re excited about the potential the Archos Smart Home kit has, offering functionality at an affordable price. Check back for a full review soon. Best Prices Today: Archos Smart Home Want to monitor and control your home without spending thousands of pounds? Read our Archos Smart Home hands-on review. It’s difficult and expensive to get lights to come on when you come into room or keep an eye on the driveway without going out side?...

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Large display Good battery life Fast performance Cons Dim display Rough edges on faceplate Cramped number-pad Our Verdict If you’re in the market for a powerful Chromebook with a larger screen, then the Flip CX5 makes a compelling argument for itself. It’s not all kitten hugs and rainbows though, as the cramped number-pad section and some rough edges, literal ones. Best Prices Today: Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5500) Chromebooks have typically settled into the 13in space, with occasional smaller devices offering increased portability....

Asus has announced a refreshed version of its popular ZenBook 14 laptop with better ports, an improved ScreenPad, and the latest 11th-gen Intel processors. Physically little has changed. The ZenBook 14 UX435 sits in the same chassis as the refreshed version announced this June , but that’s no bad thing: that still gets you a 92% screen-to-body ratio, and a laptop that’s just 16.9mm thick despite a full array of ports....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Asus ROG Phone is an over the top handset with just about everything a gamer could want including AreoActive Cooler, AirTriggers and an overclocked Snapdragon. Whether it’s for you comes down to whether you buy into all these elements. This is a marmite phone due to the way Asus has gone to town with the design, features and software. Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Phone The long awaited Asus gaming smartphone is here to take on the Razer Phone for the title of best gaming phone....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The striking white finish of the Asus VX239H-W may appeal to many, especially if you’d like to use it in a kitchen or against a white wall. Its slim casing is solidly Constructed and offers unique touch-sensitive controls. Image quality is among the best on offer, but the price is rather high for its performance. Best Prices Today: Asus VX239H-W The bright white casing of the Asus VX239H-W – which is also available in black – lets this display from Asus stand out from the crowd....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict BoostSpeed 7 Premium may improve the speed of your Windows PC, but the housekeeping and repair facilities are just as important and there are lots of them here. The software is very easy to use and offers several functions not seen in similar suites. There’s a free Basic version of BoostSpeed 7, offering 8 of the 19 tools in the Premium product. Best Prices Today: Auslogics BoostSpeed 7 Premium There are a lot of software applications which claim to speed up and clean up your PC or laptop , but few as comprehensive in what they offer as Auslogics BoostSpeed 7 Premium....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Excellent virus protection Many useful features Cons Questionable VPN A few annoyances Our Verdict For under £2 a month, or even cheaper if you pay annually, the app has a useful bundle of features. Even the free version can work for those who tolerate intrusive advertising. But avoid paying for VPN, there are clearly better ones. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined...

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Gorgeous design Smooth performance Great display Fingerprint scanner Cons Poor battery life Limited to USB-C and dongle Our Verdict Despite a meagre battery life, it’s hard to dislike the Admiror: it’s beautiful, slim, and capable. Just don’t lose the connectivity dongle, or you’ll be stuck only with two USB-C ports. Best Prices Today: Avita Admiror Avita isn’t backing down . The US-based Chinese company undeniably aims to carve out a niche in the US and European markets....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Versatility is the key to the Straight and Curl Brilliance from BaByliss, designed to give the user both a classic straight finish, and a higher-quality curl than a traditional straightener would. However, the design does have a few flaws that proved to be a slight annoyance. Best Prices Today: BaByliss Straight and Curl Brilliance Straighteners aren’t just for making your hair smooth. Some people want a styling tool that’s versatile enough to produce a nice curl as well....

While Bitcoin is still the king of cryptocurrencies, 2018 will see the rise of a new breed of technologies that may help its competitors to dethrone it. Ethereum and Ripple are hot on its heels with both currencies offering more realistic real world applications then their famous predecessor. Can you still get rich with Bitcoin? The rapid rise of cryptocurrencies over the past few years has not been documented particularly well by mainstream media, but the progress that the technology is making can’t be denied....

Do you believe there’s nothing better at Christmas than grabbing a glass of festive fizz and settling down to watch as someone else prepares a winter feast? If so, this is the guide for you. There are a couple of classic repeats you may want to catch on 17 December, then the fresh festive cooking kicks off on 19 December and continues into the new year. Nigella Nigella fans will be distraught to hear that there is no new Nigella Christmas special this year....

As a small business, finding the right laptop on a budget can often be a struggle. In fact, in many cases, businesses often go over budget with the belief that the best laptop needs to cost a lot. However, that is not always the case. There are some great laptops available even if you’re on a relatively tight budget. With a number of deals suited to small businesses, we’ve picked out a range of offers for all budgets, but also scroll down for our tips on what to look out for when choosing a laptop....