Technical terms and abbreviations in the world of AV (audio visual) can get very confusing and complicated. So, what exactly is HDMI ARC and eARC when it’s at home? Let’s take a look. Let’s start with the basics, ‘ARC’ stands ‘audio return channel’ and relates specifically to a feature of some HDMI ports. In short, it means the port can send audio from your TV to another device like a soundbar....

Powerline adaptors turn your building’s electrical cables into a speedy network, and will revolutionize the speed you download movies, TV programmes and browse the Internet in your home. If you have a smart TV or watch catch-up and streaming TV via Disney+, Apple TV, Sky or the many other set-top boxes, use Zoom for video calls, or play games on your console, then Powerline (also known as HomePlug) could be the answer to your faster download prayers....

Immersion is one of the cinema industry’s favourite buzzwords, and ScreenX is the latest tech to try and deliver it to the filmgoing public – for a handsome ticket premium, naturally. ScreenX first launched globally in 2015, but only reached the UK in 2018, exclusive to Cineworld . We’ve seen it in action ourselves, so here’s everything you need to know about ScreenX: what it is, how it works and whether it’s worth paying extra for....

Black Friday is one of the best sales events of the year, offering flash discounts that you won’t often find at any other time. This is historically one of the biggest sales of the year for all the savvy shoppers and deal hunters. It may have originated in the US, but this shopping frenzy is now global, and it’s now far greater than just a single day of huge price cuts....

Apple revealed the updated iPad Pro range for 2021 at its Spring Loaded event, featuring impressive upgrades including (optional) 5G connectivity, an upgraded camera setup, Apple’s own desktop-level M1 chipset and even an upgraded Liquid Retina XDR display on the 12.9in model, all for the same price as last year’s offering. With such significant improvements on offer for the same price, the only question is; where can I buy one? We answer all you need to know about buying the M1-powered iPad Pro 11 or iPad Pro 12....

The advantages keeping documents online are obvious. No longer are your documents or presentations locked in the belly of one machine, but instead liberated to freely roam wherever internet connections abound. But if should find yourself somewhere where Wi-Fi isn’t available, such as on a train, plane, or a deserted log cabin, then the weaknesses become immediately apparent. Google offers the facility to view your documents offline via the Google Docs app in the Chrome App store (easily found by launching Chrome and clicking on the Web Store icon) but this is restricted to your more recent creations and doesn’t allow editing....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict For those who value noise and lower power Consumption, the GTX 780 is the better product. In terms of performance, though, there’s no question that the R9 290X cruises past its similarly-priced rival. The card is loud and furious, but it romps through the benchmarks, beating even the Titan in the majority of tests – despite that card costing Considerably more. We’ll be interested to see what AMD can do about producing a more efficient and quieter card in the future that can produce speed close to that of the 290X....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Beautiful display Fast 67W wired charging Premium build Good cameras Cons MIUI isn’t for everyone No official waterproofing No wireless charging Our Verdict The Xiaomi 12X with its solid set of specs is something to Consider for its price but it does come with some shortcomings. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi 12X With the 12X, Xiaomi has basically taken its Mi 11X from last year and has made an ‘S’ variant since the two models are very similar (including the exact same processor)....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Mi 8 Lite is an excellent-value mid-range phone with a gorgeous design and some decent hardware, particularly in the camera department. We’re excited for what Xiaomi’s entrance to the UK means for the mid-range smartphone market. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite Belonging to Xiaomi’s 2018 flagship Mi 8 family but with a lower spec and more affordable price, the Mi 8 Lite has a lot to offer the mid-range smartphone market....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Android One is attractive for its timely system and security updates, and less bloated interface. The Mi A3 from Xiaomi has a few tricks up its sleeve to help it impress in this increasingly crowded market, including some of the most advanced cameras we’ve seen on an Android One phone. Performance is also capable for daily use, and the design is much more appealing than you should expect at this price....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict If you want a huge phone and you don’t want to pay as large a wedge of cash, the Xiaomi Mi Max is a fantastic phablet with good looks, decent performance, strong runtime and, most importantly of all, a gigantic screen. Not ideal for novice users, but otherwise the Mi Max is a highly recommended smartphone. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Mi Max Xiaomi’s Mi Max is a beast of a smartphone, with a hulking 6....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Sharper, tighter design 120Hz OLED display still excellent Generous storage Good software support Cons Middling battery life Obnoxious software Hit and miss camera performance Our Verdict While the price has remained the same, the Redmi Note 13 5G doesn’t feel like quite such a strong budget proposition as some of its predecessors. While the design is sharper than before and the screen remains impressive, battery life has taken a hit, the UI is even more frustrating, and camera performance is hit and miss....

Netflix is following in the footsteps of Disney Plus and is raising its subscription prices for existing UK customers from February 2021. The price hikes apply only to the Standard and Premium plans and have been in effect for brand new customers since December 2020. Standard plans will be changing from £8.99 per month to £9.99 per month, whilst Premium plans will be changing from £11.99 per month to £13.99 per month....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict What can we say about the Zendure A4 we didn’t already say about the Zendure A3 and Zendure A2 before it? It’s higher in capacity than both the class-leading Zendure A2 and the Z3, but with the same indestructable design and an extra USB output. The Zendure A3 is a great choice if you want a little more pocketable power for charging your phone and/or tablet away from home....

In just seven years of existence, Chinese manufacturer Huami has built a strong reputation for high-quality wearables released under the Amazfit brand. However, in August the company rebranded its phone companion app to ‘Zepp’, and the Zepp E smartwatch launched soon after. Just two months later, we have a follow-up in the form of the Zepp Z – here’s everything you need to know. When is the Zepp Z release date?...

At a Glance Our Verdict We only had a limited amount of time with the ZTE Axon Watch at MWC 2016, but we were impressed nonetheless. The body is a little chunky, but that isn’t a complaint specific to the Axon Watch, and the high resolution display & gorgeous design makes up for it. The only downside is a lack of Android Wear, which means the Axon Watch is China-only for now....

With 40 sports, 206 nations and the spectacular backdrop of Paris, this year’s Olympic Games promise non-stop action. There are so many events to watch, and it can be incredibly overwhelming to know what to tune into – especially as many televised events clash with one another. As a fan of the Games since childhood, I’ve managed to condense a list of the must-see events that you should mark on your calendar....

Mostly, our advice will help you to do jobs more quickly and enjoyably although one or two of our tips concern setting up Windows to suit your preferences and tastes. Given that a personalised interface can make you feel more at home on your laptop , this too will make you more productive. Some of our tips are equally applicable to a new PC and to one that you’ve been using for some time....

In summary The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is now official with various upgrades AI is at the heart of what it can do Overall performance and efficiency claims are big At its annual Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as its new flagship mobile processor. Despite being a successor to the 8 Elite from last year, it isn’t called the Elite 2. However, Qualcomm makes various claims and promises about this new chipset, which will power some of the best smartphones and tablets over the next years, including the Xiaomi 17 series ....

Roku TVs and streaming sticks are some of our favourite entertainment devices at Tech Advisor due to the wide range of apps and easy-to-use interface. However, even if you buy something new, such as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus , this tech can slow down over time for various reasons. As such, this can cause longer loading times – delaying you from tuning into big TV moments quickly, like your favourite NFL game or the latest episode of The Traitors ....