At some point in the past you resigned yourself to the notion that antivirus software was a necessity for all PCs and laptops. But for some reason, the same principles don’t seem to apply when it comes to phones. You might have a PIN code or a fingerprint registered to prevent someone from unlocking your phone without your permission, but beyond that you rely entirely on whatever security developers have put into the operating system and apps....

Several upcoming Windows 11 features appear to have been revealed, prior to any official confirmation from Microsoft. These include stickers for desktop wallpapers, a Sustainability section within Settings and the ability to hide the taskbar when using as a tablet. A recent Insider build of the OS is to blame, where all are currently marked as disabled. These were spotted by eagle-eyed user Albacore , who has a strong reputation for Windows leaks....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Windows 8.1 is a refinement rather than a revolution. Those who put off buying a new laptop or PC because of having to re-learn Windows might do well to try Windows 8.1. It’s been over four months since the free Windows 8.1 update was released, and we’re revisiting this review to give a more up-to-date verdict. Overall, little has changed in that time. In some ways that’s a good thing, but in others it isn’t....

Microsoft has been gradually improving the Xbox One dashboard to make the experience as fluid and simple as possible. It has come a long way since the Kinect-powered voice control that the original Xbox One shipped with, and the latest update looks to be the biggest update so far. It focuses on speed and ease-of-use, and is available to download on Xbox One now. Here, we talk a little bit about what the Fall Xbox One update offers, and how to install it on your Xbox One right now....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Slick design Brilliant cameras Circle to Search and Gemini support Solid performance Speedy charging Cons No charger included No wireless charging Plastic frame Own-brand AI is a mixed bag Our Verdict The Xiaomi 14T is an affordable handset that could easily be mistaken for a flagship device. It performs well, takes great photos, has a stunning display and charges quickly. The Pro model may have a more well-rounded spec sheet, but if you opt for the cheapest model, you get a similar experience at a very attractive price....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Impressive sound quality Premium bud design Very comfortable Decent battery life Cons Underwhelming ANC Flimsy case No virtual assistant support Relatively expensive Our Verdict The Buds 4 Pro combines great audio with a very comfortable design and solid battery life. But plenty of cheaper buds deliver these too, and there are compromises in other areas. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro These days, pretty much every leading smartphone company has started making wireless earbuds....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Great value for money Fetching, pocket-friendly design Side-mounted fingerprint scanner 5G support Cons Middling cameras Doesn’t handle high end games well Our Verdict The Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G offers buyers good overall performance for basic mobile needs, lightweight and stylish design and strong, long-lasting battery, for a very low price. The cameras are so-so, but that’s the only real drawback of what’s otherwise a bargain buy....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Good sound Noise Cancelling Wireless charging Dual-device connection Cons No volume controls Some features only for Xiaomi devices Our Verdict The Redmi Buds 3 Pro get the basics right and then go further than rivals by offering wireless charging, ear-detection and fast charging. These unusual bonuses make them a great budget choice. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 Pro Xiaomi brand Redmi is well known for making great budget and mid-range phones that often deliver more performance and features than their price tags suggest....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Comfortable to wear Plenty of health tracking features Wide range of straps to personalise device Cons Tracking isn’t always super-accurate No NFC No GPS Our Verdict A solid budget fitness tracker with plenty of features. The accuracy is sometimes a bit off, but as a general guide to your health and fitness it’s one of the best around. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Chinese giant Xiaomi returns with the latest iteration of its Smart Band series, but does this new generation fitness tracker have what it takes to compete with the impressive range of other inexpensive wearables that consumers can choose between these days?...

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Innovative roller mop Mop extends to clean corners and edges Great obstacle avoidance and navigation Fantastic suction power Cons No detergent tank Our Verdict The Yeedi S14 Plus is a robot vacuum with high suction power and a new roller mop that minimises water left on the floor. It has powerful (18,000 Pa) suction, and the station takes on most of the robot’s maintenance: cleaning, drying, emptying and refilling....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict At under £25, this lamp – like the Olixar – is cheap and cheerful. It’s great if you have a limited budget and want a bit of fun with colour. Sound quality isn’t great and won’t rival any expensive speakers, but it does the job. We’d recommend spending more on a high-quality colour bulb that can also produce nice warm white tones, but such lamps aren’t available at this low price....

After a successful theatrical run, A Quiet Place: Day One has finally debuted on digital platforms and store shelves. The third movie in the franchise, created by John Krasinski, is now available for US and UK fans to rent or buy. Krasinki’s A Quiet Place dropped in 2018 and birthed a series of horror movies about the invasion of sound-sensitive creatures from outer space, where the slightest noise may end one’s life....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Great value All-day battery Decent keyboard Lots of ports Cons Unspectacular display Middling performance No Thunderbolt 3 Our Verdict The Acer Aspire 5 (2020) is an inexpensive and capable laptop that will handle the PC basics with battery power to spare, but doesn’t dazzle elsewhere. If you need a straightforward daily driver, the Aspire 5 is a stable choice. Best Prices Today: Acer Aspire 5 (A514-52) The Acer Aspire 5 range for 2020 (the ‘Aspire 5 A514-50 Series’ to be precise) comprises mid-range laptops with Intel 10th-gen processors, plenty of ports, and Full HD displays....

At a Glance Our Verdict It’s another Surface Pro 4 rival (or clone even) but it’s a quickly growing market where competition is a good thing. Acer has done a great job of packing in decent specs into a device with a nice design which hits a lower price point than rivals. It’s fanless with a Core i processor which is the most impressive thing. Best Prices Today: Acer Switch Alpha 12 Also see: Best Black Friday Laptop Deals...

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Alienware Area 51m has sensational performance levels thanks to its desktop hardware – so it’ll handle anything. It looks great, too, and has a top-notch screen. However, it’s not particularly ergonomic or versatile, and it’s hugely expensive – so it’s only suited to some buyers. Best Prices Today: Alienware Area 51m (2019) The Area 51m is a stunning, noteworthy machine. On one hand, it’s unmistakably Alienware: huge, imposing and eye-catching....

Amazfit is on something of a charge, with several activity trackers and smartwatches already available and impressing. We’ve already seen the recent arrival of the Amazfit Band 5, GTS 2 Mini and T-Rex – and now we have an upgraded version of the latter on the way. The Amazfit T-Rex Pro features over 100 exercise modes, 15 military certificates, an IPX8 rating and more sensors. Keep on reading to find out more....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Great display with adjustable warm light Stellar battery life Solid performance USB-C and wireless charging Cons Ineffective auto brightness Some software inConsistencies Relatively expensive No 4G model Our Verdict The brand-new Signature Edition is a huge upgrade over the 2018 Paperwhite, but so is the new regular model. Unless you need more storage or wireless charging, it’s probably worth saving some money. You also get a bigger display with adjustable warm light and improved battery life....

AMD has been on a mission in recent years. With a string of successful releases, it’s gone from relative outsider to Intel’s primary rival in the CPU world. The Ryzen 5000 series was a landmark moment for AMD, proving it could hold its own in the high-stakes CPU market. That applied to both desktop and laptop chips, but the company is focusing on the latter in the Ryzen 6000 Series....

American Horror Story, the anthology created by Ryan Murphy, has been around for 12 years. Despite series ups and downs, it’s still one of the most exciting shows for horror fans. It offers a deep dive into the world of spooky stories, including scary asylums, terrifying cults, haunted hotels and disturbing freak shows. Here you will find all the essential news about American Horror Story season 12. We also have a similar article for the Fraiser reboot series ....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Wide range of positional adjustments Extremely smooth-running wheels Stable base Excellent back support Suitable for tall users Cons Choice between dull and garish colour finishes Issues with Rocking Mode Our Verdict The Dark Demon is a big, relatively affordable gaming chair that offers excellent comfort and support, and a superbly stable, smooth-travelling base. Best Prices Today: AndaSeat Dark Demon AndaSeat is not a particularly well-known brand in the UK, but we’ve had some positive experiences with the firm’s gaming chairs....