This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

Nintendo Wii U
Will U be playing Wii this Christmas?

At last, the first next-gen console is here and first past the post is the Nintendo Wii U!

This one is dividing opinion big time. Nintendo fans are doing a good job of standing by it, and we really do think it's a good console. Some of the launch titles are excellent and the GamePad really does offer a new way of playing games just like the original Wii did.

But others complain about slow CPUs and graphics power that barely beats the 6 year-old PS3. What's your verdict?

Nintendo Wii U review

For Nintendo fans looking to finally enter the HD era, the Wii U may seem like a beacon of light in an endless downpour – and if you're coming from the Wii, it will be quite impressive, indeed. Not only are the publisher's own properties sleeker than ever before, but third-parties can finally deliver the great games they've been making for other systems in recent years. But gamers who already have an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 may struggle to see much of the appeal for now. Many of the Wii U games are lightly enhanced ports, with just a few noteworthy originals. And the online interface and streaming media options aren't quite as polished or robust as what's seen elsewhere.

MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display review

MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina Display review

Apple's late 2012 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display isn't for everyone. Many will baulk at the price, and even those who are willing to pay it should ask themselves whether the small saving and slightly smaller size is enough to recommend the 13-inch Retina notebook over its 15-inch counterpart. But there's no denying its quality. The Retina screen takes notebook displays to new heights; its Ivy Bridge processors are very powerful and the new form factor makes it the most portable 13-inch MacBook yet. Some might find the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display prohibitively expensive, but it's ideal for graphic artists, photographers, video professionals or indeed anyone who benefits from its incredible screen.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD review

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 review

Unusually, given its populist design philosophy, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD is a bit of a niche product, aimed at those who feel intimidated by typical tablet interfaces or who just want to be left alone to their media consumption. It represents great value for money, offering a highly capable and solidly built tablet for well under £200. It's just that the Google Nexus 7 gives you more for your money, including a similar level of hardware, a far more sophisticated operating system and a far superior app store. Meanwhile, there's the Apple iPad mini with its unmatched app ecosystem and super-sleek design. Between them, the two great rivals have rather squeezed out the capable-but-limited Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

Sony Alpha a99 review

Hands on: Sony Alpha a99 review

We can see there being a lot of excitement and intrigue surrounding the Sony Alpha a99, which is the world's first full-frame DSLT camera. We also think that some people will be wary of the electronic viewfinder, but we're happy to report that it really is a very, very good device which is worth checking out even if you're skeptical. Image quality at this early stage also looks to be very promising, with low levels of noise even in images taken at high sensitivities.

Sony Xperia J review

Sony Xperia J review

If we're honest, we were a little disappointed with the Sony Xperia J. Sure, it looks great and will last a few days on one charge, but the sluggishness of the Android operating system makes us feel like we've gone back a few years.

And this week's other reviews...

Cameras

Canon EOS M review

Sony NEX-6 review

Sigma DP1 Merrill review

Fuji X-F1 review

Hands on: Sony Alpha a99 review

Cases

CM Storm Scout 2 review

Games consoles

Nintendo Wii U review

Headsets

Tritton Pro+ review

In Car Gadgets

SuperTooth Crystal review

Laptops

Toshiba Satellite P855-32G review

Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display review

Toshiba Satellite U840 review

Mobile phone accessories

Blue Microphones Mikey Digital review

Mobile phones

ZTE Kis review

Nokia Lumia 820 review

Sony Xperia J review

ZTE Anthem 4G review

Hands on: HTC Droid DNA review

Hands on: Nokia Lumia 822 review

Hands on: Huawei Ascend G330 review

Operating systems

Microsoft Windows RT review

Software

Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2013 suite review

Hands on: Nokia Here review

Hands on: New Myspace review

Speakers

Libratone Zipp review

Storage

WD My Book VelociRaptor Duo review

Jamie Middleton Operations Editor TechRadar.com Future, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW +44 (0)1225 442244 x2082 TechRadar.com - UK's #1 technology website for consumers September 2012 figures: 4.1m UK unique users | 5.4m US unique users | 17.3m global unique users

James Rivington

James was part of the TechRadar editorial team for eight years up until 2015 and now works in a senior position for TR's parent company Future. An experienced Content Director with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. Skilled in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), E-commerce Optimization, Journalism, Digital Marketing, and Social Media. James can do it all.