Articles by James Holland, Freelance writer

James Holland loves checking out gadgets of all sorts, whether it's audio equipment, laptops, or vacuums (especially of the robot variety), and does so for a number of Future Publications including TechRadar, Top Ten Reviews, Homes & Gardens, and T3. He's built up an expertise for in-depth reviewing over the last four years. When he's not putting in the work on the latest tech, he loves to travel, play music, and eat questionable food.

Articles by: James Holland

The best HP laptop in 2025: our top picks from this trusted laptop brand

By Christian Guyton

We've come to trust HP for its reliability and quality when it comes to laptop hardware - these are our picks for the best HP laptops money can buy.

LG S95AR vs LG S95AR on yellow background

LG S95AR vs LG S95TR: which is the better Dolby Atmos soundbar to pair with your LG OLED TV?

By James Holland

The LG S95AR and S95TR are different, but they might not be different enough to justify you buying the newer, more expensive model.

I spent weeks testing the LG S95AR soundbar, and it's a full Dolby Atmos home theater experience

By James Holland

Editor's Choice

The LG S95AR is a pricey, but feature-filled soundbar that delivers impressively immersive sound.

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A Lenovo Legion Pro 7i on a table playing a game

After a couple of weeks testing the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, I found its performance and screen impressive, but its battery life? Not so much

By James Holland

Recommended

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a powerful gaming laptop that’s an ideal desktop replacement but has weak battery life and a high price tag.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 review: good sound and big bass from a slim Dolby Atmos soundbar

By James Holland

Recommended

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is a bit pricey, but it’s got good overall sound quality and great bass for a 3.1.2-channel system.

After testing the cheapest Roku streaming stick, I’ve found one of the best values in streaming

By James Holland

The Roku Streaming Stick is a cheap and very compact streaming stick that’s just a little underpowered.

I spent a week testing the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, and it’s a solid budget option for 4K streaming

By James Holland

Recommended

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is a cheap way to add 4K streaming to a TV, but its menu navigation can be a bit slow, and there’s no Dolby Vision HDR support.

Shark Detect Pro cordless vacuum being tested in a living room

Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum review: lightweight, efficient and modern

By Ruth Hamilton

Recommended

Although not the most powerful vac we've tested, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless is an excellent all-rounder that'll suit most people's needs.

How to check what graphics card you have

By Aleksha McLoughlin

Don’t reach for that screwdriver. Here’s an easy way to find out what graphics you have.

TechRadar freelance writer James Holland, using the JBL EOn One Compact with his guitar for an intimate gig

How I powered an intimate concert with the JBL Eon One Compact speaker and PA system

By James Holland

I put on a small concert with the JBL Eon One Compact, and found it to be ideal for any situation where you need some amplification and more than one channel.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review: If you're looking for an affordable MacBook Air alternative, this is it

By James Holland

Recommended

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 has just about all the makings of a MacBook Air alternative for Windows fans.

How to set up your new powered or active stereo speakers for the best sound

By James Holland

Using the Fluance Ai61 as a guide, we take a look at how to set up and get the best audio out of your stereo speakers.

Microsoft Surface laptop 7 on the left side versus Apple MacBook Pro M4 14-inch on the right side, TechRadar vs background

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 vs. Apple MacBook Pro M4 14-inch: Mac and Windows go head to head once again

By James Holland

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and Apple MacBook Pro M4 14-inch appeal to the same people, but are very different. We take a closer look at where each one excels.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 on the left side and Dell XPS 13 (2024) on the right side of a TechRadar versus background

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 vs. Dell XPS 13 (2024): Which laptop should you trust to fuel your productivity?

By James Holland

The Microsoft Laptop 7 and the Dell XPS 13 (2024) are both AI-powered Ultrabooks that are, in some ways, similar, but in others, very different.

Asus ROG Strix G16 vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 against a TechRadar background

Asus ROG Strix G16 (2025) vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 (2025)

By James Holland

2025 brings a host of gaming laptops, and Asus has offered up two fantastic options. We compare them to see which one is better.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Asus RT-AX55 on a TechRadar background

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Asus RT-AX55: What's the best budget router for your setup?

By James Holland

These two computer speakers are both affordable and punch above their weight, but one is better and one is much cheaper (while still good).

I loved the aspect ratio of the Lorex 4K Battery Video Doorbell but not so much the battery

By James Holland

The Lorex 4K Battery Doorbell does some things really well. However, there are a couple big concerns here, including battery life.

Logitech Z407 and Creative Pebble Plus desktop speakers against a TechRadar background

Logitech Z407 vs Creative Pebble Plus: Neither of these budget speakers sound cheap, but which go best with your setup?

By James Holland

These two computer speakers are both affordable and punch above their weight, but one is better and one is much cheaper (while still good).

I swapped my everyday display to the BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor for a month, here's my verdict

By James Holland

Recommended

The BenQ GW2486TC Eye-Care Monitor is a very affordable monitor perfect for those who prize productivity over all else.

Two gaming monitors, Gigabyte M32UC on the left side vs the Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 on the right against a TechRadar background

Gigabyte M32UC vs Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144: Which 4K display is right for you?

By James Holland

Cheaper and more features or more expensive with better colors

Lenovo Legion Go on the left side and Legion Go S on the right side against a TechRadar background

Lenovo Legion Go vs Lenovo Legion Go S: both handhelds compared

By James Holland

The Lenovo Legion Go is a bit more robust but older, while the Lenovo Legion Go S is more portable and newer, but loses a feature. Read on to see which is the better fit for you.

Bose Smart soundbar on TV stand with TV showing The Batman

Bose Smart Soundbar review: a compact and feature-packed Dolby Atmos soundbar

By James Holland

Recommended

The Bose Smart Soundbar is packed to the brim with features. It sounds pretty good too, though it’s not cheap.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 angled with coffee

I tested the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 and found a no-frills laptop at a decent price

By James Holland

Recommended

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a decent laptop at a decent price and is portable enough for a 15-inch laptop.

I tried the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid and found it very unique - and very expensive

By James Holland

Recommended

Redefining two-in-one, the Thinkbook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid offers two distinct devices that can be used separately in one package.

Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus in living room with subwoofer

I tested Amazon’s Fire TV Soundbar Plus system, and it’s wireless 5.1 surround sound without the expense or fuss

By James Holland

Recommended

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is easy to set up and use. Its price is affordable, but a bit higher than expected.

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