Articles by Al Griffin, Senior Editor Home Entertainment, US

Al Griffin is Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, US at TechRadar. Previously the editor of Sound & Vision magazine, he brings nearly three decades of journalism experience to the position, and has contributed to a wide range of print and online outlets including Wirecutter, ProjectorCentral, The SoundStage! Network, Popular Science, and HD Guru. An ISF-trained video calibrator, Al specializes in TV and projector testing and has also written countless audio equipment reviews ranging from speakers and subwoofers to integrated amps. An avowed movie fanatic, he spends his free time holed up in his home theater, and is also an avid cyclist.

Articles by: Al Griffin

TCL QM581G showing man with sunglasses onscreen

TCL QM851G review: the brightest mini-LED TV yet, and a fantastic value

By Al Griffin last updated 29 June 24

Recommended

TCL’s top mini-LED TV is a complete package, offering great picture and sound quality and good gaming features at a surprisingly reasonable price.

Sony Bravia 9 showing blue landscape image

Sony Bravia 9 vs TCL QM8 (2024) – super-bright mini-LED TVs put to the test

By Al Griffin published 23 June 24

The Sony Bravia 9 and TCL QM8851G are among the brightest TVs you can buy, but brightness is only part of the story in both cases.

Sony Bravia 9 review: a stunning next-gen mini-LED 4K TV that makes a big bet on brightness

By Al Griffin published 16 June 24

Recommended

Sony's new flagship makes a straight shoot for the top of the high-end TV heap and succeeds brilliantly on several fronts.

Vision Pro, iOS 18 and Apple Watch shots from WWDC 2024

Apple WWDC 2024 – 13 things we learned including what Apple Intelligence is and why a Calculator app can be exciting

By Marc McLaren published 10 June 24

What were the big stories at Apple's WWDC 2024? Here's our full round-up, featuring everything from Apple Intelligence to iOS 18 and much, much more.

Apple tvOS 18 being discussed by presenter in living room setting

Apple TV 4K to get AI-enhanced subtitles, Amazon X-Ray-style info while watching, and clearer dialogue in tvOS 18

By Al Griffin published 10 June 24

Apple announced a list of new features for tvOS at WWDC 2024 aimed at improving accessibility and compatibility with high-end projectors.

Apple TV 4K with Severance on the TV screen

tvOS 18: 6 Apple TV 4K updates we want to see at WWDC 2024

By Al Griffin published 9 June 24

With WWDC 2024 happening imminently, here's our wishlist of must-have features for Apple to implement in tvOS 18.

Sony Bravia 9 TV displaying colorful abstract image

Forget soundbars – I used a Sony TV as the main speaker in a wireless Dolby Atmos system, and got cinema-like results

By Al Griffin published 9 June 24

Sony's new flagship Bravia 9 TV can serve as a center channel speaker in a Dolby Atmos system – something it does surprisingly well

LG C4 OLED TV showing image of woman looking through glasses

LG C4 OLED TV review: a better and brighter mid-range OLED

By Al Griffin last updated 1 June 24

Recommended

The new LG C4 OLED TV improves on its predecessor in multiple ways and is a great option for movie fans and gamers alike.

Shop the 5 best TVs under $1,000 at Best Buy's Memorial Day sale

By Al Griffin published 26 May 24

Best Buy's Memorial Day sale is live, and I'm rounding up the 5 best TVs under $1,000 from Samsung, TCL, and Hisense.

Sony A80L TV deals banner on green background

The excellent Sony A80L OLED TV is back to its lowest-ever price for Memorial Day

By Al Griffin published 26 May 24

The Sony A80L is a fantastic OLED TV for movies and gaming, and it's now back to its Black Friday price in this Memorial Day deal.

LG C4 OLED TV showing Apple Music app onscreen

LG OLED TVs can now stream Apple Music in Dolby Atmos – but I’ll keep my Apple TV 4K, thanks

By Al Griffin published 26 May 24

The Apple Music app on LG's latest OLED TVs delivers music in Dolby Atmos, but with sonic limitations compared to the Apple TV 4K.

Samsung’s The Freestyle is our favorite portable projector, and it’s back to its Black Friday price for Memorial Day

By Al Griffin published 25 May 24

Samsung’s compact The Freestyle 2nd Gen is the perfect companion for outdoor movie nights, and it’s now $200 off.

I test TVs and these are the 3 deals to look for in Memorial Day sales

By Al Griffin published 23 May 24

With Memorial Day comes TV sales, and these three sets should be at the top of your shopping list.

Android TV's next free update promises faster performance, better accessibility and more energy saving options

By Al Griffin published 15 May 24

Unveiled at Google I/O 2024, Android TV 14 holds a range of features to improve the smart TV platform's performance and usability.

TCL QM89 TV in room with home theater seating

Forget projectors – TCL’s 115-inch mini-LED TV has 6.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos speakers and 5,000 nits brightness

By Al Griffin published 13 May 24

The QM89, a 115-inch mini-LED TV with built-in 6.2.2-channel speakers, leads TCL's lineup for 2024.

Samsung QN900D review: the best 8K TV yet… and one of the best TVs of any kind

By Al Griffin last updated 12 May 24

Editor's Choice

The Samsung QN900D pushes the 8K envelope, mainly by making 4K images look exceptionally good and giving gaming a high-speed boost.

Samsung S85D OLED TV in living room setting

Samsung's new, cheaper OLED TVs are now available to buy

By Al Griffin published 6 May 24

Samsung's entry-level S85D series has arrived, providing a less expensive OLED TV option that still offers premium features.

Hisense U9N TV showing image from No Time to Die

Hands on: The Hisense U9N 4K TV is mini-LED taken to the max, with powerful built-in Dolby Atmos sound too – Samsung should be worried

By Al Griffin published 4 May 24

Not yet rated

Our hands-on test of the new Hisense U9N reveals a mini-LED TV primed to do battle with premium brands, but at a much lower cost.

Hisense’s new 5,000 nits mini-LED TV is so bright you may need to wear shades

By Al Griffin published 30 April 24

The new Hisense U9N series consists of 85- and 75-inch mini-LED TVs with incredible specs for the price.

LG CineBeam Q review: a portable 4K projector with style

By Al Griffin published 28 April 24

Recommended

LG's latest 4K projector brings a dash of style to the portable category, and it uses the same WebOS smart TV system as the company's TVs

MJ and Spider-Man leap off the top of a bridge in Spider-Man: No Way Home

I got a Dolby Atmos soundtrack mixing demo at Sony Pictures Studios, and now I know how Spider-Man sounds get made

By Al Griffin published 21 April 24

My behind-the-scenes Sony Pictures Studios tour showed me the magic of Foley effects, ADR, soundtrack mixing and more.

A Boston Dynamics robot, the Nothing Ear (a), and Humane AI pin on a green background.

ICYMI: the 8 biggest tech news stories from Boston Dynamic's new robot to Sony's OLED-beating Micro-LED TV tech

By Hamish Hector published 20 April 24

Here's your tech news round up for April 20, 2024, with the 8 biggest stories from Boston Dynamics, Humane AI, and Sony.

Sony Bravia Theater Quad spaker system with TV in comfortable living room

I listened to Sony’s new Bravia Theater Quad system, and it's full-fat Dolby Atmos without wires

By Al Griffin published 18 April 24

Sony's new 4.0.4-channel wireless speaker system is a lifestyle-friendly package that doesn't compromise on sonic immersion.

Sony Bravia 9 backlight demo showing images on screen and on raw backlight

I’ve seen Sony’s impressive new mini-LED TV backlight tech in action, and OLED TVs should be worried

By Al Griffin published 17 April 24

Sony's new flagship mini-LED TV combines high brightness with OLED-like blacks, closing the gap between the two technologies.

Samsung’s new cheap 98-inch 4K TV with 120Hz support could be your dream gaming TV

By Al Griffin published 15 April 24

Samsung is going all in on ultra-large screens for 2024, and its new 98-inch DU9000 packs powerful features for the price.

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