Tom Bedford

Tom Bedford

Contributor

Tom Bedford joined TechRadar in early 2019 as a staff writer, and left the team as deputy phones editor in late 2022 to work for entertainment site What To Watch. He continues to contribute on a freelance basis for several sections including phones, audio and fitness, as well as many other websites.

He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.

He grew up in Bristol, UK, and has also lived in Norwich, UK, Salt Lake City, UT, and currently resides in London, UK.

Articles by: Tom Bedford

A dusty vinyl, poking out of a record sleeve.

No, you don't need a new turntable this Record Store Day, just use this cheap extra to clean your vinyl

By Tom Bedford published

Take it from me: a fancy record player won't improve how your vinyl sounds if you haven't tried this cheap extra first

The H20 Audio Ript Ultra balanced on a ledge.

Are these the best-designed workout headphones ever? I used them for a month to find out

By Tom Bedford published

The H20 Audio Ript Ultra are designed to survive any kind of exercise — but with a few compromises along the way

The Gadhouse Miko Cassette Player on a blue blackground, with some cassettes spilling out.

'Everyone seemingly hates modern tech': this brand new retro cassette player proves the hipsters right

By Tom Bedford published

The Gadhouse Miko Cassette Player is part of a growing trend of feature-packed physical music players.

The Honor MouseBud Pro with an earbud coming out.

What if your computer mouse ate a pair of earbuds? Meet Honor’s MouseBuds Pro with ‘skin-like coating'

By Tom Bedford published

Is it a mouse? Is it earbuds? Is it a plane? No, it's the Honor Choice MouseBuds Pro, which you can buy right now if you really, really want.

An array of Cambridge Audio MSX kit arranged around a red bookshelf.

'Designed to be compact': these new speakers are perfect for small apartments, and come from a 5-star company

By Tom Bedford published

The Cambridge Audio MSX line lets you build your own audio setup, and it's seen a refresh.

The Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 dropped in some mud.

'JBL-beating': our favorite 5-star cheap Bluetooth speaker just got a new model with double the battery life

By Tom Bedford published

Tribit has unveiled the StormBox Micro 3, with a range of upgrades over a top-rated compact speaker.

A hand pulling out a CD from a collection next to an iPod resting on a laptop

I finally sold my CD collection — and it reminded me why iTunes was better than any streaming service in 2026

By Tom Bedford published

Here's how burning discs onto an old iPod helped me appreciate physical media.

7 Comments
The Poco X8 Pro Max placed horizontally on a ledge.

‘The longest-lasting phone I've ever reviewed’ — I spent 3 weeks with the Poco X8 Pro Max, and it beats Apple and Samsung rivals in one big way

By Tom Bedford published

The Poco X8 Pro Max offers a huge battery, and it lasts multiple days without needing to be charged. For many users, that will be enough of a selling point.

The Leak Sandwich 100 on either side of a Leak TruStream.

A 90-year-old audio brand just put out its most affordable speakers yet — and the specs look very tasty indeed

By Tom Bedford published

Leak has unveiled the Sandwich 100, a more compact and affordable Hi-Fi speaker for the rest of us.

The Oakcastle MP300 on a table, showing a Green Day album artwork.

I tested this super-cheap MP3 player for a month, and I'm surprised to say it quickly became my go-to music source

By Tom Bedford published

Recommended

The Oakcastle MP300 may be simple, but it does enough that your phone doesn't, to fit into certain set-ups.

Samsung's Hearapy app running on a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

I tried Samsung's all new earbuds therapy app for travel sickness — and it might actually work

By Tom Bedford published

Samsung has unveiled a motion sickness app called Hearapy, so I gave it a spin — and it's not half bad, provided you use the Buds 4 Pro

The JBL Go 5 on a beach.

JBL just upgraded two of our favorite Bluetooth speakers — one's big and powerful, and one's cheap and portable

By Tom Bedford published

JBL has launched the Go 5 and Xtreme 5, two new portable party speakers which upgrade some of our favorite Bluetooth blasters.

On the left, the Samsung Galaxy A37. On the right, the Samsung Galaxy A57.

Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Samsung Galaxy A37: which mid-range phone is for you?

By Tom Bedford published

We compare the key features of the Samsung Galaxy A57 and cheaper Galaxy A37.

The Panasonic ErgoFit In-Ear in a woman's ears.

'Sign of the times': Panasonic launches a USB-C version of its cheap wired earbuds, because who has a headphone jack any more?

By Tom Bedford published

Panasonic has unveiled the ErgoFit In-Ears are coming in a new USB-C form. Goodbye, 3.5mm.

The Soundpeats Cove Pro on the left and oneOdio Focus A1 Pro on the right.

I can’t put down two cheap headphones I tested this year — one’s better for budget audiophiles, one’s perfect for commuters

By Tom Bedford published

For cheap headphone buyers, the Soundpeats Cove Pro and OneOdio Focus A1 Pro are perfect — just for different people.

The Pro-Ject VC-E Mini on a table, with a white background.

‘Small enough to be tempting’: I need this award-winning turntable company’s new mini automatic vinyl-cleaning machine more than I’ll admit

By Tom Bedford published

Pro-Ject has launched the VC-E Mini, a new vinyl cleaning machine that's smaller and more affordable than past models.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 case and buds on a ledge.

'Some of my least favorite headphones to test': I used the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 for a month, and one issue makes them very hard to recommend

By Tom Bedford published

Samsung's mid-ranged earbuds aim to offer an alternative affordable option to the brand's top-priced Buds, but they're not a worthy substitute.

5 Comments
The Majority Auto and D50X on a self.

'Perfect Record Store Day prep': Majority's new turntable-speaker combo is surprisingly affordable (and colorful!)

By Tom Bedford published

The new Majority Auto turntable and D50X bookshelf speakers are affordable, colorful, and out now (just in time for Record Store Day).

The Google Pixel 10 on the left, and the Pixel 10a on the right.

Google Pixel 10a vs Pixel 10: which Pixel phone should you buy?

By Tom Bedford published

The Google Pixel 10a and Pixel 10 offer identical software and similar specs, but which mid-range Pixel phone should you buy?

The Astell & Kern Activo Scoop on top a pebble.

'Hard-pressed to find a more affordable pair of IEMs' — Astell & Kern's cheaper sub-brand just released budget 5-driver wired earbuds

By Tom Bedford published

Astell & Kern's budget arm has unveiled new wired earbuds, the Scoop, which offer five drivers and multiple connection options for under £100.

The Cleer Arc 5 on a white table with a green background.

'An odd choice': Cleer has put audiophile-grade perks in open earbuds, and I'm confused

By Tom Bedford published

Cleer Audio's new Arc 5 open earbuds offer THX and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, in a confusing package.

The JBL Live 780NC and JBL Live 680NC on a blue background.

'The year of price hikes continues': JBL unveils new two new headphones, as well as an AI party speaker that you don't need to fear

By Tom Bedford published

JBL has unveiled the Live 780NC and Live 680NC headphones to US markets, as well as a PartyBox karaoke speaker which uses proprietary magic to reduce vocal lines from your favorite songs.

The Skullcandy Push 540 Open in a man's ear.

'If anyone can make open earbuds work, it'd be Skullcandy': these new sports-specific buds could dethrone the Shokz — and cost half as much

By Tom Bedford published

The Skullcandy Push 540 Open combine old-school tools with Skullcandy magic, and it could give them the gumption to take on the Shokz as our favorite open earbuds.

The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro on a yellow background.

'Bass, bass and more bass': OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro slated for launch — and I think drum 'n' bass fans will like 'em

By Tom Bedford published

The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro are officially on their way and according to early teases from the company, bass and ANC are the names of the game.

JBL Authentics 200 front grille logo detail

'It's massive': why the leaked Lenovo tablet with a huge JBL speaker on the back actually makes a lot of sense

By Tom Bedford published

Business up front, party in the back

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