Articles by 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.

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

Screenshot from Apple's September 2025 event

Forget the new features, the AirPods Pro 3's most boring upgrades are their killer selling points

By Tom Bedford published 9 September 25

Something special in the specs

AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 – the 6 key differences to help you decide which is the better buy

By Tom Bedford published 9 September 25

We compare the newly-unveiled AirPods Pro 3 with the older AirPods 4 to help you understand the key differences.

The OnePlus Nord 5 against a brick wall.

I spent two weeks with the OnePlus Nord 5, and I can't decide whether it's an upgrade or a downgrade

By Tom Bedford published 9 September 25

The OnePlus Nord 5 brings upgrades in two key areas: display and processing. However, across the board, there are many smaller downgrades.

The Baseus Inspire XC1 above a green blanket.

I tested this cheaper rival to Bose and Shokz' cuff-style open earbuds and other brands could learn a lot from it

By Tom Bedford published 8 September 25

The Baseus XC1 are clip-on open earbuds with a few rough edges, but they're a valid alternative to pricier rivals.

I tested some of the cheapest noise cancelling earbuds and now I’ll never spend more than $40

By Tom Bedford published 27 August 25

Recommended

The JLab Go Pods ANC are the cheapest noise cancelling earbuds that you should genuinely consider buying.

The Shokz OpenDots One on a white windowsill

Shokz' first clip-on open earbuds just beat the Bose Ultra Open in testing, for me – smart price; flexible design

By Tom Bedford published 20 August 25

Recommended

The Shokz OpenDots One offer a comfortable and reliable fit, decent sound quality and a price tag that won't break the bank.

The Generic P2961 headphones in black on a wooden table, with TR's $5 Challenge badge

I bought AirPods Max knockoffs for just 2% of the price, and it reminded me how good we have it

By Tom Bedford published 15 August 25

To win a $10 challenge, I tested budget AirPods Max knockoffs, but all it did was confirm just how good other budget headphones can be

HomePod mini 2: all the latest rumors, what we know and 5 things we want to see

By Tom Bedford last updated 14 August 25

Could the HomePod mini 2 arrive in 2025? There are certainly a few rumors gathering traction…

It took 30 seconds of rain for me to realize: open earbuds are a genuine running essential

By Tom Bedford published 11 August 25

Trying to run 5k with my regular in-ear buds in the rain? A slippery mess. Trying that same run with open earbuds? Big yes.

The Denon AH-C840NCW against a wooden table.

Denon AH-C840NCW review: tempting earbuds from a price perspective, but as an overall package they fall short

By Tom Bedford published 31 July 25

The Denon AH-C840NCW are more affordable AirPods Pro alternatives which deliver in the audio and design department, but struggle for useful features.

The Denon AH-C500W buds next to the case.

Denon AH-C500W review: the first cheap AirPods rival I didn’t prefer to Apple’s earbuds

By Tom Bedford published 22 July 25

The Denon AH-C500W come at a surprising price, undercutting Apple’s AirPods – but not by enough to make them must-buy rivals

Best back to school earbuds: 5 options for heading back to uni or college, all TechRadar tested

By Tom Bedford published 21 July 25

Heading back to campus and want to beat the noise with music? These pocketable (and pocket-friendly) earbuds will solve that

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: second-gen earbuds that sit a lot closer to industry norms

By Tom Bedford published 15 July 25

The year of the open-ears continues with the OneOdio OpenRock S2, from one of the original open earbud makers.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: the best earbuds for noise-cancellation I'll ever test (probably)

By Tom Bedford published 9 July 25

Recommended

The OnePlus Buds 4 have a svelte design, top-notch ANC and a bassy sound, so it’s a shame that a few rough edges let them down.

Several pairs of open earbuds lined up on a window ledge.

Considering open earbuds? These are the top 3 open-fit buds I've tested in 2025

By Tom Bedford published 30 June 25

They're everywhere in 2025, but which new open earbuds are the best right now? I've got this – I've tested little else this year…

7 must-try Android apps you didn't know you needed until now

By Tom Bedford published 29 June 25

I use these 7 lesser-known Android apps to level up my smartphone game.

These 6 iOS-style features prove that Android isn't stuck in the past

By Tom Bedford published 28 June 25

Yes, widgets are a thing on Android. Yes, so is AirDrop, Apple Pay, and Genmoji – they just have different names.

The JLab Epic Open Sport on a tennis racquet.

JLab Epic Open Sport review: 'just fine' open-ears that play well but fail to serve up an ace

By Tom Bedford published 28 June 25

In a super-busy market, they're hard to recommend

I've been using Android phones my whole life and here are 6 features I'm still waiting for

By Tom Bedford published 21 June 25

Here are some Android innovations I'd love to see Google introduce, either taken from its rivals or other companies who use Android.

I found my old iPod Classic in a shoe-box, spent the week burning CDs to iTunes and now I can't go back to Spotify

By Tom Bedford published 21 June 25

I found treasure in the form of my old iPod and promptly ditched Spotify – here's what it taught me

The a list of audio apps on a Realme phone.

These are the best audio apps for Android (that aren't Spotify)

By Tom Bedford published 19 June 25

Here are the best audio-centric apps you can download on Android phones, hand-and-ear tested for your pleasure.

These are the 7 best fitness apps for Android (that aren't Strava)

By Tom Bedford published 14 June 25

Sick of Strava? I've got a selection of alternatives for Android.

A battery-saving setting shown on a Realme GT5 Pro.

Quick! Disable these Android features to boost your battery life

By Tom Bedford published 11 June 25

I've selected a slew of tweaks you can do to get more battery life out of your Android phone.

The Earfun Tune Pro atop a bronze table.

Earfun Tune Pro review: budget cans with an amazing battery that sadly don't sound good

By Tom Bedford published 10 June 25

Spoiler alert: the Earfun Wave Pro's cousin misses the mark

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro above a leafy garden

I spent two weeks with the Motorola Edge 60 Pro, and it's hands-down one of the best-looking phones of the year

By Tom Bedford published 4 June 25

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro offers a winning combination of affordability and premium specs.

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