Despite beginning as a range of cassette and CD players over four decade ago, Sony's Walkman line is still going strong, though nowadays they've ditched the physical media in favor of digital hi-res music. Two new Walkman devices make that point exceedingly clear.

These are the NW-WM1AM3 and NW-WM1ZM3, which were announced in mid-October ahead of a November on-sale date (in most regions, at least, but in the US they're due in January). Checking Sony's website, the AM3 is due to sell from November 27, or Black Friday, while the ZM3 is already sold out. Clearly the Walkman's return is proving popular.

That sold-out model is the priciest of the two, selling for $5,899 / £4,299 / AU$6,499. The real appeal of the NW-WM1ZM3 is in the build, using materials such as oxygen-free copper for top conduction, gold-plated screws and wiring done by a brand called Kimber Kable which focuses on the cabling in audio products. Otherwise, it sounds pretty similar to the $2999 / £2,099 / AU$3,999 NW-WM1AM3.

Both are digital audio players with 5.5-inch screens, 35-hour listening, Wi-Fi or onboard music listening, use the Sony DSD Remastering Engine to upscale PCM audio, and have dual headphone jacks. They have 256GB on-board storage, as well as the ability to expand that with an SD card.

So they both sound like premium digital audio players for people who value high-quality music. Yet they've been totally overshadowed by another Walkman product which isn't even out yet.

Meet the mystery retro Walkman accessory

On social media, Sony has begun teasing a brand-new Walkman device, due to be unveiled on November 5 (tomorrow, at the time of writing):

People are pretty confident about what this is, largely because you can see the outline, and the color scheme harks back to them. It's looking like these will be a new pair of Walkman headphones, like the classic MDR-3 which came alongside the first-generation TPS-L2 Sony Walkman in 1979.

Wired audio's making a comeback, as is retro audio tech, and clearly Sony's leaning on the nostalgia angle here. Presumably, it's set to unveil some new on-ear headphones, but we'll find out more tomorrow.

The real question to me is whether Sony's about to re-vamp the MDR-3, or if it's about to re-vamp the MDR-3 and release some other Walkman products. We're constantly seeing new cassette players and CD players, because of the aforementioned retro audio tech boom, and it wouldn't be surprising if Sony were to release such options too.

After all, Walkman remains the most recognized name in portable audio playing, so if any brand wanted to capitalize on this new trend, Sony would be the one best placed to do so.

We'll see what Sony unveils tomorrow, but whatever it is, it's already overshadowed the WM1AM3 and WM1ZM3.

Can a camera really be ‘perfect’?

It's possible that I got carried away slightly when I said the A7R VI “had no weaknesses”, but after weeks testing the full-frame mirrorless camera across landscape, portrait and wildlife photography, I had no doubt in my mind that it deserved a perfect 5-star rating.

I’ve been reviewing cameras for almost two decades, and the A7R VI genuinely feels like peak camera. In my A7R VI review, I was even compelled to say “Sony can stop making cameras now.”

First up, I must point to the new sensor, which had an admittedly modest bump in pixels from the already class-leading A7R V’s 61MP sensor, to 66.8MP. But that’s not the exciting part about this sensor — it’s also a ‘stacked’ type with a faster read-out speed.

Faster read-out speeds can improve a camera’s performance in multiple ways, not least by reducing rolling shutter (an ugly distortion effect that appears when recording video and taking photos of high-speed subjects).

For me, I preferred having the smaller bump in resolution and a greater emphasis on speed, as opposed to an even bigger bump in resolution but no speed improvement. The A7R VI is a powerful all-rounder, as opposed to a pure pixel monster.

The camera packs Sony’s Bionz XR 2 processor, which combines two chips, including one that’s tasked with subject-detection autofocus. Whether I was photographing small birds or large mammals in a nature reserve, or taking portraits, the A7R VI never skipped a beat.

Then there’s the camera’s handling. Historically, for me Sony's design and user experience haven't matched those of other leading mirrorless camera brands — I’m a sucker for Nikon in particular. But the A7R VI is spectacularly well designed.

There’s a tilt-and-flip touchscreen, meaning the screen can be pulled out and used as a tilt screen for waist-level shooting, or flipped out and rotated for selfies — traditionally you’d have to pick either / or (or have neither). It’s the most versatile design on the market, and one which you can also find on the latest Lumix S1 II cameras. If I had one wish, it would be that Sony increased the size of its 3-inch display in the future, even if only to 3.2-inches like Nikon.

The viewfinder is big, bright and highly detailed class-leading 9.36m-dot display, while the button layout makes perfect sense, and the camera’s grip is nice and deep and comfortable to hold.

Housed inside the grip is an all-new battery — Sony’s first for 10 years since the legendary NP-FZ100. The new unit has a higher capacity, and increases shot life by 20%; not bad, considering the previous battery already delivered class-leading power.

The downside to the new battery is that it’s not forwards / backwards compatible with the NP-FZ100, so upgraders are going to have to splash out on additional batteries should they need them.

Video specs are decent, though arguably not as strong as those of some lower-resolution rival cameras. For example, Sony again omitted open-gate recording (this would finally appear later in the yet-to-go-on-sale FX5 cinema camera).

But if photography is your beat, and you need a high-resolution sensor with huge scope for cropping — the A7R VI’s Super 35 (APS-C / 1.5x crop) mode is still a healthy 28MP — and don’t need the absolute top speed and buffer performance of cameras like the A9 III and A1 II, there really is no better camera.

The A7R VI was so good, in fact, that it put the (much) pricier A1 II’s position in doubt, given that it can do 90% of what that camera can, while boasting a higher-resolution sensor.

I reviewed some fabulous cameras in 2026, but my absolute favorite was without doubt the A7R VI — it’s the camera I wish I owned, along with some of Sony’s spectacular recent pro GM lenses. It was the crowning achievement for Sony in a year in which it also scooped our Brand of the Year award, and comfortably maintained its #2 market position behind Canon.

Sony A7R VI image gallery

Don't want to fork out all that cash for a Steam Machine? If you've got a PS5, you could turn it into a spin on Valve's gaming PC thanks to a custom version of a Linux distro — although the major catch is you'll need to jailbreak your console.

TechPowerUp noticed the PS5 Bazzite Deck project on GitHub, which takes this flavor of the gaming-focused Bazzite distro and adapts it for Sony's console. (Bazzite Deck is different from vanilla Bazzite, as it was built specifically for handhelds to offer an experience similar to SteamOS for the likes of the Asus ROG Ally — but without some of the headaches of running Valve's OS on that portable).

When PS5 Bazzite Deck is run on a jailbroken console, it'll boot straight into the Steam Deck interface (Steam Gaming Mode), and you can play your PC games from there.

You don't need to install the PS5 Bazzite Deck OS, either; you can just run it from a USB stick (via the PS5 Linux loader). As the developer VivaLaVent explains, when you next restart the PS5, it'll boot its own operating system again, and you'll be back at Sony's welcome hub.

So the PS5 isn't modified by running this OS as such, except for the fact that you have to jailbreak the console (then run the PS5 Linux Loader).

This project is compatible with the base PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles, and you can also switch to a desktop mode running KDE Plasma on your PS5, should you wish.

Of course, game compatibility is going to be hit-and-miss, although a gamer on Reddit observed that they've successfully run Horizon Zero Dawn, Palworld, Genshin Impact, and Rimworld — although Marvel Rivals was a non-starter.

Analysis: interesting times

I should make it very clear up front that I wouldn't recommend jailbreaking your console even as an experiment. There are potential legal ramifications (depending on where you live) with doing so, the possibility of Sony banning your account, and a whole raft of risks (including the third-party software involved, of course). So, if you do want to turn your PS5 into a take on a Steam Machine in this way, proceed at your own risk.

That said, there's an increasing amount of activity around getting the PS5 to run PC games, as you might have seen, so clearly this is something that quite a few gamers are interested in. Most notably, we've seen Playden, which is a very different way of running PC titles on a PS5, by using a compatibility layer (a custom port of Wine) to pull this off. PS5 Bazzite Deck differs in that it replaces the entire OS with a new one, as opposed to running on top of Sony's system.

By all accounts, PS5 Bazzite Deck is pretty slick. One Redditor shares their experience: "I've been using this distro for 4 days, and WOW! Seriously, it's way better than the others. There are constant updates that bring bug fixes."

The DualSense controller support is also niftily implemented by all accounts, as you can pair to both Linux and the PS5 system (saving you from unpairing when switching between the two). The controller's touchpad works like a mouse on the PS5 Bazzite Deck, and seemingly waking from sleep takes only two seconds (much faster than the PS5's normal wake time).

Another gamer on Reddit declares: "If the PS5 turns out to have been the perfect Steam Machine all along, it would be so funny."

But I refer you back to my previous advice on jailbreaking (and game compatibility). Still, this kind of modding is attention-grabbing, to say the least, and we're also seeing it in reverse, with a breakneck pace of development for PS5 emulation on the PC (very much accelerated by the use of AI, it's worth noting).

That effort is, of course, generating a ton of interest given that GTA 6 is nearly here, and indeed there are theories floating around that the work on that PS5 emulator could force Rockstar to launch the PC port much earlier than intended (before an emulated version is up and running). The rumor mill reckons we could see the PC version of GTA 6 early in 2027 as a result.

This new Pulse headset feels like the formal, official, and proper replacement for the Pulse 3D headset that launched with the console in 2020. That was a great headset with a lot going for it, but this next-generation model feels like an upgrade already, for one key reason: planar magnetic drivers. This means the audio on offer here is going to be excellent and, truthfully, far superior to that first Pulse 3D headset.

It's got a sleek design and one that channels a little of Sony's Inzone headsets too, and it'll also feature PlayStation Link connectivity for lossless audio and native compatibility with the PlayStation Portal.

It'll cost you $99.99 / £89.99, will be available in white or black, and pre-orders have started in the US and the UK.

Just for clarity, this is for the 'regular' new Pulse headset that Sony revealed, not the new Pulse Edge, which is more premium. We're yet to hear more information on that high-end Pulse headset, such as price and pre-order date.

Anyway, the new PS5 Pulse headset is now available to pre-order in the US and the UK. Below, you'll find all the best links and most important info on the new PS5 accessory.

US PlayStation Pulse PS5 headset pre-orders – quick links

• 🅿️PS Direct: pre-order for $99🅿️
• 📦Amazon: pre-order for $99.99📦
• 🔆Walmart: pre-orders live soon🔆
• 🎮GameStop: pre-order for $99.99🎮
• 🏷️Check for stock at Best Buy🏷️
• 🎯Check for stock at Target🎯

UK PlayStation Pulse PS5 headset pre-orders – quick links

• 🅿️PlayStation: pre-order now for £89.99🅿️
• 🧸Smyths Toys: pre-order now for £89.99🧸
• 𝓥 Very: pre-order now for £89.99 𝓥
• 📦Check for stock at Amazon UK📦
• ©️Check for stock at Currys©️
• 🟥Check for stock at Argos🟥
• 🟡Check for stock at ShopTo🟡
• 🎮Check for stock at The Game Collection🎮
• 📱Check for stock at EE📱
• 🛍️Check for stock at John Lewis🛍️

Should you pre-order a PlayStation Pulse wireless headset for PS5?

As I always say, broadly speaking, if you're willing and able to do so, placing a pre-order is the safest bet for securing your product.

If you know you're pretty certain to be picking up the Pulse wireless headset, then placing a pre-order is the best way to ensure you'll get your item. Even items that aren't limited in stock in their lifetimes might have limited pre-order or launch stock, so to avoid any delays, placing a pre-order is the sure-fire way to know you're getting it.

PlayStation Pulse wireless headset for PS5: cut to the chase

• Price: $99.99 / £89.99
• Pre-order date: October 29, 2026; 10am ET / 10am local time in Europe
• Release date: November 19, 2026
• Design and features: The updated form factor is very 'round' in its style, with a lot of curves across the headset, while the ear cups will also rotate to allow the headset to lie flat on a surface for portability. Key features include planar magnetic drivers, PlayStation Link support, and mics with AI-enhanced noise rejection.

The Sony Bravia Theater Trio is hard to define, but easy to love. Hard to define because its three-speaker (Trio, geddit?) package doesn’t feel quite like either a soundbar or a home theatre separates system; easy to love because it sounds amazing.

Sony’s own story of how the Trio came to be states that it was borne from frustration in its audio department about the inability of regular soundbar solutions — even high-end ones — to deliver sound with enough power and scale to convincingly partner with really big TVs. It was deemed that rather than creating a mammoth uber-long single soundbar to solve this problem, a much more practical solution would be to create a three-piece centre, left, right speaker package instead.

While the left and right speakers of the Trio system are larger and heavier than the sort of satellite speakers usually sold with or as options for regular soundbar systems, the package overall still looks startlingly compact overall for a system designed for king-sized TVs. The center speaker only measures in at 23.19 x 2.52 x 6.5 inches / 589 x 64 x 165mm, in fact. But you can, of course, place the wireless left and right speakers pretty much as far apart as your room allows, to help create a soundstage commensurate in scale with a monster TV.

I would quickly add at this point, though, that I personally don’t see the Trio as only worth getting if you have a huge TV. It’s actually so good and, as I’ll explain, so flexible with its sound that it’s worth considering by really any home theater fan who’s able to afford it.

Just throwing a trio of speakers at the big TV audio problem won’t in itself guarantee a satisfying home theater audio solution, of course. Especially when those three speakers only deliver dedicated left, right, centre and up-firing channels, rather than the many more channels that even some single bar soundbars can manage these days. The thing is, though, the Bravia Theater Trio’s channel count isn’t actually restricted to the the handful we’ve just mentioned. The brand’s revolutionary 360 Spatial Sound Mapping system is capable of adding up to 24 ‘virtual’ (created by psychoacoustic processing) extra channels of sound to the system’s ‘physical’ ones.

The 360 Spatial Sound Mapping system’s calculation process for figuring out where to place the sound from these extra virtual speakers uses a supplied, high-quality mic dongle that plugs into your phone to tailor the sound to your room layout. This works so well that you’ll be able to still enjoy a totally coherent, balanced, symmetrical soundstage from your Trio system no matter how awkward your room layout might be.

This room adaptation part of the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping system becomes even more useful if you add a pair of Sony’s new Rear 9 optional surround sound speakers. Even when I deliberately set the the two front and Rear 9 speakers in the most unhelpful positions I could manage, the processing still somehow manages to put me at the heart of a colossal 360-degree soundstage.

I’ve let the Trio’s cleverest trick, though, lead me into discussing the system’s performance before I’ve finished going through every feature it has to offer. So let’s quickly get back to that.

While the Trio’s centre speaker’s long, slim design suits simple placement on a desktop under your TV, the left and right speakers sneak a narrow straight bit into their otherwise cylindrical shape to allow them to be wall mounted if that suits your set up.

Connectivity is passable. The highlight is an HDMI loop through that supports 4K/120Hz gaming feeds — as you’d hope with a sound system from the brand responsible for the PlayStation 5 — as well as the HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision HDR formats, but not HDR10+. And the HDMI output also supports the eARC system for taking in sound from your TV.

Unfortunately, the only other port is a USB slot that’s apparently only for software updates. A second HDMI input and an optical digital audio input would have been nice on a £1,999 home cinema system these days perhaps, but the Trio’s support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (6.0) alongside the HDMIs will likely deliver everything most modern households will need.

These wireless options support direct streaming from Spotify Connect and Apple Airplay 2. On top of this, the system can also utilize Hi-Res Audio files and carries Sony’s redoubtable DSEE Ultimate AI upscaling system for making compressed audio sound better.

The latest Bravia Connect app for iOS and Android helps you set the system up, as well as providing an attractive and useful visual interface as a back up to the fairly basic remote control the system ships with. And it's particularly handy, given the Trio doesn’t carry an LED display.

Finally in the feature department, the Trio can play both the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound formats. In fact, it doesn’t just play them; it eats them for breakfast.

Any doubts about the Trio’s $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$2,999 price evaporate in an irresistible bombardment of almost impossibly massive sound staging, levels of power, detail and impact that seem to go far beyond the system’s claimed 405W of confirmed power. It also serves up mesmerizing detailing and precision, and an immaculate tone that has more in common with a premium full separates system than a minimalistic three-speaker package.

The system’s remarkable drivers and even more remarkable 360 Spatial Sound Mapping processing create a soundstage that fills at least the front half of even very large rooms, with the physical existence of the Trio’s three speakers essentially completely disappearing. As well as being capable of creating an epic sense of space for big movie locations, the size of sound the Trio can produce means it's effortlessly able to ‘fill’ the screen area and match the cinematic scale of even the very biggest TVs.

Despite its immense and immersive size, though, the Trio’s sound doesn’t forget the small things in home cinema and music life. It can pull in the boundaries of its sound superbly when a soundtrack wants to portray a tight space, for starters. Also, every detail in a movie sound mix is beautifully rendered, no matter how small, and produced with exactly the correct weight relative to other mix elements.

There’s no hint of harshness or brittleness to any sound the Trio makes, no matter how high pitched or deep it might be. In fact, despite the center speaker’s small size, the system gives the impression of having no ceiling for treble sounds to butt up against and turn harsh, and no low-frequency floor for bass sounds to flatten off against.

The relatively hefty left and right speakers do most of the heavy low-frequency lifting without making deep sounds feel trapped in, hard edged or distorted. They’re reactive enough to serve sudden bass hits with impeccable timing, too, and have enough range in the low frequencies they can produce to stop rumbles becoming overwhelming or coarse.

This excellent bass performance is particularly welcome, given that bass has been a weakness of some of Sony’s current soundbars, and that the system is quite compact. Perhaps an even bigger worry is that Sony sells Sub 8 and Sub 9 external wireless subwoofer upgrades for the package, which always makes me wonder if there’s a weakness in the core system that such an add-on is required to fix.

The Trio can deliver hard, sudden impact sounds with proper venom and propulsion, while the soundstage remains balanced and authoritative even at high volumes, no matter how dense the content might be.

Sound systems that go as big and dynamic with film soundtracks as the Trio can aren’t always able to turn their hands effectively to music. The Trio, though, is at least as engaging with music as it is movies.

Even in native stereo mode, without any of Sony’s remarkable virtual surround processing in play, the trio of speakers deliver excellent stereo separation and vocal placement. Nothing sounds at all strained, no matter what type of music you’re playing or how dense a track gets. It retains its genuinely hi-fi feel, too, at higher volumes than you’ve probably ever heard your favorite albums before. And yet, at the same time, people with neighbors will be pleased to hear that its speakers are sensitive enough to deliver music compellingly even at low volumes, something many soundbars struggle with.

Dolby Atmos music sounds similarly refined. It's detailed without being forensic, but also enjoys a more three-dimensional presentation that includes height elements. And if you’re happy to take off your purist music hat, I’d also recommend you try stereo tracks — or, at least, relatively poppy or ambient stereo tracks — through its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping processing, which gives it a more spacious and surround sound feel. Certainly Sony’s ‘upmixing’ with this effect is much superior to similar modes attempted by most other home audio packages.

It’s a tough ask to find things I don’t love about Sony’s Trio system. But I’m paid to try, so here goes. First, for all its virtual speaker creating talents, it only creates a quite limited sense of sound coming from behind your seating position. This can be solved extremely well by adding Sony’s new Rear 9 extra wireless surround speakers — though, at $749.99 / £699 / $ 1,299 a pair, this upgrade isn’t cheap.

The left/right spread of stereo music strangely narrows slightly when playing music through the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping despite expanding in every other way. And finally — and possibly most frustratingly depending on how big your household is — the area you need to sit in after calibrating the Trio for the optimal 360 Spatial Sound Mapping effect is quite small. Though even outside of this sweet spot, it’s still gloriously easy to appreciate just how good the Trio’s overall sound is.

Sony Bravia Theater Trio (HT-A8) review: Price and release date

• Released: July 2026 (UK and Australia), May 2026 (US)
• $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$2,999

At first glance the Trio’s $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$2,999 price looks substantial for a three-piece speaker package. Samsung gives you a full surround soundbar package, the HW-Q990H, for just $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$1,499, after all. Once you’ve placed the Trio’s speakers wherever you want them to go, though, and run the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping system setup, the system reveals itself to be a pretty much separates-grade performer capable of partnering with a huge screen and even filling a big room.

Hitting almost $2,750 / £2,700 / AU$4,300 if you add the admittedly impressive Rear 9 speakers starts to look a bit of a stretch, but you could always add the rears later as funds allow. The out-of-the-box Trio won’t let you down in the mean time.

Sony Bravia Theater Trio (HT-A8): Specs

Should I buy the Sony Bravia Theater Trio (HT-A8)?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Sony Bravia Theatre Trio (HT-A8) review: Also consider

How I tested the Sony Bravia Theatre Trio (HT-A8)

• I used the Sony Trio as my main living room audio system for 11 days.
• Also tested in a second room with a different size and layout, and with a pair of optional Rear 9 surround speakers.
• Tested with 4K Blu-rays, CDs, streamed audio, and games, using all direct HDMI connection, eARC and wireless connection options

I tested the Trio as my main living room audio system for 11 days overall, as well as using it in a second room with a different layout for two further days. I also moved the left and right speakers (and the optional rears) to all sorts of awkward places to test the flexibility of the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping processing.

During the testing period, I fed the Trio system audio content from a wide range of sources, including movie soundtracks from streaming boxes and 4K Blu-ray players over HDMI; music from a CD player and the various music streaming services the system supports; and game soundtracks from an Xbox Series X. Key movies used were Blade Runner 2049, It Chapter One, Civil War, and Sinners.

• First reviewed: October 2026
• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

Translucent gaming hardware is having a moment right now, with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 and Microsoft’s see-through Xbox Series X leading the charge. Now, Sony is getting in on the act with a new range of PlayStation 5 covers and controllers that take you back to a time when seemingly everything had a touch of transparency about it.

Dubbed the Prism range, the new accessories are available in three translucent forms: Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray. They come with a “premium glossy sheen for a sleek and elevated design,” Sony says, and those finishes “give players a closer look into the design and craftsmanship behind our DualSense controllers and PlayStation 5 consoles.”

As Sony alluded to, it’s not just the DualSense controller that gets the Prism treatment. The PS5 console itself can take on one of the collection’s looks thanks to three dedicated console covers that can be fixed to your PS5 to overhaul its appearance.

Sony says that the Prism PS5 controllers cost $84.99 / £74.99 / €84.99, which pushes the price a little higher than the standard PS5 controller but is in line with other special editions.

The console covers, meanwhile, will set you back $74.99 / £64.99 / €74.99. You’ll be able to pre-order the products on November 10, 2026, and they’ll officially launch on February 4, 2027.

We'll be covering the pre-orders of these products live and predict that the combination of their slick finishes and the appeal to retro and long-term PlayStation fans means they will be in hot demand!

Retro revival

Many tech companies have brought out translucent devices in recent years as they seek to capitalize on the nostalgic hit the look provides for fans of ‘90s design and throwback gaming culture.

Sony is no different, with company designer Leo Cardoso saying: “We know how much our fans have been looking forward to the return of transparent controllers. We wanted to bring back the iconic see-through trend of the late ‘90s in a fresh, modern way that complements the PS5’s industrial design.”

With Sony’s main console rival Microsoft launching a translucent green Xbox Series X alongside an “OG Green” see-through controller, PlayStation bosses might not have wanted to feel left behind — or for their fans to cast envious sideways glances at their Xbox-toting friends and family members.

Now, they might not have to worry about that. And if you’re a fan of the retro aesthetic and want to bring a touch of the 1990s to your PlayStation 5, this could be one way to do it.

In line with the iconic game series' 30th anniversary, Sony has revealed a limited-edition Gran Turismo PS5 controller, and it's available for pre-order now in the US and the UK.

It's a PS5 DualSense controller with a lot going on across it, but one thing's for sure: it does evoke a Gran Turismo racing car and is sure to be popular with the series' long-standing fans and PlayStation hardware collectors.

With racing car badges, racing stripes, and some unmistakably Gran Turismo motifs across the white and black carbon-fiber-effect chassis, this really does a great job of evoking the famous racing series that has spanned every PlayStation generation.

This controller costs the usual $84.99 / £74.99, and pre-orders are live now. You can check the links below for the latest availability at the official PlayStation Store and all major retailers.

US Gran Turismo DualSense pre-orders – quick links

• 🅿️PS Direct: pre-order for $84🅿️
• 🏷️Best Buy: pre-order for $84.99🏷️
• 🎯Target: pre-order for $84.99🎯
• 🔆Check for stock at Walmart🔆
• 📦Check for stock at Amazon📦
• 🎮Check for stock at GameStop🎮

UK Gran Turismo DualSense pre-orders – quick links

• 🅿️PlayStation Direct: pre-order for £74.99🅿️
• 🧸Smyths Toys: pre-order for £74.99🧸
• ©️Currys: pre-order for £74.99©️
• 🟥Argos: pre-order for £74.99🟥
• 𝓥 Very: pre-order for £74.99 𝓥
• 📦Check for stock at Amazon UK📦
• 📱Check for stock at EE📱
• 🛍️Check for stock at John Lewis🛍️
• 🟡Check for stock at ShopTo🟡
• 🎮Check for stock at The Game Collection🎮

Should you pre-order a Limited Edition Gran Turismo PS5 controller?

If you're willing and able to do so, placing a pre-order is the safest bet for securing your product; there's almost no scenario where it's better to wait and see whether there'll be discounts or launch-day stock if things go dry at the pre-order stage.

I also think it's worth pre-ordering this limited edition Gran Turismo controller due to it being infused with one of the longest-running and most iconic PlayStation game series.

This means there's going to be plenty of folks interested in this pad from both a 'fan of the game' perspective, but also those approaching from a collector's perspective and those who want to celebrate PlayStation history.

Gran Turismo Limited Edition PS5 controllers: cut to the chase

• Price: $84.99 / £74.99
• Pre-order date: October 22, 2026; 10am ET / 10am local time in Europe
• Release date: December 10, 2026
• Design: There are motifs and badges across this DualSense that are definitely reminiscent of car designs. Sony says the DualSense was "Inspired by the craftsmanship and engineering at the heart of Gran Turismo" and "pays tribute to 30 years of The Real Driving Simulator. Racing stripes and motorsport-inspired graphics are paired with a textured, carbon-fibre-style front plate, bringing elements of automotive design and performance to the controller."

It’s no secret that the ongoing AI-driven RAM crisis has pushed component prices to extraordinarily unpleasant highs, and that’s made everything from graphics cards to new smartphones more expensive. Now, it looks like the misery could be spreading to the upcoming PlayStation 6, with some predictions indicating that an eye-watering price tag of $1,000 or more could be on the horizon.

That idea comes from renowned leaker KeplerL2 on the NeoGAF forums, who recently argued that the procurement cost to Sony of the PlayStation 6’s memory and storage alone comes to $680. That’s before we even consider other components like the GPU, CPU, and motherboard, and it makes for grim reading for anyone hoping for a reasonably priced console from Sony.

The context here is that KeplerL2’s comment was made in response to another forum member. That person had expressed doubts over KeplerL2’s previous prediction that the total bill of materials for the PlayStation 6 would come to $960. That prediction was made in July 2026, and with prices only increasing since then, the final bill to Sony could easily push past the $1,000 mark — especially if the RAM and storage come to $680 before anything else is factored in.

While some games consoles have historically been sold at a loss in order to drive software sales, Sony has said in recent months that “As a principle, we do not intend to sell hardware at significant losses.” That suggests that if the PlayStation 6’s bill of materials really does come to $960 — or more — then that’s likely to be close to the price that consumers will be asked to pay.

More bad news for PlayStation fans

KeplerL2 is a well-known leaker in the world of consoles and computing hardware, and in recent weeks they have made claims surrounding console release dates, the performance of the next Xbox, and AMD’s own version of DLSS 5. Their past track record gives them a degree of credibility, but as with every so-called leak and rumor, it’s sensible to treat it with a dose of skepticism until it is confirmed.

Still, given the way hardware prices are going, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the PlayStation 6 debut at $1,000 or more. Costs of the priciest PlayStation components — including the memory, storage, and GPU — are way up compared to when the PlayStation 5 launched and are showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, they could get worse over the next year or two.

Sony has not made any comments on which way prices for the PlayStation 6 might go, so we’ll have to wait and see for now. But combined with the news that Sony is planning to ditch physical discs altogether in the near future, the future could be tough for PlayStation gamers.

The Sony ULT Tower 7 is another strong entry in Sony’s refreshed ULT line, coming in with newly developed, rounded woofers for enhanced deep bass, a swathe of connectivity options for personal or professional use, and customizable lighting for highly immersive listening.

This model is the mid-sized option in Sony’s new ULT Tower lineup, sitting above the Tower 5 and below the ULT Max. It has a seven driver setup, with a single 280mm woofer, two mid-ranges, and four tweeters — including two rear-facing tweeters for Sony’s 360-degree Party Sound. It also has an impressive 420W of power meaning that it can get unbelievably loud — honestly I had to test this one outdoors for the most part, as it shook the foundations of our music testing space to its very core.

How good is the Sony ULT Tower 7? I’ve tested it for hours on end, listening to countless tunes, playing around with the light settings, and assessing its various features and functions available through Sony’s Sound Connect app. Here’s why I think it can compete with some of the very best Bluetooth speakers.

Let’s start with the most important thing of all: sound quality. The ULT Tower 7 is an excellent-sounding model, providing clarity and insight right across the frequency range, but the clear standout is the bass. It can extend all the way down to 20Hz with confidence, plating up regimented, meaty bass and even rippling sub-bass.

When tuning into First Summer by H.K., the deep, pounding bass was replicated fantastically, sounding just as dynamic, full-bodied and agile as I’d hoped. But still, vocals were textured and clear in the build up, keys and vocals were brilliantly balanced in the mid-range, and higher-pitched drums had a highly energetic, rhythmic quality.

A lot of these positive qualities were mirrored when listening to Rocking Chair by Mr. Scruff. Rich, deep bass was mesmerizing and phenomenally full-sounding, with tonally accurate keys in the mid-range and expressive drums up top adding plenty of color. In addition, guitars had a great sense of width to them, sounding as if they were playing from the corners of our testing room during my indoor assessment.

When blasting tunes from the ULT Tower 7 outdoors, I was astonished by its raw, uncompromised power. It has a maximum power output of 420W, and sound can fill large open spaces confidently, without losing low-end impact or clarity in the mids and treble. One of my colleagues could hear the speaker clearly from the other side of the parking lot in which I was testing the speaker, and let me tell you, this thing is borderline deafening (in a good way) at top volumes.

My only criticism, sonically speaking, is that the 360-degree sound on this speaker is a bit underwhelming. When listening at less favorable angles, like the side and rear of the speaker, the experience was noticeably worse. The overall sound of my tracks just wasn’t as cohesive and balanced as I’d hoped for, and while the larger ULT Tower Max may remedy this issue, the Tower 7 is certainly outclassed for 360-degree sound by rivals like the Marshall Bromley 450.

Still, this is a fantastic sounding speaker that handles dynamics beautifully, and plates up emphatic deep bass, clear mids and highs, and a whole lot of power. The ULT Tower 7’s Sound Field Optimization — which analyzes speaker placement and background noise and accordingly adjusts sound balance across the frequency range — also means that you’re getting consistent quality in any environment.

Something else I love about the ULT Tower 7 is how easy it is to customize its audio output, thanks to its top-tier EQ options. ULT 1 is best for huge outdoor spaces, and places additional emphasis on deep bass, while ULT 2 provides a more rounded sound that focuses on delivering the most energetic, powerful sound. There’s also a Live mode if you want to replicate live recordings more faithfully, a Flat signature for a more balanced sound, and a custom 10-band equalizer which gives you more granular control over the speaker’s output.

What’s more, this speaker supports the higher-res Bluetooth codec LDAC, enabling you to get a surprisingly detailed, insightful listen from the speaker. If you’re after true lossless audio, you’re in luck too — there’s USB-C, 3.5mm, and RCA connectivity on board. This flexibility is great for professionals who want to hook up a DJ controller via RCA or casual listeners who just want to run with Bluetooth or USB-C. In addition, there’s a pair of mic ports so you can dabble in a bit of karaoke from time to time.

If you’re using the ULT Tower 7 for karaoke, there are some effects available to you in Sony’s Sound Connect app, including a voice changer, echo, and so on. There’s also a party pad for effects like a flanger and sampler, as well as playing drum sounds and robotic noises when DJing. These are easy to access, and more generally, I found the SoundConnect app to be highly user-friendly and reliable — it wasn’t filled with bugs like some rivals’ apps are.

While we’re talking about features, it only seems right to talk about battery life. The ULT Tower 7 can offer up to 30 hours of playback with the LEDs turned off, and for a party speaker in this size-category, that’s very strong indeed. That’s almost double of a rival like the JBL PartyBox 330, and means you can keep the party going well into the early hours. There’s also a Stamina mode for extended playtime, or you can use the speaker while hooked up to the mains.

Let’s move onto design now, an area where the ULT Tower 7 largely excels. It looks fantastic, with eye-catching yet tasteful lighting, an attractive rounded aesthetic, and well-sized, illuminated buttons. Even the ULT logo impressed me because it enables you to adjust volume and cycle through EQ modes swiftly — adding a functional layer here is a very nice touch. While it’s not made of the most premium materials, it’s still built to a great standard, and has a rugged yet refined appearance.

My issue with the overall build, however, is that this speaker is not as practical as it could be. At 50.3lbs / 22.8kg, it’s very heavy, and will take a fair bit of effort to move around. Yes, there are a couple of handles built-in alongside some wheels, but a model this hefty really could’ve done with a pull-out handle for easier transportation. When using the main handle on the reverse side of the speaker, I found the ULT Tower 7 to be awkward to maneuver, something that you won’t find with a lot of the JBL PartyBoxes, for instance.

I also would’ve liked to have seen slightly better waterproofing on the ULT Tower 7. IPX4 means it's safe against splashes of water, and this is essentially the standard for party speakers of this size. But some models, like the Marshall Bromley 450, provide superior IP55 protection, which also shields against dust ingress.

But anyway, let’s get down to the crucial question: is the Sony ULT Tower 7 worth the money? Well, for $649.99 / £499 / AU$799, I think you’re actually getting great quality overall. With imposing, gigantic sound, a flashy look, long battery life, and broad connectivity options, the ULT Tower 7 is more accomplished than a lot of the competition in this price-range.

It’s still a big investment, sure, but pound-for-pound, you’re getting an awful lot of functionality and great audio. If you’re looking to save a bit of cash, then I’d personally go for the Sony ULT Tower 5, but for some added oomph, you really can’t go wrong with the ULT Tower 7.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: price & release date

• Priced at $649.99 / £499 / AU$799
• Released in September 2026

The Sony ULT Tower 7 released in September 2026, and is the mid-sized option in the new Tower lineup, sitting right between the smaller Sony ULT Tower 5 and the giant Sony ULT Tower Max. It comes in at $649.99 / £499 / AU$799, which is a reasonable price for a model with such powerful sound and fleshed-out features.

While the ULT Tower 7 is a fair bit pricier than the ULT Tower 5, it does come with the benefits of rear-facing tweeters for 360-degree sound, added power, and better battery life. It’s also priced pretty well against rivals in this size category, such as the JBL PartyBox 330 and the Marshall Bromley 450 — which you can read more about in the ‘also consider’ section.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: specs

Should I buy the Sony ULT Tower 7?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: also consider

How I tested the Sony ULT Tower 7

• Tested outdoors and at the Future Labs music testing space
• Mainly streamed tunes over Tidal
• Tried Party Chain functionality alongside ULT Tower 5

I spent many an hour testing the Sony ULT Tower 7, using it both in our music testing space at Future Labs and outdoors. As well as testing the ULT Tower 7 on its own, I also tried using it alongside the Sony ULT Tower 5 with the Party Chain function.

For the most part, I made use of Bluetooth connectivity to stream tunes over Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone, which supports the higher-res LDAC codec. I started by sifting through the TechRadar reference playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres, but I also made sure to bump countless tunes from my personal library as well.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from wireless headphones like the Sonos Ace Ultra to Dolby Atmos soundbar systems like the JBL Bar 1300MK2. On top of that, I’ve tested a large number of party speakers, including ULT Tower 7 competitors like the Marshall Bromley 450.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

RGB TVs, called ‘True RGB LED’ here by Sony, are still in their infancy, with RGB regularly touted as the technology that will topple OLED at the top of the TV mountain — and of the few I’ve tested so far, the Sony Bravia 9 II is the one that comes closest to succeeding. It takes everything I liked about the step-down Sony Bravia 7 II (also True RGB LED) and levels it up, including picture quality, sound and gaming performance, all of which are up there with the best TVs of 2026.

The Bravia 9 II’s picture quality is its crowning achievement. It delivers vibrant yet accurate-looking colors which make movies pop, fluid motion that’s great for sports and, with its anti-glare matte screen, it’s perfect for bright-room viewing too. Its most impressive elements, though, are its contrast and reproduction of dark tones, which are arguably the best I’ve seen from a backlit TV — if this is what RGB is capable of now, then expect it to rival the very best OLED TVs. While viewing angles could still be better, and some blooming exists, this is an excellent backlit TV.

The Bravia 9 II’s built-in sound is strong overall. Its speakers deliver remarkable detail, with a good sense of space that fills a room more than most TV speakers, and it delivers clear speech. I did find its bass and low-end lacking however, and it didn’t deliver the power I expected; so while the speakers are good enough that you don’t necessarily need one of the best soundbars, cinephiles may want to invest.

Gaming is another of the Bravia 9 II’s strong suits. It comes with a comprehensive set of features, (though sadly only has two HDMI 2.1 ports out of its four HDMIs available), and delivers great overall performance that handles even the fastest-paced games well.

The Bravia 9 II’s major downside is its price. At $3,599 / £3,499 / AU$5,995 for the 65-inch model I tested, this is one of the most expensive TVs on the market, at around a full $500 / £500 / AU$750-1000 dollars more than both rival OLEDs and other RGB TVs. And prices are unlikely to drop, as Sony doesn’t often discount its TVs, so if you’re looking for the best value you may want to go elsewhere, despite this TV’s excellent performance.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Prices & release date

• Release date: August 2026
• 65-inch: $3,599.99 / £3,499.99 / AU$5,995
• 75-inch: $4,599.99 / £4,299.99 / AU$7,495
• 85-inch: $6,499.99 / £5,499.99 / AU$9,995
• 115-inch: $30,999.99 / £22,999.99 / AU$44,995

The Bravia 9 II is Sony’s flagship RGB LED TV for 2026, sitting above the Sony Bravia 7 II. It’s available in 65, 75, 85 and 115-inch sizes. The 65-inch model I tested launched for $3,599.99 / £3,499.99 / AU$5,995, putting it at the premium end of the market.

At the time of writing (October 2026), the Bravia 9 II’s prices remain unchanged in the US and UK, but in Australia prices have dropped across the 65-85-inch sizes, with the 65-inch now available for AU$4,795.

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Specs

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Benchmark results

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1 / 4

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Brightness Measurements

Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator. Click the test name for measurements and select the chosen test from the dropdown menu.

HDR Filmmaker modeHDR StandardSDR Filmmaker ModeSDR Standard

Sony Bravia 9 II

HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)

4416

HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)

974

Samsung R95H

HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)

1977

HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)

612

Sony Bravia 7 II

HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)

1114

HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)

829

01,5003,0004,5006,000

nits

HDR Filmmaker mode Data

Product	HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window) (nits)	HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)
Sony Bravia 9 II	4416	974
Samsung R95H	1977	612
Sony Bravia 7 II	1114	829

Sony Bravia 9 II

HDR Standard Mode (10% window)

4044

HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)

903

Samsung R95H

HDR Standard Mode (10% window)

2066

HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)

600

Sony Bravia 7 II

HDR Standard Mode (10% window)

1295

HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)

788

01,5003,0004,5006,000

nits

HDR Standard Data

Product	HDR Standard Mode (10% window) (nits)	HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)
Sony Bravia 9 II	4044	903
Samsung R95H	2066	600
Sony Bravia 7 II	1295	788

Sony Bravia 9 II

SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)

105

SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)

110

Samsung R95H

SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)

115

SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)

185

Sony Bravia 7 II

SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)

90

SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)

94

050100150200

nits

SDR Filmmaker Mode Data

Product	SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window) (nits)	SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)
Sony Bravia 9 II	105	110
Samsung R95H	115	185
Sony Bravia 7 II	90	94

Sony Bravia 9 II

SDR Standard Mode (10% window)

821

SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)

703

Samsung R95H

SDR Standard Mode (10% window)

413

SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)

187

Sony Bravia 7 II

SDR Standard Mode (10% window)

608

SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)

476

02505007501,000

nits

SDR Standard Data

Product	SDR Standard Mode (10% window) (nits)	SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)
Sony Bravia 9 II	821	703
Samsung R95H	413	187
Sony Bravia 7 II	608	476

HDR color gamut

Closer to 100% is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.

Sony Bravia 9 II

UHDA-P3

95.6

BT.2020

88.4

Samsung R95H

UHDA-P3

148

BT.2020

94.1

Sony Bravia 7 II

UHDA-P3

99.2

BT.2020

87.7

037.575112.5150

HDR Filmmaker mode Data

Product	UHDA-P3 ()	BT.2020 ()
Sony Bravia 9 II	95.6	88.4
Samsung R95H	148	94.1
Sony Bravia 7 II	99.2	87.7

Picture accuracy

A lower score is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.

Delta-E

Sony Bravia 9 II

5.3

Samsung R95H

3.7

Sony Bravia 7 II

6.5

01234567

Delta-E Data

Product	Value
Sony Bravia 9 II	5.3
Samsung R95H	3.7
Sony Bravia 7 II	6.5

Input lag

Lower is better. Taken using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Video Signal Lag Tester.

Sony Bravia 9 II

4K 60Hz

9.8

1080p 120Hz

5.2

Samsung R95H

4K 60Hz

11.7

1080p 120Hz

9.4

Sony Bravia 7 II

4K 60Hz

10.4

1080p 120Hz

5.7

03.757.511.2515

ms

HDR Filmmaker mode Data

Product	4K 60Hz (ms)	1080p 120Hz (ms)
Sony Bravia 9 II	9.8	5.2
Samsung R95H	11.7	9.4
Sony Bravia 7 II	10.4	5.7

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Features

• RGB LED panel
• XR processor with AI features
• Google TV interface

The Bravia 9 II uses an RGB mini-LED panel (dubbed True RGB LED by Sony), which uses red, green and blue mini-LEDs, rather than the standard white you’ll find in regular mini-LED panels, to boost color reproduction.

It uses Sony’s XR Processor, which powers several AI picture features such as XR Clear Image AI for upscaling, as well as XR Motion Clarity, which analyzes movement on screen to produce a clearer, judder-free image.

In terms of HDR support, the Bravia 9 II supports Dolby Vision, but there’s no support for HDR10+. If you’re looking for a TV that supports both you’ll need to look at Hisense, TCL and Philips models. The Bravia 9 II also supports IMAX Enhanced content.

For audio, the Bravia 9 II has an 80W speaker system, consisting of two tweeters, two full-range speakers, two subwoofers and two beam tweeters. Several audio features, such as Voice Zoom 3, Auto Calibration and Acoustic Multi-Audio+, are included. There’s support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats too.

The Bravia 9 II has two fully-specced HDMI 2.1 ports set for gaming, with 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM support. Perfect For PS5 features are also present, including Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode.

Like all Sony TVs, the Bravia 9 II uses Google TV as its smart TV interface. This gives you access to all major apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus, and, in the UK, BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Google TV with Gemini is included, which can be controlled hands-free and recommend content.

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Picture quality

• Excellent color reproduction
• Accurate, OLED-level blacks
• Some mild blooming off-axis

The Bravia 9 II’s measured brightness is fantastic. In Cinema and Professional mode (the latter is the closest to Filmmaker Mode) it hit 4,180 nits and 4,416 nits peak HDR brightness respectively. This puts it at double what rival flagship RGB TVs like the Samsung R95H hit (1,977 nits in its own Filmmaker Mode).

It also delivers superb fullscreen brightness, hitting 974 nits HDR brightness in Cinema and Professional modes. It even delivers big SDR numbers, hitting 703 nits fullscreen SDR brightness in Standard and 656 nits in Cinema, making it a great choice for broadcast TV in bright rooms.

Speaking of bright rooms, the Bravia 9 II demonstrates much better handling of mirror-like reflections than the step-down Sony Bravia 7 II, which I found quite reflective in our testing lab. When I viewed the Bravia 9 II and Samsung R95H side-by-side, the Bravia 9 II’s own matte screen was seriously effective.

The Bravia 9 II did a good job of upscaling SDR/HD content. Watching videos on YouTube, textures did look sharper, and although it wasn’t to a 4K-level, it was improved. Watching HD movies like Fight Club on Disney Plus, textures looked crisp and contrast was improved.

The Bravia 9 II, also demonstrated excellent picture quality with 4K Blu-ray reference discs. Its color reproduction during The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was gorgeous, with deep, rich colors that really popped on-screen. Any time the Lumas appeared, they had a sense of depth to them, thanks to how bold their colors were.

Colors in live-action content looked similarly great. In Speed Racer, the bold aesthetic of the Racer family home, with orange doors, green and purple walls and yellow furnishings, not only looked vivid to suit the movie’s cartoon-ish nature, but also had a nice accuracy to them.

The Bravia 9 II’s HDR color gamut results were fantastic overall. It clocked 98.6% UHDA-P3 coverage, a number consistent with other mini-LED and OLED TVs, but most impressive was its 86.7% BT.2020 coverage. While I’ve tested higher on some RGB TVs, this puts the Bravia 9 II in line with QD-OLED models.

Another area where the Bravia 9 II impressed was its contrast and black-tone reproduction. In The Batman, as Bruce works in the Batcave, the monitors on his desk were bright, and contrasted well with the dark tones in the surrounding walls and crevices. The Bravia 9 II’s peak brightness meant HDR highlights, such as overhead lamps, really dazzled on screen, and this didn’t come at the expense of dark tones.

In Project Hail Mary, scenes of space demonstrated just how good the Bravia 9 II’s black levels were, especially for a backlit-TV. In theory, OLED has an advantage when it comes to reproducing deep blacks, in that it uses individually controlled pixels, but I found that the Bravia 9 II rivalled most OLEDs. Not only were black levels deep, but there were few signs of blooming when viewing head-on, with the Bravia 9 II showing superb backlight control.

It’s no surprise that the Bravia 9 II’s black tones were good, as when I measured its out-of-the-box grayscale accuracy, it hit a staggering 0.92 in Cinema mode. Anything below 3 is indiscernible to the human eye, and a number like this rivals most OLEDs.

The Bravia 9 II delivers great motion as well. Watching soccer with the TV set to Standard mode, it was able to handle the fast-paced action with minimal signs of judder, though it’s best to set the motion settings to Custom and set Smoothness and Clearness to 1, as at the full 2 the TV could sometimes be aggressive with its processing. For movies, with the TV set to Cinema, action always looked smooth. Watching Speed Racer, the Bravia 9 II handled the swerving cars, and even the commentators panning across the screen, well.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Bravia 9 II, however. Viewed off-center, signs of blooming crept back in, with halos of light appearing around bright objects on dark backgrounds. Although there was still significantly less blooming than you’d find on other mini-LEDs, OLED still takes the crown for off-angle viewing.

• Picture quality score: 5 / 5

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Sound quality

• Excellent detail
• Great virtual surround-sound processing
• Bass could be better

Sony’s TVs are often among the very best for built-in sound, so I had high expectations for the Bravia 9 II and spoiler alert, it mostly lived up to them. The Bravia 9 II 65-inch I tested uses a multi-speaker array consisting of two beam tweeters, two frame tweeters, two mid-range drivers and two subwoofers.

Watching the Penguin/Batmobile chase from The Batman, I was impressed most of all by the Bravia 9 II’s detail. As the Batmobile glides in and out of traffic, there were lots of effects I’d not been able to hear when watching the movie on other TVs, such as the creaking of tall lorries, the wind whipping past the Batmobile as debris fell around it, and the clattering of metal. The same was true with effects you’d hear in height channels, such as rain, which wasn’t crystal clear, but was still audible — no mean feat for TV speakers.

The Bravia 9 II also showcased very good virtual spatial sound, with the sound extending beyond the screen to create a somewhat immersive experience. Speech was also clear throughout, with the Penguin’s shouting audible even amid the chaos of the scene.

One area where the Bravia 9 II is lacking, however, is its bass. For such a large-framed TV with two subwoofers, I expected more punch in the lower tone range. The Batmobile’s engines had some heft to them, but it didn’t have the rumble I was looking for. This isn’t uncommon for a TV, but I was surprised that in this case it was one of Sony’s models that was lacking.

• Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Design

• Sturdy but weighty build
• Thicker than other TVs
• Looks premium

Like several other RGB models I’ve tested, the Bravia 9 II is bulkier than a lot of other TVs. The Bravia 9 II’s frame is chunkier and deeper than you’d expect for a modern TV, so this is something to bear in mind if you’re going to be fitting it into a tight space. It’s weighty as well — this 65-inch TV is easily one of the heaviest I’ve set up.

That said, the Bravia 9 II still looks like a premium TV, with a central pedestal stand consisting of three metal components that feel and look appropriate for a TV of this price. The stand also comes with a clear bit of plastic that can be attached to the rear of the stand to create what the brand calls a ‘mirage effect’, where the stand seemingly disappears when viewed head-on, to give the TV a floating effect.

The Bravia 9 II’s supplied remote is perfectly serviceable, with shortcut buttons to major apps like Netflix and buttons laid out in a standard format. However, it feels lightweight and cheap, which is disappointing for a TV in this price range. It does however use USB-C charging, similar to Samsung and Hisense’s remotes, which is a nice touch.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Smart TV & menus

• Google TV interface
• Tons of picture settings
• Google home page quite cluttered

The Bravia 9 II uses Google TV as its smart TV platform, with access to major apps including Netflix and Disney Plus, and, in the UK, to major UK apps like BBC iPlayer and ITVX. There’s also the option of hands-free control via Google Assistant, and the TV is compatible with Google Cast, Alexa and Apple Airplay2.

Google TV’s home page is a good hub for recommending relevant content, as well making content you’re watching easy to find, particularly on YouTube. One issue with the home page, which Google TV has had for a while, is that its large banner ads can make the screen look cluttered, and push your apps further down the screen.

The Bravia 9 II has a comprehensive suite of settings, especially for adjusting the picture. There are plentiful settings to enable you to tailor the picture to your liking, and while some of these are a little hidden (the ambient light sensor is in a totally separate menu for example), the menus are mostly easy to navigate and use. While I don’t find Google TV as aesthetically pleasing or easy to use as LG’s webOS, Samsung’s One UI Tizen, or Roku, it’s a perfectly fine smart TV system.

• Smart TV & menus score: 4 / 5

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Gaming

• 9.8ms input lag time
• Good performance overall
• Only two HDMI 2.1 ports

The Bravia 9 II has a good array of gaming features, supporting 4K 120Hz, VRR, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, as well as Perfect for PS5 features including Auto HDR Tone Mapping. Sadly, only two of its four HDMI ports are 2.1 compatible for gaming, which is still a step behind a lot of other rival TVs from LG, Samsung, Hisense, and TCL.

I measured the Bravia 9 II’s input lag at 9.8ms (4K 60Hz), which is a nice improvement over other Sony TVs I’ve tested, including the brand’s Bravia 8 II flagship OLED, which registered 16.8ms (also in 4K 60Hz).

Actual gameplay on the Bravia 9 II is very smooth. When I played Battlefield V, movement felt fluid and responsive, with the Bravia 9 II showing no judder during a chaotic desert mission where I dodged enemy fire while jumping in and out of vehicles. I did notice that during some particularly fast-paced action, where I sprinted across the battlefield, there was a slight blurring of finer details, but overall the game looked great, with the Bravia 9 II’s excellent picture quality for movies translating over to games.

• Gaming score: 4.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 9 II review: Value

• Premium price
• Pricier than rival RGBs and OLEDs
• Great performance for the money

There’s no denying that the Bravia 9 II is a premium-priced TV. It sits at the top end of the market and is pricier than most, if not all, of its major rivals. The 65-inch model I tested costs $3,599 / £3,499 / AU$5,999, which is pricier than a flagship OLED like the LG G6, the 65-inch model of which costs $2,499 / £2,699 / AU$4,999. It’s pricier than even the Samsung R95H, that brand’s flagship RGB TV, with its 65-inch costing $2,799 / £2,899 / AU$4,499.

Both those rival TVs have more features than the Bravia 9 II, especially for gaming, and they deliver very good performance in their own right. That being said, the Bravia 9 II is easily the most impressive RGB TV I’ve tested, delivering superb performance that exceeded my expectations. It’s just a shame that you’re paying a premium for that performance — and based on Sony’s history when it comes to pricing, it’s unlikely that the Bravia 9 II’s price will fall into line with competitors.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Sony Bravia 9 II?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also Consider

How I tested the Sony Bravia 9 II

• Tested over several weeks
• Tested using different SDR and HDR sources and in varying lighting conditions
• Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software

After spending a few days establishing the Bravia 9 II's best pictures modes (Cinema for brighter rooms and HDR content, Professional for dark-room viewing, and Standard for sport and SDR TV), I watched reference movies and TV shows to test its picture and sound quality.

I used 4K Blu-rays to analyze its color, contrast, detail, motion and backlight control. I also used 4K Blu-rays to analyze its built-in sound quality, in particular using a scene from The Batman.

For gaming, I used an Xbox Series X and played Battlefield V.

Once these tests were complete, I took measurements using a Murideo Six G 8K test pattern generator, Jeti Spectral 15VA Spectroradiometer and Klein K-10A colorimeter (profiled together) and used Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software to take said measurements.

Brightness measurements were taken using white window patterns in both SDR and HDR, noting results for windows 1-100% in size. These were taken in the TV's Professional, Cinema and Standard modes.

Next, I analyzed its HDR color gamut coverage using both the UHDA-P3 (the standard used to master 4K Blu-ray and digital cinema releases) and BT.2020 ( a wide color-gamut format) color spaces.

After this, I measured the Bravia 9 II's color and grayscale accuracy using the Delta-E averages, which measures the difference between the source test pattern and what's shown on screen.

Finally, I analyzed its input lag in both 4K 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz using a Leo Bodnar 4K HMDI Input Lag Tester.

Read our in-depth overview of how we test TVs at TechRadar.

• First reviewed: October 2026
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

If you want affordable wireless headphones with a lot of the fancy features and design elements found on Sony’s flagship cans, then the Sony WH-CH730N might just be perfect for you.

With ANC, highly customizable and energetic sound, and a neat folding design, there’s a lot to like about the WH-CH370N right off the bat. I’ve spent hours upon hours listening to music with Sony’s latest affordable cans, so here’s whether I think they’re worth picking over some of their fiercest rivals in this competitive segment of the market.

Of course, if you want to stand out against the best headphones in the budget category, you need to do one thing above all: provide great sound quality with as few sacrifices as possible. And all in all, I think that the WH-CH730N do just that.

If I’m honest, these headphones didn’t make an amazing first impression on me. They have a somewhat strange tuning out of the box that makes them sound unbalanced, with a slightly restricted soundstage and both vocals and drums in the treble-range are especially held back. But this can be solved. Just hop onto the Sound Connect app and switch to the Clear EQ (that enhances treble), or create your own Custom tuning. After doing this, you’ll be able to experience far more open and revealing audio that’s genuinely impressive for budget headphones.

When tuning into Just Gets Better by TJR and Xavier, I was impressed by the WH-CH730N’s ability to provide pumping bass that sounded satisfyingly deep yet controlled, never obscuring vocals or higher-pitched percussion in the process. Sure, bass doesn’t have the level of texture and warmth that Sony’s pricier WH-1000XM6 headphones supply, but it’s far more impactful and regimented than I’ve come to expect from most affordable over-ears.

In Miracles by Change, the WH-CH730N continued to impress, with clear guitars in the mid-range beautifully weighted against smooth, punchy bass, tight and expressive drums in the treble-range, and expressive, well-defined vocals. Again, you’re not going to get the grand expansiveness and expert instrument separation that Sony’s flagship headphones plate up, but the clarity and balance available is commendable for the price.

It certainly feels like these headphones have a preference for the low-end, and as a result, you get a really energetic, exciting listen out of them for certain genres — think house, funk and hip-hop. But they’re more than capable of handling more stripped-back tracks too. For instance, with Yuta Orisaka’s Yureru, I was struck by the tonal accuracy and tastefully forward vocal performance, but emotive strings were also given plenty of room to express themselves.

Yes, the WH-CH730N require a bit of tuning to sound their best, and they’re not quite serving up flagship-level audio. But they do sound great for the price. And considering you gets DSEE upscaling (which you’ll need to activate in the Sound Connect app) to elevate lower-quality files, as well as 3.5mm audio for wired listening and highly customizable EQ, there’s a lot to love about these, sonically speaking.

Some may have wished for LDAC support, which enables you to stream in higher-res quality over Bluetooth — especially as it's Sony’s proprietary technology. There’s also no USB-C audio passthrough (though this is common for Sony headphones). But aside from this, there are plenty of features for you to dig into — both related and unrelated to sound.

Most of these features can be found in Sony’s Sound Connect app, which is easy to use, with no sign of bugs or faults during my testing. Other than what I’ve already mentioned, you’ll be able to switch between your devices (with multi-point available), customize the function of the noise cancelling button, activate a voice assistant and more.

Although some features (including wear detection, which is one you may miss) are absent, there’s so much to explore on the WH-CH730N. There's an option to prioritize sound quality, stability, or use a Bluetooth LE connection. Then, there's the ability to activate a background music mode, turn on battery life conservation modes, and to switch between ANC or a transparency mode (there’s also an option to turn these off altogether).

And while we’re on the topic of ANC, let’s talk about how effective it is. The WH-CH730N make use of four microphones in total — which isn’t all that many in 2026 headphones. And the noise-cancelling capabilities are, in my view, fairly middling. They dull external sounds pretty well, meaning harsher noises (the roar of traffic and the like) aren’t too invasive. But when typing in the office, or when playing a video out loud, I could still hear the clicking and clacking of keyboards and the video presenter’s voice, even when listening to music above 50%. If you just want to dampen the world around you, these are up to the task — but if you want to shut it out completely, you might be left wanting more.

The four mics do handle calls pretty well though, and whether I was taking a video call or listening back to a recording, my speech was clear and articulate.

Something else that I liked about the WH-CH730N was their battery life. You get 50 hours with ANC on, and up to 75 hours when it’s switched off. While some budget rivals, like the Nothing Headphone (a) outdo it here, that’s still an awful lot of playtime, and more than double of what you’d get from Sony’s most premium wireless headphones, the Sony 1000X The Collexion.

In terms of design, the WH-CH730N aren’t quite setting the world alight, but I do like how they’re fully foldable, which is useful if you’re on the go and want to tuck them away in a small-sized bag. They’re pretty plasticky, and the headband isn’t the sturdiest around, but the WH-CH730N do have plush ear cups which feel nice and comfortable in use. They’re also available in an enticing set of colors, including Pink, Blue, Beige, Black, and White.

So, are the Sony WH-CH730N worth the money? I think so. They supply good sound quality, a boatload of features, a practical design and strong battery life. The ANC is by no means bad either, even if it's not the most impressive I’ve experienced. So, as long as you don’t expect the most expansive soundstage and intricate detailing, sonically speaking, and you don’t need top-tier noise cancelling, you’ll almost certainly be satisfied with the Sony WH-CH730N.

Sony WH-CH730N review: price & availability

• Priced at $179 / £99.99 / AU$229
• Released in September 2026

The Sony WH-CH730N were released in September 2026, about three and a half years after their predecessor, the Sony WH-CH720N. The previous model was $149 / £99 / AU$259 at launch, meaning that the WH-CH730N are a bit pricier than their predecessors at the point of release, but there’s been no change in the UK, and an actual decrease in Australia.

These headphones sit in the budget camp, but are a little costlier than the Sony WH-CH530, a cheap pair of on-ear headphones that launched alongside the Sony WH-CH730N. Still, they’re considerably cheaper than the flagship model, the Sony WH-1000XM6 and ultra-premium Sony 1000X The Collexion. Price-wise, the WH-CH730N are in competition with models like the Nothing Headphone (a), the Sennheiser Accentum Plus, and the Anker Soundcore Space 2.

Sony WH-CH730N review: specs

Sony WH-CH730N review: should you buy them?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Sony WH-CH730N review: also consider

Sony WH-CH730N review: how I tested them

• Spent two weeks testing
• Used at home, on walks, and on public transport
• Predominantly streamed tunes over Tidal

I spent two weeks testing the Sony WH-CH730N, using them everywhere I went — the office, public transport, on walks…you name it.

For the most part, I streamed tunes over Bluetooth via Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone, but I also tried them out using a wired connection with my laptop. As always, I commenced testing by sifting through the TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to hours worth of tunes from my personal library.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from wired earbuds like the Sennheiser CX 80U through to party speakers, such as the Marshall Bromley 750. I’ve also tested a whole host of wireless headphones, so I know exactly what it takes for a model to stand out in this highly competitive market.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: October 2026

The Sony ULT Tower 5 is one of the stand-out audio products I've reviewed in 2026. In many ways, it defies belief. Despite being pretty small for a traditional party speaker, it produces almighty audio, with the sort of bass you’d expect from a model twice its size. And, what’s more, it's pretty affordable.

Sony has made a bunch of changes to its new ULT range, and they appear to have paid off. Perhaps the highest-profile change is the shift towards newly developed rounded woofers, marking a departure from the almost rectangular X-Balanced woofer units seen on previous ULT models. The tech giant told me that this was in an effort to maximize deep bass — something that’s crucial for a party environment. And this, in my view, was a great choice.

As with all of the best Bluetooth speakers in this size-class, the ULT Tower 5 plates up incredibly powerful yet regimented low-end output. When tuning into Everytime by Jesse Maas, the house track’s pumping deep bass was replicated to an excellent standard — it was agile and rhythmic, while also remaining driven and meaty. And this never came at the expense of other sounds in the frequency range, with electronic elements and vocals in the mid-range given plenty of room to breathe, and higher-pitched drums cutting through with precision.

Here, I was using the 'ULT 2' EQ mode, which delivers a powerful yet rounded performance. With ULT 1 mode, deep bass is prioritized, and I found this to be ideal for outdoor environments. For instance, when I tuned into First Summer by H.K., I was mesmerized by the richness and rippling power of the low-end, which was undeterred by wind noise, cars driving past, and other ambient sounds. This mode will also work brilliantly for large open indoor spaces, but is ill-suited to the acoustics of smaller rooms. It’s worth flagging that the ULT Tower 5 has a maximum power output of 300W, so it can also get super loud, no matter where you are.

Other energetic tracks, such as What We Got by Midas Field and Marijn Jansen, also sounded impeccable on the ULT Tower 5. The speaker showed off its impressive handling of dynamics with impactful bass drops, produced textured vocals in the build-up, and even created a wide, expansive soundstage for this speaker's size, with the angled tweeters conjuring up an impressive sense of space. However, the ULT Tower 5 does lack the 360 sound that its larger siblings have due to the lack of rear-facing drivers, and I definitely felt like audio wasn't anywhere near as full-sounding when listening from the side or back of the speaker.

This is a party-first speaker, of course, but there is a Flat EQ mode if you want to listen to more stripped-back tracks, and it works well — especially if you want to enjoy resonant and detailed vocal performances. This does take a lot of weight out from the low-end, though, so it's a bit more situational than the ULT 1 and 2 options. There’s also a Live mode, which is intended to create a more realistic replication of live recordings, or a 10-band custom equalizer if you want to make more granular changes — the ULT Tower 5 is incredibly versatile.

I mainly streamed over Bluetooth when testing, and had Sony’s very own LDAC codec active, which enables higher-res listening if your device supports it — something that a lot of party speakers skip on. However, you can connect to the speaker in so many other ways. There’s a USB-A port if you want to listen to tunes from a USB drive, there’s USB-C, XLR, and even RCA if you want to hook up a DJ controller or turntable. The audio quality and connectivity options available mean that this model is well-suited to casual or even professional use.

There’s also a port that lets you plug in a mic for some karaoke, if that’s your thing. The speaker has built-in effects for karaoke, like a voice changer, echo, and the like. There’s also a party pad for playing sound effects, drum sounds, robotic noises… you name it.

If you have multiple ULT Towers, there’s also the option to link them up with Party Chain. I tried pairing the ULT Tower 5 with the Tower 7, and all it took was a simple button press on each model. It was quick, easy, and produced an even more mighty sound. When I went to a demo for Sony’s new ULT range, I even got to hear ten ULT Towers daisy chained together, which opened up devastatingly powerful sound.

A lot of the functions I’ve described, like EQ tweaking, the party pad, switching connectivity method, and more, are available through the Sony Sound Connect app. While a lot of rival apps have a tendency to be buggy or awkward to navigate, Sony’s control app was phenomenally easy to use, rich in features, and reliable at all times. It also has options like Sound Field Optimization, which automatically detects external noise and adjusts sound accordingly, as well as power conservation and light customization settings.

Let’s talk about the lights, actually, because they’re a big part of this model’s aesthetic. They look fantastic in my opinion — sure, they’re RGB, not the classy stage-style lights of a model like the Marshall Bromley 750 — but they’re still tasteful and flashy. You can customize the pattern and color of the lights in the Sound Connect app or via physical controls, and these can even synchronize to the rhythm of your tunes for a truly immersive experience.

More generally, the build quality of the ULT Tower 5 is strong. Yes, it’s pretty hefty, and doesn’t have a pull-out handle for traveling over longer distances, but it’s nowhere near as cumbersome as its larger sibling, the ULT Tower 7. Its plastic exterior looks surprisingly premium, its rounded appearance is sleek, and even the ULT icon has some appeal — it can be twisted to adjust volume, or pressed to switch EQ mode.

As the speaker is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, it’s also equipped with IPX4 waterproofing. This means that it can survive multi-directional water splashes without issue. Sure, this is fairly standard for a party speaker like this and by no means ground-breaking, but it should be enough to keep the speaker alive if you spill some water on it or if there’s some light rain.

How about battery life? Well, the Sony ULT Tower 5 provides up to 20 hours of playback with its lights turned off, which is good for a model of this size and power. It’s more than a rival like the JBL PartyBox 130 too, which can deliver up to 16 hours. If you need to squeeze a bit more life out of the ULT Tower 5, there’s also a Stamina mode, which gives you extended battery life at the expense of lighting and ULT Power Sound. Still, if you want the full experience, you can still use the ULT Tower 5 while it's connected to the mains, and juicing it back up doesn’t take all too long — you can get about 100 minutes of playback from just a 10 minute charge.

The big question, then, is the Sony ULT Tower 5 worth the money? My answer: absolutely. This model comes in at $449.99 / £349 / AU$549, and for a speaker of this size and power, with so many features and an eye-catching design, I think you’re getting plenty of bang for your buck. When you consider that a far smaller Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Xtreme 5 is just $50 / £20 less than that, the value on offer here is striking.

I’ve tested party speakers that can rival the ULT Tower 5, like the Marshall Bromley 450 for instance. And while that model sounds spectacular and looks even better than the ULT Tower 5, it does come in at about $350 / £200 / AU$500 more. So, if you want a party speaker with great sound and features at an enticing price, then the Sony ULT Tower 5 gets a full recommendation from me.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: price & release date

• Priced at $449.99 / £349 / AU$549
• Released in September 2026

The Sony ULT Tower 5 was released in September 2026 alongside two sibling models, the larger Sony ULT Tower 7, and the gigantic Sony ULT Max. It’s priced at $449.99 / £349 / AU$549, which is a seriously tempting price for a speaker with so much power and such advanced features.

For reference, that’s only about $50 / £20 more than the JBL Xtreme 5 would cost you, which is a far smaller, less meaty model. It’s also in a very similar ballpark to a rival like the JBL PartBox 130, and considerably cheaper than premium alternatives like the Marshall Bromley 450.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: specs

Should I buy the Sony ULT Tower 5?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: also consider

How I tested the Sony ULT Tower 5

• Tested in our music testing space at Future Labs and outdoors
• Mainly streamed tunes over Tidal
• Tried Party Chain functionality alongside ULT Tower 7

I spent countless hours listening to music on the Sony ULT Tower 5, which I tested indoors at our music testing room at Future Labs, as well as outdoors in the office parking lot. This enabled me to test the fidelity of audio in a quiet and controlled space as well as a busy, noisy environment.

For the most part, I connected to the ULT Tower 5 over Bluetooth and played tracks via Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone, which supports LDAC. To begin with, I sifted through the TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to hours worth of tunes from my personal library, including a lot of bass-heavy bangers. On top of this, I tried pairing the ULT Tower with the Sony ULT Tower 7 to test out the Party Chain function.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from premium wireless headphones like the Sony 1000X The Collexion to Dolby Atmos soundbars, like the JBL Bar 1300MK2. Of course, I’ve also tested a huge array of Bluetooth speakers as well, including party-ready models like the LG xboom Stage 301 and the Marshall Bromley 750.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

Sigma has completed a trinity of f/2.8 zooms with the 50-120mm F2.8 DC OS Contemporary — and it proves that you don't need shoot full-frame to have access to exciting lenses.

Designed for APS-C cameras, the telephoto zoom has an equivalent focal length of 75-180mm, and sits alongside Sigma's 10-18mm F2.8 and 18-50mm F2.8.

What's particularly compelling about Sigma's latest f/2.8 zoom is just how compact, lightweight and affordable it is. It measures just 10cm / 4 inches long, weighs 13.4oz / 380g, and costs $799 / £699 (about AU$1,300).

I already own an incredible full-frame 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom, and it's my most-used lens for professional work. Portraiture, events, sports, even landscape photography — you name it, it can do it all.

That lens is a beast by comparison, however, weighing around 35oz / 1kg. For context, all three of Sigma's f/2.8 zooms for APS-C cameras combined weigh less and cost less — my full-frame lens cost me north of $2,000 / £2,000, which is around three times the 50-120mm's price.

With this new lens alone, Sigma has made APS-C cameras more compelling than before — but it's not good news for all photographers.

The f/2.8 zoom that Sony, Canon and Fujifilm cameras needed — but Nikon misses out

The Sigma 50-120mm F2.8 DC OS Contemporary goes on sale from October 22 in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Canon RF versions. Sony and Canon offer no such lens for their APS-C mirrorless cameras, while Fujifilm has the twice-as-hefty (and pricier) XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR in its range. Nikon photographers, meanwhile, miss out entirely.

There was some consolation for Nikon photographers — Sigma simultaneously announced that its 16-300mm travel zoom is coming to Nikon Z mount. However, we don't know if the new 50-120mm will make it to the Nikon Z mount.

I haven't personally tested Sigma's 50-120mm F2.8 lens, but I have high hopes for it having already tested the ultra-wide 10-18mm F2.8 zoom for Sony and being thoroughly impressed — the new telephoto zoom is seemingly built to the same standard.

Yes, it misses out out that extra reach at the telephoto end, maxing out at 180mm rather than 200mm (and sadly it won't work with teleconverters to extend the reach), but presumably the thinking behind the focal length range was to make the particularly compact design possible — and that I can get behind.

Telephoto zooms are workhorse lenses, often used on long shoot days. A f/2.8 telephoto zoom that practically fits in the hand and weighs just a third of what I'm used to makes a strong case for APS-C cameras, and it seems that APS-C fans agree — one Reddit thread is already dubbing the lens "an APS-C legend in the making".

Maybe today is the day you treat yourself to a set of earbuds for the gym bag or over-ears for the commute. And if it's something that plays music and the deal's good, you'll find it here, in this little roundup. I'm not including anything I wouldn't buy myself — if the saving isn't good and I don't rate the product, you won't find it here.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Whether it's my favorite sports earbuds, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, which are only $179 (was $249) in the US, or £179 (was £249) in the UK, or Soundcore Space 2 over-ears, which are just $99 (was $129) in the US, or £99 (was £129) in the UK, there's something here I think you'll love.

Stick with me, there's still plenty of time to bag you an affordable music maestro! Happy shopping!

Today's best Prime Day audio deals, US

Top Prime Day headphones deals still live, US

Top Prime Day earbuds deals still live, US

The best Prime Day audio deals, UK

Top Prime Day headphones deals still live, UK

Top Prime Day earbuds deals still live, UK

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: up to 67% off Fire, Ring & Blink
• Amazon Haul: extra 15% off for Prime members
• Appliances: up to 40% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: cleaning & groceries from £2
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: record-low Nintendo Switch 2
• Headphones: up to 50% off Anker & Sony
• Laptops: up to £800 off Microsoft & Asus
• Tablets: up to 50% off Fire tablets
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 50% off Shark & Dyson
• Wearables: Samsung & Oura from £31

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Some of the best soundbars around are being discounted for Prime Day. As ever, Amazon is slashing the prices of its own hardware such as the Fire TV Soundbar at $79.99 (was $119.99) in the US and £87.99 (was £119.99) in the UK. You'll find some other big names in there too, including some of the best-known audio and home theater brands, as well as some ultra-affordable bargains for buyers on a budget.

We'll list the best US Prime Day soundbar deals first and then the best UK Prime Day soundbar deals immediately afterwards.

Soundbar deals - US

Today's best Prime Day soundbar deals in the US

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

Soundbar deals - UK

Today's best Prime Day soundbar deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: up to 67% off Fire, Ring & Blink
• Amazon Haul: extra 15% off for Prime members
• Appliances: up to 40% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: cleaning & groceries from £2
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: record-low Nintendo Switch 2
• Headphones: up to 50% off Anker & Sony
• Laptops: up to £800 off Microsoft & Asus
• Tablets: up to 50% off Fire tablets
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 50% off Shark & Dyson
• Wearables: Samsung & Oura from £31

• Browse the full Best Buy Techtober sale

You can pick up a 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos surround sound system for $1,764.94 at Best Buy. This deal is made up of the Sony CS lineup of speakers, including floorstanding, centre, surround and Atmos height speakers, as well as a subwoofer, and the Sony STR-AN1000 7.2 channel AV Receiver, which support both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. I've listed all the individual components and respective deals below.

Considering some of the best soundbars will set you back nearly $2,000, this is a fantastic way to get a separate system for your home, and after kitting out our testing lab with a surround sound system after using a soundbar, I can attest to it being a serious upgrade.

If you don't already, you'll also need speaker cable, which you can check out at Best Buy here! There's plenty of options to suit different budgets, and the cost will depend on how much you need.

Sony 5.1.2 channel surround system: quick links

• Sony STR-AN1000 7.2ch AV receiver: was $1,199.99 now $948.99 at Best Buy
• Sony CS Speaker - 3-way Floorstanders: was $299.99 now $173.99 at Best Buy
• Sony SACS9M2 Active Subwoofer: was $329.99 now $204.99 at Best Buy
• Sony CS Speaker - 2-way Centre Speaker: was $249.99 now $124.99 at Best Buy
• Sony CS Speaker - 3-way Bookshelf Speaker: was $279.99 now $153.99 at Best Buy
• Sony CS Speaker - Dolby Atmos up-firing height speakers: was $279.99 now $153.99 at Best Buy
• Speaker cable

Today's best Sony surround sound deal

The importance of upgraded sound

For some time now, we've been using a Samsung HW-Q990C 11.1.4 channel soundbar system as our reference audio setup, primarily for testing 4K Blu-rays as part of the Blu-ray Bounty and to compare to other soundbars.

Recently however, we changed to separates surround sound system, consiting of standalone speakers. This includes the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) 603 S3 floorstanders (for front channels) B&W 607 S3 bookshelves (for surrounds), a B&W HTM6 S3 centre speaker and a B&W ASW610 subwoofer. This is all powered by the Denon AVC-3900H AV 9.4 channel receiver.

Comparing the Denon and B&W system to the Samsung soundbar, it was clear just how much of an upgrade a full separates system was. Watching the Batmobile chase from The Batman, I heard new detail through both the 603 S3 front speakers and 607 S3 surrounds I'd never heard before, such as the rattling of leaves under the chassis of the Batmobile.

Atmos-based effects were realistic and added to the immersion, with the trajectory of a bullet spray or the swerving tires mapped with pinpoint precision to the right channel. Sound travelled from speaker to speaker during sweeping camera shots, creating a full 360-dome effect.

But really, it was the power of the Denon and B&W system that impressed. The subwoofer delivered serious heft that shook the room with every impact and explosion, while front channels delivered plenty of crunch during the chaotic and car-crash filled scene.

While the Samsung soundbar was very good, this setup made me realise just how big a difference a separates system can make, giving every element room to breathe. The Sony package above may not be as premium as our reference Denon and B&W system, but the principle is the same: separate speakers, more detail. And considering the Sony's soundbar-rivaling price, this is a fantastic deal. Now, let's see if I can fit it in my apartment...

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

• Browse the full US Amazon Prime Day sale
• Browse the full UK Amazon Prime Day sale

So, I've picked three of my favorite TVs that I've tested in 2026, including excellent all-rounders, elite OLEDs and even a new RGB model. With the arrival of Amazon Prime Day (AKA Amazon Prime Big Deals Days) today, these TVs have received some nice discounts from around the web.

Quick links

TV deals in the US

• Amazon: Big savings on Hisense, Samsung, TCL and more
• Best Buy: save up to 50% on LG, TCL and more
• Walmart: TVs from as low as $68

TV deals in the UK

• Amazon: big deals on LG OLED, Hisense and Samsung
• Currys: save up to £500 on TVs from Sony and more
• Argos: TCL and Samsung TVs from £189
• John Lewis: up to £350 off Sony TVs

My top 3 TVs of 2026 (so far)

LG C6

The LG C6 is the best TV I've tested in 2026 so far. While it may not be at the top-end of the market feature or picture quality-wise, there's no other TV that offers better value for money.

The C6's picture quality is excellent, delivering bright colors that worked wonders for animation such as Elemental and strong, rich contrast that was perfect for The Batman during my testing. The C6's impressive motion handling is ideal for sports, its crisp textures are fantastic for movies, TV and games, and with a notable brightness boost over its predecessor, its picture has more impact.

Even when I tested the C6 side-by-side against its predecessor, the LG C5, the C6 was an obvious upgrade. Higher brightness, a faster processor and a more accurate and more engaging picture: all for the same launch price.

It's a powerhouse for gaming with a full suite of features and even provides solid built-in sound, making it feel like the total package. And the best part? It's already great value, but always getting discounted.

Read my full LG C6 review

Sony Bravia 7 II

RGB mini-LED (known by several other names depending on brand) has been the new TV tech of 2026, and my experience testing it has been...a mixed bag.

One TV that impressed me however, was the Sony Bravia 7 II. The more 'entry-level' of Sony's RGB TVs, sitting below the flagship Sony Bravia 9 II, the Bravia 7 II delivers in some big ways.

For a backlit TV, the Bravia 7 II delivers excellent black tones that rival some OLEDs. Its contrast is powerful with solid brightness, but there's one thing that shines above all: its colors. The Bravia 7 II's vibrancy is astounding, showcased in my testing with the Lumas in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The spectrum of colors of their bodies exploded on screen, showing off the Bravia 7 II's stellar color reproduction.

Elsewhere, the Bravia 7 II has 'Perfect for PlayStation 5' gaming features as well as 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM support. It also measured a 10.4ms input lag time, which is better than most Sony TVs I've tested in the past few years.

The Bravia 7 II is pricey for a mid-range RGB TV, but it's impressive in what it delivers, and if you can stretch your budget, it really is a great TV.

Read my full Sony Bravia 7 II review

Samsung S95H/S99H

Serving as Samsung's flagship OLED for 2026, the Samsung S95H (known as the Samsung S99H in the UK) is one of this year's best OLED TVs. One thing to note: there is a Samsung S95H in the UK, but this is different to the TV S95H in the US/S99H in the UK. The S95H in the UK has lower brightness, no bezel and Wi-Fi 5 to the other model's Wi-Fi 6.

The S95H/S99H delivers truly fantastic picture quality. Watching movies like Speed Racer, the S99H demonstrates vibrant, vivid colors that made the candy-color visuals of the movie really pop. Crucially, it's accurate too, shown best in skin tones. It also offers powerful contrast that is great for movies like The Batman and Alien: Romulus. Black tones have also improved, without any sacrifice to the TV's anti-glare screen.

For features, the S95H/S99H is fully loaded, especially for gaming. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K 165Hz, full VRR, HDR10+ gaming and ALLM as well as a useful game hub. A 9.5ms input lag time means you're getting smooth performance as well.

There is the divisive bezel to discuss. Around the TV is a silver frame that viewed head-on looks OK, but ultimately it will prove to be controversial among some buyers. Still, the frame doesn't detract too much from the S95H/S99H's excellent performance.

The S95H/S99H is a flagship OLED, and its price reflects this. That being said, it's already getting some nice discounts mere months into its life-cycle.

Read my full Samsung S95H review (US) / Samsung S99H review (UK)

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