5 hottest tech reviews of the week: the perfect-sounding pocketable Bluetooth speaker and a blazingly bright 4K projector

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 series has always been an acclaimed device, and as it hits its 3rd generation it's easy to see why. It has an unabashedly premium build – it's fashioned out of a hard-wearing polymer and textured pearl-blasted anodized aluminum. And it offers fantastic features, including IP67-rated dust-proofing and waterproofing, multipoint connectivity, aptX Adaptive support, and a USB-C port that can handle both data transfer and charging the hearty 24-hour battery.

But, inevitably, it's audio quality that makes it one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy. It's capable of producing open, spacious sound that belies its small size, while offering decent punch without ever overstepping the mark. It's an impressive, entertaining listen that sets a high bar for what you can expect from a compact Bluetooth speaker.

The Epson QL7000 is a projector that thrives in the environments in which most of its rivals falter: airy, well-lit rooms. This is down to its dazzling brightness – at 10,000 lumens, this 4K laser projector outshines many standard home theater options by a factor of three. You'll pay a premium for this kind of performance of course – it'll set you back an eye-watering $29,999 (around £22,400 / AU$47,000).

But, in return, you'll get a cinematic experience that can leave many of the best projectors in the shade. On top of that blazing picture, its 32-bit QZX Picture Processor offers effective upscaling and its HDR10 support means it's capable of seriously contrasty images. And if your interests extend to gaming, its support for 4K 120Hz and Auto Low Latency Mode, as well as 19.6ms input lag, make it a great partner for the latest consoles as well.

The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is a smartwatch that rocks some impressive hardware. Not only is its 1.5-inch 466 x 466 pixel AMOLED screen both bright and fluid, it's covered in hard-wearing Sapphire glass, while the rest of the case is made from lightweight, durable titanium. On top of this, its 480mAh battery lasts roughly five days, and its digital crown makes scrolling through its menus much easier.

Where it falls short of the best smartwatches, however, is in its app functionality. While it's capable of tracking 100 activities, the data it collects is fairly limited. And there's no access available to third-party apps, which means you won't be able to use tools like WhatsApp, streaming apps, or fitness apps like Strava. Unfortunately, this means its user experience doesn't quite live up to its 'Ultra' moniker.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 41, the brand's latest affordable instant camera, is a breeze to use. Pop a film cartridge inside and you're good to start snapping away, with the automatic exposure settings taking much of the guesswork out of photography. Meanwhile, features like parallax correction and Close-Up mode will even out the composition of shots to make sure your subject is perfectly framed. After 90 seconds, your pic will be fully developed and ready to tack to your bedroom wall.

But what makes the Mini 41 more fun than many of the best instant cameras is its retro design, which subtly apes cameras of yesteryear. Although it does have a slightly plasticky feel overall, it doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. The only real disappointment is its reliance on traditional, rather than built-in, batteries.

The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next is exciting, first and foremost, because of its price: it's pretty affordable as bean-to-cup machines go. And yet, it's still capable of delivering delectable espresso shots with a delightful crema, as well as giving you access to a comprehensive range of coffee drinks, from cappuccinos to macchiatos. Additionally, its menus are clearly laid out and easy to navigate, while the ability to save personalized profiles means you can always be sure your coffee will come out just the way you like it.

There are the odd wrinkles though compared to some of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines. Particularly if you're less familiar with automatic machines, it may take some experimentation to get the kind of results you'd like. And the inability to tweak foam level or milk temperature means it can sometimes be hard to get the best results out of every type of plant milk. Still, if you like low-hassle coffee at a great price, this is a solid choice.