Articles by Harry Padoan, Senior Writer, Reviews

Estelle poses in front of explosion Trails in the Sky Second Chapter

JRPG fans, we’ve been eating good recently, and after playing through Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, it’s easily one of my favorite releases of the month — here’s why you need to play it

By Harry Padoan

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is another triumphant remake that’s oozing with combat depth, visual flair, and excellent quality of life updates.

A split view image, with a man holding the Sonos Ace Ultra on the left side, and the Sony WH-1000XM6 on the right side

I tested the Sonos Ace Ultra against the Sony WH-1000XM6 and it was a closer contest than I'd expected — here’s which noise cancelling headphones came out on top

By Harry Padoan

Which noise cancelling headphones are better, the Sonos Ace Ultra or the Sony WH-1000XM6? I tested both side by side — here’s my verdict.

Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case with PS Portal and plant on table

I used to wrap my PS Portal in a sweater to keep it safe, but no longer — I tested a case that’s ultra-durable yet affordable, and I’d recommend it for 4 key reasons

By Harry Padoan

The Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case is a very solid protective option for your remote player, offering impressive durability at an easy-to-stomach price.

JBL Live Flex 4 on table with display on

Can JBL’s new open-fit earbuds rival Apple’s affordable AirPods? Yes, despite the open-fit style's very minor drawbacks — here's my full verdict

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

I tested the JBL Live Flex 4 and found them to be an excellent pair of open-fit buds, with impressive sound quality, genuinely decent ANC, and even a smart charging case.

5 upgrades that I love on the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones that make them worth buying over the original model — including one absolute game-changer

By Harry Padoan

The Sonos Ace Ultra may look a lot like the original model, but it’s what’s inside that counts — and there are several substantial upgrades that I’ve come to appreciate.

I tested the Sonos Beam Ultra for a week, and it's the ideal mid-sized Dolby Atmos soundbar — expansive, immersive audio meets a fantastic set of features

By Harry Padoan

Editor's Choice

The Sonos Beam Ultra is an excellent compact Dolby Atmos soundbar that offers expansive, immersive, and clear audio for movies and music alike.

I tested the Sonos Ace Ultra and they fix the one issue I had with the original model — so they’re easily among my favorite headphones of the year

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

The Sonos Ace Ultra are true all-rounder wireless over-ear headphones, offering excellent sound quality for music and movies, enhanced ANC and more features than ever before.

DBrand Killswitch for Nintendo Switch 2 Travel bundle on table

DBrand knocked it out of the park with its Nintendo Switch 2 Killswitch protective gear, and after testing it, I might just keep it on my console forever

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

The DBrand Killswitch is one of the best protective options for your Nintendo Switch 2, but is it truly worth its asking price?

The protagonist looks on in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave

200 hours in, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is my favorite Nintendo Switch 2 game ever — here’s why

By Harry Padoan

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is an exceptional tactical RPG that masterfully blends tremendous turn-based combat, enjoyable exploration, and stellar storytelling.

Looking for professional, affordable IEMs? Beyerdynamic’s new wired earbuds may fit the bill — but after a thorough test, they’re not quite perfect

By Harry Padoan

Beyerdynamic’s affordable IEMs offer impressive bass at a tempting low price, but can they compete with rivals such as Sennheiser and Meze Audio?

UGreen is bringing local storage, computing, and smart-home control together with its new AI tech — I’ve seen it in action, and it could be a game changer

By Harry Padoan

I saw UGreen’s new AI-led NAS tech in action, and it could be a total game changer for your home.

UGreen and ESR chargers beside one another

Forget the robots — next-gen phone-charging tech was the coolest stuff I saw at IFA, with Belkin, UGreen and ESR all offering something new

By Harry Padoan

I saw a lot of cool gadgets at IFA Berlin 2026, but charging tech from the likes of UGreen, Belkin, and ESR ended up being a real highlight for me.

Man holding the JBL Live Buds 4 charging case

Ever wanted earbuds with a touchscreen case? Even if you haven’t, JBL's affordable Live Buds 4 are worth a look; think stellar sound and top features

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

I tested the JBL Live Buds 4, and they’re an excellent-sounding option with a cool charging case.

Woman holding the Noise Master Buds Open inside charging case

I tried these stylish, futuristic-looking open earbuds, and although they boast sound by Bose, they're not as harsh on your wallet — here's everything you need to know

By Harry Padoan

I tried Noise’s new open earbuds that pack in sound by Bose — here are my first impressions.

Hohem's 'world’s first' 2-in-1 pocket gimbal and action camera's detachable design and native 4K video could make it a major rival to DJI and Insta360

By Harry Padoan

I saw the Hohem Eyepic in action at IFA Berlin 2026, and it massively impressed me with its versatile design and native 4K video capabilities.

I tried TCL's phone with a paper-like OLED display, plus its new nxtPaper tablets, and I was seriously impressed — here's why

By Harry Padoan

I got hands-on with TCL's new P80 line of phones and nxtPaper tablets — here are my first impressions.

Belkin earbuds in orange held in a hand, with white and black options behind it, at IFA

One of our favorite power bank makers just unveiled super-cheap ANC earbuds — and after an early listen, we like 'em

By Tom Bedford

The new Belkin SoundForm Isolate and Dots buds offer ANC, some noteworthy features and tongue-twister names at a super-low price.

Multiple Sony ULT Tower speakers stacked on top of one another

I tried Sony's new ULT Tower party speakers, and they shook me to my core — here's everything you need to know about the striking new models

By Harry Padoan

The new Sony ULT Tower models offer devastating power, flashy looks, and broad connectivity options.

iFi iDSD GR 2 balanced on block with headphones and music player

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: the ultimate solution for on-the-go audiophiles

By Harry Padoan

Editor's Choice

I tested iFi’s new iDSD GR 2 portable DAC/amp, and it's a phenomenal sequel, with more power, more intuitiveness, and more features.

Man holding the Noble Audio Vanguard IEMs

Noble Audio Vanguard review: excellent IEMs with one gap in their armor

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

The Noble Audio Vanguard supply impeccably detailed and well-balanced sound at a relatively modest price-point.

Oppo's new mid-range phone is ‘one of the most beautiful phones I've ever tested,’ with excellent performance and cameras to match — but one thing stops me from giving it top marks

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

I’d recommend Oppo’s latest mid-range phone to anyone if it wasn’t for this one thing — here’s why.

Pokémon dozen box from the Pokémon x Krispy Kreme collection

Gotta munch ‘em all: I tried the new Pokémon x Krispy Kreme donuts to find out if they’re actually worth buying

By Harry Padoan

I tried the Pokémon x Krispy Kreme collection — here's how I'd rate each donut.

Anker 45W charger, UGreen Uno Charger 100W, and UGreen charger with retractable cable on pink background

I’ve tested more than 25 USB-C chargers, and these are the best iPhone chargers money can buy

By Harry Padoan

Updated We've rounded up the best iPhone chargers to buy in 2025, with options for USB-C and Lightning models.

Man holding the JBL Live Beam 4 smart charging case

The JBL Live Beam 4 are my favorite wireless earbuds of 2026 after weeks of testing — and I swear it’s not just because of their awesome touchscreen charging case

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

These JBL earbuds have a touchscreen-fitted charging case, and they might just be my favorite model of 2026 — here’s why.

Marshall Stockwell III against pink background

I’ve tested more than 60 Bluetooth speakers and this Marshall model may just be the most stylish of them all — but does it sound as good as it looks? Here’s my verdict

By Harry Padoan

Recommended

The Marshall Stockwell III almost sounds as luxurious as it looks, and boasts almighty power for its size.

Harry Padoan

Articles by: Harry Padoan

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