Articles by Josh Russell, Reviews Editor

The Honor 600 at a slight angle showing the lock screen.

Honor 600 review: I was blown away by this phone’s blazing display, epic battery life, and occasionally uncanny AI

By Josh Russell Published 25 May 26

I tested Honor’s AI-packed mid-range phone and was impressed (and occasionally unnerved) by its powerful features.

The JBL Flip 7 standing on its end surrounded by piles of pink IKEA Kallsup speakers.

“An enormous cityscape of stackable guava-colored boxes” — I compared a dozen $10 IKEA speakers to one $120 JBL speaker to see whether sheer numbers are a substitute for better sound engineering

By Josh Russell Published 4 May 26

I cobbled together a constellation of 12 $10 Ikea speakers to see how they compared to a single $120 JBL one.

The MacBook Air M5 folded slightly closed, showing a reflection of the keyboard in the screen.

I upgraded to the MacBook Air M5 at last — and, boy, is it fast

By Josh Russell Published 25 April 26

I upgraded to the MacBook Air M5 and its lightning-fast performance puts my Intel-based MacBook Pro to shame.

A closeup of the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro's camera module and Glyph Matrix, which features a digital clock reading '15:19'.

‘Just flat-out fun’ — I was a Nothing-design skeptic, but 3 things I found when reviewing the Phone (4a) Pro turned me into a believer

By Josh Russell Published 9 April 26

The look of early Nothing phones left me lukewarm, but here’s how its latest handset totally won me over.

The Huion Kamvas Pro 24 Gen 3 featuring a half-complete sketch of a nautilus shell with bright orange and peach hues, as well as the Keydial Remote, stylus case and styluses.

Huion Kamvas Pro 24 Gen 3 review: a brilliant, whopping great drawing slate

By Josh Russell Published 4 April 26

With its massive drawing area and vibrant colors, the Huion Kamvas Pro 24 Gen 3 has converted me to the joys of huge drawing tablets.

The MacBook Air M5 open 120 degrees and powered on a stone effect surface in front of a pink background.

‘The bleeding edge of computing power for everyday creatives’ — this is why I’m upgrading to the MacBook Air M5 after years of making do with my elderly Pro

By Josh Russell Published 20 March 26

For my new MacBook, I'm not going Neo or Pro — here's why the Air M5 is the next laptop I’m going to buy.

The Sonos Era 100 on the left and the Bluesound Pulse Flex on the right in front of a pink background.

I put the Bluesound Pulse Flex and Sonos Era 100 wireless speakers against each other — and it was hard to choose between ‘in-your-face bass’ or ‘richer mid-range textures’

By Josh Russell Published 19 March 26

I compared Bluesound’s and Sonos’s wireless speakers and I never expected it to be this hard to pick an undisputed sonic champ.

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro's back showing its aluminum unibody, camera module and Glyph Matrix, which is midway through showing a moving glyph.

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review: polished design, fun functionality

By Josh Russell Published 19 March 26

Recommended

With its sleek design, solid performance, and playful features, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro has won me over from my conservative old handset.

Five great tools for making music on your laptop

By Josh Russell Published 17 March 26

Sponsored

Whether it’s synthesizing new sounds, adding royalty free samples or producing the perfect mix, each of these fantastic tools has helped transform the way I make music on my laptop.

Sage the Barista Express Impress coffee maker on kitchen counter

Dreading the clocks changing? I recommend this fantastic Sage coffee machine for chasing the fatigue away – and it’s now available for its lowest price this whole decade

By Josh Russell Published 13 March 26

This fuss-free Sage espresso machine isn’t just one of my favourite coffee makers – it’s also available at a lower price than any other point since 2019.

The Bluesound Pulse Flex at a 3/4 angle on a stone effect counter in front of a pink background.

Bluesound Pulse Flex review: this spacious speaker's no ace of bass

By Josh Russell Published 10 March 26

I loved this wireless speaker’s ace connectivity and sense of space and but have to ask: where’s the bass?

A split image, on the left featuring the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless controller and on the right featuring a combat scene from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 showing Gustave doing a counter-attack.

Still find parrying in games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hard to time? Let me tell you about how a new controller’s fantastic speed and micro-switch triggers transformed my timing

By Josh Russell Published 5 March 26

I thought my aged reflexes were too slow for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — then this controller with 3.5ms input latency and micro-switch dual-mode triggers changed everything.

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Cewe photo book on left showing a tree, with Blurb photo book showing the same on the right.

I’ve personally compared all of the photo books we’ve tested — so, this Mother’s Day, these are the 3 options I recommend for making mum a truly fantastic gift

By Josh Russell Published 3 March 26

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? I’ve personally assessed all of the best photo books, and these three are the best ones for UK gift givers.

The TCL C8K and Samsung HW-Q800D featuring the Disney thriller Paradise.

‘The sonic gap is narrowing fast’ – after pitting my TCL TV’s built-in Bang & Olufsen sound against an external soundbar, I’m starting to doubt whether every set needs an aural upgrade

By Josh Russell Published 28 February 26

Since testing this modern, mid-range TV, I’m beginning to doubt whether every screen requires a soundbar by default.

The Ratio Four, carafe and water tank on a desk in front of a pink background.

I tested this compact drip-coffee machine and it’s a fantastically fuss-free way to brew small batches of coffee — even if it can’t quite reach the intense flavor of more methodical processes

By Josh Russell Published 28 February 26

The Ratio Four drip-coffee machine offers solid, small-batch brews with minimal hassle – it's great for couples or coffee fans who are flying solo.

The Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless sat in its dock.

‘Awesome precision meets blisteringly fast connectivity’ – I tested the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless and I’m never going back to my first-party controller

By Josh Russell Published 27 February 26

Recommended

Asus ROG’s innovative Raikiri II controller and its trailblazing TMR triggers have finally given me the edge I need in my favorite games.

The Sony WF-1000XM6 lying in front of their case on top of a stone pillar in front of a pink background.

The Sony WF-1000XM6 are the most feature-packed earbuds I’ve ever tested — here are 3 hidden functions you shouldn't miss

By Josh Russell Published 20 February 26

Wish controlling your music was less hassle? My three favorite features from the new Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds make spinning your spot-on tunes or having a quick convo a breeze.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic sit either side of a stone podium, on which sits the Oura Ring 3.

I test fitness tech for a living and have been diagnosed with sleep apnea – so I couldn’t resist turning myself into a guinea pig to see whether these 3 top sleep trackers could spot it

By Josh Russell Published 11 February 26

These sleep trackers claim to be able to detect breathing irregularities as you sleep – so how did they fare when I challenged them to sniff out my diagnosed disorder?

The Ikea Kallsup in Hot Pink on top of a grey, white and yellow slab of concrete next to a pot plant.

‘Fun, flexible and affordable’ – I tested Ikea’s super-cheap Bluetooth speaker and, as long as you’re not expecting Sonos-toppling sound, it’s a blast

By Josh Russell Published 31 January 26

I tested Ikea’s extremely budget Bluetooth banger – and it’s a really fun way to create a mock multi-room system for less moolah.

A split image showing the Aura Aspen on the left with a rhododendron on its screen and the Pexar Starlight on the right with a dahlia on its screen.

Wave bland wall spaces goodbye: I tested two of my fave digital photo frames head-to-head, and this option is perfect for giving gloomy winter rooms a glow-up

By Josh Russell Published 30 January 26

I pit my two fave digital photo frames against each other – while both are absolutely gorgeous, this is the one that will light up your living room the most.

The red JBL Charge 5 in front of a teal background that features the words 'TechRadar Lowest Price'.

The JBL Charge 5 is my most loyal travel buddy — and now this trusty Bluetooth speaker can be yours for almost £90 off

By Josh Russell Published 30 January 26

My fave Bluetooth speaker for taking on adventures is at its lowest price yet – so grab it for nearly half off.

The WiiM Sound Lite at a 45 degree angle in front of a pink background.

This hidden Wi-Fi speaker feature has blown my mind — here’s why you should demand it in all your audio gear

By Josh Russell Published 25 January 26

This lesser-known feature for wireless speakers is the sound-shaping skill I’ve subconsciously spent years longing for.

The WiiM Sound Lite side by side with the Sonos Era 100 from a 45 degree angle.

WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: I let these Wi-Fi speakers slug it out, and the showdown was far closer than I ever would have imagined

By Josh Russell Published 25 January 26

I pit WiiM’s Lite Wi-Fi speaker against the Sonos Era 100, but which will come out on top: spacious sound or outrageous bass?

The Wiim Sound side-by-side with the Sonos Era 100 on a polished wood table, in front of a plant and a pink background.

I test Wi-Fi speakers for a living — if you’re switching away from Sonos, this one feature is an absolute must-have

By Josh Russell Published 18 January 26

Don't worry about Spatial Audio, eARC or built-in phono stages – this is the most essential Wi-Fi speaker feature in my book.

The Huawei MatePad 12X 2025 in its keyboard stand, in front of a pink wall.

I tested the Huawei MatePad 12X 2025 and loved its bright, paperlike display and smart productivity features — but this tablet hero is undone by a single tragic flaw

By Josh Russell Published 18 January 26

Huawei’s slate aced most of the tests I threw at it — but there's one shortcoming that makes it miss the mark for me.

Josh Russell

Articles by: Josh Russell

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