Tom Bedford

Tom Bedford

Contributor

Tom Bedford joined TechRadar in early 2019 as a staff writer, and left the team as deputy phones editor in late 2022 to work for entertainment site What To Watch. He continues to contribute on a freelance basis for several sections including phones, audio and fitness.

He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.

He grew up in Bristol, UK, and has also lived in Norwich, UK, Salt Lake City, UT, and currently resides in London, UK.

Articles by: Tom Bedford

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

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

Android apps

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

A Spotify widget on a Realme phone

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

The JLab Epic Open Sport on a tennis racquet.

They're 'fine', but JLab's new open earbuds fall victim to just how many ace pairs I've tested this year… so fine no longer cuts it

By Tom Bedford published

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

Student sat at a desk with a laptop in a dormitory looking at a mobile phone

Best online courses and online class sites of 2025

By Tom Bedford last updated

Updated We list the best online courses and online class sites, to make it simple and easy to improve your education on the internet.

Zen mode on a Realme phone

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

The iPod Classic on a window sill.

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

The a list of audio apps on a Realme phone.

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

Google Fit

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

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

Quick! Disable these Android features to boost your battery life

By Tom Bedford published

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

The Earfun Tune Pro atop a bronze table.

I tested the successor to my favorite cheap Earfun headphones and sadly, there's one major problem

By Tom Bedford published

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

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro above a leafy garden

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

By Tom Bedford published

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

The LG xboom Bounce by a leafy plant on a shelf.

I tried will.i.am’s new speaker and it has a lot of Boom Boom, but not much Pow

By Tom Bedford published

LG and will.i.am's xBoom Bounce Bluetooth speaker is big and beefy, but it's let down by an uninspiring performance in terms of sound quality.

The AKG N5 on a stone wall

I tested AKG's N5 Hybrid earbuds, and I was so impressed by their noise cancellation and extra features, as long as you find them at the right price

By Tom Bedford published

At their discounted price, the smart features of these wireless earbuds are very tempting – but we need to talk about the battery life

The Nothing Ear buds by their case.

Nothing Ear (2025): 7 things I want to see from the follow-up to some of the best wireless earbuds around

By Tom Bedford published

Here’s what we want to see in the follow-ups to the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a)

The Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a) against a purple backdrop.

Need cheap earbuds right now? Here are the three best options I’ve tested

By Tom Bedford published

The three best affordable earbuds I've tested, plus an honorable mention

An iPad Pro and Apple Pencil on a violet background.

How to connect and use an Apple Pencil on iPad: tips, tricks, best apps, and more

By Tom Bedford published

Here's how to get your Apple Pencil working on your iPad.

The Acefast Acefit Pro on a window sill.

AceFast's open-ear offering has all the trappings of the best cheap open earbuds... except the price

By Tom Bedford published

Sorry, but the open-ear market is too competitive for these buds

How to cancel Kindle Unlimited

How to cancel Kindle Unlimited

By Tom Bedford published

We run you through how to cancel Kindle Unlimited, if you're no longer wanting a subscription to the Amazon reading service.

Kindle Unlimited

What is Kindle Unlimited? How to sign up, cost, and everything you need to know

By Tom Bedford published

We break down everything you need to know about Kindle Unlimited, from its features to its cost.

The OpenRock S's open case with the buds inside.

OpenRock S review: solid affordable open earbuds that are a bit weak around the edges

By Tom Bedford published

The OpenRock S try too hard with features that don’t work well and it's a shame, because at their core, these are respectable low-cost fitness earbuds

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: a surprise blunder dents the appeal of this Google Pixel 9a rival

By Tom Bedford published

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro is a slender and affordable smartphone with an impressive array of cameras, but a price hike could put off prospective buyers.

The OneOdio Studio Max 1 on a colored rug.

OneOdio's DJ headphones have two features non-DJs will love – but for most listeners, there are better-sounding options for the money

By Tom Bedford published

The OneOdio Studio Max 1 are designed for DJs and other musicians, but they won’t appeal to everyday listeners.

The Earfun OpenJump on a white ledge

I reviewed Earfun's new cheap open earbuds and sadly, they come up short in a flooded market

By Tom Bedford published

They're good, others do better

The Creative Pebble Nova on a brown table, connected to a green laptop.

Creative's new otherworldly desktop speakers belong on an alien spaceship – and they're so good, I'd abduct them

By Tom Bedford published

Recommended

Creative's Pebble Nova desktop speakers are big dark orbs, and the sound quality is truly out of this world

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