Articles by 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, as well as many other websites.

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

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are getting a free update with 4 new features, announced quietly alongside Pixel 11 phones at the Made By Google event — including a new way to use Gemini

By Tom Bedford

The Pixel Buds Pro 3 are nowhere to be seen, but Google has spent its energy adding some new features to its existing earbuds alongside new handsets

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Sonos Ace headphones laying on their case

Sonos sees your AirPods Max 2 and raises you an Ace ‘Ultra’, and the much-rumored second-generation headphones sound extreme

By Tom Bedford

The Sonos Ace Ultra have been rumored and spotted in filings multiple times. So how soon can we expect them — and will they join the multi-room ecosystem?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro buds on a table, next to their case.

Watch out AirPods Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds’ hearing aid tech just gained US FDA clearance and should arrive in two Pro models by the end of 2026

By Tom Bedford

Watch out AirPods Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds’ hearing aid tech just gained official US approval and should arrive in two Pro models by the end of 2026

Beats teased new headphones then ghosted us — but now, Reddit sleuths think they’ve worked out when the new cans will land

By Tom Bedford

It's been two months since we saw the new Beats headphones teased and the brand has since been silent, but Reddit sleuths have bad news as to when the cans could come.

What you need to know about your hearing health and wired earbuds, and why this Kickstarter campaign emphatically gets my backing as someone who tests IEMs

By Tom Bedford

A popular Kickstarter campaign promises in-ear monitors that protect your hearing, and they're also remarkably light and good-looking

Soundpeats UU2 earbuds and case in black, on white and pink TR background

My favorite budget clip-style open earbuds have a successor which solves two major problems with these designs

By Tom Bedford

The Soundpeats UU2 are clip-style earbuds with physical touch controls and sound leakage avoidance.

Goldmund's Telos 9800 amplifier on a grey background, with TR's 'Money No Object' franchise badge

This elite new amp stack looks like it was ripped straight from WALL-E, and it costs half a million dollars

By Tom Bedford

The Telos 9800 amp costs $500,000, and is designed to look like "a piece of contemporary architecture".

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on a wooden table, showing a camera viewfinder.

I've taken over 650 photos on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, and I'd pick the 'worse' camera phone to use long-term — here's why

By Tom Bedford

I've been testing both of Samsung's new expensive folding phones, and I'm surprised to say that the lesser has become my go-to camera phone.

The Eucalyptus Green Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) on a desk, leaning on some papers.

Bose's mid-range headphones just got their first upgrade in years, adding better ANC, wired USB-C audio and a limited edition Shrek-y colorway

By Tom Bedford

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are here — and despite boasting several upgrades over the 2023 models, they're actually cheaper.

Suno is now letting users press their AI music slop to vinyl, thus alienating streaming services, artists and audiophiles

By Tom Bedford

The new service allows users to press their prompt-generated tracks onto vinyl records and even create album artwork.

The Astell&Kern PD5 on a gray background.

Our favorite high-end music player brand just unveiled a successor to its 5-star entry-level DAP — though its definition of 'entry-level' might differ to yours

By Tom Bedford

The Astell & Kern PD5 is the brand's latest 'entry-level' digital audio player, and A&K have announced... that they're announcing it.

A collage showing three different adaptations of Spider-Man in film

Think you know the rest? Then prove it with this ultimate Spider-Man quiz about the superhero's comics, movies, TV shows, games and more

By Tom Bedford

A big fan of everything Spider-Man? Take this 30-question quiz about the superhero's comic books, movies, shows and more to prove it.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 either worn by a man standing in front of a red-brick wall, or on a table with gray twine cover

New AirPods set to arrive before the end of the year, but don't hold your breath on cameras in Apple earbuds just yet

By Tom Bedford

A fresh report points to new AirPods set to be unveiled this year, but not Apple's much-touted camera-enhanced models (yet).

Some broken speakers and radio, with a sign saying "Media testing station".

'You can literally fix anything if you watch enough YouTube': I met with tech repair experts and campaigners to learn how to fix my broken gadgets — and why it's so important

By Tom Bedford

Is fixing your tech easy? I spoke to green gadget companies, volunteer repairers and campaigners to understand your right to repair your possessions

The Line 6 Spider IV amp in front of a cabinet with some Edifier speakers.

I turned my guitar amp into a giant home speaker and it was a loud and stupid idea, but it basically worked (with some serious caveats)

By Tom Bedford

A Line 6 Spider IV, a turntable, some speakers, an iPad, an overdrive pedal, loads of cables... what could go wrong?

The Shokz OpenDots Air case and earbuds on the arm of a sofa.

Shokz' new OpenDots Air aren't flashy, but after a month of testing I can confidently say they're the best clip-style open earbuds for most people

By Tom Bedford

The Shokz OpenDots Air miss some flashy features of their flagship siblings, but the low price and reliability makes them a solid buy

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 buds and case in a man's hand.

We got two Samsung Galaxy Folds, two Watches and a Flip at Unpacked, but no Buds: here's when Samsung's mythical cuff-style open earbuds are now said to be arriving

By Tom Bedford

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Able (or just 'Galaxy Able') were a no-show, so when could the much-rumored open earbuds release?

The Motorola Pad 70 Groove on an orange background.

JBL's latest speaker comes with 9 drivers and its wildest features yet: a 12-inch touchscreen, cameras and the ability to play games....

By Tom Bedford

The ultimate tablet for music-lovers just launched, with 9 JBL speakers squirrelled away in the back

A promo image of the Deezer app open on a smartphone

Over half of all new music on streaming sites is now AI-generated, and the number is growing rapidly — but one platform is bringing the hammer down hard

By Tom Bedford

Deezer has announced that half of all new music uploaded to its site is AI slop, alongside new rule changes on how it's dealing with it

The Topping DX1 II plugged into a tablet and some earbuds.

Ever wondered whether upping the sound quality of your PS5 might improve your gaming chops? If so, Topping’s cheap new DAC is worth an audition

By Tom Bedford

Topping's new DX1 II is an affordable DAC which is targeted specifically towards Switch or PS5 gamers — but even non-gamers should take note for this price

A split screen image showing CDs in their cases on one side and in sleeves in a book on the other

You can't deny it any more: physical music is back in a big way with new sales figures proving it... and no, this time it's not vinyl

By Tom Bedford

Stats prove that nostalgic CD-buying is even bigger than nostalgic vinyl-buying, which could prompt a sea change for some music lovers.

The earbuds for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 held next to each other

The dream of AirPods with removable batteries is still seemingly out of reach, and it's all because of a new EU ruling

By Tom Bedford

Apple fans have been clamoring for AirPods with removable batteries to make them repairable, but it's likely not coming any time soon thanks to a new EU ruling.

Tony Hawk holding a pair of Skullcandy Crusher 1080, in front of some tape recording machines.

'Bose features at a non-Bose price, for the first time': Skullcandy launches its most premium headphones ever, getting by with a little help from its friend

By Tom Bedford

The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 feature three Bose-made tools in a non-Bose headphone for the first time (and without the Bose price tag)

An Android phone, being held in front of a PC screen showing Phone Link.

I tried Android's underrated desktop app, and it's transformed the way I work

By Tom Bedford

I'd never heard of Phone Link until recently, but now it's a critical part of my workflow — here's why.

'Could blow Sony's Pro IEMs out the water': Sivga's new wired earbuds look beautiful and are packed full of drivers to turn buyers' heads

By Tom Bedford

The Sivga Lyrebird combine four drivers in a svelte wooden package, one-upping Sony's recent Pro-grade IEMs.

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