For the vast majority of people, shopping for one of the best TVs means shopping for a 4K TV. But I suspect that for the vast majority of that vast majority, the TV they buy won’t be fed many 4K shows or movies. And that’s important, because I think you should factor that into your buying decisions. The reason most of your entertainment won’t be 4K is because unless you’re paying for the most expensive streaming packages, you’re likely getting 1080p Full HD (or lower, in some cases: I’m in the UK where streamers such as Now TV delivers 720p as standard). I’m a cautious buyer, and I grudge paying extra for marginally better streaming resolution – partly on principle but mainly because if you subscribe to multiple of the best streaming services, that extra cash soon adds up, especially as streaming gets more expensive every year. A few years ago, 4K came as standard in many cases, but as ad-based tiers have appeared, it’s not guaranteed any more. And even if you do plump for the Super Awesome Premium Plus packages, not all of the available content is in 4K. For example I watched an Anthony Bourdain show recently on a 4K streaming service; the show was filmed in 2002, apparently using RealVideo, and was so low-res you’d think they’d made it in Minecraft. We can’t travel back in time to make SD shows HD, or HD ones 4K. But with the right TV, we don’t have to. The hidden hero in the best TVs My Anthony Bourdain show wasn’t unwatchable, and my TV deserves all the credit for that: despite being blown up to 65 inches, the picture wasn’t too bad. That’s because my TV has a good image processor that upscales relatively low-res content well. Thanks to image processing, Anthony Bourdain’s early 2000s tour looks considerably less jaggy on my TV. (Image credit: Prime Video) As a general rule, the bigger the TV, the more important its upscaling is going to be. Issues that aren’t apparent on a 42-inch 4K panel will be terribly obvious on a 65-inch or larger. That’s because the smaller panel has a much higher pixel density: both displays are packing 3840×2160 pixels, but the smaller display packs them in much more tightly, so image flaws aren’t quite so visible. We’ve written a detailed guide to 4K upscaling, which you can find here. But the executive summary is that it works like this: the processor analyzes the signal, applies noise reduction, sharpens anything that needs to be sharpened and, for lower resolution signals, it then converts the signal to 4K resolution (or 8K if you have an 8K TV). It’s far from new technology, but it doesn’t get talk about as often as it used too – but it’s just as important in the streaming age, especially with some new streaming tiers taking is backwards, as I mentioned above. Image processing is also important for streaming at any resolution because streaming video isn’t lossless: it’s optimized for efficient delivery, and that means sacrificing some of the data (which is one reason many movie fans with serious home cinema setups prefer the best 4K Blu-ray players to streaming). That data optimization can cause visible issues such as noticeable color banding or ugly gradients in darker backgrounds, where instead of a smooth range of colors or near-darkness, you see patches of color with clear dividing lines between them. If you have network congestion, the bitrate can drop and make those issues even more apparent. But with good picture processing your TV can spot those issues and fix them in real time. How to buy the best TV for upscaling Price is, inevitably, a big part of this: just like budget phones don’t come with the latest and greatest mobile processors, TVs built to a low price aren’t likely to have state-of-the-art upscaling. The very best processing usually turns up in TV makers’ flagship models first, especially with household names: the likes of Sony, LG, Samsung, Panasonic and Philips all push their extremely clever image processing systems as key selling points for their latest and greatest televisions. All TV makers use upscaling tech, but these companies have particularly impressed us, based not only on how well they add sharpness, but in how they manage to reduce color bands – especially Sony, LG and Panasonic when it comes to the latter, though Samsung’s 2025 TVs also make a great improvement in this area from our demos so far. I’m a bit biased, of course, but I’d definitely recommend reading our in-depth reviews of any TVs you’re considering: upscaling is one of the key features we look at very carefully, and because we review so many TVs we’ve got extensive knowledge of what makes upscaling look natural, and what leaves things looking artificial and not making the most of your 4K screen. But I’d also suggest going to a store, even if you’re planning to buy online. That’s where you can test different models’ upscaling really easily: turn off the retail/demo mode with its over-the-top brightness, contrast and motion smoothing and ask to see something that isn’t 4K – and ideally, that isn’t even Full HD. Watching 4K content on a 4K display isn’t going to show you how good its image processing system is: it’s the lower-res stuff that separates the OK from the awesome.
Are you ready for a ridiculous deal on one of the best TVs that just keeps on giving? It’s the LG C4 at Currys for £1288. Fair, the price isn’t discounted but now let me list the perks. First up is that Currys will throw in a PlayStation 5 worth up to £390. Second, you’ll also get a £399 Currys gift card to spend on some games or other tech. Finally, if you trade-in an old TV, Currys will take up to £100 off. Sound impressive? I thought so. The C4 TV itself takes pride of place as the most versatile display in our best TVs guide. The honour is because of its gaming capabilities, incredible picture quality, and intuitive smart TV platform. It covers all the bases in a way that few TVs do. LG C4 OLED TV with free PlayStation 5 deal The LG C4 supersedes and improves upon the LG C3 OLED. So much so that it went straight into our best TV guide as the most versatile option right now. The C4 delivers a range of improvements over its predecessor, including better image quality, a 144Hz refresh rate, four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz compatibility, and a new AI chip. Those are some features that an ideal for gamers who want to get a smooth experience on the free PS5 that is thrown in. Meanwhile, if you just want to kick back after a hard day at work and enjoy your favourite shows or movies on a big screen that offers excellent picture quality then you won’t be disappointed. Want to compare this to other options? There are loads of TV deals available right now. If it’s OLED technology that you’re looking for, then we also have an OLED TV deals page. If you’re also interested in a soundbar we have a number of soundbar deals to take a look at too.
We love when there’s a discount on one of the best TVs here at TechRadar. What’s even better is when there’s a discount and a free soundbar system. You can get the 55-inch LG C4 OLED TV and the LG US40TR 4.1 channel soundbar for £1,099 at Amazon. To buy these two separately would normally cost you £1,399; that’s a lovely £300 saving. The LG C4 is easily one of the best OLED TVs on the market, thanks to its excellent versatility. It delivers brilliant picture quality, a complete suite of gaming features and it comes in a variety of sizes. It’s one of our favourite TVs and tops a lot of our best-of lists for a reason and anytime there’s a discount, it’s worth checking out. When we tested the LG C4, we were most impressed by its contrast, colour and detail, which were all given a new boost thanks to a noticeable increase in brightness over previous generations of the LG C-series. We described one scene in Dune: Part Two as “startingly vivid” in our LG C4 review, with other movies and TV shows also delivered with “a high level of clarity”, and we also praised its motion handling. The C4 really does deliver a picture that exceeds that of a mid-range OLED. It’s also one of the best gaming TVs, with 4K, 144Hz support, VRR (AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync and HGiG included), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, with each feature supported across all four HDMI 2.1 ports. Its Game Optimiser mode is also extremely useful for adjusting gaming settings and activating a boost mode that drops the C4’s input lag time to an impressively-low 9.2ms. The C4’s built-in speakers are serviceable, but definitely one of its weaker features, lacking the same punch that it delivers visually. That’s why a free soundbar is perfect. It’s not one we’ve tested, but the LG US40TR soundbar offers 4.1 channels of surround sound across four units (including satellite speakers and a dedicated subwoofer), which should be a huge step up over built-in TV sepakers. Looking for deals on the LG C4 from elsewhere, or for different sizes? Check out some other offers we’ve found below.
If you’ve been looking into the best gaming TVs in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed an annoying discrepancy between brands: the number of HDMI 2.1 ports offering full 4K 120Hz (or better) support with variable refresh rate support. While most of the best LG TVs and best Samsung TVs offer this tech on all four of their HDMI ports, TVs from the likes of Hisense, TCL, Panasonic and Sony have been limited to offering the tech on just two of their four HDMI ports. This is due to the chips powering the TVs: LG and Samsung have custom solutions enabling them to go all-out, while others rely on MediaTek chips, which have been limited to twin HDMI 2.1 ports. However, that looked set to change in 2025. Last year, MediaTek announced that its next-gen chips would overcome this problem, and at the start of this year, it was confirmed that this chip would be in some of 2025’s TVs. So great – lots more of the best TVs will offer a full house of HDMI 2.1 now, right? Turns out, it’s not as simple as that. In the dream future, you won’t have to read the tiny writing to find out which of these has the features you really want. (Image credit: Future) Power vs ports My first inkling that we weren’t about to get the universal upgrade we expected came when I saw the Panasonic Z95B at CES 2025. Panasonic confirmed that the new set would stick with the two HDMI 2.1 ports that its predecessor had. While at CES, Hisense confirmed that some of its 2025 TVs would have four HDMI 2.1 ports, though, so the potential for it was clearly still there. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Clarity came during the launch of Philips’ new TV range for 2025. In particular, I found out that the high-end Philips OLED+910 (and the mid-range OLED810) would have two HDMI 2.1 ports, while the budget Philips OLED760 and its mini-LED range would be getting the upgrade to four HDMI 2.1 ports. Why the seemingly backward system where the higher-end TVs don’t get the same features as the mid-range models do? Danny Tack, Senior Director Product Strategy & Planning for TP Vision (which makes Philips TVs), told me that they had to choose between picture processing power and HDMI support. The higher-end end image quality features used in the top-end OLEDs requires more processing power than a chip with support for four HDMI 2.1 ports could supply, while that wasn’t a problem for the more limited image processing used in the budget OLED. Philips chose to focus on the image quality for the high-end OLEDs, so went with the more limited connectivity option, but the mid-range models get the extra HDMI flexibility because there’s no such compromise. I don’t know that Panasonic faced the same problem, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all, considering how refined and advanced the image processing is even on the Panasonic Z95A from last year. And it seems quite likely that Sony’s 2025 TVs (as yet unannounced) would face the same dilemma. We don’t have full information about TCL and Hisense’s ranges this year yet, so we’ll have to see which sets end up with the upgrade and which don’t. Good news and bad news It means that 2025 could be an odd year for TV specs. Those looking for a high-end gaming TV not from Samsung or LG might end up disappointed; those looking for a mid-range TV might end up getting more than they expected; those looking at the more budget end might find themselves limited again. We’ll make sure we call this information out in our reviews and guides, but I’m looking forward to the time when we can just assume that all HDMI ports on all TVs do the same thing… You might also like…
We’re on the cusp of a few interesting breakthroughs in home theater that could make it much more tempting for people to get on board with more serious setups. I’m talking about the huge screens and separate speakers that hardcore home theater fans champion over even the best TVs and best soundbars – but without the inconveniences that stop people from going for these options currently. In five years, I think the potential for more people to have a serious home theater setup without needing a dedicated room will look very different from now, based on new releases, demos I’ve seen at trade shows, or what I’ve been shown by companies. There’s some great emerging tech that will make the difference – but at the moment, it’s all very disparate, full of proprietary tech from companies that don’t tend to work together. Bringing it all together will be a big ask… but if it happens, it’s going to be glorious for those who want the home theater experience without the hassle. Here are the changes coming that could turn the tide. 1. Wireless and flexible sound (Image credit: Future) One of the biggest changes will be the explosion of wireless sound options. Right now, we’re seeing the infancy of this: Samsung and LG TVs offer wireless connectivity with their soundbars; Sony’s Bravia Theater Quad system offers easy real surround sound from a wireless HDMI adapter; Dolby Atmos FlexConnect and the new version of DTS Play-Fi promise wireless sound beamed to any compatible speaker system; and Sonos is set to launch a streaming box that will enable you to use Sonos speakers as wireless separates in surround system. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is an especially interesting one because the idea of this system is that it doesn’t require you to have speakers in traditional home theater positions, or even in matching pairs – the system will map your room and adjust the sound to give the best experience based on what’s available to you in reality, not in an ideal world of speaker placement. Perhaps Sonos could do the same for its system using its Trueplay room-tuning tech. Any home theater fan knows that sound is the biggest upgrade when you switch to dedicated gear, but the idea of working out an AV receiver and cabling system means it’s always going to remain of interest to only the most dedicated. Going wireless and convenient could unlock a whole new world of home theater fans, and the tech is more than capable of handling uncompressed DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD. However, you might have noticed the thing that could hold it back from taking off, implied in what I’ve written above… lock-in. Right now, all the big wireless sound options are company-specific. Samsung works with Samsung, and LG with LG. Sonos will need an expensive Sonos streamer to work. Even Sony’s option that’s theoretically more neutral, thanks to its HDMI adapter, works better with Sony TVs, which it treats as the center channel. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is a TCL-exclusive option for the foreseeable future (and hasn’t launched yet). Play-Fi won’t be locked in, but interest in it from companies seems minimal to date. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. 2. Smaller ultra short throw projectors (Image credit: Future) The best ultra short throw projectors will be key to home theater taking off in mixed-use rooms because people can get images up to 150 inches without the expense (and delivery logistics…) of a TV that size, or the need to find a home and uninterrupted beaming corridor for a traditional long or short-throw projector. UST projectors just sit right near the wall, projecting the image upwards perfectly. But even UST projectors are still hefty and require a larger surface than people want to devote in their living room. Thankfully, a new wave of tiny UST projectors is arriving that could make all the difference as they develop. The most real-world option right now is an absolutely tiny new UST projector from Optoma that takes up barely any room but can project images up to 100 inches in 1080p HD. Meanwhile, a small 4K JMGO option can hit the same size and promises up to 2,500 ANSO lumens of brightness, which is impressive. Hisense has shown a prototype of a small UST projector with next-gen laser tech that’s the same level of quality and brightness as the fantastic Hisense PX3-Pro projector (meaning brightness of up to 3,500 ANSI lumens) but is a fraction of the size. It’s a real working unit now, though it’s not planned for release this year – but in the next few years, if today’s best picture quality can be shown at 120-150 inches and sticks just a handful of inches out from the wall, projection becomes a lot more tempting. 3. Wireless connection boxes (Image credit: Future) Okay, your tiny projector sits tidily on the edge of your room beaming big images, and it connects wirelessly to your speakers, keeping everything neat and tidy. You don’t then want your games console/set-up box/Blu-ray player all running ugly cables to it, do you? A TV is good at hiding these things behind it, a tiny projector will not be. 2025 is the year that wireless connection boxes for TVs have really landed. LG has had this tech for a couple of years in its M-series of OLED TVs, but this year there will be several models that can receive full-quality 4K HDR 144Hz images from an external box wirelessly. They include the LG M5 OLED TV, LG’s new high-end QNED mini-LED TV, Samsung’s Frame Pro art TV, Samsung’s QN990F 8K TV, and Samsung’s 8K The Premiere projector. The convenience is that you can shut all the boxes you want to connect to your TV or projector away in a cupboard separate from your screen, giving you way more flexibility over the design and layout of your room. Obviously, the tech is still cutting-edge right now, so is only in the most expensive models. Over time, hopefully, this will change – perhaps every projector or TV will have the option of using a separately purchased wireless box instead of the built-in connections, so you only need to pay for it if you want it. 4. Better projector screens (Image credit: Future) Realistically, my hope of having smaller projectors means we can’t expect them to be any brighter than today’s, and if you have a bright room, this may be a problem – so projector screens with ambient light rejection will be essential. I discussed the advantages of ALR projector screens in this article, so I won’t go into all the details here, but here’s the short version: an ALR screen reflects light from the projector’s particular angle toward your eyes, and avoids reflecting light from other angles towards you, meaning that the image you see is brighter, colors are richer, and black tones look deeper. Hisense says that its newest generation of screen can raise the real-world brightness of the PX3-Pro’s projector to 700 nits, putting it in line with mid-range TVs… but obviously, at a much larger size than mid-range TVs. ALR screens are, however, really quite expensive at the moment. If more companies can do what Hisense does, and bundle them with projectors for a great overall price, then that will be a key part of making sure projectors can fully serve as TV replacements. It’s all got to come together, though… As I mentioned at the top, this might all come to nothing if we can’t get the ecosystem right. But these days, tech companies are leaning so hard into ecosystems being a way to sell a second product of their own, rather than to launch something new and expansive, that it’s far from certain that the big companies will support the interoperability needed bring this all together. It’s not impossible (if I were Sonos, trying to regain good word-of-mouth after my app debacle, maybe I’d try working with other companies to offer something new; if I were Hisense, maybe I’d try being open to working with others as a way to get one over on Samsung and LG), but we’re going to need this to develop just as quickly as the tech itself to achieve the easy home theater dream. You might also like…
2024 was quietly a revolutionary year for TVs, because the best mini-LED TVs suddenly went from being a premium tech that dabbled in dropping to mid-range, to being tech that reached all the way from premium down to the budget end, with a really solid option for everyone. In the US, we raved about the Hisense U8N and the TCL QM851G for delivering unbelievable bang for your buck. The Hisense U7N quickly staked a place as top-value mid-range TV, with some unbelievable deals available, despite packing great brightness and 4K 120Hz support to complete with the best gaming TVs. In the UK, we raved about the TCL C855K and the TCL C805K, the latter of which is obscenely inexpensive for something that looks that good. If anything, the aggressive pricing on these TVs creates the issue of them nearly crashing into each other – we gave the Hisense U6N a less effusive score than the U7N or U8N, but that was mostly because it cost far too close to the U7N while offering a notable step down in features. But over time, the U6N has started dropping to some absolutely ridiculous prices, and there’s a deal on the 75-inch model right now that is absolutely the budget giant-screen mini-LED I’d buy if I were in the market for one. Today’s best deal on the Hisense U6N It’s funny to think that the first mini-LED TVs only launched in 2021 – making them far, far younger than the 11 years that the best OLED TVs have been a staple of the TV market – and yet they’ve already moved from launching as a high-end only option to covering the whole range of budgets… something OLED has never managed, and doesn’t look likely to any time soon. OLED has certain high costs around the reliability and complexity of the manufacturing process that haven’t been fundamentally solved, and the price simply can’t come down much further while these continue. Even new inkjet-printed methods – which are finally beginning to become real for OLED monitors – look unlikely to solve this for TVs in the near term. TCL, which is leading on this technique, told me there will still be manufacturing reliability problems with larger screens that mean it won’t be as cost-effective for TVs immediately, so we won’t see it used for that yet – though we might in a few years. As a result, the cheapest 77-inch OLED TV you can get is the LG B4 for $1,796 – which is more than $1,000 pricier than the Hisense U6N. Yet the U6N has far superior full-screen brightness (though less-good contrast, viewing angles or gaming features). We tested the U6N’s brightness and color accuracy, and it’s amazingly accurate and consistent on colors out of the box, matching the more expensive Samsung QN85D. (Image credit: Future) Mini-LED, however, offers all kinds of ways for manufacturers to be flexible on price. For a start, they can change exactly how mini those mini-LEDs are, and how many of them there are. They can change how many different dimming zones they work in. They can use a different LCD pixel panel to bring the price down. And the cost of the parts themselves comes down as they become more common. The technology doesn’t need the delicate manufacturing touch that OLED does, and advancements to the technology don’t always need to cost much, if any, more than the last version of the tech – the next big thing in mini-LED TVs is RGB backlighting, and Samsung told me that it doesn’t expect its version of the tech to cost more than current mini-LED tech (though we’ll see what happens in practice). The TVs from 2024 that are still around may get cheaper again by the time they get replaced by the 2025 models – and the 2025 models will likely be the same kind of price, but with bolder colors and even more impressive contrast at all budgets. I’ve especially got my eye on the Hisense QM7K, which looked beautiful at CES 2025, will have a mid-range price, and will go all the way up to 98 inches. @techradar ♬ original sound – TechRadar I’m an OLED guy. I have an OLED TV at home that I recently upgraded, and that technology is where I find that the most interesting tech developments are happening – at least in terms of tech that’s making it into fairly mainstream TVs. But I do a lot of recommending of TVs for other people, and this is the year I found things really tipping in mini-LED’s favor in most of my conversations. Not so much at the high end, but at the “You don’t have to buy premium to get a seriously good experience, just look at these mid-range models” end. And then also at the low-end, where I find myself saying that you only need to spend a tiny bit more to get a big step up to a mini-LED set from a basic LED set, which will be a better long-term investment. Mini-LED is only going to cement its place as the people’s TV tech this year. A genuinely good 75-inch 4K TV for under $600? Hail to the king.
The Yaber K3 is a budget smart projector that offers 1080p resolution, 1600 ANSI lumens brightness and built-in access to streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus. While it delivers good sound and a Google TV smart interface for cheap, its picture quality is inconsistent and there are several other issues with it as well. A smart projector such as the Yaber K3 for $599 / £569 is a tempting prospect, especially when it can light up 40-200-inch screens. And while it’s not as well featured as the best projectors, built-in Wi-Fi and decent built-in speakers are hard to find at this price range. But some of the K3’s other main features such as its auto keystone correction and processing are sluggish and often frustrating to use. Gamers will also be better off looking elsewhere. The K3’s picture quality is a very mixed bag. It displays natural colors and solid enough detail at times and puts in a decent showing with sports. But contrast is weak and black levels are washed out. The K3’s picture quality was never going to compete with the best 4K projectors, but even compared with some of the best portable projectors, such as the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2, the K3’s picture struggles. Where the K3 excels is its sound, as the built-in JBL speakers are punchy and powerful, especially at this budget price range. While one of the best soundbars is still recommended, some won’t find the need to add one, especially for casual viewing. Fundamentally, the Yaber K3 is for those who are looking for a smart projector at an affordable price for the occasional movie night. While it packs as much as it can into its budget-friendly frame, it’s not quite the bargain budget gem it could have been. Yaber K3 projector review: Price & release date The Yaber K3 has natural enough colors but they appear washed out in some instances (Image credit: Future) Price: $599 / £569 (roughly AU$942) First available: September 2024 The Yaber K3 is a 1080p smart projector that follows on from Yaber’s K2 series. The K3 is priced at $599 / £569 (roughly AU$942 with direct exchange), putting it at the budget end of the projector spectrum in direct competition with portable projectors such as the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 (also a 1080p smart projector) which has a standard price of $749 / £649. Since its release in September 2024, there have been some discounts on the Yaber K3, with prices falling to $499 / £465 during sales events. This is similar to the discounts the Samsung Freestyle receives, as it’s regularly priced at $549 / £499 during sales events. Yaber K3 projector review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Screen sizes supported: 40-200-inches Brightness (specified): 1600 ANSI Lumens HDR support: N/A Optical technology: LED, DLP Smart TV: Google TV Connections: HDMI x2, 3.5mm, USB Dimensions: 11.4 x 12.7 x 6.1 inches (290 x 3232 x 154mm) Weight: 11.2 pounds (5kg) Yaber K3 projector review: Design & features 1600 ANSI lumens Google TV smart interface Nice fabric grill but bulky elsewhere The Yaber K3 offers access to smart features and streaming via Google TV at a budget price (Image credit: Future) The Yaber K3’s fabric front grill gives it a slightly more premium appearance than its budget price would suggest, but elsewhere it appears a little plain and oddly bulky looking. It measures 11.4 x 12.7 x 6.1 inches (290 x 3232 x 154mm) and requires a mains power supply with no battery options. There’s also a noticeable amount of fan noise after extended viewing periods. The K3 has a specified 1080p resolution and 1600 ANSI lumens brightness. It has a 1.2:1 throw ratio and fits screens from 40-200 inches. Auto and manual keystone adjustment and object detection count among its features, but I generally found that auto keystone was frustrating and often didn’t calibrate correctly to the Optoma 80-inch portable screen I was using for my tests. Manual keystone correction can only be done via the Yaber homepage and not while watching content – another aspect I found frustrating. Despite its budget price, it uses Google TV as a smart TV interface. This provides access to some of the best streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus. For connections, it has two HDMI ports, one USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio output and Bluetooth wireless. The K3 has a surprisingly robust built-in speaker system for such a budget projector, with dual 15W JBL speakers totaling 30W of power. No gaming features are included on the K3. For those looking for a gaming projector, you’re better off with something like the BenQ X300G. Design & features: 3/5 Yaber K3 projector review: Picture & sound quality The Yaber K3 displays details well on occasion, but textures and contrast are often inconsistent and unbalanced (Image credit: Future) Inconsistent picture quality Decent enough colors Surprisingly punchy sound For my testing, I used an Optoma 80-inch, 1.0 gain matte white projection screen. I first began by taking brightness measurements using a colorimeter, and the K3 yielded results of 109 nits and 93 nits in Standard and Natural picture modes respectively, putting it above 4K portable projectors such as the LG CineBeam Q (which yielded 60 nits in Filmmaker Mode). Moving on to critical viewing, I first looked at an HD stream of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus, focusing on the throne room fight scene. Colors were natural enough, but they lacked any sort of dynamic punch. Characters’ skin tones also appeared washed out, even in the most accurate Natural picture mode (though there wasn’t a great deal of difference between the various picture modes). The same was true for La La Land on Blu-ray, which showed natural colors but also inaccurate textures, although in some scenes details were more refined than I’d anticipated. Next, I watched a Blu-ray of The Batman to test black levels and contrast. While mostly acceptable, I found some scenes difficult to watch due to limited brightness (namely the opening crime scene investigation) even in blacked-out viewing conditions. In brighter scenes, details were clear and accurate enough, but there was a gray wash over the screen and textures still appeared fuzzy. One area where the K3 did well was with sports. Watching soccer matches in Sports mode, the action was smooth and accurate enough that the games were watchable, though it won’t beat more premium projectors. While the K3’s picture is average, its built-in sound is surprisingly good. Equipped with a JBL speaker system totaling 30W of power, the K3’s sound is punchy, detailed and clear. Watching the Batmobile chase sequence in The Batman, the sound of swerving cars was accurately presented, with a strong sense of direction. The rumble of the Batmobile’s engine had a hefty amount of bass and plenty of power, especially for small built-in projector speakers. Even La La Land’s dynamic, jazzy score was presented with real clarity, with a good balance between the horns, strings and vocals throughout. While the JBL speaker’s soundstage is limited by its size, it’s still surprisingly effective for a built-in speaker at this price range. Picture and sound quality: 3/5 Yaber K3 projector review: Value The Yaber K3’s remote is cheap-feeling but has the buttons you need (Image credit: Future) Smart projector for a budget price Cheaper than most portable projectors Overall performance is frustrating The $599 / £569 Yaber K3 is good value for those looking for an affordable projector that provides access to streaming services via the Google TV smart platform. It isn’t going to beat more premium projectors and may even struggle against some of the best portable projectors, but for those looking for a casual projector, the K3 is a budget-friendly option. Unfortunately, shortcomings in the K3’s picture quality and some frustrations with setup such as keystone correction hold it back from being a budget gem. You’ll have to make some sacrifices, particularly with sound, on other portable projectors such as the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2, but the Freestyle is likely to give you a more consistent experience for a similar price. Value score: 3.5/5 Should I buy the Yaber K3 projector? Black levels are one of the K3’s weakest areas, with pictures appearing washed out at most times (Image credit: Future) Swipe to scroll horizontally Yaber K3 projector Attributes Notes Rating Design and features Google TV smart interface and fabric grille, but problematic keystone features and sluggish software 3/5 Picture quality & sound quality Punchy built-in sound plus good brightness and natural colors but inconsistent in every aspect with picture 3/5 Value A smart projector at an affordable price, but similarly priced protable projectors probably a better alternative 3.5/5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Comparison: portable projectors Header Cell – Column 0 Yaber K3 Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro LG CineBeam Q Price: $599/£569 $799/£549 $449 / £429 / AU$1,099 $799/£749 Screen sizes supported: 40 to 200 inches 30 to 130 inches 40 to 200 inches 50-120 inches Brightness (specified): 1600 ANSI lumens 230 ANSI lumens 450 ANSI lumens 500 ANSI lumens HDR support N/A HDR10+, HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG Optical technology: LED LED, DLP LED, DLP RGB laser DLP Smart TV: Google TV Tizen Google TV webOS Connections: HDMI 2.0 x2, 3.5mm x1, Ethernet x1 Micro-HDMI, USB-C (power) Micro-HDMI, USB-A, USB-C (power), Bluetooth 5.1 HDMI, USB-C (display, power) How I tested the Yaber K3 projector (Image credit: Future) Tested with an Optoma 1.0 gain, matte white 80-inch screen Tested using Blu-ray, streaming sources Measurements taken using Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software To test the Yaber K3 projector, I first used high definition and standard definition sources including Blu-ray and streaming. I tested the K3’s picture quality, analyzing color, contrast, black levels, detail and motion. I also evaluated its built-in JBL sound using the same reference scenes from movies and TV shows. I used a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software to record measurements for brightness, contrast ratio and color and grayscale accuracy. The projector was primarily tested in pitch-black conditions in our testing room at TechRadar and also in full ambient light settings to see how it handled brighter viewing environments.
If you’re looking to grab one of the best soundbars around, there’s something that you’ll almost certainly be seeking – Dolby Atmos support. And I wouldn’t blame you. This immersive audio tech can provide a three-dimensional, natural sound profile to your viewing experiences that will really take movie nights to the next level. Luckily, I’ve been able to test a number of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars here at TechRadar – everything from ultra-cheap models around the $100 / £100 mark to more premium options in the $1,500 / £1,500 range. So, you might be wondering, if you can access Atmos at such a low price-point, is it really worth spending extra on a more elite option? Let’s find out. A few months ago, I checked out the Majority Elias, a soundbar that’s available in the UK for £99.95 (about $130 / AU$190). This budget standalone soundbar packs in Dolby Atmos support alongside upfiring speakers – something you need if you’re looking to reap the benefits of Atmos’ verticality. I tried watching a few movies with this soundbar, such as Top Gun: Maverick – a hit that gives Atmos plenty of space to showcase its strengths, with soaring jets and all-action onslaughts. During one scene where Tom Cruise’s character flies his aircraft up at a rapid pace, the Elias offered a more expansive impression than my standalone TV audio, but it couldn’t map his trajectory to a precise, true-to-life degree. (Image credit: Future) The Elias is a 2.0.2 soundbar – it lacks a standalone sub and rear speakers, merely offering two forward facing and two upward firing speakers. Now, a lot of the more expensive models out there come with their own sub, maybe even individual rear speakers, meaning you get true surround sound. This really takes the effects of Atmos up a level, enveloping you in a layer of sound for high-calibre immersion. Its worth commending the Majority Elias for casting a decent spatial impression – but also noticing that despite having Atmos capabilities, they’re fairly limited. Ultimately, the Elias also suffers from an issue that many cheap soundbars – including models like the Ultimea Nova S50 – struggle with. Namely, disappointing overall audio quality. I found that dialogue could sound fairly muddy when watching movies and TV shows and that it struggled with busier scenes where details could get hidden away in the mix. And what that unfortunately means is you’re not going to be able to fully indulge in the joys of Dolby Atmos. With average or sub-par audio, more subtle artefacts can seem hidden – something you don’t have to worry about with the Samsung HW-Q800D – a model I tested at the tail-end of 2024. (Image credit: Future) Atmos, in all its glory The HW-Q800D has a list price of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099, so it’s by no means cheap, but oh my do you still get your money’s worth. First off, you don’t have to face up to middling audio quality here – the HW-Q800D can do it all, from ultra-defined dialogue through to rhythmic music replication. But on Atmos specifically, the HW-Q800D can plate up phenomenal three-dimensional audio that fills your room effortlessly. When testing, I threw on The Boy and the Heron and the soundbar mapped the titular bird’s flight expertly, tracing his every flutter. In an area consumed by fire, both the width from the soundbar’s side speakers and verticality from its upfiring ones captured the frightening, heart-racing atmosphere of the opening scene to perfection, really involving me in the action. This model also comes with a dedicated sub, which adds incredible low-end power for those tense moments in movies and video games – or bass-heavy bangers in your music library. You’re getting a total power output of 360W from the HW-Q800D, more than double that of the Majority Elias – so you can attain the kind of power needed for an authentic home cinema experience. (Image credit: Future) Of course, if you have a bit more money to play with (lucky you), you can heighten performance by adding rear speakers with a model like the Samsung HW-Q990D. But there are cheaper options available that offer amazing Atmos. For instance, we still love the Sony HT-S2000 – a standalone soundbar that can often be found for less than $400 / £300. This bar harnesses virtual processing to make height effects in Dolby Atmos soundtracks like Top Gun exceed the verticality of your TV screen – pretty neat at this price-point! All in all, I’d argue that if you have the budget, spending extra on a higher-end Dolby Atmos soundbar is well-worth it. You can access more accurate mapping, impressive verticality and truly expansive sound, even with mid-range options like the Sony HT-S2000. Ultimately, a lot of budget soundbars lack the ability to plate up nuanced, fully three-dimensional audio – especially without surround channels. But if you are on a tighter budget, fear not – there are some excellent cheap options out there – albeit without Atmos. One of the best cheap soundbars is the diminutive Hisense HS214, which offers clear dialogue and impressive power for less than $100 / £80. (Image credit: Future) You might also like
Sony Bravia Projector 8: two-minute review The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is the latest addition to the company’s lineup of native 4K projectors, all of which use the Z-Phosphor laser light source. This new beamer, along with the flagship Bravia Projector 9 (VPL-XW8100ES), adds several key features that bring the brand’s higher-end models in line with their chief competitors among the best 4K projectors, the JVC DLA-NZ800 and JVC DLA-NZ900. Brightness for the Sony Projector 8 has been increased to 2,700 lumens and both models now use Sony’s professional-grade XR Processor. One of the key benefits is genuine dynamic tone mapping for a superior HDR experience. The Projector 8 and 9 retain the same chassis and Advanced Crisp-Focus (ACF) lens, motorised lens controls and lens memories as the previous generation, but unlike the JVC projectors, they don’t support HDR10+ high dynamic range or 3D. The Projector 8’s design is the same as previous generations, but the compact chassis remains well-built. The menu system is easy to navigate, installation is flexible, and the backlit remote control makes this beamer a pleasure to operate. The connectivity has been upgraded and now includes two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which means the Projector 8 accepts signals with higher frame rates up to 4K 120p – great news for next-generation console and high-end PC rig gamers. The inclusion of 4K 120p isn’t the only good news for gamers, with the Projector 8 supporting ALLM. As a result, it automatically goes into the game mode when a console is detected, and the input lag is an incredibly low 10ms. All of this finally makes this beamer the ideal companion to the brand’s own PlayStation 5 game console, as well as other consoles and PC gaming rigs. It’s not perfect of course. There’s no HDR10+ or 3D support, the colour gamut could go wider, the black levels dig a little deeper, and shadows retain more detail, but overall this high-end beamer delivers the big screen goods. In fact, its smooth motion, superior processing, fast responses, and improved HDR are sure to please even the most demanding cinephile or competitive gamer. Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: price and release date First available: October 2024 Price: £15,999 / $15,999 / around AU$21,170 The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is the new mid-range model in the brand’s line-up of home cinema projectors and is available now in a choice of matte black or white finishes. The Projector 8 currently retails for £15,999 in the UK or $15,999 in the US. The Sony Projector 8 has a specified 2,700 lumens light output, and its laser light engine has a 20,000-hour lifespan (Image credit: Future) Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Screen sizes supported: Up to 150 inches Brightness (specified): 2,700 lumens HDR support: HDR10, HLG Optical technology: Z-Phosphor laser, SXRD Smart TV: NA Connections: 2 x HDMI 2.1 , 2x USB-A (powered), IR, RS-232C, Ethernet Dimensions (W x H x D): 460 x 210 x 517mm (18.1 x 8.2 x 20.3 inches Weight: 14kg/30.8 pounds The Projector 8 is available with either a white or black casing (Image credit: Future) Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: design Advanced Crisp-Focus (ACF) lens Motorised lens controls and memories Backlit remote control The Sony Projector 8 looks identical to the brand’s previous generations, with the same angled design and centrally-mounted lens. There are air intake grilles at the front, exhaust vents at the rear, and some basic controls on the left-hand side as you face the lens. The Projector 8 measures 460 x 210 x 517mm (WxHxD), and weighs in at 14kg. Sony offers a choice of matte black or matte white, and you can also choose between a stand or ceiling mount. The build quality is good, although it feels less substantial when compared to the JVC NZ800. The Projector 8 uses the Advanced Crisp-Focus (ACF) 70mm lens introduced on earlier models, which is designed to resolve more detail. The lens controls are also motorised, making setup easier, and there are lens memories to create different aspect ratios if you use a 2.35:1 screen. The connections are all located in a recess along the bottom left-hand side as you face the projector. Here you’ll find two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which is a welcome addition, along with an Ethernet port and RS-232C connector, a 12V trigger, an IR input jack, and a USB port for power. The provided remote is the same large and backlit zapper included with previous generations of Sony beamers. The buttons are laid out sensibly, it’s comfortable to hold and use with one hand, and includes all the controls you’ll need to set up and operate the Projector 8. Design score: 5/5 Ports include 2 HDMI 2.1 connections with 4K 120Hz support for gaming (Image credit: Future) Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: features Z-Phosphor laser light source Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping Support for 4K 120Hz high frame rate The Sony Projector 8 uses the brand’s current 0.61-inch SXRD chip to deliver native 4K (3840 x 2160) images. The projector has a refresh rate of 120Hz, and thanks to the addition of the two HDMI 2.1 inputs it can now support higher frame rates up to 4K 120p. The Projector 8 also uses a Z-Phosphor laser light source, with an increased claimed brightness of 2,700 lumens and a claimed lifespan of up to 20,000 hours. That basically means you could watch a film a day for the next ten years without worrying about the image dimming like a lamp or bulb. The inclusion of wide dynamic range optics and Sony’s XR Triluminos Pro technology promises deeper blacks, more saturated colours and improved contrast ratios. Sony’s professional-grade XR Processor also promises advanced image processing and real-time optimisation of the picture. Thanks to the addition of the XR Processor the Projector 8 has XR Clear Image processing for intelligent upscaling and noise reduction, along with improved HDR thanks to image cross-analysis, depth mapping and focal point recognition. There’s also XR Deep Black laser dimming and XR Dynamic Tone Mapping for optimised HDR10 based on analysis of the incoming signal. There’s Motionflow frame interpolation for fast-paced sports action and a low-latency mode for gaming. In addition to the support for 4K 120p high frame-rate gaming, the Projector 8 also has ALLM (auto low latency mode) that puts it into game mode when a games console is detected. Features score: 4 The Sony’s Reference picture mode proved very accurate out of the box (Image credit: Future) Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: picture quality Bright and detailed pictures Impressive HDR tone mapping Very low input lag for gaming The Sony Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) delivers awesome big-screen pictures thanks to its native 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and Advanced Crisp-Focused (ACF) 70mm lens. This results in detailed and distortion-free images, along with wider dynamic range optics. All of this means you’ll get pin-sharp resolution across the entire screen – no matter how big that screen is. If you have a really large screen, there’s no need to worry, because this beamer has a Z-Phosphor laser light source that can reach an extremely bright 2,700 lumens. It also has a claimed lifespan of 20,000 hours, so you’ll never have to worry about changing a lamp, plus the laser itself delivers a consistent colour performance and doesn’t dim significantly over its long average lifespan. The Reference picture mode proves very accurate out of the box, and the extensive calibration controls can be used to dial in a near-perfect picture. The black levels are not as good as the JVC NZ800, and I measured the Projector 8’s contrast ratio at 12,000:1. Sony only quotes a dynamic contrast ratio of infinity to one, but this is achieved by turning the laser off, which doesn’t represent mixed content. The big selling point of a Sony projector is its image processing, and the XR Processor doesn’t disappoint. When watching a high quality 1080p source, you’ll be rewarded with an upscaled picture that makes full use of the projector’s more than eight million pixels, producing images that are expertly rendered so they appear clean, detailed and free of unwanted artefacts or noise. Sony’s Reality Creation detail enhancement applies sharpening to any resolution, including 4K, but is so sophisticated that it achieves this without introducing distracting artefacts. Motion handling is class-leading, appearing fluid and free of judder or other issues, even without engaging Motionflow. Although for fast sports the frame interpolation feature can be beneficial. The Projector 8 supports HDR10 and HLG, but not HDR10+. The addition of dynamic tone mapping is most welcome, performing frame-by-frame analysis of incoming HDR signals, and adjusting the tone mapping dynamically through pixel processing and the laser power. The results are impressive for a projector, bringing out details in the darkest and brightest parts of the picture. While I was generally impressed by the picture quality, I do feel that to get the most out of this beamer you need to use all the processing. The Reference mode, which bypasses a lot of the processing, often appeared flat and lifeless, but when switched to Film 1 or Film 2 it was a different story. The images burst into life with detail, depth and colour that really add to SDR and HDR. Watching Passengers reveals a detailed native 4K image with well rendered HDR and rich colours that retain plenty of depth. The same is true with the saturated primaries in The Greatest Showman, which the Projector 8 handles with skill. It’s only when watching a darker film like The Batman that the weaker blacks of the Projector 8 are laid bare, but at least the shadows are free of crush and the peak highlights don’t suffer from loss of detail or clipping. The Projector 8 is a great choice for gamers thanks to its bright and detailed images, as well as its peerless motion handling. The performance with SDR is superb, while HDR gaming is exceptional due to the laser light source and HDR enhancements. The overall gaming experience is smooth and responsive thanks to a dedicated game mode that delivers an input lag of 18ms with 4K 60p, and just 10ms with 4K 120p. Both these latency measurements are lightning-fast for a projector, and better than many TVs. Picture quality score: 4.5/5 The Sony’s fully backlit remote control makes it easy to adjust settings in a dark room and has all of the adjustments you’ll need (Image credit: Future) Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: value Priced to directly compete with superior JVC NZ800 Expensive when compared to very similar JVC NZ700 The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is priced to compete directly with the JVC DLA-NZ800, which also costs £15,999/$15,999. However, the NZ800 does have the edge due to its all-glass lens, deeper blacks, superior dynamic tone mapping, and support for both HDR10+ and 3D. The Projector will also face serious competition from JVC’s DLA-NZ700, which currently retails for £9,499/$8,999. The NZ700 isn’t as bright at 2,300 lumens, but it delivers better contrast and HDR tone mapping, and it supports HDR10+. However, the Sony still has the edge with gaming thanks to its lower input lag and support for 4K 120p compared to the JVC, which is limited to 4K 60p. Value score: 4/5 The Projector 8’s surface controls (Image credit: Future) Swipe to scroll horizontally Sony Bravia Projector 8 Header Cell – Column 0 Notes Rating Features Long-life laser light source, dynamic HDR tone mapping, advanced frame interpolation, and superior image processing 4/5 Design Compact chassis, backlit remote, excellent build quality, easy setup and motorised lens controls with memories 5/5 Picture quality Good out-of-the-box accuracy and super-bright pictures produce enjoyable HDR, although the black levels aren’t great 4.5/5 Value Faces stiff competition from JVC NZ700, which has better HDR support and 3D, but lower brightness 4/5 Should I buy the Sony Bravia Projector 8? (Image credit: Future) Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Also consider… Swipe to scroll horizontally Comparison: 4K UST projectors Header Cell – Column 0 Sony Projector 8 Epson QB1000 Epson LS1200 JVC DLA-NZ800 Price: £15,999 / $15,999 £4,799 / $7,999 £4,399 / $4,999 £15,999 / $15,999 Screen sizes supported: up to 150 inches 50 to 300 inches 50 to 130 inches 30-150 inches Brightness (specified): 2,700 lumens 3,300 lumens 2,700 lumens 2,700 lumens HDR support HDR10, HLG HDR10+, HDR10, HLG HDR10+, HDR10, HLG HDR10+, HDR10, HLG Optical technology: Z-Phosphor laser, SXRD Laser 3LCD Laser 3LCD Laser D-ILA Smart TV: N/A N/A N/A N/A Connections: 2 x HDMI 2.1 , 2x USB-A (powered), IR, RS-232C, Ethernet 2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2xUSB-A (powered), RS-232C, Ethernet 2xHDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1 x powered USB, Ethernet, RS232-C, 12-volt trigger output 2x HDMI 2.1 (Image credit: Future) How I tested the Sony Bravia Projector 8 Measured with Calman calibration software Evaluated using SDR and HDR content Reviewed in a dedicated home cinema As with all my TV and projector reviews I use a combination of subjective viewing and objective measurements against the industry standards. For projectors, I also do all my testing in a dedicated home cinema with a completely blacked-out environment and high-quality screen. The subjective testing is based around watching a variety of familiar scenes, primarily sourced from 4K and 1080p Blu-rays, plus the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K disc. Any test scenes have been specifically chosen to evaluate a display’s black levels, contrast performance, colour accuracy, upscaling, image processing, motion handling, and HDR tone mapping. For the objective testing, I measured the Projector 8’s brightness, greyscale and colour gamut in SDR, before doing the same in HDR. I also evaluated the accuracy of the HDR tone mapping, along with the colour gamut coverage for DCI-P3. To do this I used a pattern generator and colour meter combined with Portrait Display’s Calman calibration software. I measured the Projector 8’s input lag in milliseconds using a specialised Leo Bodnar tester. First reviewed: February, 2025
Bose Smart Soundbar: Two minute review The Bose Smart Soundbar is a great way to elevate your TV experience in the bedroom or other small room. It’s not up to the task of a home theater setup, especially without a subwoofer, but that’s not its purpose. if you’re looking to bring Dolby Atmos sound to a smaller setup, it’s one of the best soundbars you can buy. The Bose Smart Soundbar’s lack of low-end will frustrate action and superhero movie fans and its narrow soundstage keeps it from truly elevating the audio experience, especially when listening to music. However, it still is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, with two upward-firing speakers that provide a sense of space and immersion that somewhat offsets that narrow soundstage. In a smaller setup, it almost completely masks it. Just as important, this soundbar is stacked with features. There’s an A.I. dialogue mode, Alexa and Chromecast support, plus a whole lot more. My favorite feature lets you use specific Bose earbuds as the rear speakers in a surround sound setup for a unique experience. Unfortunately, those are sold separately. And, of course, the Smart Soundbar has the typical Bose markup, so this is not necessarily a great deal, though I wouldn’t call it overpriced either. If you’re looking to upgrade your TV experience in a smaller space like a bedroom or small apartment, the Bose Smart Soundbar is an ideal option, especially with all the features on hand. Just be willing to shell out some extra cash and be aware of its shortcomings. The Bose Smart Soundbar comes with everything you need to quickly get up and running (earbuds cost extra) (Image credit: Future) Bose Smart Soundbar review: Price & release date Price: $499.00 / £499.95 / AU$799.95 First available: September 2024 Available in the US, UK, and Australia Having been released in September of 2024, the Bose Smart Soundbar is the newest addition to the company’s soundbar lineup. And at $499.00 / £499.95 / AU$799.95, its price tag is about what one would expect from Bose since you’re paying a little bit for the name. You might get more in terms of features or even a subwoofer and surround speakers for that price if you go with models from other companies, but you might be trading off some quality for those extras. We reported around the time of release that the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds can work as rear speakers for this soundbar. And while that is certifiably a very appreciated feature, you won’t get a pair for free when purchasing the soundbar but will have to pay an extra $299 / £299 / AU$449.95 for the earbuds. The Bose Smart Soundbar and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are available in the US, UK, and Australia. Bose Smart Soundbar review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Dimensions (W x H x D) 27.34 x 2.21 x 4.01 inches (694 x 56 x 102mm) Speaker channels 3.0.2 (plays back at 5.1.4) Ports: HDMI, Optical, Bluetooth, USB, sub out, IR Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Yes Sub included No Rear speakers included No Features Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, Chromecast built-in, A.I. Dialog Mode, Personal Surround Sound via Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Bose TrueSpace, app support Power and mic control buttons are located on the soundbar’s top surface (Image credit: Future) Bose Smart Soundbar review: Features Personal Surround Sound (requires optional Bose earbuds) App is easy to navigate and use Wi-Fi and Voice assistant support My favorite feature of the feature-filled Bose Smart Soundbar is Personal Surround Sound, which uses Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds as rear speakers so you can get an actual surround sound experience without needing to use rear speakers. Plus, you can adjust how subtle or strong the effect is in the app as well as boost different settings like center channel level for those with issues hearing dialogue. This feature requires you to purchase Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, however, and they’re not exactly cheap. I particularly liked this feature for gaming. I used Personal Surround Sound while playing Star Wars: Jedi Survivor and found it created a fairly integrated soundscape for the main character to run around in – half the time I couldn’t tell if what I was hearing was coming from the soundbar or the earbuds. In a way, Personal Surround Sound is even better than a traditional surround sound system since you don’t have to be locked into a specific seat to hear all the audio elements in the soundtrack at the proper distance. On the other hand, this feature only works for anyone wearing the earbuds – not exactly great for group viewing. The app, which is easy to navigate and use, has plenty of other features on tap. Of course, there are some basic EQ settings. While there’s no parametric EQ, you can adjust the treble, bass, center channel, and height effect, aka spatial audio. You can even toggle on a Wall EQ setting to adjust for when the soundbar is installed against a wall. Speaking of spatial audio, this soundbar does support Dolby Atmos, and physically reproduces it via those upward-firing speakers. Some soundbars support Dolby Atmos but don’t have any upward-firing speakers, instead using virtual trickery to give a sense of spaciousness. The difference is noticeable. Bose TrueSpace also takes advantage of those upward-firing speakers, upscaling sound so that you’re getting a spatial audio experience even when the source isn’t Dolby Atmos encoded. (It’s like listening to mono audio on a stereo set of speakers.) As far as I could hear, it’s the same audio going upwards as out whereas Dolby Atmos audio has specific elements that are designated height effects. If you’re hard of hearing or just find the modern mixes of movies to be hard to understand, the AI dialogue mode might be the feature for you. It’s supposed to automatically adjust dialogue for clarity’s sake. When testing – I watched the beginning of The Dark Knight for this feature – I found that dialogue was clearer since there was a subtle boost to the midrange where voices typically sit. It wasn’t obnoxious the way some dialog boosting modes are, but it still boosted sounds that sit in a similar frequency range that weren’t voices. It’s not perfectly executed, but still is done well. Lastly, the Bose Smart Soundbar has Alexa support as well as both Chromecast built-in and AirPlay. With Alexa, you can talk to the soundbar the way you would an Amazon Echo, even asking what the weather is or setting a timer. I did find that I had to articulate the wake word a little more for the soundbar to hear me, but that’s not all that big of a deal. During testing, I found the built-in Chromecast and AirPlay to work seamlessly, which is something I always worry about as in the past I’ve had connectivity issues with Wi-Fi streaming on some devices. Features score: 4.5 / 5 The Bose Smart soundbar features two upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos height effects (Image credit: Future) Bose Smart Soundbar review: Performance Light on bass Balanced mids and crisp highs Somewhat narrow soundstage The Bose Smart Soundbar sounds about as good as a soundbar can. You have to remember that these types of audio devices exist mostly for convenience’s sake. With that in mind, let’s discuss its audio limitations. First up is the bass. While I could turn up the bass level in the app, the low-range boost affects the mid-range frequencies. Since there are just some bass ports on the back and no actual subwoofer-specific drivers, not to mention that the drivers are necessarily compact, the lack of a strong bass response is unsurprising. There was no rumble on hand when I tested it with The Batman, The Dark Knight, and Deadpool & Wolverine (400 Blows doesn’t lend itself to testing soundbars). Whenever there are big fights in these kinds of movies, there’s always a lot of very punchy low-end information. But here, all that information is very muted if not gone. At least, there’s a subwoofer output to correct that by adding an external subwoofer, and Bose also offers wireless subs (and surround speakers) that can be paired with the Smart Soundbar. The other parts of the frequency range fare better. The mid-range is not quite rich and full, but it is well-balanced. I generally didn’t need the A.I. dialogue mode, for instance, as the dialogue was consistently intelligible. It also helped that I could boost the center channel level in the app to help with that. The high-end is nice and crisp on the Smart Soundbar. Whether it was the string arrangement in movie scores or even dialogue when I tested it, everything had a nice clarity as opposed to being overly pronounced or even painful to listen to. This soundbar’s soundstage is inherently limited by its form factor. That said, the sound did feel like it has more width than other similarly sized soundbars I’ve tested and used. This was helped quite a bit by the spatial audio capabilities, as everything sounded a little bigger and wider, even though I didn’t hear as much left-to-right movement as I expected. Performance score: 4 / 5 The Bose Smart Soundbar’s main connections are HDMI eARC and optical digital audio, along with a line output for a subwoofer (Image credit: Future) Bose Smart Soundbar review: Design Upward-firing speakers On-unit controls just for voice assistant No alphanumeric LED display Bose is not breaking the mold design-wise with the look or color of the Bose Smart Soundbar. This is a long rectangular, matte black soundbar with a grill that covers the front and wraps around the side to cover the center tweeter and the racetrack transducers on each end. There’s a grill on the top of the unit as well where the two upward-firing transducers are. Speaking of all those speakers, despite it being technically a 3.0.2 system (the left, right and center speakers along with the two upward-firing ones), the audio decodes at 5.1.4. There are some ports on the back to help with bass but there aren’t any drivers dedicated to the low end. The on-unit controls are fairly limited as just two buttons are sitting on top of the left side for voice assistant support. There’s a microphone button to turn the internal mic on or off and an Alexa action button to interact with Alexa in a few different ways including stopping the feature. Most of the physical controls are available through the remote. You have the usual ones like power, mute, and volume controls as well as three source buttons (TV, Bluetooth, App) and a play/pause button. Nothing too crazy. The remote itself is fairly small and light, which is nice, though its small size makes it the kind of remote that’s very easy to lose. As far as ports go, it has the necessary optical and HDMI ports as well as a subwoofer out, an IR port, and a USB There’s no front panel alphanumeric LED display – something I always wish I had when it’s missing – just an LED light when the soundbar turns on or is listening when listening to a voice assistant command. While I did miss it, I didn’t miss it all that much. Design score: 4 / 5 The Smart Soundbar’s control app gives you access to a wide range of EQ settings (Image credit: Future) Bose Smart Soundbar review: Setup & usability HDMI eARC connection to TV Easy, app-based setup One-remote use with Roku TVs Setup of the Bose Smart Soundbar is very straightforward, even if it takes just a little longer from beginning to end. If you just want to get to it and don’t care about all the features, connecting the soundbar to either your TV’s optical or HDMI eARC port is most of the work. Put some AAA batteries into the remote (unfortunately not included) and you’re good to go. There are a few more steps if you want to get the full experience. After downloading the Bose app, you pair it to the soundbar (and the Ultra Open earbuds if you have them) and then set up Wi-Fi on the soundbar for AirPlay, Chromecast Built-in and Alexa. The Bose Smart Soundbar is made to pair seamlessly with Roku TVs. Luckily, I have one so I was able to go through the process – just follow the onscreen instructions – which allowed me to use my TV remote for basic functionality. On that note, once Alexa was set up, I was able to manipulate the soundbar just by using the wake word and speaking to it. Setup & usability score: 5 / 5 Using the Smart Soundbar’s Personal Surround Sound feature requires the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (not included) (Image credit: Future) Bose Smart Soundbar review: Value Features boost value Can get more advanced systems for same price Cheaper standalone soundbars available If you’re looking at features, the Bose Smart Soundbar has a lot going for it with the Personal Surround Sound feature (which, again, requires a separate purchase), A.I. dialogue mode, and app support. For a similar price, however, you can get a 5.1-channel system like the maxed-out version of the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus, which also gives you a subwoofer and rear speakers for true surround sound. As nice as Bose’s personalized surround sound feature is, only one person can use the earbuds at a time. Amazon’s system is lacking features and doesn’t have voice assistant support – not even Alexa. Its audio quality is not quite as crisp, nor does it have the upward-firing speakers of the Bose soundbar. Of course, if you’re on a budget, you can skip the subwoofer and rear speakers and just get the standalone Amazon Soundbar Plus soundbar for $249.99 / £249.99 (about AU$400). Another option is to spend $349 / £299 (originally $499 / £449 / AU$695) to get the Sony HT-S2000, a 3.1-channel standalone soundbar that includes virtual spatial audio and good bass response. It costs a little less for something that gets you 80% of the way there. But again, you’re giving up a lot as it doesn’t have voice assistant support, the personalized surround sound that’s unique to this Bose soundbar, or one of the many other features on hand. Value score: 4 / 5 The Bose Smart Soundbar and Ultra Open Earbuds (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Bose Smart Soundbar? Swipe to scroll horizontally Bose Smart Soundbar Section Notes Score Features From the earbuds’ assisted surround sound to the Alexa support, this soundbar has about all the features you could ask for 4.5 / 5 Performance The bass is a bit on the weak side and the soundstage is lacking, but the mids and highs are very good. Plus, it has real spatial audio 4 / 5 Design Limited onboard controls and no LED display, but this soundbar does come with physical upward-firing speakers 4 / 5 Setup & usability Setting up the Bose Smart Soundbar is about as straightforward as it can be 5 / 5 Value You can get more for your money if you want a subwoofer or surround sound, but there are plenty of features on tap in this all-in-one bar 4 / 5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Bose Smart Soundbar: Also consider How I tested the Bose Smart Soundbar The Nakamichi Dragon with its two subs in my home. (Image credit: Future) I used the Bose Smart Soundbar for a couple of weeks Tested with TV, movies, games, and music I used the Bose Smart Soundbar regularly for a couple of weeks. I watched movies, shows, gamed and listened to music with it. I tested all the various features, especially the Personal Surround Sound feature to see what it could do. After having tested the Bose Smart Soundbar, it still surprises me all that this soundbar has to offer. It’s that feature-packed. This is an ideal soundbar for someone with a smaller, not-quite home theater setup, but who still wants a premium experience, and not just because of the name. I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
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