Author: Nicholas Webb

The Logitech G Pro Wireless offers flawless wireless performance and best-in-class sensors in a simple, streamlined design. But it’s quiet expensive.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

Logitech G Pro: $127.94 at Amazon.com.au →

Lightweight Excellence

Logitech has been making great wireless gaming mice for years, culminating in the near-perfect Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum. The company went all out with his G900, which features an eye-catching design, interchangeable sides, and an abundance of buttons. But let’s assume you’re expecting the exact opposite of a wireless gaming mouse.
Smooth, simple and light. For $127.94, you can invest in the Logitech G Pro Wireless Mouse today.

The G Pro Wireless looks and feels the exact opposite of the G900, but performs just as well. This small, slim mouse offers impeccable wireless performance and best-in-class sensors, but with a simple, minimalist design that doesn’t add a lot of weight. In fact, the mouse is surprisingly light. Although, the same features that make the G Pro Wireless attractive to tournament gamers can make it a difficult sell for those just looking for a solid wireless mouse.

PRO: Design

• Slick design – At 4.92 x 2.50 x 1.57 inches, the G Pro Wireless is relatively small, but big enough to comfortably hold in your palm or fingernail. The mouse is a fully ambidextrous design and comes standard with a left button, a right button, a clickable scroll wheel, and two thumb buttons on each side.
• Lightweight – What sets the G Pro Wireless apart from the competition is its incredibly light weight. 2.82 ounces (80 grams). The difference is noticeable when compared to the 3.77 oz (107 g) G900 or 3.14 oz (89 g) Logitech G603.
• Suitable for lefthanded users – G Pro Wireless can have anywhere from 0 to 4 thumb buttons and changing configurations takes no more than 30 seconds.

PRO: Useful Software, outstanding battery life

• The software works well and you can control and customise quiet a few features of the G Pro Wireless. You can customize DPI levels, key commands, and RGB lighting across the mouse.
• Logitech estimates that the mouse will last 40-50 hours on a single charge, depending on your lighting profile. The included long braided cable allows you to play while charging and wireless reception seems perfect.
• It mouse moves quickly and accurately.

CON: Divisive DPI button placement

• Although, the G Pro Wireless has a DPI button, it is not located where you’d expect it: Instead of placing it above the right button or below the scroll wheel (the two common places for DPI buttons), Logitech has this placed to the bottom of the mouse.

CON: Pricey

• A bit expensive for the everyday user compared to alternatives such as the G603 or G305.

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Wi-Fi 6 can perform faster and better than the Wi-Fi 5 we are used to, especially in congested network environments. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the first media streamer under $100 featuring Wi-Fi 6. (It’s also featured in the more expensive Apple TV 4K.)

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: $49. at Amazon.com.au →

Good upgrades for just $10 more.

The $49 Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the same as the Fire TV Stick 4K, but with a Wi-Fi 6 radio and a slightly faster processor. Just $10 extra seems like a pretty good deal, but 4K video is only marginally improved by bandwidth, and Wi-Fi 5 already surpasses it. Thus, if you don’t have a fast internet connection or optimal WiFi conditions, the standard Fire TV Stick 4K is your best bet.

PRO: New and refined interface

• Every app you need – The recently altered Fire TV interface is cleaner than ever, divided into sections. Firstly, home has recommended apps and content. Secondly, search is where to find, and Live is home to the best alternative cable TV apps like Hulu and YouTube TV. To get the most out of your operating system, check out our setup and mastery guides to learn how to use your Fire Stick.

PRO: Performance

• Fast performance – New quad-core 1.8GHz MT8696 processor and 750MHz GPU (upgraded from Fire TV Stick’s quad-core 1.7GHz processor and 650MHz GPU). Apps load in around 9 seconds from a restart phase. Netflix can load in as fast as 2 seconds.
• Excellent picture and sound – Supports HDR10, HDR10+, rich images with Dolby Vision, immersive sound with Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo, and up to 5.1 over HDMI audio passthrough.
• WiFi 6.

CON: Too pushy

• Interface is stuffed with Amazon and ads.

CON: Limitations

• Voice-search doesn’t always work right
• No Apple AirPlay or Google Cast

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Sony has been one of the biggest names in the television industry for years. Many factors have contributed to this, but the most important is the Sony’s ability to offer its premium line of TVs year after year that feature a superior visual and audio experience. In 2022, the company presents a new TV series with interesting datasheets and large displays. But is the price worth the Sony BRAVIA 50″ X75K 4K Ultra HD HDR LED Smart TV?

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

Sony BRAVIA 50″ X75K 4K Ultra HD HDR LED Smart TV: $995 at Amazon.com.au →

Big Display options, but no HDR10+

Sony’s X75K TV Series are available in multiple panel sizes from 43 to 75 inches. We review the 50-inch which features Direct LED panel and is powered by Sony’s flagship 4K X1 processor. However, the panel does not have local dimming, instead the TV provides frame dimming. While this can help improve the visual experience, in many cases, especially dark scenes, the visual experience is a bit degraded with this technology.

Apart from that, Sony also equips the X75K with proprietary technologies such as 4K X-Reality PRO, Live Colour Technology and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer. All these technologies come together to create an immersive visual experience perfect for premium TVs. On the contrary, there’s no support for Dolby Vision or HDR10+.

PRO: Display performance

• Good SDR/ HDR performance – Even thought there’s no HDR10+ support, the X75K gets bright enough in scenes with plenty of light in them.
• Frame dimming – Really good low luminance of 0.2 nits. 
• Impressive core hardware that makes the TV perform as it should, offering a lag-free viewing experience when watching 4K content.

PRO: Good sound performance

• A two-speaker setup in the base, hidden within the body of the unit. This is a 20W (10W+10W) open baffle speaker with good sound.

CON: Panel not competitive enough

• The panel – This premium TV does not handle some colours well. Scenes with sharp colour contrasts show that the TV cannot compete with more advanced OLED panel TVs. Some of which sell in a similar price range.
• Does not handle low light scenes very well.
• Color reproduction – Hard to figure out how to fix some minor colour reproduction inaccuracies.

CON: Price

• Expensive compared to alternative options.

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Bose holds the title “King of ANC”, and they might keep it for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II too. Although, it has top tier ANC and some interesting app utility, it lacks some features and is pricey. Therefore, it is a questionable choice.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: $429 at Amazon.com.au →

Upgraded Stability

The company has had mixed success with its workout-friendly options, but how does their flagship headphone products compare to others on the market?

Available in triple black or soapstone (black or off-white, respectively), the QC Earbuds II stick out of the case in a way that many truly wireless headphones don’t. A silicone stability band (in sizes S, M, L) wraps around the body of each ear tip, forming a kind of ridge that allows the pair to be easily removed from the case. Thus, if you’ve ever struggled to remove your shiny AirPods from their slippery case, you’ve come to the right place.

PRO: A Secure Fit and Decent Battery Life

• Secure fit – The oval silicone ear tips (available in size S, M, L) work with the band to fit securely in your ear and they don’t often require adjustment.
• Playtime – Bose says the QuietComfort Earbuds II will last you about 6 hours on a single charge, and the case has 18 hours of battery life.

PRO: “Aware Mode”, “ActiveSense”, EQ sound, and the companion app

• Aware Mode- Turn on Aware mode if you want to hear your surroundings. This is Bose’s name for what others call “transparent mode”. Therefore, when Aware mode is on, the earbuds pass background noise through the headset to alert you.
• ActiveSense – ActiveSense uses ANC to reduce the volume of some unpredictable sounds as they occur. That way, if you drive past a construction site with Aware Mode enabled, you won’t be dazzled by the sounds of workers’ tools.
• Active EQ with balanced sound. Additionally, their companion app (available for Android and iOS) lets you create and customize profiles regarding ANC features.

CON: Missing Features

• ANC – No way to turn off noise cancellation altogether.
• Wireless charging – Case doesn’t support wireless charging.

CON: Expensive

• Pricey compared to competitors and alternatives.

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The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is not a huge upgrade over the original, but it is a compact, capable smart display with a built-in camera and Alexa.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen): $59 at Amazon.com.au →

Amazon’s smallest smart display gets a minor refresh, plus a Kids Edition

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is nice, compact, and powerful, just like its popular predecessor. However, it has entered a more saturated smart clock market with higher competition.

Currently, Echo Show 5 competes with the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), its in-brand alternative, and one of the best smart home devices, the Amazon Echo Dot with clock. Although, the new Echo Show 5 is cheaper than Google’s latest smart display. Moreover, unlike the clocked Echo Dot, has a real screen, but it can’t track sleep and doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio output.

The Amazon Echo Show 5 is available now in three colors: Charcoal, Glacier White, and Deep Sea Blue.

PRO: Smart Home Features

• If you’re interested in smart home features, the Echo Show 5 is a better choice than the Amazon tablet. You can access the best Alexa skills using either your device’s display or microphone. The former method lets you see the best Alexa-compatible devices in your home in one combined interface.
  For example, you can turn on your Philips Hue lights with just a few taps.
• Amazon Sidewalk – Sidewalk is a Wi-Fi sharing protocol that allows things like Key Finder to connect to the cloud via Amazon devices over low-power, long-distance networks.
• Alexa Guard – Amazon’s Assistant notifies you when the display’s microphone detects a smoke detector or breaking glass. It’s not as comprehensive as the best DIY home security systems, but it’s a more affordable alternative.

PRO: Good audio quality & kids privacy

• Good audio quality for its size – A single 4-watt speaker doesn’t make the Show 5 one of the best Alexa speakers, but it does provide acceptable audio. Much like the Echo Dot sounds, the Show 5 is great for listening to the morning news or playing environmental sounds to help you fall asleep.
• Kids Edition has good privacy and warranty options. If you read our roundup of the best baby monitor, you’ll see why security more important than ever.

CON: No 3.5-mm audio jack

• The 3.5mm audio output previous models had, has been removed.

CON: Limited camera quality & not enough upgrades

• Don’t expect a device as small as the Echo Show 5 to appreciate camera quality and video calling options – It features a 2MP camera in comparison the the previous model which featured a 1MP camera.
• No significant upgrades from previous version – Camera quality for example is only updated by 1 MP from the previous model, while Amazon’s latest model features a 13 MP camera.

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Raycon Fitness Earbuds is comfortable, light and great for exercise. Additionally, they feature EQ presets and a continues playtime of 9 hours. Raycon Fitness Earbuds could be an attractive purchase if only the audio output could keep up.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

SELECTED FOR YOU: The Best Earbuds For Runners In Australia 2022 ►

Raycon Fitness Earbuds: $286.87 at Amazon.com.au →

Introduction header

Raycon Fitness Earbuds are the sports and fitness oriented headphones in this manufacturer’s lineup. There are no ear hooks, but they have a secure fit for workouts and are waterproof with an IPX7 certification. Like other Raycon headphones, they have a very intense sound profile, offering a lot of boom and thump, although some users find it very muddy. Although there is no companion app, there are several EQ presets that cycle through the control scheme.

The Raycon Fitness Earbuds come in several color variants: ‘Carbon Black’, ‘Electric Blue’, ‘Flare Red’, ‘Rose Gold’, and ‘Frost White’.

PRO: Performance

• Battery life- 9 hours of continuous playtime.
• EQ presets available – Cycle between various EQ presets through the control scheme.

PRO: Design

• Comfortable and well-built design – Very stable fit, suitable for sports and fitness purposes.
• Waterproof and sweat proof for athletic exercises.

CON: Too much bass and no ANC

• Bad passive soundstage – Because the bass and treble are over-emphasized, users may find sound overly muddy and penetrating.
• No ANC – Unfortunately, they have a hard time suppressing conversations around you, so you may hear your co-workers talking around you for instance.

CON: Lack of Features

• No multi-device pairing, so you can’t connect to multiple devices at once.

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The Bose QuietComfort 45 has all the pieces to be a great Active noise cancellation headset, but it’s not perfect. Even with the one of the best ANC available, its sound quality isn’t great.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

SELECTED FOR YOU: The Best Noise Canceling Headphones In Australia 2022 ►

Bose QC45: $339 at Amazon.com.au →

Introduction header

Bose’s ANC headphones are a bit typical, and for good reason.
They are very good at providing convenience and ease of use for most people. The Bose QuietComfort 45 is no exception. If there’s one big advantage that the QC 45 has, is that it looks nearly identical to its predecessor.

PRO: A familiar design

• Comfortable and easy to use just like previous Bose headphones. The Bose QC 45 feature big earcups but are reasonably light weight at 240 grams.
• The Bose QC 45 jumped from the outdated micro-USB port, the previous models featured, to USB-C.

PRO: Features

• Awareness Mode allows you to modify how you hear what you hear. Substantially lower your music volume and turn off noise cancellation without removing your headphones.
• The Bose QC 45 does a great job of blocking out external noise with its latest ANC system. In particular, it blocks mid- and high-frequency noise surprisingly well.
• In-app EQ – You can now download the Bose Music App and tweak your headphones to your liking to deal with the shaky default sound profile.

CON: Con header 1

• ANC can’t be adjusted – No true “off” listening mode as the only way to turn ANC off is to turn Aware mode on.
• Not the best sound quality on the market.

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In the world of headphones, only a handful of companies have released products worth looking at and Sony is one of the most famous. Today we’re reviewing the latest update to the company’s flagship Active Noise Canceling (ANC) headphones. Sony WH-1000XM5. Completely redesigned, this is one of the best ANC headphones out there, but they are expensive.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

SELECTED FOR YOU: The Best Earbuds For Runners In Australia 2022 ►

Sony WH-1000XM5: $548 at Amazon.com.au →

Similar features but some upgrade

Available in black or silver, the Sony WH-1000XM5’s over-ear construction is sleek and attractive, with a leatherette headband that matches the ear cups in terms of color and matte finish. The cup folds flat and fits easily into the included zippered carrying case. The over-ear fit is extremely comfortable, even during long listening sessions. The only downside is the higher price point compared to previous models some consumers might not like.

PRO: High Quality

• Noise Cancellation Performance – The WH-1000XM5’s eight microphone array provides powerful, state-of-the-art adaptive noise cancellation. Sit next to a fan, turn your head slightly, and the microphone blocks the noise.
• Audio Quality – Hugely musical, and entertaining sound. More detailed than the WH-1000XM4. Excellent sense of rhythm.
• Automatic noise-cancelling optimisation for the first time

PRO: Battery

• The WH-1000XM5 can last for up to 30 hours with Bluetooth and noise-cancellation on, or 40 hours with Bluetooth and noise-cancellation off. With a ten-minute charge, they can last for five extra hours of playback.

CON: Pricey

• More expensive than the previous model (WH-1000XM4) at launch. Some rivals offer high quality at lower prices.

CON: Feels less premium than previous models

• The plastics used are nice to touch, but the previous model feels a bit more premium.

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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a revamped Galaxy Note with a faster built-in S Pen, many camera improvements, faster charging and a brighter display. It’s a great phone overall, but it is pretty expensive and battery life could have been further improved.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

Samsung S22 Ultra: $1,919 at Amazon.com.au →

Performance updates but less RAM

The new Samsung S22 Ultra offers an S Pen built-in, but with Samsung looking to top the list of best phones, this flagship has a lot more going for it.

First of all, the S Pen is more responsive because Samsung made it 70% faster with less lag. The display is also the brightest and most colorful of anything Samsung has released so far, and it’s capable of fast charging at 45W.

Samsung, on the other hand, is asking a lot ($1,919) for a phone with less RAM than the previous model.

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra comes in black, white, green, but also has a burgundy option.

PRO: Ultra Performance

• Faster S Pen built in – Samsung has improved the S Pen by 70% as it has dropped its latency from 9 milliseconds down to 2.8. Moreover, you don’t have to buy a special case to store the pen as it has a build in holder on the phone itself.
• Cameras offer better low light performance – Samsung says it’s calling the experience “Nightography” because of the much-improved low-light imaging capabilities. The S22 does better than the S21 in low light, but not by a lot.

PRO: Bright Display

• As before, you get a dynamic refresh rate of 120Hz, which makes scrolling smoother during hands-on time. It also has his 240Hz touch polling rate that gamers will appreciate.
  However, there are two notable display upgrades here. First, the screen has a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, possibly the brightest we’ve seen so far. Another display perk is the new Vision Booster feature, which lets you easily adjust screen brightness on-the-fly throughout the day. This means that you can use the S22 Ultra outdoors without any problems, even in very strong sunlight.

CON: RAM & Battery Life

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra features 8GB of RAM compared to its previous model (Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra) which offered 12 GB
• 5,000 mAH battery – Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s battery lasts for approximately 10 hours compared to the 11 hours and 25 minutes of its previous model, and 12 hours of its competitor iPhone 13 Pro MAX.

CON: Pricey

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is more expensive by $100-300 difference compared to its competitors.

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 marks Samsung’s foray into smartwatches. While it’s not that different from their previous model, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5’s battery life is up to 10 hours longer. On the contrary, the skin temperature reader does not function that well.

This article is updated for the Australian market regularly to include price changes and product updates.

SELECTED FOR YOU: The Best Smartwatch In Australia 2022 ►

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: $445.99 at Amazon.com.au →

Small, yet attractive improvements with an unusable feature

While Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 was a great smartwatch, their new model offers a little bit more. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 offers 13% bigger battery, stronger scratch-resistant and water-resistant Sapphire crystal display and a new skin temperature feature you cannot yet use.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is available in four colours.
Graphite, silver, sapphire (44mm only), pink gold (40mm only). It comes with a silicone strap, but Samsung sells a variety of interchangeable straps.

PRO: Versatile and Durable design

• More accurate results – The Galaxy Watch 5’s newly sculpted curved bottom increases the surface area of ​​contact between the watch and your skin. Samsung says this contributes to the accuracy of the data collected by the biometric sensor.
• Water resistant and scratch resistant – Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 offers water resistance up to 5ATM with a IP68 rating. Additionally, it features a sapphire crystal glass. Samsung claims it’s 60% more scratch resistant than the previous model.

PRO: Powerful Fitness features & App selection

• 3-in-1 BioActive sensor – According to Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy watch 5 comes with: 1. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Sensor (BIA) which measures everything from body fat to skeletal muscle weight. 2. Electrical Heart Sensor (ECG) which measures your heart rate and rhythm for any irregularities. and 3. Optical Heart Rate Sensor Monitor which monitors your heart rate and blood pressure to track your cardiovascular health.

• Tracks over 100 workouts and offers improved sleep tracking and guidance.

CON: New feature not yet functional

• Samsung’s new skin temperature feature is not yet functional as of the time of writing this review.

CON: Mostly optimized with Samsung phones

• For the smartphone app, you will need to download the Galaxy Wearable app and sync your Watch 5 to your smartphone – If you’re running Google’s Wear OS, your Watch 5 won’t work with the Wear OS app.

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