Know It All Nev

On Demand Reviews – 2021

Category: The Best List

Finest Laptops in 2021

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Acer Swift 5 (Late 2020)

Best lightweight 14-inch laptop

Trusted Score

Pros

Lightweight designSuperb battery lifeCompetitive performancePlenty of ports onboard

Cons

Concerning build qualityReflective screen could be an issue outdoorsLack of Caps Lock indicator

TheAcer Swift 5 (2020) aims to challenge the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Air with one fairly unique skill: it’s incredibly light, weighing just 1kg. This makes this laptop a worthy option for those who like to travel around, as it’s barely noticeable when tucked away in a rucksack.A competitive performance (thanks to 11th Gen Intel Core) and a stellar battery life also ensure this laptop can stream roll through day-to-day tasks when out of reach of a power supply. The option of a Nvidia MX350 also makes it possible to dabble with entry-level gaming and content creation, providing this portable with oodles of versatility.So why can’t it knock the Dell off its perch? Well, aside from the lovely Mist Green and Safari Gold colour options, it has a rather bland aesthetic. And build quality is questionable, so it may not survive a couple of heavy knocks on your travels. Still, if you prioritize portability over build quality, then the Acer Swift 5 is an outstanding laptop option.Reviewer: Ryan JonesFull review: Acer Swift 5 (2020) Review

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Finest outside safety digital camera

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Should I get a battery-powered model or mains powered?  Battery-powered outdoor security cameras are the most flexible, as you can place them pretty much where you want them without having to drill any holes in your walls. The downsides are that these models tend to use PIR motion sensors, so you may get more notifications and, if you point them somewhere busy, you can run the battery down quickly. Mains-powered security cameras tend to have activity zones to cut down how many notifications that you get and don’t need to be charged, but installation tends to be a little more complex. Do I need cloud storage?  Pretty much every outdoor camera that we’ve tested requires a subscription to a cloud storage service. These make a lot of sense, as you get secure online storage for your footage, so even if your camera is stolen, you can still get the footage. How important is the viewing angle?  Viewing angles are described in degrees, with higher numbers taking in a wider field of view. In other words, if you’ve got bigger viewing angles, then your camera will capture more. This is quite important outside, as a camera with a wide viewing angle will see more of what’s going on. Typically speaking, look for a camera with 150-degree or wider field of view, although doorbells tend to be slightly narrower and more focusses to make it easier to talk to someone at your front door. Can an outdoor security camera be stolen?  As cameras are placed outside, then they can more easily be stolen. There are cameras that have magnetic mounts that are relatively easy to knock out of alignment or to the floor. However, there are ways around the problem. Careful positioning of a camera so that anyone fiddling with it will be spotted is a good idea, and you can often buy or upgrade to a more secure outdoor mount that makes theft harder. What else should I look for? Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support is handy if you want to stream footage to your TV or screen-enabled smart speaker. IFTTT can be useful, too, letting you control other devices when motion is detected, such as turning on a light automatically. Nest cameras have Works With Nest automatic rules, so they can be turned on automatically when a smoke alarm goes off, for instance, or they can turn on your Hue lights automatically if suspicious activity is detected. Should I turn an outdoor security camera on and off?  For the most part, outdoor security cameras should be left on recording all of the time. The exception is that if you have a camera in your back garden, you may want to use the app to disable it when you’re outside. How important is resolution?  The higher the resolution, the more detailed the video, in general. That said, 1080p footage is generally good enough to find a frame in a video where it’s easy to spot a person’s facial details; go higher, if you want more detailed footage. Are there any other features I should look out for?  Some outdoor cameras have spotlights on them, which can be a useful way of advertising their presence to scare of thieves, and to improve the quality of the footage at night. All cameras have IR night vision, but you get a softer image when using this.

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Greatest indoor safety digicam

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Should I buy a battery-powered camera or a mains-powered one?  Inside, there are fewer problems getting to a power socket, so mains-powered cameras make a lot of sense and you don’t have to worry about changing batteries. That said, if you want to put cameras in some areas that are usually poorly covered by power sockets, such as hallways, then a battery powered model makes sense. Just be careful where you place a model like this, as pets walking around can drain the battery. What resolution do I need?  There’s little point in buying anything other than a 1080p model at the moment, as you’ll get sharp-enough footage to capture everything you need. Go for 2K or 4K footage if you want even more detailed footage. Should I turn cameras on or off? You should turn indoor cameras off when you’re at home and off when you’re out or its night time, as this means that you won’t record yourself by accident when you’re walking around. The best cameras have tools to make this easier, such as Ring cameras, which let you activate or deactivate cameras based on the Ring Alarm setting. Do I need cloud storage? The advantage of cloud storage is that any footage is safe from theft; you can always download it and hand it over to the police. However, there’s a monthly cost associated with this. If you only want the odd bit of footage and don’t want to be tied to monthly plans, look for a camera that has local storage instead. Should I get a camera with a pan and tilt motor? Cameras that you can remote control to pan and tilt around used to be very popular, giving you a way to look around to see what’s going on. They’ve fallen out of favour for two reasons. First, they’re expensive. Secondly, if you move the camera’s field of view, you may not be covering the most important parts of your property.And, motion zones don’t work with these cameras, as you can’t mark an area to watch if you may move the camera. Instead, we recommend buying a fixed camera and focussing in on the area that you want to monitor. If you need more coverage add an additional camera. What else should I look for? Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support is handy if you want to stream footage to your TV or screen-enabled smart speaker.IFTTT can be useful, too, letting you control other devices when motion is detected, such as turning on a light automatically. Nest cameras have Works With Nest automatic rules, so they can be turned on automatically when a smoke alarm goes off, for instance, or they can turn on your Hue lights automatically if suspicious activity is detected.

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Greatest smartphones 2021: The perfect smartphones we've examined this yr

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Apple iPhone 12

The iPhone 12 is a huge upgrade in pretty much every way

Trusted Score

Pros

Fantastic new designVery reliable camerasExecptional performance

Cons

Screen lacks some of the benefits you’ll find elswhereThe notch remains annoying

The iPhone 12 isn’t the top handset in Apple’s current line up, nor is it the cheapest. But, by Apple standards, we at Trusted Reviews believe it hits a good middle-ground between features and affordability, making it the best choice of iPhone for the majority and the best phone around right now.It’s a huge step forward on last year’s iPhone 11, featuring a reworked, more comfortable-to-hold angular design that’s reminiscent of the iPhone 5, and radically upgraded internals.The highlight is the A14 Bionic chip, which adds 5G connectivity to Apple’s iPhone line and offers best-in-class performance – to the point that during testing we couldn’t actually find an app or process the phone couldn’t handle with ease.The camera has been upgraded to feature a new dual-lens setup that pairs a 12-megapixel main sensor with a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit. On paper, this makes it sound less fancy next to the three- to four-sensor setups seen on most Android flagships. However, during testing we found the iPhone 12 easily held its own, making it a very capable camera phone. The most significant differences relate to low-light performance, where images captured with the improved Night mode are a huge step up on those delivered by the iPhone 11.The downside is that, unlike the Galaxy S20, OnePlus 8T or Pixel 5 the iPhone 12 still doesn’t feature a high refresh rate screen. It’s locked to 60Hz, which makes it feel less responsive than most Android flagships, which tend to come with 90Hz or 120Hz panels these days.Nor is the OLED screen the best in Apple’s line up for general movie-binging. Despite offering excellent viewing angles, razor-sharp resolutions and generally being great, during testing we found the 12 screen’s smaller dimensions put it a step behind the much more expensive iPhone 12 Pro Max.Buyers that don’t care about screen size and want to save some cash may also be tempted by the iPhone 12 Mini. It shares the same core specs as the regular iPhone 12, but comes with a smaller form factor and lower price tag. Just be wanted, the battery life on the Mini version takes a hefty hit. During testing it regularly struggled to last a full day’s heavy use.Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: iPhone 12 Review

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Greatest mid-range smartphones 2021: 9 nice worth telephones

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Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

The best mid-range Samsung Galaxy phone

Trusted Score

Pros

Snapdragon 865 in the UKLovely 120Hz panelAvailable in a nice array of colours

Cons

Secondary cameras aren’t great

£699 might be pushing the definition of mid-range, but with flagship devices costing twice this these days, it can sometimes put more affordable phones into context. A good example of this is the Galaxy S20 FE, which Samsung crammed many of its 2020 flagship features into without making too many sacrifices. The highlights here include an attractive 120Hz OLED flat panel offering punchy colours and deep blacks, 6GB of fast RAM and 128GB storage. You’ll also find a triple camera array on the rear of the device, which is headlined by an excellent 12-megapixel camera capable of capturing bright, detailed and intensely colourful photos. Through testing, we found it more than good enough for taking photos for use on social media and video-calling over Zoom. However, we’d still say the Pixel series offers the very best camera experience in this price bracket. Samsung has also included plenty of features that are often ditched at this price, including Qi charging, an IP68 water-resistance rating and expandable storage.The real star of the show here is the Snapdragon 865 chipset (there’s also a 4G Exynos 990 version available for £100 less), which not only gives the FE better performance than other European versions of last year’s S20, but superior battery life, too. There’s 5G support to boot – although, as we found during testing, unless you live in an area with 5G coverage, the latter isn’t a huge selling point.Finally, there’s the FE’s design, which is fairly similar to Samsung’s current Galaxy S21. It’s built of tough plastic rather than glass. But using it as my everyday phone, I found the matte finish attractive – and, unlike most plastic-backed phones, it wasn’t a magnet for fingerprints. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is also available in a range of eye-catching colours, including a deep blue and striking red.

It’s also worth noting that we expect the Galaxy S21 FE to launch this year, so it may be worth holding out for that launch if you like the sound of Samsung’s more affordable S Series line. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S20 FE reviewBuy now at BuyMobiles, £26 p/m, £39 upfrontBuy now at BuyMobiles, £23 p/m, £99.99 upfront

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Greatest low cost telephones 2021: 8 implausible inexpensive handsets

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iPhone SE 2

Is the affordable iPhone SE the true iPhone for everyone?

Trusted Score

Pros

At $399/£419 this is an excellent buyFlagship performance should keep this speedy for yearsGreat photos in daylight situationsImpressive video capabilitiesOffers a strong proposition for those who don’t want big phones

Cons

Battery life is far from excellentA new design would’ve been welcome

The iPhone SE 2 is Apple’s only non-flagship smartphone, designed for users who want an Apple phone and enjoy the iOS operating system, but perhaps aren’t so keen on the cost of the iPhone 12 series.

The SE 2 is the second phone in the SE series and offers a large number of flagship features at a very tempting price. Rather than sharing a design with the original SE, the iPhone SE 2 shares a design with the no-longer sold iPhone 8. The SE 2 features curved sides, a glass back, chunky bezels and a circular Touch ID sensor that will feel either nostalgic or dated depending on your design preferences. However, moving on from the design, this is a great phone. The 12-megapixel camera performs admirably in daylight and captures excellent 4K 60fps video, although we do wish its low-light performance was better.You’ll find the same A13 Bionic chip as the iPhone 11 Pro, a sharp 4.7-inch display with fantastic colour reproduction and handy extras such as Qi wireless charging and an IP67 rating for water- and dust-resistance. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: iPhone SE 2

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Finest outside projector

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ViewSonic X-10 4K

A very portable projector

Trusted Score

Pros

Bright and punchy images Effective HDR performance Excellent motion handling Sound system surprisingly good Long-lasting LED light source Portable and easy to install Extensive smart features Stylish and well made

Cons

Weak black levels and shadow detail Resolution isn’t native 4K

The ViewSonic X10-4K’s features make it ideal for use in an outdoor cinema set-up.

For one it’s a short-throw projector, so can be placed close to a screen, producing a 120-inch image from just 2m away. It’s easy to set-up, portable (thanks to its handle) and with built-in Wi-Fi and access to the Aptoide store, you can stream from apps such as iPlayer and Netflix.

It delivers a bright, punchy picture – its brightness of 2400 lumens is another tick on the outdoor list – and the integrated Harmon Kardon sound system has real size and depth. For movies though, you’ll may want to seek a better sound system.

Reviewer: Steve WithersFull review: ViewSonic X10-4K

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Greatest outside projector

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ViewSonic X-10 4K

A very portable projector

Trusted Score

Pros

Bright and punchy images Effective HDR performance Excellent motion handling Sound system surprisingly good Long-lasting LED light source Portable and easy to install Extensive smart features Stylish and well made

Cons

Weak black levels and shadow detail Resolution isn’t native 4K

The ViewSonic X10-4K’s features make it ideal for use in an outdoor cinema set-up.

For one it’s a short-throw projector, so can be placed close to a screen, producing a 120-inch image from just 2m away. It’s easy to set-up, portable (thanks to its handle) and with built-in Wi-Fi and access to the Aptoide store, you can stream from apps such as iPlayer and Netflix.

It delivers a bright, punchy picture – its brightness of 2400 lumens is another tick on the outdoor list – and the integrated Harmon Kardon sound system has real size and depth. For movies though, you’ll may want to seek a better sound system.

Reviewer: Steve WithersFull review: ViewSonic X10-4K

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Greatest Air Fryer

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Sage the Smart Oven Air Fry

An oven and air fryer all in one: this model is super fast at cooking everything

Trusted Score

Pros

Generous capacitySix handy presetsDishwasher-safe

Cons

Larger worktop footprintNo power cable storageHeavier than most air fryers

Most air fryers tend to look a lot like deep fat fryers, but the Sage the Smart Oven Air Fry looks a lot like a microwave oven. This design lets you spread out food, so that it’s evenly cooked, rather than having to shake food as you do in an air fryer.

The oven can also employ its Element iQ tech to direct power where it’s needed to eliminate cold spots in food. In practice, it worked perfectly, leaving us with evenly cooked home chips that had a crispy outside and fluffy inside.

And, the size the oven means that you can use it for larger items, including chicken legs or even an entire pizza. Just be careful with the preset options, as we found that our pizza began to burn after 15 minutes, although the programme was set for 20 minutes.

With a higher-than-average temperature option of 230C, rather than the usual 200C, the Sage the Smart Oven Air Fry can cook food faster than many other air fryers, although it does take a bit longer to heat up.

Comparatively expensive, this model won’t be for everyone, but its unique design lends itself to foods that other air fryers can’t even think about.

Reviewer: Rachel Ogden

Full review: Sage the Smart Oven Air Fryer review

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Greatest Projectors 2021

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Anker Nebula Capsule Max

£479

$499

€699

–

–

Anker

x 80 x 149 MM

737 G

B07TQT6S7C

2019

AK-D2423211

–

1280 x 720

Portable

200

30,000 hours

–

–

–

–

–

HDMI 1.4, AUX, USB

8 W

Black

100-inch @3.08 m; 80-inch @2.46 m; 60-inch @1.73 m; 40-inch @1.15 m

–

BenQ W2700

£1500

Unavailable

€1599

Unavailable

Unavailable

BenQ

380 x 263 x 127 MM

4.2 KG

B07PD69Q3P

2021

W2700

–

3840 x 2160

DLP projector

2000

Normal 4,000 hours, Economic 10,000 hours, SmartEco 15,000 hours

30,000:1

200 inches

Yes

HDR10, HLG

120 Hz

2x HDMI, 2x USB A, USB Type B, 3.5mm audio out

10 W

White

1.13 – 1.47

Yes

BenQ W5700

£2599

–

€2999

–

AU$4599

BenQ

492 x 349 x 168 MM

6.5 KG

B07QP7CHRD

2021

9H.JKV77.17E

HT5550

3840 x 2160

DLP projector

1800

Normal 4,000 hours, Economic 10,000 hours, SmartEco 8,000 hours

100,000:1

–

Yes

HDR10, HLG

–

2 x HDMI; 3 x USB; 1 x optical digital; 1 x 3.5mm analogue; 1 x Ethernet; 1 x RS232; 1 x trigger

–

Black, White

1.36 ~ 2.18

–

Epson EH-TW7400

£2199

Unavailable

€2499

Unavailable

Unavailable

Epson

520 x 450 x 193 MM

11.2 KG

B07JJ6C98B

2021

V11H932041

–

3840 x 2160

–

2400

3,500 hours, 5,000 h (economy)

200,000 : 1

300 inches

Yes

HDR10

480 Hz

2 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 2 x USB, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x RS232, 1 x trigger

–

White, black

1.35 – 2.84:1

Yes

Epson EH-TW9400

£2549

Unavailable

€2799

Unavailable

–

Epson

520 x 450 x 193 MM

11.2 KG

B07N4622K9

2021

V11H928041

–

1920 x 1080

–

2600

5,000 h durability (economy mode)

1,200,000 : 1

300 inches

Yes

HDR10, HLG

480 Hz

USB 2.0, RS-232C, Trigger out, VGA in, 2x HDMI in, Ethernet

–

White, Black

1.35 – 2.84:1

Yes

JVC DLA-N5

£6495

$6000

–

–

AU$9300

JVC

500 x 234 x 495 INCHES

19.6 G

–

2021

DLA-N5B

–

4096 x 2160

D-ILA

1800

4500 (low power mode)

40,000:1, 400,000:1 (Dynamic)

200 inches

Yes

HDR10, HLG

–

2x HDMI, LAN

–

White, Black

–

–

JVC DLA-N7

£8499

$7999

–

–

–

JVC

500 x 234 x 495 MM

19.8 KG

–

2021

–

–

4096 x 2160

D-ILA

1900

4500 (low power mode)

80,000:1, 800,000:1 (Dynamic)

200 inches

Yes

HDR10, HLG

–

2x HDMI, LAN

–

White, Black

–

–

LG HU85LS CineBeam Laser 4K

£4860

$4999

€4999

CA$6497

–

LG

680 x 347 x 128 MM

12.2 KG

B07XHM2MRB

2019

HU85LS.AEU

–

4096 x 2160

Ultra Short-throw

2700

20,000 hours (high brightness)

2,000,000:1

120 inches

Yes

HDR10

60 Hz

2x HDMI, LAN, USB-C, 2x USB 2.0, Digital Optical

10 W

White

0.19:1

–

Optoma HD29H

Discontinued

Unavailable

Discontinued

–

AU$1599

Optoma

316 x 247 x 98 MM

2.7 KG

B07N26FGJT

2021

HD29H

–

1920 x 1080

DLP projector

3400

15000 hours (ECO+ mode)

50,000:1

305.8 inches

Yes

HDR10

–

HDMI (2.0 with HDCP 2.2), HDMI (1.4a), Audio-out,3D Sync port, USB power

10 W

White

1.48 – 1.62 :1

Yes

Optoma UHD40

£1599

Discontinued

Discontinued

Discontinued

Discontinued

Optoma

392 x 281 x 118 MM

5.22 KG

B079R9VG2X

2021

UHD40

–

3840 x 2160

DLP projector

2400

4000 (Bright), 15000 (Dynamic), 10000 (Eco) hours

500,000: 1

302.4 inches

Yes

HDR10

–

2x HDMIs VGA PC/component input, USB port, RS232 socket.12V trigger port

10 W

White

1.21:1 ~ 1.59:1

Yes

Sony VPL-VW270ES

Discontinued

–

€6999

–

Unavailable

Sony

496 x 464 x 205 MM

14 KG

–

2021

–

–

3840 x 2160

SXRD

1500

6000 hours (low power)

–

300 inches

Yes

HDR10, HLG

–

RJ45, Trigger, 2x HDMI, USB, mini jack

–

Black

–

Yes

Sony VPL-VW790ES

£11999

–

€11999

–

–

Sony

560 x 223 x 496 MM

20 KG

B08LNBZJ37

2020

VPL-VW760 / B

–

4096 x 2160

SXRD

2000

20000

infinity:1

300 inches

Yes

HDR10, HLG

120 Hz

2x HDMI, LAN, 12V trigger port, RS-232

–

Black

1:38:1 – 2:83:1

–

ViewSonic X-10 4K

£1299

$1600

€1539

CA$1979

–

ViewSonic

261 x 166 x 277 MM

4.1 KG

B07NQTZ15D

2019

X10-4K

–

3840 x 2160

Portable short-throw

2400

30,000

3,000,000:1

120 inches

Yes

HDR10

60 Hz

2x HDMI, 3.5mm, SD card, USB-C, USB, LAN

16 W

Black/Silver

0.5-3.5m

–

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