BEST BUYS… curated picks of third-party kit
wireless speaker
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless £499 bowers-wilkins.co.uk
This airship-inspired speaker is certainly striking, but it’s more than just a looker, with crisp, clear treble and refined bass output over previous Zeppelin models. Support for Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and AirPlay makes for plenty of connectivity, and dynamic EQ ensures controlled bass at all volumes.
NEW! in-ear head phones
Apple AirPods
£159 apple.com/uk
Apple’s answer to dropping the 3.5mm jack is the AirPods; we tested them against four rivals this issue (see p96) and they cleared the pack. With instant iPhone pairing, balanced sound and a comfortable fit (even when exercising), the AirPods are classic Apple. They’re even reasonably priced.
Bluetooth tracker Tile Slim From £23 thetileapp.com
The little tracking device that won us over in issue 299 has been made even smaller with the new Slim model. It’s now far more portable than before, and easily slips into your wallet as it’s about as thick as two credit cards. With a great app and a loud alarm, your valuables will be kept safer than ever with this little beauty.
portable speaker
Libratone Zipp £144 libratone.com
Want a multiroom audio system in your home? This is your best option, hands down. It cleaned up in MF309’ s group test, scoring five stars in every test category. From top-notch sound to tons of great features, the Zipp is a superb choice. It even boasts AirPlay for great integration with Macs and iOS devices.
portable batter y pac k
Apple iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case £89 apple.com/uk
Despite that silly-looking hump on its back, the official battery case for the iPhone 7 is rather impressive. It’s easy to fit, the buttons feel great, and the soft inner lining protects against scratches. It isn’t the largest capacity case, yet it has more than enough juice for busy days, and the bump is surprisingly comfy.
MICROPHONE
Blue Microphones Raspberry £204 bluemic.com
Don’t be fooled by this mic’s small form factor; it punches hugely above its weight. Its close-up sound is intimate and bassy, and brings out the best in any voice. No matter whether you’re recording an interview, creating a podcast or just jamming with your band, its clarity and depth makes it easy to recommend.
on-ear head phones
Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless £330 sennheiser.com
We love these wireless cans. They’re comfortable and lightweight, and their long-lasting battery keeps them going for 22 hours. Sound quality is amazing: wide, rich and detailed, with plenty of bass, too. The controls take some getting used to, but active noise cancellation is superb and the EQ allows plenty of customisation.
Actio n camera
GoPro Hero5 Black £349 gopro.com
We looked at GoPro’s new flagship action cam this issue, and it coloured us impressed. GoPro has finally improved its cam’s usability, and its a cinch to get started with the Hero5 Black. Add in superb 4K video quality plus a great range of shooting options and you’ve got a hugely powerful camera on your hands.
Fitness smart watch
Garmin Vivoactive HR £184 garmin.com
Packed full of tracking features for a host of sports, and filled with genuinely insightful metrics, this is a fitness smartwatch for nearly any occasion. Its battery will last you days, perfect for the odd weekend hiking trip. With all this, it’s not hard to see why it won MF308’ s group test.