PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR
THE APC TEAM SELECTS 2016’s BEST PCs, PERIPHERALS, GADGETS & GEAR!
We pick our favourite products for 2016, ranging across 60 categories — from slaptops and tablets to PC gaming gear, printers, storage and heaps more!
With the plethora of computing products that are released every year, narrowing it down to just our favourite 60 products — as we’ve done in this Products of the Year feature — was quite a challenge. And of course, with tech having expanded into so many different parts of our lives, the recommendations in this awards feature come not just from the pages of APC, but also our sister print publication TechLife alongside two of our online siblings, TechRadar and PC Gamer. We reckon it’ll serve as a great starting point for Christmas gift ideas — even for the PC enthusiast with ‘everything’, there’s bound to be a device or two in here that are, at the very least, a worthy upgrade from something that’s getting a little long in the tooth.
Apple iPad Pro 9.7-inch FROM $848 • WWW.APPLE.COM/AU
The iPad Pro 9.7 looks, sounds and performs better than the iPad Air 2. Its colour-rich display impresses, its four speakers drown out the audio of other tablets and the faster specs keep this tablet running smoothly. Even the 12MP camera is impressive. Apple is slowly transforming its iPad into a 2-in-1, and while this new tablet may not be a laptop replacement, it’s more than simply an iPad Air 3. And it’s now the ideal size, pushing aside the 12.9-inch that’s frankly a little too big for most tasks.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 FROM $1,499 • WWW.MICROSOFTSTORE.COM
The slimmer form factor, better display and the chances to the Type Cover keyboard have done wonders for the Surface Pro 4. Microsoft seems to have captured and applied the best definition of ‘iteration’ to almost every end of the tablet, making it well worth the wait for creative professionals, students and everyday folks alike. But is this finally the tablet to replace your laptop? That’s still debatable, though the Pro 4 has surmounted more of what’s running against it than ever before.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 $569 • WWW.SAMSUNG.COM/AU
There are plenty of reasons to invest in the Galaxy Tab S2, especially if you’re after the best Android tablet on the market. It’s reading and web surfing-friendly, while the new 4:3 screen and general size and shape is better suited for most tasks. The TouchWiz software doesn’t get in the way of Android 5.1.1 too much, and it includes a fingerprint sensor in the home button and solid build quality. It’s not as powerful or as long lasting as it could be, but it’s enough for a consumer tablet.
Apple iPad mini 3 (refurbished) $369 • WWW.APPLE.COM/AU
Apple offers both the iPad mini 2 and mini 4 on its regular shopfront, but our tip is to use the company’s official refurbished store and get a mini 3 instead — it’s only $10 more than a new mini 2, and offers significantly faster hardware. That means it’ll last longer and recieve more major updates to iOS and because it’s Apple that’s refurbished the unit, it has a new battery and outer-shell — and still comes with an official one-year warranty too.
HP Spectre x360 13-W012TU $2,398 • WWW.HP.COM/AU
The new HP Spectre x360 is better in every way. It has a slimmer, more premium design, it’s faster and it’s one of the longest-lasting machines we’ve ever tested. It has a new micro edge display that makes it brighter and intensifies colours. This is also a speedy machine, for everything from starting programs, to loading up a dozen websites simultaneously, to headier tasks like video editing. If you’re in the market for something with higher-end specs, then this option is great value.
Lenovo Yoga 710 (11-inch or 14-inch) FROM $849 • WWW.LENOVO.COM/AU
The Lenovo Yoga 710 is one of the high points in this new tablet/laptop era, with a super-flexi hinge for a bit of hybrid flavour. Build quality, screen and keyboard are good, and battery life is excellent. Other than an occasionally fiddly-feeling trackpad and lack of memory card slot, you’ll only encounter issues if you radically overestimate what an Intel Core M device like this can do. Available in 11-inch and 14-inch versions, consider which size best suits your needs and go with that.
Dell XPS 13 (2016) FROM $1,999 • WWW.DELL.COM
With this late-2016 update to the XPS 13, Dell hasn’t messed with what ain’t broke — we’ve got updated internals and a new colour option, that’s it. Dell’s idea of ‘rose’ is a nice, subdued reddish-orange hue. Intel’s new Kaby Lake processor has jumped up battery life on the model we tested. This is still a top-notch ultrabook, with a fantastic keyboard and trackpad and tough build quality. And the other bit of good news is that the chassis still comes in silver too.
Gigabyte P57X v6 $2,800 • WWW.GIGABYTE.COM.AU
Nvidia’s latest 10-series GPUs have really kicked laptop gaming into another gear entirely, providing near-desktop PC performance that you can take anywhere. With a GTX 1070, this 17-inch Gigabyte machine is one of the least-expensive ways to get on board and, boy, does it fly when it comes to gaming. This was the first GTX 10-series laptop we tested, but it managed to stand up to the best of those in this month’s round up.
Intel Core i5-6600K $330 • WWW.INTEL.COM
Building a PC to handle heavier loads is where Intel’s Core i5 line excels, nowhere more so than in their unlocked enthusiast part, the Core i5-6600K. With a really good graphics card, this processor handles even the most demanding games and is capable of a steady (and stable) overclocking to 4.6GHz. And depending on the motherboard, it’s very easy to bring more PCIe lanes and new technologies into the fray.
Acer Aspire ES1-431-P2SZ $430 • WWW.ACER.COM.AU
It won’t win any speed awards, but if you just need a solid all-rounder laptop without the frills, the Aspire ES1- 431 delivers just that — and won’t break the bank. At this $430 price, you get a 14-inch screen at 1,366 x 768 pixels, Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM and 500GB hard drive. That’ll handle day-to-day computing tasks with ease — just don’t expect to do anything high-end, like high-def video editing or gaming. A good-value buy.
Dell Chromebook 11 3120 $466 • WWW.DELL.COM.AU
Dell’s packed in features that are typically reserved for more expensive business notebooks into its Chromebook 11 in an effort to create a durable product for the education market. In the Chromebook 11, you’ll find a 180-degree reinforced hinge, rugged design, sealed keyboard and trackpad, and a great typing experience inside a portable package. In addition to using the Chromebook for school, students will appreciate the loud stereo speakers for multimedia and entertainment.
AMD Radeon RX 470 $320 • WWW.AMD.COM
AMD’s appealing all-rounder comes in at a competitive price point, making the Radeon RX 470 pretty much untouchable. A slightly cut-down version of the RX 480, the 470’s clock speeds top at 1,206MHz, with 4GB of onboard GDDR5 memory. It’s a comfortable 1080p/ Ultra card, clearing most modern games at 70fps, and can even stretch to 1440p in many titles at Medium details. On a frames-per-dollar metric, the RX 470 ranks high, making this one top-value offering.