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Our 25 Best Gadgets Of 2014
The best gear of the year as selected by Esquire's resident tech expert
Samsung HU8500
As well as the now ubiquitous high-end TV features (3D, 4K, huge dimensions etc), this has a banana-shaped screen. The jury’s out on its benefits (the illusion of depth is cancelled out with reflection issues, and heaven forfend your sofa’s at an angle), but it’s the only TV so pretty it will enhance your lounge’s aesthetic. Best bit: it can note spikes in crowd noise and excitement during football matches, so it only records the game’s highlights (note: this won’t work when England play).
From £2,700 (55in), samsung.com
Samsung HU8500
As well as the now ubiquitous high-end TV features (3D, 4K, huge dimensions etc), this has a banana-shaped screen. The jury’s out on its benefits (the illusion of depth is cancelled out with reflection issues, and heaven forfend your sofa’s at an angle), but it’s the only TV so pretty it will enhance your lounge’s aesthetic. Best bit: it can note spikes in crowd noise and excitement during football matches, so it only records the game’s highlights (note: this won’t work when England play).
From £2,700 (55in), samsung.com
Sony Bravia W8
This new aluminium-crafted Bravia boasts a premium look at an affordable(ish) price. Plus, its “TweetView” app means you can tweet while you watch — ideal for a Thursday night Question Time sesh, or correcting Gary Neville on Super Sunday, natch.
From £700 (42in), sony.co.uk
Sony Bravia W8
This new aluminium-crafted Bravia boasts a premium look at an affordable(ish) price. Plus, its “TweetView” app means you can tweet while you watch — ideal for a Thursday night Question Time sesh, or correcting Gary Neville on Super Sunday, natch.
From £700 (42in), sony.co.uk
LG LB730V
LG’s budget blockbuster TV boasts top tech yet ditches costly extras. While there’s no 4K, there is 3D (two pairs of rechargeable glasses are included) and Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Facebook, Skype and Spotify. The latter’s perfect for parties with the LB730V’s built-in subwoofer.
From £600 (42in), lg.com
LG LB730V
LG’s budget blockbuster TV boasts top tech yet ditches costly extras. While there’s no 4K, there is 3D (two pairs of rechargeable glasses are included) and Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Facebook, Skype and Spotify. The latter’s perfect for parties with the LB730V’s built-in subwoofer.
From £600 (42in), lg.com
Parrot Zik 2.0
Philippe Starck’s greatest creation since that funny lemon squeezer, the original Zik headphones packed a spacey design, clever touch controls (tap the right ear cup to pause tracks) and was USB-rechargable. The upgrade comes in six colours, adds a new dedicated app and ups noise cancelling. The adverts feature Conchita Wurst, oddly.
£300, parrot.com
Parrot Zik 2.0
Philippe Starck’s greatest creation since that funny lemon squeezer, the original Zik headphones packed a spacey design, clever touch controls (tap the right ear cup to pause tracks) and was USB-rechargable. The upgrade comes in six colours, adds a new dedicated app and ups noise cancelling. The adverts feature Conchita Wurst, oddly.
£300, parrot.com
Pioneer SE-MX9-T
Based on the same HDJ-2000 headphones that are the cans of choice for dance DJs all around the world, these are being marketed squarely at clubbers. Even if you left those days behind you some time ago, they’re impressive, packing large 50mm speaker units and a top-notch aluminium alloy housing (in silver, copper or black) around a comfy head cushion. Whoop whoop.
£250, pioneer.eu
Pioneer SE-MX9-T
Based on the same HDJ-2000 headphones that are the cans of choice for dance DJs all around the world, these are being marketed squarely at clubbers. Even if you left those days behind you some time ago, they’re impressive, packing large 50mm speaker units and a top-notch aluminium alloy housing (in silver, copper or black) around a comfy head cushion. Whoop whoop.
£250, pioneer.eu
Bose QuietComfort 25
Bose took years to update its superb noise-cancelling QuietComfort 15 model. But the QC25 trumps it, adding a single AAA battery (in place of the fiddly rechargeable one), which will provide 35 hours of playback. The sound profile’s also been revamped while the sturdier design makes them feel more solid without compromising on comfort. Noise- cancelling remains exemplary.
£270, bose.com
Bose QuietComfort 25
Bose took years to update its superb noise-cancelling QuietComfort 15 model. But the QC25 trumps it, adding a single AAA battery (in place of the fiddly rechargeable one), which will provide 35 hours of playback. The sound profile’s also been revamped while the sturdier design makes them feel more solid without compromising on comfort. Noise- cancelling remains exemplary.
£270, bose.com
LG G3
Rival to iPhone 6 Plus with Android, the world’s most popular OS — a fact that gets lost in the rush to lionise Apple. This super-capable smartphone has a fantastic 5.5in screen, micro SD card slot for upping on-board memory and laser-focusing 13MP camera.
£500 (handset only), lg.com/uk
LG G3
Rival to iPhone 6 Plus with Android, the world’s most popular OS — a fact that gets lost in the rush to lionise Apple. This super-capable smartphone has a fantastic 5.5in screen, micro SD card slot for upping on-board memory and laser-focusing 13MP camera.
£500 (handset only), lg.com/uk
HTC One M8
The Taiwanese telephone maker has Robert Downey Jr as pitchman, phone-of-the-year award from global tech writers in 2013 and 2014 and, in the One M8, a magnificent mobile. It is stylishly forged from a single piece of metal and full-featured, with a glorious 5in screen. If you can look past the Apple/Samsung/LG/Nokia nexus, then you will be handsomely rewarded.
£550 (handset only), htc.com/uk
HTC One M8
The Taiwanese telephone maker has Robert Downey Jr as pitchman, phone-of-the-year award from global tech writers in 2013 and 2014 and, in the One M8, a magnificent mobile. It is stylishly forged from a single piece of metal and full-featured, with a glorious 5in screen. If you can look past the Apple/Samsung/LG/Nokia nexus, then you will be handsomely rewarded.
£550 (handset only), htc.com/uk
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Or, said the internet, “You won’t believe how much the big new iPhone bends.” (It bends no more than other thin tech like this, which is hardly, if ever.) Justifiably called a “phablet” as its 5.5in screen may make you think tablets are obsolete.
From £620 (16GB, handset only), apple.com
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Or, said the internet, “You won’t believe how much the big new iPhone bends.” (It bends no more than other thin tech like this, which is hardly, if ever.) Justifiably called a “phablet” as its 5.5in screen may make you think tablets are obsolete.
From £620 (16GB, handset only), apple.com
Airstream S300
Bafflingly, it’s compatible with iOS devices only, but the S300 will double as your TV’s soundbar using the 3.5mm jack connection. With an impressive range, dynamic bass and sharp natural highs, this beautifully constructed polymer and glass unit fills big rooms with ease.
£250, monitoraudio.co.uk
Airstream S300
Bafflingly, it’s compatible with iOS devices only, but the S300 will double as your TV’s soundbar using the 3.5mm jack connection. With an impressive range, dynamic bass and sharp natural highs, this beautifully constructed polymer and glass unit fills big rooms with ease.
£250, monitoraudio.co.uk
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