Posts

This HP laptop I tested has a sleek and compact form, but rivals offer better value for money

-
Image
HP Laptop 14: Two-minute review The HP Laptop 14 is a budget laptop that aims to combine a compact form factor with just enough performance for everyday use. Its appearance won’t exactly set the world alight, especially when it’s finished in the anodyne gray colorway. However, it looks smart enough, with the clean lines and unsullied contours lending a subtle elegance. These aspects are complemented by a thin and light chassis, which makes the HP Laptop 14 easy to ferry around. However, the price paid for this lithesome build is the cheap-feeling construction, which falls short of the best laptop builds. Having said that, I was pleased to find the lid hinge operated smoothly and provided plenty of stability. It also allows the display to recline quite far, but stops short of 180 degrees. The HP Laptop 14 has a sparse selection of ports. The two USB-A ports are welcome, but there’s only one USB-C interface, and it doesn’t support power or display signals (there’s an HDMI port for...
Post a Comment
Read more

I’ve spent 15 hours in Highguard, but I'm not desperate to play any more

-
Image
To many, Highguard promised to be the anticipated spiritual successor to hit battle royale Apex Legends . After all the developer, Wildcard Entertainment, is made up of Respawn Entertainment veterans, and links to Apex and Titanfall were mentioned in the new title's marketing. Platform reviewed: PC Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Release date: January 26, 2026 At first glance, the comparison holds: it’s a squad-based 3v3 shooter with fantastic-feeling gunplay, a similar weapon progression system, a comparable art style, and, perhaps most importantly, the same shadow-drop release strategy (well – until an early The Game Awards reveal gave away the secret). But I’ve spent 15 hours in Highguard in its first week, and I’m not convinced that it can hold people’s attention as long as Apex has. It still feels a few major and minor tweaks away from being a Legend ary hit – but a few months’ wait could see it transform into a gem. Highguard is set in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

I tested the JBL Boombox 4 and it's a wonderful party companion — but one minor flaw holds it back from audio perfection

-
Image
JBL Boombox 4: two-minute review The JBL Boombox 4 is the latest high-end option in JBL’s popular consumer Bluetooth speaker lineup, and so has some pretty big shoes to fill. Its predecessor, the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi has become a mainstay recommendation for anyone searching for one of the best Bluetooth speakers on audio forums or social media thanks to its durable design, impressive sound, and decent level of portability. All of these qualities remain true in this slightly more expensive follow-up, so the biggest question is whether the JBL Boombox 4 is actually an upgrade. For my money, the answer is yes. Where the Boombox 3 offered a three-way system with a dedicated subwoofer, the Boombox 4 relies on a two-way system that replaces the subwoofer with a passive radiator. On paper this might seem like a bit of a downgrade, but in the real world the Boombox 4 sounds just as clear as the 3 Wi-Fi, though actually enhanced by noticeably richer bass. It’s also significantly louder, ca...
Post a Comment
Read more

Canon's latest PowerShot proves the compact camera isn't dead — and testing it reminded me why I got into photography in the first place

-
Image
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A: two-minute review Several camera brands are riding the wave of sudden popularity in compact digital models that we’ve seen over the past couple of years. I suppose we should have seen an uptick in interest coming, once photographers started using smartphone cameras for ‘serious’ work, and while the format has never truly vanished completely, the humble compact seems to be returning to the mainstream. The Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A (known as the Ixus 285 HS A outside the US) is indistinguishable from its predecessor, the ‘A’ in the name being the only external feature that can be used to tell them apart. The biggest internal differences are the replacement of a full SD card slot with a microSD type, which is either an advantage or a nuisance, depending on how you look at it. Apart from some minor changes to Wifi security, that’s about it when looking for ‘new’ features. So, in short, if you didn’t like the 2016 version, which went viral because of Ti...
Post a Comment
Read more