Not quite smartphone, not quite laptop – yes, it’s the humble tablet. Globally popularised by the iPad in 2010, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a household without one or two knocking about. But tablets can be expensive given that their capabilities rarely match those of a fully-fledged PC or Mac.
Some are cheaper though, and tablets are an ideal media consumption device, especially on the go.
The good news is there are often cheap tablet deals about and retailers can give big discounts to big brands, from Apple to Google, Acer to Huawei. If it runs iOS or Android, as most do, you’ve got thousands of awesome apps at your disposal.
Not all deals are good deals though; £100 off a £600 tablet is still a £500 purchase. Consider whether you’d spend that if it wasn’t discounted. We are poised to handpick all the best tablet deals right here.
You also want to make sure the tablet you’re buying isn’t a dud – while you’re safe with just about any recent iPad, not all Android tablets are created equal. Check out our rankings of the best tablets and best cheap tablets for inspiration and some detailed buying advice, so that you know what to look for.
Best tablet deals right now
What tablet deals are available?
You occasionally see the odd bit of money off an iPad, so look at retailers like Currys PC World and Argos for those, as Apple itself doesn’t often discount its iPads. There are always iPads on its Refurbished Store all year round though, of course. Official resellers like KRCS can sometimes offer more competitive prices too.
Android tablets are far more likely to be sold at more competitive prices, given their generally lower RRPs in the first place – though even high-ticket Samsung and Google tablets can also get a good price cut – so keep your eyes peeled on this page.
There are, of course, 2-in-1 tablet computer hybrids, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro and the Surface Go, which run Windows 10. Though slightly pricey, we have an entire article dedicated to Microsoft Surface deals, which goes through the new models, accessories, usual prices, and, of course, where to find the best deals – including how to spot deals on refurbished devices and student discounts. Go to the article here.
Amazon’s Fire tablets all have low prices to start with and are criminally low when they go on sale – which is surprisingly frequently. They tend to drop from ‘affordable’ to ‘essential’ with offers across the Fire tablet range. Most recently, Amazon brought down the already-budget Fire 7 down to a ridiculous £30.
If you find that you’re missing out on Amazon’s Lightning deals, which run for just a few hours and offer limited stock, we’d recommend signing up for Amazon’s 30-day free trial of Prime, which will get you access to deals 30 minutes before everyone else. Plus, you’ll get free next-day delivery with the Prime trial, as well as access to Prime Instant Video and more.
See our guide on the best Amazon tablet, which includes comparisons, reviews and buying advice. Tech Advisor also has a range of articles on tablets, tablet cases and related gadgets and accessories which should also help you decide.
Tablet deals for students
Another great resource to help you snag deals is . The can help you save up to 25% on big brands such as Apple (), Asus, HP, Lenovo, Logitech and many more. See .
Here are a few of the best places to check for tablet bargains:
Best Tablet Deals September 2019
1. Huawei MediaPad M5 (10in, 32GB, 4GB RAM)
From: Amazon
Was: £349.99
Now: £269.99 (£80 off)
View Deal
A significant saving on one of Huawei’s great 10-inch media-centric Android tablets. Read our review of the similarly-equipped ‘Pro’ model.
2. Apple iPad 9.7in (2018, WiFi, 32GB)
From: Amazon
Was: £319
Now: £299 (£20 off)
View Deal
The is more than a year old now, and faces competition from the 2019 models, so you should expect and demand a good deal. This offer has improved since the start of July but the price may fall further.
3. Huawei MediaPad M3 Lite
From: Amazon
Was: £179.99
Now: £139.00 (£40.99 off)
View Deal
The MediaPad M3 is compact and portable featuring a Full HD screen, Harmon Kardon speakers and a fingerprint scanner.
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
From: Amazon
Was: £599
Now: £429 (£170 off)
View Deal
5. Apple iPad Pro 9.7in (2016, refurbished)
From: Apple Refurbished Store
Was: £519
Now: £399 (£120 off)
View Deal
This is the cheapest you’ll find an iPad Pro. Apple’s Refurbished Store is a great way to get iPad deals, and this is no exception.
6. Apple iPad Pro models
From: KRCS
Now: Up to £37 off
View Deal
Apple’s brand new iPad Pro models have up to £37 off at KRCS. This is the only place we’ve seen a discount on the newest iPads. Some models are currently out of stock but if you order now, you’ll still be able to get a cheaper price. See our for more details.
Predictive risk management strategy rather than prevention is the need of the hour in the cybersecurity space to enable organisations to proactively identify threats and allow them to stay one step ahead of potential threats, industry experts said.
“What we have learned so far is the preventive approach, how to prevent an incident happening from the network. Now, we talk about predictive approach, how we can predict an attack happening on the network and block it from happening,” Anand Choudha, managing director at Spectrami, a cybersecurity solutions distributor, told TechRadar Middle East.
As the threat landscape has been evolving over the years, he said that new and sophisticated attacks happen every day.
“As everything is connected in today’s world, the cyber warfare is becoming more relevant than before and which is driving the need to relook at the strategies and develop a predictive risk management strategy,” he said.
Going after the hackers
According to Choudha, the three-way framework of prediction-based approach – vulnerability analytics, security analytics and multi-vendor threat intelligence – is the new trend and will help all the decision-makers to stop the attacks before they hit their organisation.
Gartner has endorsed it as predict, prevent, detect and respond (PPDR) framework.
Sarfaraz Kazi, chief technology officer at Spectrami, said that the whole idea is to stay one step ahead of the hackers.
Moreover, he said as most people practised prevention, detection and response method, nobody talked about prediction.
“People need to go beyond the network and to the dark web and deep web to see how the hackers work. Rather than waiting for the attacker to come to your doorstep, we are flipping the switch now and go after the hacker to learn his tricks and procedures. Instead of being reactive, we are going to be proactively hunting the hacker.
“Once I know the IP addresses of the hacker, I can block him whenever he is online. I cannot prevent him from getting to my door but I can prevent him from entering my house,” he said.
The three-way framework is a fusion of manual and automation.
“The framework is evolving and cannot be 100% sure of what is going to help but what we are seeing is that companies that have gone into the predictive mode are more secure than the traditional approach and vendors in the Middle East are expected to follow and adopt the framework. In few years, we may say that predictive framework is outdated and a new framework may be out,” Choudha said.
Kazi said that Cybersecurity is like insurance.
“We buy cheap car insurance as we don’t make accidents. When we make accidents, we think of expensive insurance. Everything works but it comes at a cost. The infrastructure cost of defence mechanism for blocking nation-state attacks is north of $10m a year. What is lacking is the support of the management and how many companies are willing to invest that much money,” he said.
Now TV is giving you an incredible discount on not one, not two but four of its TV passes. So it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for Entertainment, Sky Cinema, Hayu or the Kids pass, Now TV’s latest deal has got you covered.
The great thing about Now TV is that it allows you to access TV shows on some of Sky’s premium channels without the implications of a contract, so no compromise or extra charges are necessary. But now you get the chance to explore the library of new premieres on Sky Cinema or Hayu’s key series for two months for the price of one.
All four passes have effectively had their prices cut in half, so you can enjoy two months’ worth of your chosen pass for the price of one. Liking the look of the Entertainment Pass, for example? You would pay only £7.99 for two months rather than the usual £15.98. What is even better is that all of these passes have a 7-day free trial so you can try them all first for free.
There’s a pass to suits everyone, from big families needing to keep the kids quiet to couples looking to binge box sets. Or perhaps if you want to have a movie night with your friends.
If any of this sounds good to you, you’ll have to hurry – the deal expires on September 30. So that’s only a few weeks to save with these passes.
Save 50% with Now TV’s new deals:
Now TV Sky Cinema Pass | 2 months | £23.98 £11.99 With this deal you are paying basically £6 a month (less than the price of a cinema ticket) to access an incredible array of movies and a new premiere every day. Some of which include: Aquaman, Venom, Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Incredibles 2. So really whether you’re looking for comedy, horror, kid films or musicals, Sky Cinema has got you covered. View Deal
Now TV Entertainment Pass | 2 months | £15.98 £7.99 Don’t miss out on the chance to get two months’ worth of your Entertainment Pass for the price of one. Usually priced at £15.98 you can now enjoy your favourite shows including: Chernobyl, The Wire or The Handmaid’s Tale for just £7.99. In fact, there are literally hundreds of box sets to get stuck in to once you sign up so having two months to watch them should come in handy! View Deal
Now TV Hayu Pass | 2 months |£7.98£3.99 Any reality TV fans out there? Hayu is perfect for you with their selection of: Keeping up with the Kardashians, all of the Real Housewives, Top Chef, Jersey Shore and Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club. All of these juicy shows for £3.99 a month – or, as we say, £399 for two months.View Deal
Now TV’s Kids pass deal | 2 months | £7.98 £3.99 Whether you babysit, have kids of your own or are a loved uncle or auntie this pass is ideal for the little ones! Get access to Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, Sponge Bob SquarePants and LEGO friends. That’s across channels including Nickelodeon, Nick Toons and Cartoon Network. You get all these and plenty more for just £3.99 per month.View Deal
How do I watch Now TV?
Easy, just about anywhere really. There’s the Now TV app which you can download for free and that you can watch from your laptop, computer, tablet or mobile. Depending on your PlayStation, Xbox console or TV, these three are all options in which you can watch Now TV too.
If these aren’t options don’t worry you can still get a Now TV stick, for a paltry £14.99. This plugs into your HDMI slot on your TV and even comes with a voice-remote control. The Now TV stick will also let you use a bunch of free catch up services like iPlayer and All 4. If you’d like to check out some more deals on Now TV devices and passes for Sky Entertainment, Sky Kids and Sky Sports, head on over to our regular Now TV deals page.
After waiting months for the newly-announced AirPods model to finally land, what Apple fans got instead was the previous iteration of the ‘Pods with a few upgrades. Although these were good and notable upgrades, it still left us hanging for a true AirPods 2 release date to be revealed, rather than the stepping stone product we were given.
Admittedly, the new AirPods (2019) do sport some cool new features, like the ability to charge wirelessly. Still, they aren’t quite the all-out AirPods 2 reimagining we were hoping for, and they don’t beat rivals like the Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds and the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s in terms of noise-cancelation and audio quality.
The good news is that the next-generation of Apple AirPods could be right around the corner. We’ve heard rumors about noise-canceling and even waterproof Apple earbuds for nearly a year at this point, and now some analysts are saying that they’ll arrive by the end of the year or, at the very latest, early on in 2020.
We’re expecting the new iPhone 11 to launch on tomorrow on September 10, so the AirPods 2 release date could well coincide with this – however, we’re not sure this is likely so soon after the original AirPods were upgraded.
One of the best sources of Apple AirPods 2 rumors comes from a 2018 report from TF International Securities’ analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He said that we could be getting two more headphones before 2020 – an updated version of the original Apple AirPods (check) and the brand new AirPods 2.
Apple’s WWDC 2019 keynote took place on June 3, but it was too soon for Cook and co. to announce the new AirPods 2 then – after all, the updated AirPods (2019) only came out two short months before and Apple used WWDC to announce a pair of significant new features coming to the true wireless buds.
Now that Apple has released a brand new iPod touch (7th Generation) in anticipation of Apple Arcade this autumn (September – November 2019), it’s possible that the company will launch the AirPods 2 around the same time.
It’s also possible that the Apple AirPods 2 could be announced before this, at Apple’s iPhone launch event tomorrow (September 10).
Even so, we’re not sure it makes sense for Apple to release the AirPods 2 so soon after it brought out the upgraded model.
So, with everything pointing to a 2020 release, what do we actually hope to see in the AirPods 2, and how will they improve on Apple’s bestselling true wireless earbuds?
Apple AirPods 2: Cut to the chase
What are they? The long-awaited AirPods 2 (not to be confused with the recently updated AirPods (2019) true-wireless earbuds.)
When are they out? Our best guess is early 2020, but nobody knows for sure.
How much will they cost? Probably similar to the AirPods (2019), which start at $159 (£159/AU$249) – though they could jump to $199.
Apple AirPods 2: release date
Now that Apple has released an updated 2019 version of the original AirPods, we’re not expecting the AirPods 2 to be coming out any time soon.
Kuo’s predictions have been pretty accurate, right down to the AirPods 2019 connectivity upgrade, so we’re betting on an early 2020 release for the AirPods 2.
We originally expected the upgraded 2019 AirPods to be significantly different from their predecessors thanks to trademark and Bluetooth SIG filings, but we now know that’s not the case.
That doesn’t mean we won’t ever see these features in the next version, however. We wouldn’t be surprised if Apple was saving features like biometric sensors, new color schemes, and waterproofing for the AirPods 2.
The original Apple AirPods and the AirPods (2019) (Image credit: Apple)
AirPods 2 price and availability
Our best guess is that the AirPods 2 will be priced similarly to the current AirPods, which cost $159 / £159 / AU$249 / AED679 with the standard charging case, and $199 / £199 / AU$319 / AED829 with the new Wireless Charging Case bundled in.
According to Bloomberg, the new AirPods are “likely to be more expensive than the current $159 model,” but we’d be very surprised if they exceed $200.
The final price will likely come down to the features that the new AirPods 2 sport. Before we go into the features we’re expecting from the AirPods 2 in 2020, let’s take a look at what’s new with the current AirPods…
What’s new with the AirPods (2019)?
Apple hasn’t changed much in terms of design in its latest update to the AirPods – instead, the next-gen improvements seem to be largely under-the-hood.
Inside the buds there’s a newly-designed H1 chip which Apple has built specifically for the headphones. It improves connectivity pairing times, the efficiency of the battery life, and allows for hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ functionality.
New for the AirPods 2019 is the wireless charging case for the earbuds, which means you can use Qi-compatible charging mats to power the case without having to stick a cable in.
As for sound quality, the 2019 upgraded AirPods are no different from the ones you could get in 2016.
AirPods (2019) (Image credit: Apple)
Apple AirPods 2: rumors
Previous trademark filings suggest that the second generation AirPods would be a health and fitness device, in addition to being a pair of true wireless earbuds. Now we know that the updated AirPods don’t have these features, we think we will see them in the AirPods 2 in 2020.
We also heard separately that the AirPods 2 would come in black and white, be both waterproof and offer active noise-cancellation, features that have similarly been predicted by Bloomberg. Another patent from July suggested that Apple was working on some pretty nifty tech for how the earbuds handle outside noise as well as dissipating pressure from inside the ear canal.
The patent outlined a valve system that would allow sound to escape your ear canal to avoid that weird reverberating effect that occurs when you speak with earbuds in your ears.
It then goes on to describe how the earbuds would handle ambient noise, using a microphone to filter in noise from the outside world so that you can remain aware of your surroundings while still hearing your music.
One rumor that did prove to be accurate however was wireless charging and Bluetooth 5.0 – but instead of being an improved thanks to an updated W2 chip, Apple has designed a brand new H1 chip, which is made for headphones specifically.
Image credit: Apple
Apple AirPods 2: what we want to see
Noise-cancelation
Only a couple of years ago, companies were struggling just to get true wireless earbuds working, but now the goalposts have already shifted to packing more and more functionality into their shells.
The stunning Sony WF-1000XM3 manage to include noise-cancelation technology inside their diminutive shells, and we were hoping see similar functionality make it to the second generation of AirPods.
Apple’s fancy ambient noise technology outlined above suggested the company is thinking along these lines, and as it didn’t make the cut for the 2019 upgrade, we’re expecting to see noise-cancelation in the AirPods 2.
Better audio quality
Companies like Sony and more recently, Cambridge Audio, have proven that true wireless earbuds can sound just as good as their wired, and even their over-ear counterparts.
If Apple can harness the audio quality offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 true wireless earbuds, as well as keeping the cost down, the company could be on to a real winner.
The Sony WF-1000X feature noise-cancellation technology (Image credit: Sony)
More physical controls
Apple isn’t much of a fan of buttons, but there are some cases where they save you a lot of time and effort, and headphones are one of these instances.
On-board controls have become an almost essential feature in headphones in recent years, allowing us to control music playback and volume without having to struggle to get our phones out of our pockets.
Now the 2016 AirPods did allow you to control music in a sense, but they relied entirely on Siri, Apple’s voice assistant.
New to the 2019 upgraded AirPods is the ability to double tap the right earbud to start your music up if it’s paused or skip to the next track if you’re currently playing a track…and that’s it.
We’d like to see the AirPods 2 take this further, allowing you to skip backwards and forwards more easily. What would be really great, would be to put those long stems to use and add in some swipe volume controls.
The B&O Beoplay E8 feature touch-sensitive controls to allow you to control your music (Image credit: TechRadar)
Changeable ear tips
Apple likes to rely wholly on sleek white plastic, but we aren’t a fan of the lack of rubber tips on the AirPods, especially when there’s no cable to catch them if they fall.
We want any true wireless earbuds to feel nice and secure in the ears, and including a number of changeable ear tips so we can select those that perfectly fit our ears would be the ideal way of achieving this.
One individual in the TechRadar office even went to the length of fixing some rubber tips from an alternative pair of headphones onto their AirPods to make them feel more secure.
We weren’t expecting Apple to change it’s rather rigid design aesthetic with the 2019 update, but here’s hoping it will for the AirPods 2.
Better Android pairing
Given that Apple likes to ensure all its products are designed to work as a family this has little chance of happening, but we’d love to see the AirPods play slightly nicer with Android phones.
On iPhones, pairing is a dream. You simply hold the AirPods near your phone and they connect more or less automatically.
However with Android the process is a lot more complicated and involving jumping into settings menus to select the AirPods manually. We’d love to see Apple simplify this process for the AirPods 2, though we’re not holding our breath.
Beats’Solo 3 Wireless come in a number of flashy colors other than white (Image Credit: Beats)
Different designs and colors
We get it, Apple likes white things. But in an era where iPhones and iPads are available in a range of different colors we’d love to see this same courtesy extended to the AirPods.
We just want our headphones to match our phone and our Apple Watch; is that so much to ask?
Although Apple has experimented with different colors for its various devices, its earbuds have always stayed the same iconic white. Still, the AirPods 2 are rumored to be coming in a second black option as well.
Longer battery life
When the original AirPods were released way back in 2016, their five-hour battery life was rather impressive; now, it’s lagging behind the competition.
With the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 true wireless earbuds, you get nine hours from the buds themselves, and a further 36 hours of juice contained within their charging case.
It’s clear that true wireless technology has moved on since the AirPods were first released – and so far, Apple hasn’t moved on with it.
Could Apple be about to release the HomePod 2, a smaller version of its Siri smart speaker?
That’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves for a while now now – and while Apple’s iPhone X launch event on September 12, 2018 didn’t reveal what the next HomePod will look like, the HomePod 2 could finally be on the horizon.
Nearly a year has passed since then, and the iPhone 11 launch is coming up tomorrow on September 10 – could this be the Apple HomePod 2 release date?
The speculation is that the next version of the HomePod, the Apple HomePod 2, may be a more compact version of the original, with the name Apple HomePod Mini being rumored.
According to a Bloomberg report in July 2018, Apple may have been looking to release the HomePod 2 sometime in early 2019, which would make sense based on the release date of the original HomePod – of course, it never actually materialized.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Some thought that we might have heard an official announcement at Apple’s WWDC keynote on June 3 – instead the company announced multi-user support is coming to Apple HomePod this year alongside Handoff, the ability to share an audio stream from an iOS device just by holding it close to the speaker. The new features are expected to arrive alongside the iOS 13 update that was also announced at WWDC 2019 and slated for a September 2019 roll out.
With the news of updates coming to the original HomePod, a 2019 release for the HomePod 2 is looking less likely – unless it’s announced on September 10.
The original Apple HomePod has been on sale since February 2018 and has so far been met with mixed reviews. While many people praised it as a speaker, when it comes to its capabilities as a smart home hub, there are many who question whether it’s worth its rather high price point.
With some reports claiming that sales aren’t doing particularly well, the stage could be set for a HomePod Mini, and though Apple is yet to make any kind of confirmation we have heard a few whispers about it – a cheaper and smaller HomePod could be exactly what the brand needs to draw in those who have yet to be convinced.
We’ve already seen how well the Google Home Mini and the Amazon Echo Dot have done, so it would make sense for Apple to follow suit. Regardless of whether it’s in the works or not, this is exactly what we’d like to see from the HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini if it ever arrives.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The new Apple HomePod smart speaker could either be the HomePod 2 or the rumored HomePod Mini
When is it out? This is still TBC, but it could be announced at the iPhone 11 launch on September 10.
What will it cost? No pricing just yet but, if it is a smaller version, it’s likely to be cheaper than the fully-fledged HomePod
Apple HomePod 2 release date
Considering the Apple HomePod 2 hasn’t actually been announced yet, and there isn’t really any kind of historical pattern when it comes to previous releases for this this product, making a guess on a release date is tricky.
We’re also not yet certain whether the new HomePod will be full-sized, or a mini version of the original. We were surprised not to hear any details at Apple’s yearly iPhone launch, which kept the smart home news limited to a HomePod OS update coming on September 17, with new search features, multiple timers, and additional Siri languages.
As we didn’t get an announcement at Apple’s WWDC on June 3, we’re banking on it being announced at Apple’s new iPhone 11 launch event tomorrow (September 10). If we don’t hear about the new HomePod mini then, it’s likely that we won’t see an announcement until 2020.
Bearing in mind that Samsung has its own smart speaker on the way in the form of the Galaxy Home on the way in Q3 of 2019, Apple might want to make its next move sooner rather than later.
Apple HomePod 2 and Apple HomePod Mini news and rumors
There’s not exactly a glut of HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini rumors out there but there have been a couple of reports worth picking up on.
According to MacRumors, the patent describes a “countertop speaker” that could “identify users in the vicinity of the speaker using facial recognition, as well as measure the distance of users [in relation] to the speaker”.
The patent also explained the countertop speaker would be kitted out with “various sensors and cameras that gather hand gestures and other three-dimensional gesture input.”
Having Face ID built into the Apple HomePod 2 could provide an additional layer of security for users, as well as allowing for multiple user profiles, with each user identified via facial recognition.
However, MacRumors also identified a rather unusual potential feature of the Apple HomePod 2 in the patent – an “emoji-based avatar that would adapt to a user’s mood or actions,” perhaps even mirroring your emotions.
Stereo sound
The HomePod 2 smart speaker could sound even better than the original, if new patents granted to the tech company are anything to go by.
Apple’s patent for a ‘Multi-listener stereo image array’ describes a system where “multiple people can experience a stereo audio effect, regardless of where they are seated,” according to Apple Insider.
Beats branding
One of the more recent rumors around a new HomePod came from a Chinese tech firm called Sina, stating that there could be a cut-price HomePod with Beats branding in the works.
We haven’t seen a great deal of Beats-branded releases since Apple purchased the company in 2014, so this might be a chance for Apple to revive the name while repositioning the reportedly floundering HomePod to a brand new (perhaps younger) audience.
According to the report, the new HomePod would cost around $199 (about £150, AU$260), which is in line with previous rumors and would go some way to combating criticisms of the speaker’s high price point. This is a report which should, however, be taken with a fistful of salt.
The first report of a Mini HomePod
Back in March 2018, only a month after the HomePod’s release, there was a report from Economic Daily that Apple was planning to release a more affordable HomePod at some point in 2018.
It was rumored that this cheaper HomePod would launch in the US in the second half of 2018 for around $200 (around £145, AU$260), which is significantly lower than the device’s current $349 / £319 / AU$499 price point. In this report it wasn’t made clear how Apple was actually planning to lower the price of its speaker, but a brand new and smaller Apple HomePod Mini could be a way to do this.
What we want to see from the HomePod 2
Bluetooth connectivity
Sure, smart speakers are all about voice controls, and the fact that they’re standalone devices that don’t need to be hooked up to another audio source in order to playback tunes and podcasts. But, sometimes, a few added options are just convenient – especially if you’re trying to play back a track that, for whatever reason, can’t be found on the smart speaker’s streaming service of choice.
It may not be cutting edge in the smart speaker world, but there’s still the odd occasion when Bluetooth connectivity would be useful – and in the case of a HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini being tied to Apple Music, that’d be particularly useful for anyone looking to access, say, Spotify streaming. Which brings us onto our next point…
Open access to other music services
If you buy one of the current Apple HomePod speakers, you’re essentially locking yourself into Apple’s audio ecosystem. So, iTunes purchases aside, that’s $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99 a month for a single Apple Music streaming account, or $14.99 / £14.99 / AU$17.99 for a family account.
That’s fine if you’re an iPhone-owning Cupertino disciple, and Apple Music is a fine service definitely worth investing in. But, if you’ve already committed to Spotify or Google Play Music or any of the other myriad smaller streaming options, that could be a frustrating restriction.
By knocking a few bricks out of its walled garden and letting other services have a look in could give a new Apple HomePod a user base boost – and it could be paired with incentives to jump to Apple Music, if Apple played a savvy long-game.
More color options
The Apple HomePod is certainly an attractive speaker, with its fabric mesh covering and cylindrical size subtle enough to fit among many decors. But that’s not always what you’re looking for – sometimes you want a gadget that separates you from the pack, as evidenced by Apple’s Beats headphones.
That brand has been built around bold colorful designs, and if the rumors that the HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini is to feature Beats branding prove to be true, we’d like to see the speaker embrace Beats’ colorful aesthetic as well.
Better Siri performance
Apple’s HomePod does well on sound but when it comes to smarts it’s somewhat lacking. Compared to Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, Siri is rather limited in what it can do for you as a smart home hub. This isn’t great considering it’s one of the most expensive smart speakers on the market, and Siri is your main means of controlling it.
With that in mind, we’d love to see better Siri performance in a new HomePod iteration when it comes to performing commands quickly and accurately. There are rumors that Siri will be cut from the device entirely to save on cost, but we’d rather see some improvements.
If you would have told me that my favorite smartwatch of 2019 would have a brilliant OLED display, great battery life, effortless fitness tracking, Spotify support, and an on-board assistant, I would have guessed it was the Series 5 Apple Watch. It’s not. It’s the Fitbit Versa 2.
Michael Simon/IDG
The Fitbit Versa’s display is much improved in the sequel.
Fitbit hasn’t reinvented the wheel with the Versa 2. Rather, a series of small but meaningful changes make it feel like a completely new device that’s ready to compete with the Apple Watch at half the price. Where the original model had clear shortcomings that I was willing to overlook due to its price tag, the Versa 2 plays in the feature-rich deep end, and feels like a veritable bargain as a result.
The Fitbit Versa 2 isn’t perfect, nor does it match up spec-for-spec with the latest Apple Watch. But the improvements it brings put it on equal footing with the cream of the smartwatch crop, marrying Fitbit’s fitness acumen with the features we want in a cutting-edge wearable device.
OLED is the difference maker
At first glance, the design of the Fitbit Versa 2 is nearly identical to the Versa. It has a squircle shape with tapered edges and a thin profile, and it’s just the right size to look good on the majority of wrists. Like the Versa Lite, which was introduced earlier this year, it has a single button rather than three on the original Versa, which simplifies both the look and the navigation.
Michael Simon/IDG
The OLED display on the Fitbit Versa 2 (right) is brighter and richer than the original model’s LCD.
At 1.34 inches, the display is the same size as before, but there are two notable changes that make a huge difference: It’s OLED and it’s centered. On the original Versa, text and images on the LCD display were a touch dull due to backlighting, but they’re bright and vibrant on the Versa 2’s OLED screen. Also, you have to try really hard to see where the display ends and the bezel begins, which gives it a classier overall feel.
The position of the screen is a much less obvious tweak, but it’s a refreshing one. Fitbit has eliminated its logo from the front of the watch, a decision that allows the screen to shift a millimeter or two lower so the bezel are uniform all around. It’s more than cosmetic. Without the logo, your eyes will be firmly fixed on the display, and the centering brings a balance that wasn’t there before.
Michael Simon/IDG
Fitbit has ditched the side buttons on the Fitbit Versa 2 (bottom).
Elsewhere, the Versa 2 mimics the Versa, with a black, silver, or rose gold body, and a variety of swappable bands. The pin mechanism isn’t quite as easy as the quick-release buttons on the Charge 3 or Apple Watch, but it’s simple enough to use them before and after a workout. I particularly liked the orange-and-charcoal woven reflective band, which is available for $40, but the simple sport bands are sharp too. Of note, Fitbit is selling three varieties of rose gold watches this year—with pink, purple, and green bands—which speaks to the gender-neutral look and size of the watch.
Alexa is listening
The Versa’s maturity isn’t just skin deep. All models now include NFC for Fitbit Pay transactions, and it runs a new version of Fitbit OS that features thoughtful flourishes throughout, including improved navigation and better app support. My favorite change is the collapsable quick settings pane at the top of the notifications window that offers a variety of shortcuts.
Michael Simon/IDG
When you have a question, Alexa on the Fitbit Versa 2 is ready to answer.
But most people will be interested in a more obvious addition: Alexa. Rather than try to build its own assistant, Fitbit has partnered with Amazon to bring its digital assistant to the Versa 2, and it’s a fantastic debut. While the integration is relatively rudimentary, Alexa adds an important missing piece to Fitbit’s wearables that put it in the conversation with Siri and Google Assistant.
However, Alexa on the Versa 2 very much feels like a first-gen feature. There’s no wake word or raise-to-wake functionality, so you need to press and hold the side button each time you want to ask something. You’ll also need to constantly look at the screen, because Alexa has no voice on the Versa 2. And you can’t get directions, play music, or read a story.
But for all it can’t do, Alexa is still a solid companion for the Versa 2. The engine was very good at deciphering my speech, and despite doing the heavy lifting on your phone, it responded surprisingly fast. And it does plenty: You’ll be able to turn on your lights, get weather reports, find nearby restaurants, set reminders, and control your routines from your wrist, which covers nearly everything you’d want to do with an assistant on your wrist.
Michael Simon/IDG
There’s a lot Alexa can’t do on the Versa 2, so you might see this message a lot.
Also new to the Versa 2 is Spotify support via a new companion app. Unfortunately, it’s just a remote, so it’s not as robust as the Apple Music app on the Apple Watch or even the Pandora app on the original Versa. You can’t even play music in a pair of connected headphones. All you can do is start, stop, and like music that’s playing on your phone, but it’s better than nothing. And it’s loads more convenient than the clunky Music app, which still requires you to hook up to a PC, launch an app, and drag songs into a playlist.
A battery that lasts and lasts
I tested the Versa 2 with the Galaxy Note 10 and the Pixel 3 XL running Android 10, and set-up was a breeze with both phones. I had sporadic issues with syncing when more than one phone was around, but it was cleared up with a simple restart of the watch. And besides it’s not a problem most people are going to run into.
Michael Simon/IDG
The new Quick Settings make it easy to turn on the always-on display, as well as other settings.
Fitbit doesn’t divulge the processor that’s powering the Versa 2, but it’s definitely a capable one. Apps are still extremely rudimentary compared to watchOS or Wear OS, but they launch quickly and do just enough. Navigation is extremely fast as well, with taps and swipes registering instantly. I also had great results with the heart-rate sensor. On previous Fitbits, I had to reposition my tracker higher on my wrist while working out to ensure a proper reading, but the Versa 2 registered my heart rate without fiddling with it.
Clock faces on the Versa 2 are more vibrant thanks to the OLED display, but the real improvement is the always-on display option. It’s off by default, but you’ll find a button to turn it on in new quick settings pane. There are two options—digital and analog—and you can choose which stats to display as well as whether to show the battery life. It’s a great feature that gives the Fitbit 2 a checkmark that the Apple Watch doesn’t have. My only complaint is that the always-on display overrides the raise-to-wake functionality, so you need too either press the side button or double-tap the display to start using the watch again.
When you opt to turn on the always-on display, you’ll get a warning that it will impact battery life. While that’s technically true, it shouldn’t deter you from turning it on. With the always-on display on, I get better than three days battery life, and with it off, I topped five days, and that’s with heavier-than-normal use. The battery on the original Versa was excellent, but the Versa 2’s battery life is simply outstanding.
Part of the reason for its long-lasting abilities is that it doesn’t have a battery-draining GPS sensor on board, so you’ll need to keep your phone around to get real-time pace and distance. And there’s still not a maps app, so you won’t get turn-by-turn directions on your wrist. It’s a small omission that most people won’t mind (or even notice) not having, but I suspect it’ll be a selling point of the Versa 3 as the Ionic (the only Fitbit with built-in GPS) fades away.
Michael Simon/IDG
A new shortcuts menu makes it easy to tweak settings.
More frustrating than the lack of GPS is the charger that comes with it: It simply doesn’t lay flat on a table. The cable comes out of the bottom of the charger, and there’s no way to bend the cable so its flush against the bottom. The old charger didn’t have that problem, but alas it doesn’t work with the new Versa.
Should you buy a Fitbit Versa 2?
When it launched last year for $200, the Fitbit Versa 2 was an excellent value. The Fitbit 2 ups that ante considerable without raising the price, bringing a better screen, better features, and better battery. And the Alexa integration isn’t too shabby either. Basically, unless you really want Google Assistant or LTE. There’s no reason why the Versa 2 shouldn’t be on your shortlist when shopping for your next wearable.
Michael Simon/IDG
You can control your Spotify tunes with the Versa 2.
The Versa 2 is a fantastic upgrade from the original Versa or even an older Apple Watch, with smart enhancements that dramatically improve all aspects of the device and make it feel far more feature-rich than its $200 price tag. Speaking of which, you can still buy a special edition version of the Versa 2, but unless you want an extra woven band, there’s no reason to. Last year’s special edition model Brough NFC in addition to the extra band, but this year’s SE model doesn’t have any additional features.
That’s not really a criticism (although the SE model does seems a bit unnecessary now). Rather, Fitbit loaded the Versa 2 with so much, you might not need to consider another watch. Even one made by Apple.
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HMD Global might be readying the launch of the Nokia 7.2 and the 6.2 in India, as the product pages on the Indian website are already live.
Nokia had a pretty busy IFA 2019 where the company took the wrap off these two smartphones along with the Nokia 2720 flip, Nokia 110 (2019), Nokia 8810 Tough and the wireless Power Earbuds. The Nokia 7.2 and the 6.2 were the most interesting out of the lot, being at the forefront of Nokia’s budget smartphone portfolio for 2019. It seems that these phones will soon come to India, as the respective product pages are live on Nokia India’s website.
The latest budget phone from the Finnish manufacturer, the Nokia 7.2 brings the same iconic design and construction like the yesteryears but with essential 2019 upgrades such as a better design and multiple cameras on the back.
On the back, the Nokia 7.2 has a triple camera array consisting of a 48MP ZEISS primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter joined with a 5MP depth sensor. Up on the front, in the waterdrop notch, we get a 20MP selfie camera. Surrounding that notch is a 6.3-inch LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution and support for HDR10 content.
Internally, the Nokia 7.2 is powered by the modest Snapdragon 660 chipset with 4 or 6GB of RAM. There’s a 3,500 mAh battery powering the device, and it runs on Android 9.0 Pie. As with all Nokia phones, this one is a part of the Android One program and is first in line for the Android 10 upgrade in the coming months.
(Image credit: Future)
Sharing the stage, we had the Nokia 6.2 which retains the same 6.3-inch HDR10 display covered with Gorilla Glass 3. The major difference is the inclusion of a 16MP primary camera, paired with an 8MP ultrawide shooter and a depth sensor. The same 20MP selfie camera resides on the front.
The 6.2 is powered by the Snapdragon 636 chipset with 3 or 4GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of expandable storage. A 3,500 mAh battery powers the phone with support for 10W fast charging over USB Type-C.
Nokia’s entire lineup of smartphones in India is currently heavily discounted, including the Nokia 8.1, 6.1 Plus and the 5.1 Plus, which could be further indications that the 6.2 and the 7.2 are nearing their Indian launches.
