Best TVs of 2016 - what TV should you buy?

From huge Ultra HD behemoth to 1080p second screen, we've got the goods.

When it comes to buying a brand new TV you want to make sure you're buying the best television for you.

But how do you know which one to go for when there are so many different technologies, with strange acronyms, and a host of different screen sizes to deal with too? There are also many different manufactueres, with a vast array of televisions rocking different panel technologies, operating systems, tuners, backlights and features.

Do you want a Ultra HD 4K screen, do you need high dynamic range support, is 3D finally dead? Which of the myriad TV operating systems do you want to throw your lot in with? Just how do you find out what the best TV is for you?

Well, you come to the experts.

We've figured out the best TVs in a variety of different categories, from Ultra HD to super-sized 75-inch screen, right down to the li'l 32-inchers for that second screen for the bedroom.

But it's not always about the outright best - after all, those can represent some of the most expensive televisual tech you can buy - sometimes you just want the absolute best value screen. And we've got those covered in each category too.

If you want to know what to look out for when buying a new TV check out the second page to arm yourself with all the information you could possibly need.

But first, here's our pick of the best TVs of 2016 - there are some absolute stunners.

Best Ultra HD 4K TV

Panasonic TX-65CZ952

"Produces the best all-round picture quality I've ever seen."

Screen size: 65-inches | Tuner: Freeview HD | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: Custom Panasonic | Curved: Yes | Dimensions:1,448 x 913 x 311 mm

 Best picture quality ever

 Tackles previous OLED issues

 You can't afford it

 Doesn't carry Firefox OS

Panasonic has set out to make a statement with the 65CZ952. With an eye-watering price tag of nearly £8,000 it's clearly not a TV the brand expects to sell in large quantities. Yet its combination of OLED tech, Panasonic's latest and greatest video processing and input from Hollywood give it the potential to set new picture quality standards.

While we will probably never be able to own one, the 65CZ952 still represents a key moment in the history of television for the way it harnesses Panasonic's processing power and picture quality know-how to take the performance potential of OLED TV to a previously unimagined level.

Read the full review: Panasonic TX-

Best 60, 65 or 75-inch TV

Panasonic TX-65DX902B

An astoundingly vibrant 4K HDR TV with stellar picture quality

Screen size: 58- and 65-inches | Tuner: Freeview HD | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: LED | Smart TV: Firefox TV OS | Curved: No | Dimensions:1,457 x 844 x 64 mm

 Rich, vibrant colours

 Firefox TV OS and Freeview Play

 Standard def TV looks pretty awful

 Poor audio quality

The Panasonic DX902 is a bona fide landmark TV. As the first Ultra HD Premium panel to hit our test bench, it sets a new benchmark for consumer imagery. HD upscaling is excellent, and its HDR performance is often joyous.

However, it also highlights just how difficult top-flight HDR is to deliver on a non-emissive (i.e. not OLED) screen. The honeycomb backlight is problematic, and while halos aren't always visible, when they do crop up they stand out like a radioactive thumb. Of course, this foible has to be balanced against pictures which wow more than worry.

Read the full review: Panasonic TX-65DX902B

Best 50 or 55-inch TV

LG 55EG960V

"If you're not yet lusting after OLED, you've got it all wrong."

Screen size: 55-inch | Tuner: Freeview HD and FreeSat HD | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: webOS | Curved: Yes |Dimensions: 760 x 1226 x 213mm

Incredible realism

Best black levels ever

High price

Confusing webOS

Is this is the best TV on the planet? Judged purely on picture quality, this 4K OLED has a jaw-dropping combination of total black, cracking colour, judder-free video, a reflection-free curve and an innate ability to make standard-def sources ripple with realism.

Self-lighting pixels are the future, as proved by the 55EG960V's spotless colours, awesome blacks, bright, pure whites and all-round utterly gorgeous images. 4K detail is mesmerising while even standard definition sources look clean and crisp. Self-lighting they may be, but it's when those pixels completely switch off that this OLED TV really stands out next to an LED TV

Best 46, 47 or 48-inch TV

Samsung UE48JU7000T

"An excellent, if slightly small, UHD TV."

Screen size: 48-inch | Tuner: Freeview HD | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: LED |Smart TV: Tizen | Curved: No | Dimensions: 683 x 1087 x 278 mm

Affordable for high end UHD

Outstanding contrast

Needs careful setup otherwise…

...there's significant motion blur

The UE48JU7000T delivers an impressive set of specifications for its money, including a native UHD resolution, Samsung's wide colour gamut PurColor technology, direct LED lighting with local dimming, and Samsung's new Tizen smart TV system.

You'll have to get your hands dirty in the system settings to nail a quality image, though. Its pictures are badly blighted using its initial settings by some pretty heavy duty and unexpected motion blur, but fortunately - so long as you followthe advice given during our test - these motion issues can be worked round.

That then leaves you with an excellent - if slightly small - UHD TV.

Best phone 2016: the 10 top smartphones we've tested

Update: We've got another two phones landing in the best phones in the world list - the LG G5 and the HTC 10. Both snappily-monikered phones offer some appealing specs and genuine innovation - but are either of them good enough to topple the might of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge?

• If you're just here to see how good the iPhone is compared to the rest, then perhaps you'd be more interested in our best iPhone list
• Or if you couldn't care less what Apple is doing with its handsets but love Google's OS, then our best Android phone round up is right up your street.

So we're well into 2016, and the big phones have mostly arrived. The LG G5 joins the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in our list of, frankly, amazing smartphones - and now the HTC 10 has joined the party along with the iPhone SE.

Luckily for you, at TechRadar we check out every phone under the sun, putting the ones that matter through our rigorously vigorous testing process to create our in-depth mobile phone reviews.

With so many to choose from, we've spent hours whittling them down to a top ten, taking into account the power, specs, design and, most importantly, value for money, although we'll always point you in the direction of the latest handsets to help you find the best smartphone.

After all, nobody wants to be carting around a phone that won't be getting any updates in a year's time, right?

So whether it's one of the many slick Android handsets or the latest iPhone (although we do keep an eye on the best Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices) we've got the best of the best listed here, in our rankings for the best smartphones around, currently available in the UK.

• Find a good deal with TechRadar: mobile phone deals

10. iPhone SE

A simply brilliant palm-friendly phone

Weight: 113g | Dimensions: 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm | OS: iOS 9.3 | Screen size: 4-inch | Resolution: 640 x 1136 | CPU: Apple A9 | RAM: 2GB | Storage:16GB/64GB | Battery: 1624mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 1.2MP

 Great power

 Lower price

 Tired design

 Old screen technology

The iPhone SE sports a tired design, has a screen that's several years old and a display size which isn't really big enough for today's apps and movies on the move.

But forget that - for some people it's got THE most important feature: it's one of very few high-end smartphones you can use one-handed without issue. It won't be for everyone, but for those who dislike the supersized phones of today the iPhone SE is a top performer on a miniature scale.

Remember the SE has the same power, same camera and same operating system as the top of the range iPhone 6S, but in a size you can easily pocket and at a price which isn't going to break the bank.

Sure Sony has the Z5 Compact, but that still has a large-ish 4.6-inch display - the SE is a rare breed of small form and big power.

Read the full review: iPhone SE

Also consider: Want a cheaper iPhone but find the iPhone SE just too small? Apple's still selling the original iPhone 6, with a 4.7-inch display, sleeker metal body and the same version of iOS. It's a bit more expensive, but you do get a bigger screen.

Xbox 360 review

The Xbox One might be out there in the next generation, but the Xbox 360 has changed since its launch in 2005.

That much is transparently clear from the updated version that debuted in 2010.

• Buy Microsoft Xbox 360 (4GB) at Amazon for $140.70

The Xbox 360 S is smaller, sleeker and quieter than the previous model and designed to banish the infamous 'Red Ring of Death' hardware failure that forced Microsoft to extend its warranty on the system.

Likewise the arrival of Kinect, which has gone on to sell over 10 million units, has transformed the machine from solely the preserve of hardcore gamers to a casual gamer friendly environment.

While some of the novelty of Kinect may have worn off, if anything the games are improving – finding new ways to take advantage of what is still fascinating technology.

But Microsoft is and always has been a software company first and foremost and, fittingly, that's where the Xbox 360 has changed the most. The NXE update of 2008 binned the old 'blades' system for an interface that was more welcoming to multimedia content and 2011 has seen another major update to the console's operating system. One so substantial, we've felt it necessary to update this review to reflect what a different machine it is.

Whether it's the old model or the new one, the Xbox 360 has now comprehensively changed from a machine primarily about playing games, with a modest selection of online content attached, to a fully featured entertainment and media hub.

The majority of forms of digital entertainment are catered for, there are extensive social networking features available and a new TV tab aims to replace traditional digital boxes with IPTV and catch up services.

The new dashboard, based around the Metro design language that also features in Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7, is a far busier interface, but it's reflective of the huge amounts of content now available within the walled garden of Xbox Live.

Getting to it all has always been the challenge and Microsoft has made admirable steps towards making that a straightforward process.

Best Laptop 2016 – 13 best laptops right now

image: http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/00002a3ed/cbfa/Best-laptops-December-2013.jpg

                 Jump To: Select a page                 Introduction                                     1. HP Stream 11                                     2. Asus Chromebook C201                                     3. Toshiba Chromebook 2                                     4. Asus Zenbook UX305                                     5. 12-inch MacBook (2015)                                     6. Dell XPS 13 2015                                     7. 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro                                     8. Dell XPS 15                                     9. Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW                                     10. MacBook Pro with Retina display 15-inch (2014)                                     11. Microsoft Surface Pro 4                                      12. Samsung Galaxy TabPro S                                     13. Microsoft Surface Book                             

With Windows 10 now very much established, there's never been a better time to buy a brand new laptop. Follow our guide to get the best kit you can buy.

Our list of best laptops starts with three proper bargains and then moves up into the higher reaches of the laptop market. We hope we'll be able to offer something for everybody.

Of course, it's not all about Windows: we've included three MacBooks and two Chromebooks, too, as they offer premium performance and budget value respectively.

Our latest update includes the addition of the exciting Samsung Galaxy TabPro S, which upsets the 2-in-1 crowd with its Microsoft Surface-beating price and amazing Super AMOLED screen. Turn to page 12 to find out more.

You might think the laptop market is a constant force, with unchanging, boring designs and nothing that leaps out. Quite the opposite is true, from the cheapest netbooks to top-end workstations, improvements in design and manufacturing processes means that each laptop manufacturer has a distinctive design style that adds some serious look-at-me power to the full range of devices.

There are lots of exciting developments taking place in the world of CPUs and GPUs. We're months away from both brand-new Nvidia graphics chips and 7th-gen Intel "Kaby Lake" processors. You can read more about them in our Nvidia Pascal and Intel Kaby Lake explainers.

The new Intel chips should have a decent amount more power than the current generation of "Skylake" chips, but it doesn't look like it's going to be a huge selling point, so don't expect huge discounts on Skylake-equipped laptops.

Nvidia's new Pascal architecture could be a much bigger deal, although it still remains to be seen how much more powerful this generation will be.

Read on for more information about the laptop market today.

Watch – Trusted Explains: Laptops vs Tablets, which is best for you?

WINDOWS 10 – SHOULD YOU UPGRADE?

Windows 10 has landed, and comes as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. That means that each and every one of the Microsoft-powered laptops and tablets listed below will be bumped up to the new operating system without you having to part with any extra pounds. It’s a huge improvement over its predecessor too, with the revamped Start Menu and the addition of Cortana particularly impressive.

However, they’re not the only major new features. Internet Explorer has (at last) taken a back seat, with Microsoft Edge the native Windows 10 browser. You should be pleased with Windows 10’s assortment of gaming features too, especially if you’re a cross-platform player. The new Xbox app plays a central role. You can now stream Xbox One games to your PC and even record your gaming sessions.

WHAT KIND OF LAPTOP SHOULD I BUY?

A lot will depend on how much you have to spend and how you intend to use your laptop. Consider how often you'll actually take your laptop out of the home, and if you do for how long. These kinds of questions will dictate what size laptop you need, and how important battery life is to you. With that in mind, here's a quick guide to the different types and how much they could cost.

LAPTOP TABLET HYBRID – (£300 TO £1,000 OR MORE)

If you’ve ever been tempted by an iPad, but still need a Windows laptop, then a hybrid is a good choice. There’s a huge amount of choice in both size and price. The main things to consider are how much you want to spend and how you’re going to use it. Need a laptop more than a tablet? Go bigger and more expensive. The opposite is true if you really want a tablet that you can use as a tablet.

CONVERTIBLE LAPTOP – (£500 TO £1,000 OR MORE)

This is a twist on the hybrid that differs in execution. Pure hybrids have detaching tablet segments that connect to a keyboard, while convertibles are normal laptops with clever hinges that rotate. They’re a good choice if you mainly need a laptop but would like a little flexibility.

THIN & LIGHT LAPTOP – (£700 TO £1,000 OR MORE)

Sometimes referred to as ‘Ultrabooks’, a thin and light laptop will have an 11-inch or 13-inch screen and… well, be thin and light. The MacBook Air is a thin and light laptop, and there are many Windows alternatives.

MULTIMEDIA LAPTOP – (£600 TO £2,000 OR MORE)

These are for more serious users who want to regularly edit video and RAW photo files. These laptops are about all-out performance and have high-quality screens. If you’re not sure you need to spend this much, you probably don’t.

GOOGLE CHROMEBOOK – (£150 TO £350)

If you’re a big Google user then its cheap laptops are worth considering. They use its Chrome OS operating system and rely heavily on web apps. They’re simple and cheap and lack the bloatware, such as anti-virus, that often plagues cheap Windows .

WHAT IS THE SONY WIRELESS STEREO HEADSET 2.0?

 the gaming space you'll discover a sea of ear pads, surround-sound and brightly coloured headsets that you’d be reluctant to showcase out on the open road. And it's becoming increasingly difficult to pick out a model that will fit your needs – and your budget.

If you’re a PS4 gamer looking for a wireless headset with surround sound and a strong design, then you should seriously consider Sony’s own Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0. Built specifically for the PS4, they cost just £79.99, which is quite a bargain compared to other PS4 headsets on the market.

Although a black version of this headset has been around since early 2014, Sony has now released a Glacier White model to complement the two main iterations of the PS4 console. So, I thought I’d give them a second look.

SONY WIRELESS STEREO HEADSET 2.0 – DESIGN

The Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 features a minimalistic design that apes its console counterpart, with an angular headband that rests upon over-ear cups. It’s simple and sleek, complemented by the lack of wires and the usual garish gaming headset detailing.

The set is available in black or white, both featuring a striking interior blue band. Made of a sturdy matte plastic, you won't be afraid to throw them into a rucksack to cart around. The ear-cups themselves are finished in a faux-leather material, with a fabric mesh over the speakers. In addition, they fold flat for added portability.

Although a leatherette finish can occasionally lead to some sweaty ears after a long session, this isn't something that I’ve experienced with the Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0. Instead, I’ve found them incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods. My ears are well cushioned by the cups, but also free from any excessive pressure from the headset clamping to my head.

You can adjust the size of the headset by sliding the cups up and down the band, so both large and small head sizes are catered for.

See also: Best Gaming Headsets 2015

Sony adds that the panels on the side of the headset are interchangeable, with customised plates available for personalisation. However, these plates are hard to come by, with the only ones we were able to track down available for InFamous: Second Son – released back in March, 2014.

What adds to the Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0's svelte design is the lack of large buttons and garish branding. Both sides feature a simple PlayStation logo and the button symbols, while Sony has added some minimalistic buttons on the left cup for easy access to volume controls and other settings.

At the front of the left cup sits the power switch, which offers options of “off”, “preset 1” or “preset 2”. On preset 1, you’ll get the basic VSS settings, which we’ve found more than adequate for all our gaming and movie needs. Preset 2, on the other hand, can be customised with your own audio settings, or just adds a little more bass at factory settings. More on that later, though.

Above the power switch is a toggle for switching control between chat and sound, meaning you can individually mute chat or game audio and adjust the volume of both separately.

See also: PS4 vs PS3

Around the back of the left ear-cup is the mute button and a volume rocker, which you can use to adjust the sound of chat and audio. There’s also a toggle for VSS, however I’ve never felt the need to turn it off since it enhances the audio experience so much.

At the very bottom is the micro-USB port for charging the headset and a headphone jack for connecting the cable between the headset and any other mobile device, including PC, PS Vita and smartphones and tablets. The included cable is a little basic though, lacking in-line controls. What’s more, the headset’s buttons aren’t compatible with anything other than the PS4 and PS3.

That’s because this isn’t a Bluetooth headset. It works with the PS4 and PS3 via a simple USB dongle. Once you’ve plugged it in though, the set-up process is simple. Just switch on the headset and you’re ready to play.

See also: PS4 vs Xbox One

The left ear-cup of the Sony Wireless Headset 2.0 houses an internal battery. Sony claims an eight-hours battery life from a single charge, but in practice, the headset surpassed both my own and Sony’s expectations. After eight hours of use, the headset was still displaying two bars of battery life remaining.

It outlasted two PS4 controller batteries and was still going strong.

What’s more, the Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 takes under two hours to fully charge, which means you'll be ready to go in no time.

The benefit of having an official PS4 headset is native in-menu support, which means on-screen headset status displays for volume, chat toggle and battery level. You can see what’s going on with your headset at a glance with the press of the buttons. It’s convenient and a feature that was included on all console gaming headsets.

As I mentioned before, this headset is available in black or white. Unless you have the white PS4, I’d recommend opting for the original black. The white headset picks up grubby marks all too easily, and give it a more worn look more quickly.

See also: PS4 controller battery life - How to make your DualShock 4 last longer

SONY WIRELESS STEREO HEADSET 2.0 – AUDIO QUALITY

The Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 is equipped with a pair of 40mm drivers, giving the headset a wonderfully rounded sound. If pushed, there's a little weakness in the bass, especially on audio tracks listened to via my iPhone 6, where it’s stereo sound only. There’s a slight lack of warmth and bass in certain tracks that have been apparent through other headphones.

But, what it lacks a little in bass, Sony’s PS4 headset makes up for in clarity. Its sound signature can rival some top-of-the-range headphones.

However, the biggest plus is this headset's support for up to 7.1 virtual surround sound on both the PS3 and PS4. The Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 is able to remix anything up to a 7.1 surround sound signal, with the VSS ensuring that the sounds are all in the right places for headset audio.

It's generally down to the individual games to take full advantage of this capability, though, with some titles’ sound mix falling a little flat in comparison to blockbusters such as The Last of Us, Batman: Arkham Knight and Metal Gear Solid V.

See also: Best Games 2015

What makes things a little easier for audio beginners is that the Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 comes with a complimentary app for tweaking audio settings. The Headset Companion App can be downloaded from the PlayStation Store.

It’s here that you can fine-tune the audio settings and upload your preferences to preset 2 on the headset. You can choose to do this manually or pick from a variety of Sony-created presets. There are options for specific game and movie genres, or you can select a specific game.

Currently there are specific audio profiles for the following:

• Bloodborne
• Until Dawn
• Batman: Arkham Knight
• The Order: 1886
• Driveclub
• InFamous: Second Son
• Far Cry 4
• Watch Dogs
• Destiny
• The Last of Us

I tried out Driveclub, The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Knight profiles, which you upload to the headset by plugging it into the PS4. It takes only a second to upload and I immediately noticed subtle differences in the sound for each game profile. The engine’s growl was especially throaty for Driveclub, and using the Last of Us profile for Metal Gear Solid V sessions meant I could catch the footsteps of the patrolling guards as I lay in wait, camping out behind a crumbling wall with tranquilliser gun ready.

See also: Metal Gear Solid 5 tips and tricks

I also love the fact that the Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0's microphone is built in; there’s no boom mic in need of constant adjustment. My PSN buddies were able to easily hear me whispering expletives crystal clear.

The only issue I had was with the wireless range, which is a little limited. It’s fine if you’re staying in the same room as the PS4, but if you want to perhaps travel a little further around the house – to the next room, for example – I found that the sound cuts out every now and then.

See also: Best PS4 Games 2015

SHOULD I BUY THE SONY WIRELESS STEREO HEADSET 2.0?

For a perfect all-round PS4 headset you have two choices. You either opt for the Sony Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 – a superb, affordable and dedicated PS4 headset. Or, you fork out for the Turtle Beach Elite 800.

The Elite 800 headset is Bluetooth compatible so it will work with a variety of devices, has a charging dock and DTS Headphone: X 7.1 surround sound among other features that makes it the superior headset. But it's more than three times the cost of the Sony at a whopping £250.