Technology Reviews

Reviews

Tech review: Microsoft Surface Pro 6 

Buying a laptop has never involved so many choices. Do you want a traditional or touchscreen model? A 'two in one' or 'convertible'? Or what about a work-friendly 'pro tablet'?

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: I've decided I want to train for a marathon next year. I want to get a decent sports smartwatch to help encourage myself. Is one of the tracker devices enough or is it worth getting...

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: Hi, can you recommend the best camera (but not the most expensive) for a beginner? It's mainly for taking photos of a new baby. I'm looking at the Olympus Pen, but is Canon any good? I'd...

Tech Review: Huawei Mate 20 Pro 

What is the ultimate high-end work phone? Indeed, what is a work phone these days?

Tech review: Apple Watch Series 4 

Some people still wonder if a smartwatch is for them. Apple's new model makes a compelling case. The new Series 4 Watch is a major step up in almost every way from the Series 3 model, itself a decent smartwatch.

Review: Apple's excellent new iPad is a real Pro and ever closer to a laptop replacement 

Apple has a new portable computer that it believes will strongly appeal to professionals and creative types. But do people yet see the iPad Pro as a...

Tech review: Canon Eos R 

Canon has finally produced a full-frame mirrorless camera. But is it worth the attention of professionals?

Tech Review: Google Pixel 3 XL 

GOOGLE'S new Pixel 3 XL is clearly a flagship contender with some excellent features and a very good camera. But it may not have a killer distinct feature to make it stand out from its immediate rivals. And the fact that it is stuck with a single rear camera lens will count against it for those...

Tech review: Fujifilm X-T3 

Is this the best non full-frame camera on the market? If your main use for it is photography rather than video, it certainly feels like it.

Tech review: Why it's worth stretching your laptop budget to get your hands on this Yoga 

You generally get what you pay for with a laptop. If you can afford it, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga really is top-of-the-line stuff. It has a best-in-class...

From scenery to selfie - putting smartphone cameras in sharp focus 

And if you're in need of a 'proper' camera... 

Tech review: Thin but sturdy Elitebook hits right business note as HP ups its game in laptop market 

In many ways, laptops are now like cars: they vary a lot less than they used to. That said, there are still some differences worth paying attention to.

Tech review: Amazon looking good with Echo Spot but audio quality is limited 

Smart speakers are probably the fastest-growing new gadget in our homes. While Google recently launched its Home speaker, Amazon has had an...

Reviewed: DJI's latest drone and Bang and Olufsen's bluetooth speaker 

DJI now dominates drone sales because their models are generally the best around. I’m a fairly avid user, having purchased two myself over the last two years – the miniature Spark last year and...

Tech Review: Fun photos in an instant as Fujifilm ups game 

There's something special about instant camera prints.

iPhone v Samsung v Huawei: which is best? 

Tech review: Cheaper Huawei P20 beats most rivals on price and features 

This review column recently rated Huawei's P20 Pro (€899) as the best cameraphone out there at present. But Huawei also has a highly impressive...

Tech review: Sony knocks Canon and Nikon off perches with A7 Mark iii 

If I was choosing a photography ecosystem based on a 'full frame' body, I'd be very tempted to choose Sony's A7 Mark iii.

Tech review: Jabra headset works for office chat but too small to block noise 

With most phones now moving away from 3.5mm headphone sockets, wireless headphones are becoming a lot more popular. Sitting atop this...

Adrian Weckler on Nokia 7 Plus: 'In an age of unbelievable phone cameras, this is very good for a mid-tier model' 

Last year, when I reviewed the Nokia 8 flagship phone, I was a little underwhelmed. No such...

Tech Review: Google's Wifi speeds up home's far corners 

Despite the wonders of modern home wifi, many of us find at least one spot around the place where the signal falls off a little or a lot. It's not entirely obvious what to do in this scenario, other than...

Adrian Weckler: Tablets are a funny breed...but the new iPad blows most other rivals away 

Tablets are a funny breed of computer. On one hand, they are the natural inheritors for casual use - web browsing, email and media consumption -...

Tech Review: Sony's Xperia XZ2 fails to keep pace with rivals' flagship devices 

Sony has always made decent smartphones with great cameras. Of late, however, it has been falling behind the competition.

Tech Review: Canon's M50: the 'M' may as well stand for 'meh' 

Like the photographic equivalent of an oil tanker, Canon is ever-so-slowly turning itself around to focus more prominently on mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. It has no real...

Tech Review: Pixel perfect: Huawei leapfrogs rivals as P20 Pro becomes top cameraphone 

What will your next phone be? An Apple, a Samsung or ... a Huawei?

Tech Review: pricey Sony headphones fail to impress despite excellent record in noise-cancelling field 

With most phones now moving away from 3.5mm headphone sockets, wireless headphones are becoming a lot more popular.

Review: The new Panasonic Lumix GH5S 

If Panasonic wants a new catchphrase for its new Lumix GH5S, let me offer the following: ‘Come for the video, stay for the stills’.

Adrian Weckler review: Huawei P20 Pro appears to have muscled its way to the top of the camera phone podium 

A couple of years ago, phones killed off compact cameras.

Tech Review: Low-light shots a highlight as Panasonic offers best of both worlds 

If Panasonic wants a new catchphrase for its new Lumix GH5S, let me offer the following: 'Come for the video, stay for the stills'.

Tech Review: Samsung S9 camera puts it in the frame for top spot 

Samsung has unveiled its new Galaxy S9 and S9+ flagship smartphones.

Tech Review: Sony Xperia XA2 is a solid mid-range phone with a good camera 

Mobile World Congress kicks off next week and, with it, a host of new smartphones from the main manufacturers will be unveiled. Getting in...

The clever and easy way to set about creating a smart home of the future from scratch 

Talk of 'connected' or 'smart' homes often causes eyes to roll. It's not just the ludicrous cost that such concepts have historically had, with their...

The little tube that adds real oomph to speakers system 

Now that smart speakers such as Amazon's Echo and Apple's HomePod (which isn't yet available in the Irish market) are coming on stream, is there a future for 'dumb' standalone speakers?

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor Adrian Weckler tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q: I want to get a wireless speaker for my kitchen but my son told me I should get a 'smart speaker' instead. Is there any advantage to this over a...

Tech Review: H2 'earprint' brings personal touch - but not when walking 

Headphones are like speakers: there appears to be an unending supply of them. But Even thinks that it has a distinction of note in a unique feature it...

Ask Adrian: Easy-to-use tech for a hospital stay 

Q: My mother is going into hospital for a while. Do you have advice on any easy-to-use technology that might help keep her entertained? She can use a smartphone but her eyesight is not great, nor is...

Bargain hunt: Six of the best tech tools to look out for when this year's sales begin 

Although Christmas is still four days away, the sales are just five days away. Many people use this period to save a few euro on discounted stock...

Tech Review: Devialet brings high-fidelity quality to wifi world 

Our post-hifi era makes it easier and cheaper to get music - all you need is your phone, a Spotify subscription and a Bluetooth speaker. But there's a catch which comes in the form of a diminution...

To the rescue: eight last-minute executive tech Christmas gifts to buy 

Like to leave it late to get the worker bee in your life their Christmas tech gift? We have you covered. Here are eight good choices that will delight any executive on Christmas morning.

Adrian Weckler: What not to buy... the Grinch gadgets that could really ruin Christmas 

Gadgets make great gifts. But not always. Here are eight tech devices you should definitely avoid getting loved ones this Christmas.

Smart thinking from Vodafone for best device of year 

If you're looking for a budget smartphone that performs beyond its price tag, Vodafone's new Smart V8 is my choice as the best device of the year.

Price is right as much-loved Nokia returns with flagship smartphone 

A flagship smartphone? Nokia? Yep, you read that right. The king of nineties and noughties mobile phones is back with a device that it hopes will return us to considering it in same conversations...

Fuji printer is an instant hit for your pin-up shots 

Be honest: when is the last time you printed off a photo you really like from your phone or social feed? If you're like me, it's something you're constantly 'about to get around to'. But the day...

Tech review: Huawei's Mate 10 Pro is a phone-toting workaholic's dream with great battery life, a standout camera and a keen price 

It isn't as flashy looking as rivals from Apple or Samsung. But if you prize battery life highly,...

The Ultimate Wish-list: The 50 best gadgets of 2017 

What’s the gadget of the year? Is it the iconic iPhone X? Or a smartwatch? Or a drone? Or something else entirely? With Black Friday upon us, now is a good time to look at the cream of this...

Tech Review: Canon's EOS M6 mirrorless camera is a good all-rounder but lacks the pizazz of rivals 

There are three different audiences for Canon's recently-release M6 mirrorless camera: (i) travellers (ii) video bloggers ('vloggers') and (iii)...

Seriously impressive: Google Pixelbook can travel light and do heavy lifting for business 

Five years ago, Google was a software and online ad company. Now, it makes hardware such as phones and laptops. It has deliberately gone for...

Apple Watch 3 ticks all the boxes and is definitely fit for purpose - but just be wary of jumping in at the deep end 

IS IT time to consider Apple's Watch Series 3? If so, a reminder that Irish customers are limited to...

Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 is an outstanding flagship phone for business users 

Much of the attention over the last month may have been around Apple's new iPhones. But Samsung recently launched a beast of a flagship...

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q I recently cleared out my attic and am left with a bunch of old tech stuff I'd forgotten about including a monitor, keyboards, a tablet, a Playstation 2 and even two old mobile phones.