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| ByAlTechAdvisor |
1. iPad Pro
Pitched, in part, as a laptop replacement, the iPad Pro allows you to work on the go and even multi-task with split-screen view so you can run two apps on the screen at the same time. And its bigger screen certainly makes split-screen work easier, in the same way the iPhone 6 is a better experience than the iPhone 5 because of the extra scale.
Therefore, as a laptop replacement for around the house, the iPad Pro fits the bill. It is fast, quick, and easy to use. Whether working on the sofa (if there's a coffee table), watching Netflix or Sky Go in bed, or sitting at a desk working on annotations with the Pencil, that extra screen real-estate looks great.
2. PS4
Sony's PlayStation 4 is fast, powerful, small and packed with huge amounts of potential. It is a solid console that looks good while offering huge amounts of internal power.
It lacked the must-have major games when it first launched but these titles are now starting to arrive and with more still to come, this console can only get better. Sony fans won't be disappointed in the PS4. With a healthy collection of games coming early 2016, it's a console that will deliver the true knock-out it's capable of in the months and years to come.
3. Apple iPhone 6S
An iPhone S update year usually means a couple of new features that most people could take or leave, but the iPhone 6S is the most exciting S model for a long time. It bucks the usual trend, delivering a phone that will offer plenty to iPhone users new and old alike, with 3D Touch a principle new feature that will lead iPhone functionality going forward.
Improved battery life, enhanced cameras and slick operability from iOS 9 all make the iPhone 6S great to use, even if the screen resolution is still behind the current flagship curve. The addition of Live Photos, 4K video and baked-in Hey Siri might be less integral to all, but they're the kind of fun features people want and that Apple delivers well. The iPhone 6S is a device that doesn't disappoint.
4. HP Spectre x360
At first glance the HP Spectre x360 may seem to rely on gimmicky extras. A 360-degree hinge, ultra-wide trackpad and touchscreen may put off some people who are just out for a long-lasting, slim laptop. But don't be put off. These features are worthy additions to what is already a rock-solid, high-value portable laptop.
The x360 works just about perfectly as an everyday workhorse thanks to its great battery life and sound aluminium design. Starting at £799, it manages to make Apple's laptops look expensive once more, something not many Windows machines have managed of late. For those after the glossy extras like a keyboard backlight, versatile hinge design and touchscreen, the HP Spectre x360 is an accomplished all-rounder.
5. Splatoon
It has been a long time since a Nintendo console was credited for having one of the best multiplayer shooters around but that's what it has in Splatoon. That and a new intellectual property that will firmly establish itself amongst the publisher's great and good for years to come.
Splatoon wowed us and many other industry critics back at its unveiling at the E3 gaming expo in 2014. A year on, after some refinement and expansion, this is Nintendo doing what it does best: making quirky, quality games that will keep gamers of all levels coming back for more. It's a game that delights and rewards in equal measure, with character progression and a clever player-matching system that makes sure you only play opponents of your skill level. It is one ink-credible multiplayer shooter.
6. Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8
The Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8 on-ear headphones look great, hammer out bass, and their active noise-cancellation is brilliant. For at-home on-ear headphones there's plenty to like about the BeoPlay H8. But if you want a more natural listen with less of a bass-in-your-face experience then there are alternative options out there without such a sizeable price tag.
We like the Beoplay H8 and continue to wear them at our desk day in, day out, soaking up the bass. But, and despite their inherent positive qualities, they quite simply won't meet everyone's expectations.
7. Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
The Xperia Z4 Tablet is the latest tablet to roll off Sony's line, announced at Mobile World Congress in March. It doesn't look drastically different to Sony's past tablets but it offers a great display and a great quality build and a slim design.
It's a great tablet to use, it offers solid performance and battery life, and the bundled keyboard is a big nod to the productivity ambitions that the Z4 Tablet harbours. The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is one of the slickest Android tablets out there. It has power that will leave many standing, but you'll have to pay a high price to own one.
8. Xbox One
The Xbox One has gone from strength to strength in 2015 with a new user experience and features being added throughout the year. And it's not just about gaming.
It's a games console in the traditional sense that the Xbox and Xbox 360 were, but the new Xbox is an evolution of everything that the Xbox 360 introduced. It's about entertainment in a wider sense, drawing all the strands together to give you one box, one system, one platform.
The Xbox One marks the start of a new generation of entertainment, one that's centred around your big screen and one that wants to give you everything from gaming to music, to movies and more. There are omissions still, but the Xbox One is a gateway to a multitude of home entertainment, pulling all the strands into one interlinked experience.
CD Project RED / The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
For role-playing game fans it's only once in a blue moon a title comes along that's so engrossing you'll willingly surrender not just a little bit of time to play it, but days and weeks of your life. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a prime example; a captivating game that, for our money, is the best RPG since Skyrim.
We've spent a lot of time playing The Witcher 3. Enough time to spot some of its minor niggles and irks; enough time to reflect on its imperfect moments; yet enough time to forget what day of the week it is in the real world because that's how engrossing this game is. As real-time role-playing games go there are few better.
10. Asus ZenPad S 8.0
Asus may not be the first company that pops into your head when it comes to tablets but it is secretly a bit of a tablet demon, having come up with the Nexus 7 (2013), as well as the much more recent and excellent ZenPad S 8.0.
The Asus ZenPad S 8.0 is special because it crams a good, super-sharp screen into a very slim and handy body for a great price. The Asus ZenPad S 8.0 piddles all over the hardware some rivals are bringing out at the price. If £170 is as high as the budget will stretch and you have the patience for some little software tweaks, the ZenPad S 8.0 is a tablet that is very easy to recommend.
11. Amazon Fire tablet
When Amazon revealed that it was to release a tablet in its Fire range that would only cost £50 we have to admit that we didn't expect much. Previous cheap-as-chips devices have never cut the mustard but the Amazon Fire tablet doesn't just break the rules; it gives them a nasty kick in the nethers.
For its price, the Amazon Fire is an amazing tablet. Yes, there are plenty of tablets out there that are much better in almost every way, including Amazon's own Fire HD range, but the Fire is great to watch streaming video on. It's capable of playing casual games well. And it doubles effectively as an eBook reader. If you don't already have a tablet and have invested a lot in Amazon digital content or are a Prime subscriber, it's a no-brainer.
12. Toshiba Chromebook 2
We have often bemoaned Chromebook screens for their poor viewing angles, but the Toshiba Chromebook 2 CB30-B-104 makes significant inroads into rectifying the issue: not only does it offer great viewing angles, it does so in glorious 1920 x 1080 resolution. And Full HD looks great.
There are still the usual Chromebook criticisms: the lack of distinct apps will be a problem for some users, the plastic build quality isn't up to much, and battery life is so-so at best. That said, at this price point the Toshiba Chromebook 2 is easily the best in its category. It's affordable, simple to use, up to speed with online and offline functionality, and shows why such Chrome OS devices are proving so popular. Finally, a Chromebook worth buying.
13. OnePlus 2
When does one plus two equal more than three? When it's the OnePlus 2, the budget self-styled "flagship killer" that's full of top-end features at such an affordable price point. This 5.5-inch sequel to the original OnePlus One has been through a software revamp, embodies a top-spec Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, and even squeezes in flagship features such as a fingerprint scanner, for just £239.
The OnePlus 2 is an exceptional phone, without just taking the price into consideration. It lives in its own space, because nothing else at this price point delivers nearly as much. The OnePlus 2 has single-handedly demolished the mid-range market, and while it lacks some elements of flagship finery such as a QHD screen resolution or NFC, we didn't miss such features during our week of use. If only it was easier to actually buy one.
14. Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
The "standard" Galaxy S6, with its new metal build, was considered an impressive design push for the flagship range. The S6 edge, on the other hand, is an extravagant foray into capturing the imagination of public and pundits alike by showing off just how far design can be pushed.
When design is done correctly it fuses aesthetics with functionality. The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge does exactly that; it's a phone that turns heads, rightfully reinforcing its position as one of the most enticing flagships on the market and the most exciting phone we've seen for some generations.
15. Huawei Mate S
Over the past year we've seen the rising tide of Chinese smartphones and Huawei has long been saying it has ambitions to establish itself globally as a consumer smartphone brand. The Huawei Mate S is the company's best smartphone ever, and a genuine reason to sit up and take notice.
There's a lot to love about the Huawei Mate S. We like the finish of the metal body and the slimness that Huawei has achieved. The fingerprint scanner is excellent too, and there's great performance from both cameras, along with some impressive attention to detail in Huawei's software. The Huawei Mate S is a commendable smartphone and a welcome addition to the company's range, worthy of consideration for those looking for top-notch quality without the cost.
16. Halo 5: Guardians
Having been first teased in the summer of 2013, Halo 5: Guardians has been a long time coming, but its arrival could not have been better timed. It was always going to appeal directly to existing fans who want to continue Master Chief's journey, but 343 Industries has created a game this time that could win an all-new audience too.
Graphically Halo 5 is superb, running at 60fps and looking super smooth. And you never really notice the dynamic drops in resolution during the more mental combat sequences because, well, you'll be more concerned with the mental combat. The first Halo was sub-titled Combat Evolved, so with that in mind we guess you could consider Halo 5: Guardians as Combat Evolved, evolved. It might not be the game that everyone was expecting, but we think it's super stuff.
17. Nexus 6P
This year we've had not one but two Nexus phones and while the 5X wasn't quite that exciting, the Huawei-made 6P flagship not only makes Android Marshmallow shine, but it also makes most of the other Android devices currently available seem like part of the "everything else" crowd.
The Nexus 6P is the absolute definition of top-tier, and the best Nexus device to date. If there were ever a time to try out the best of what Google has to offer, now is that time. Huawei did us all a favour and finally paired great hardware with great software in this handset.
18. Dell XPS 13 (2015)
After company privatisation and realigning its focus for the business market, Dell only went and launched the most desirable 13-inch consumer laptop that we've ever seen: the 2015 version of the XPS 13. It has plenty of headline grabbing specs: a super-high resolution display with an almost entirely absent bezel; lightweight machined aluminium and carbon fibre construction; and the smallest 13-inch form factor available on the market.
Despite a few of minor moans some fan noise, a slightly reflective screen and exaggerated battery life claims there's not an equivalent Windows laptop we can commend more highly than the Dell XPS 13. It's enough to give Apple something to chew on.
19. Apple iPad mini 4
The Apple iPad mini 4 is faster, slimmer and more accomplished than its iPad mini 3 predecessor. This time around the mini succeeds in finding its place, despite not being as altogether powerful as the larger iPad Air 2.
It's a lovely, compact tablet with anti-reflective screen coating that makes it good for watching movies, playing games, and reading or writing on the go. The mini doesn't mean a compromise; this is as much iPad as many will need and it performs excellently as an on-the-go tablet.
20. Apple MacBook
The 12-inch MacBook is all about portability. Apple focused on creating a laptop so thin, so sleek, so light, that everything else has been pushed by the wayside. For some that will be too much, with the lack of ports too futuristic to make it a plausible consideration. We suspect we won't be saying that three years from now, though, when all laptops will be like this.
If you're already a cloud-focused user who never plugs anything in then the MacBook will be an ideal and attractive laptop proposition, albeit an expensive one. Whatever your stance, embracing the future ahead of the curve does mean you'll have to wait for everyone else to catch up, which at times might mean you'll end up getting caught out. The 12-inch MacBook is the future of laptops. The question right now, however, is whether we're ready for that just yet.
21. Panasonic Lumix GX8
The Panasonic Lumix GX8 is an altogether larger and more accomplished system camera than its predecessor. It's seen the surrounding competition and come out guns blazing. In addition to a brand new 20.3-megapixel sensor at its core, the built-in electronic viewfinder, with its new 2360k-dot OLED panel, is as large as any we've seen in a compact system camera.
With the best image quality of any Micro Four Thirds camera to date, the GX8 can't fail to impress. It's bursting with even more features than its GX7 predecessor, offering a vari-angle screen and tilt-angle viewfinder combination that nothing else on the market can touch.
22. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain the first fully realised Metal Gear game for the latest crop of consoles has understandably arrived amid a cacophony of hype. Much as our instinct would generally be to approach such situations with scepticism, The Phantom Pain proves to be so good that no matter how much hyperbole you chucked at it, it would still soak it all up and leave you impressed.
The Phantom Pain is so vast, complex yet understandable, and entertaining thanks to a storyline which is utterly bonkers in the grand Japanese manner yet still manages to explore Big Boss's inner conflicts – that we'd defy anyone to come away from it without having been completely blown away. It's not just the best Metal Gear Solid title to date, it's the best stealth game ever made.
23. Forza Motorsport 6
Forza Motorsport 6 is an order of magnitude better than any of its predecessors. At last, after ten years of trying, turn 10 has made a heavyweight, utterly credible racing game that is completely free of any glaring flaws.
Whatever you do, don't show it to a PlayStation 4 owner, forlornly waiting for news of Gran Turismo 7. Because, for the moment, Forza 6 buys Xbox One owners a vast amount of bragging rights. Indeed, it could plausibly claim to be the best racing game ever made.
24. Amazon Fire TV 4K
The Fire TV is Amazon's fastest selling product of all time, both in its original set-top-box and streaming stick forms. There's only one product that deserves to best its sales records, and that's the second-generation 4K Ultra HD version. It is, quite simply, the best streaming box on the market.
Amazon's second-generation Fire TV box is a real step forward in the media streaming sector. By adopting 4K UHD streaming Amazon has set the bar high for others to follow. Anybody with an Amazon account will be tempted, even if they are yet to buy a 4K TV and if you do own a 4K TV, then welcome to the best option for sourcing UHD content in the UK.
25. Rise of the Tomb Raider
The second outing for the rebooted Lara Croft is bigger than the first but is still restricted to a single-player experience and is still a little short in play time to boot. However, that’s because once you start the adventure mainly set in Siberia you’ll not want to put the game controller down.
Developer Crystal Dynamics ensures that the gameplay mechanics do not get in the way of the story or side missions, and the return of tombs and puzzles are the icing on the cake.
26. Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless
The Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless headphones are, quite simply, among the best wire-free cans we've heard, which is why they come at a premium. The P5 Series 2 headphones on which they are based are £80 cheaper, at £250 rather than £330, so you will have to ask yourself whether cutting the cord is worth it, but we loved the freedom the Wireless model affords.
Certainly the audio performance is up to scratch, regardless of the transmission technology. And nothing has been skimped on the build quality or comfort. So if you want to dispense with the wires, and are happy paying for the privilege, there is no better option than the B&W P5 Wireless.
27. Apple TV (2015)
The new Apple TV has new hardware, new looks, new processors, new connectivity options, and even new software. It's all very new, and it was about time the original box saw an update. It feels a bit half-baked though, especially in light of the strengthening competition. There are a few things missing, such as an iPhone remote app, key catch up services and 4K support, although most of the complaints are fixable.
What the Apple TV does deliver on is the app experience. We've been asking for apps since the launch of the original device, and now we've got them we can see the benefit. There is no doubting that this is the best Apple TV to date, but the use of "TV" is almost a distraction to the device's main focus.
28. Microsoft Surface Pro 3
The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is a 12-inch device that the company referred to as a "laptop killer" when it was first announced. It offers full Windows 8.1, a significant screen resolution with decent viewing angles and it is a viable laptop alternative when used with the keyboard cover.
The Surface Pro 3 is the most accomplished Surface yet, but even with its display, multi-window multi-tasking, variable position stands, touchscreen controls and included stylus, it might not manage to tick all boxes for all users. It is a brilliant device though and well worthy of a nomination.
29. Roku 3
There's stiff competition in the set-top box world but Roku continues to make its mark. For 2015, it updated its flagship set-top box, the Roku 3, with voice-controlled search and a faster interface. It also updated its Roku 2 - which, minus the voice-enabled controller included, is positioned as a cheaper device, making both models just as fast as one another.
The new Roku 3 is among the best set-top boxes out there, even if it's nothing radically different to before. We love that search results are neutral rather than brand-promoted as in the Amazon, Apple and Google products. The only shortcoming isn't so much a fault in the product, it's simply the presence of the cheaper Roku 2.
30. Chromecast 2
The new Chromecast is an easy way to get content to your TV via your phone, tablet or PC without any hassle. Whether you want to playback from apps, mirror browser tabs (or local media playback within), or even play split-screen games - Chromecast 2 is the device that makes your basic TV extra smart.
The first Chromecast was near perfect and with the sequel, Google's has done some polishing to make it shine even more. It won't even begin to replace set-top boxes, but it does a great job of simplifying the process of flinging content from your smart devices to your television, for a good price.
31. Canon EOS 5DS
Canon dilly-dallied around the resolution conundrum for what seemed like an eternity. "Push beyond 22-megapixels? Golly, no way" was pretty much the message for years. And then it went and released a 50.6-megapixel full-frame DSLR - the EOS 5DS. And, frankly, it's bloomin' brilliant.
The Canon EOS 5DS is a specialist DSLR, that's for sure, but treated with knowledge and it's a tool to truly challenge medium format. When paired with the right lenses and selecting sufficient shutter speeds we've seen no ultra-high-resolution DSLR more capable than the Canon EOD 5DS.
32. Nvidia Shield Android TV
Number of Android TV-supported apps aside, the Nvidia Shield Android TV is the best media streamer out their bar none. There are devices that profess to offer more content and channels, but when it comes down to it there are only a handful of key services you will access on a daily basis.
Where the Nvidia device more than makes up for the current lack in the popular services of today is in offering the very best support for the services of tomorrow. You can watch Ultra HD shows through Netflix now or 4K60 streams hosted by YouTube from the off, but the potential is even greater going forward and the Shield TV is well-poised to capitalise. Oh, and it's a blooming' good micro console to boot.
33. Jawbone UP3
The Jawbone UP3 is a great device for the Average Joe, one that can be worn all day and night, but it isn't necessarily best suited for everyone. It comes down to what you are looking for in an activity tracker.
The UP3 is fantastic for highlighting how much you're inactive and then injecting fun and motivation into moving, while the sleep tracking is brilliant, the app is great and the battery life is also a big plus. It isn't as great at recognising a workout as some of the competition however and the step-tracking accuracy should be a bit better but as long as you understand what Jawbone is trying to achieve, the UP3 won't let you down. It's up there with the best of them.
34. Fitbit Charge HR
The Charge HR is more functional in build than desirable like the Swiss Made Within Activiti, but as a fitness tracker Fitbit is far more detailed and excels in almost every department. Automatic heart-rate monitoring is the Charge HR's most prominent feature and considering it can do this and still deliver near-week-long battery life is mighty impressive.
For gym goers not looking for a fully-fledged GPS smartwatch, the Charge HR is definitely top of the pack. The exercise mode and heart-rate monitoring means it embraces indoor sessions, where its competitors seemingly ignore it, and while it isn't the best out there for dedicated runners or swimmers, it most definitely will fit into most people's lifestyles. It's not gorgeous to look at, but the Fitbit Charge HR certainly delivers a fitness-tracking experience a step ahead of the competition.
35. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless
Bowers & Wilkins' Zeppelin range over the years has always impressed where it most matters with the music playback performance. The British company is renowned for putting aside fancy gimmicks and focusing on the audio experience foremost, but the new Zeppelin Wireless is as good looking as it is sounding.
Its audio performance is full-on, not half-baked. Deep, rolling bass coupled with precise control over mid and high frequencies belie even its £500 price tag. And that's regardless of whether you are listening to Spotify or CD-quality rips you've prepared yourself. If you are looking to add a premium wireless speaker into your life, the 2015 B&W Zeppelin is the one you seek. Just look at it.
36. Devon Envaya Mini
The eye-catching Denon Envaya Mini is a mighty portable speaker capable of delivering big, burbling bass and quality audio over the airwaves. Genuinely portable, with its own carry case included, we can't think of a more desirable sub-£100 small-scale Bluetooth speaker.
Although there's no Wi-Fi/Airplay connectivity, the battery isn't as long-lasting as claimed, and we would prefer a steeper incline to project the sound up from typical desk height, those are minor quibbles in what is otherwise a top product. Don't be fooled by its small and unassuming size, at this price point the Envaya Mini is as good as portable Bluetooth speakers come.
37. Ultimate Ears Megaboom
There are boat loads of portable Bluetooth speaker options but the UE Megaboom is a standout product; one only really limited by the high price point and less balanced omni-directional sound output than the smaller UE Boom model.
Even the high price can't muddy the raft of good points that see it swim along (literally if you dunk it in the bath, thanks to waterproofing) however: this bass-booming cylinder sounds great, looks great, and is tough enough to tackle music in the office, for that summer picnic or festival, or whatever else you happen to throw at it. It's Bluetooth speaker bliss.
38. DJI Phantom 3 Professional
The DJI Phantom 3 Professional is a joy to use and one of the most accessible drones we've flown. The mass of pro-spec features, approachability and ease of use make this a real winner. We could argue the catch is the price, but even at £1159 for the one-battery Professional option it's actually well priced for a professional 4K video capture tool.
There are cheaper drones on the market, of course, including DJI's own Standard version or lower ranges, but they come at the expense of ditching 4K capture, GPS and some other features. The clue's in the name: it says it's Professional and having used it we can't argue with that. The DJI Phantom 3 Professional is a true 4K high-flier.
39. Sonos Play:5 (2015)
Sonos has a fantastic track record in delivering great speakers - and the new Play:5 sets yet another precedent. It has a subtle yet sophisticated design that we love, offers a brilliant app to connect to streaming services and all your music, among other great features such as capacitive touch controls.
More importantly however, the sound it delivers is superb, especially with Trueplay software tuning. Yes, it's slightly bass biased and there's no hi-res support but the new Play:5 is all-round fantastic. Sonos has competition nipping at its heels left, right and centre, but the new Play:5 shows what 13 years of experience can deliver. It's the ideal way to start a Sonos multi-room system, or add a badass centre piece to an existing one.
40. Osmo
Osmo is a fantastic balance of educational and fun for iPad users; the included apps are really clever and we particularly love the drawing focus of Masterpiece. We can see Osmo having huge potential to grow over time with more games and apps to push the imagination of what's possible.
That does come with the potential added cost of additional game packs, though, and the £70 Starter Kit price isn't exactly budget. Otherwise the only downside we've seen is trying to grab the iPad back off the kids to use the tablet for other things.
41. Netatmo Welcome
The Netatmo Welcome is among the best smarthome cameras we have had the pleasure of spying on us. It has a beautiful design that integrates well into the home, but it's the facial recognition technology that really won us over.
Compared to the rest of the market, the Welcome isn't quite as feature-rich. Take the Withings Home, for example: by comparison the Netatmo lacks panning and zooming, doesn't double-up as a nightlight, nor can it be used to speak through via the smartphone app. But we'd certainly take its facial recognition feature over the ability to function as a nightlight, sing a lullaby, or monitor the air quality. The Netatmo Welcome does more than you'd expect from many smarthome cameras, with less intrusion and the potential for fewer alerts.
42. Fallout 4
Sprawling and vast, Fallout 4 is trickier to get into in comparison with the previous chapters on former generation machines, but it rewards stoicism with one of the biggest role-playing adventures of all time. It also adds a base building mechanic to the gameplay, where you can construct your own villages for fellow survivors, so adds something new to the first or third-person shooting and looting action of before.
There are few games available today that were as long wait as this one, and even fewer with such scope.
43. Fujifilm X-T10
It might sound like the bad guy from a not-yet-written Terminator movie, but the Fujifilm X-T10 is actually the good guy. A very good guy indeed. For this compact system camera is like a watered-down version of its X-T1 bigger brother, albeit without the bigger price to boot.
The Fujifilm X-T10's combination of retro design, quality construction, top notch image quality and decent general performance make it a great all-rounder. To find shortcomings only really shows face in the autofocus and so-so battery life departments. Therefore, our minor qualms remain just that, and aren't enough to hold the X-T10 back. This is retro done right.
44. Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7
There may be no Bluetooth wireless and no active noise-cancellation, but the overall quality of the Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 means that, ultimately, we didn't really care. These are classic yet contemporary cans - and for the £200 asking price you'd be hard pressed to find a better pair of headphones capable of reproducing such a natural sound.
Good looking, well built, largely devoid of the plastics that can be all too common in Audio-Technica products, and with a snug fit that's comfortable to wear for hours on end, we'd only shrink the branding presence a little. Criticisms few and far between, in this price bracket the Audio-Technica MSR7 are next to perfect headphones for the discerning listener.
45. Leica Q
The Leica Q represents a brand in the throes of change, one looking to appeal to both new and existing customers. This full-frame fixed-lens compact, which pairs a 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens with 24-megapixel sensor, isn't a rebadged and renamed Panasonic like so many of Leica's compact cameras are. Instead it's a bold, niche, yet thoroughly exciting solo venture.
Leica cameras are known for being out of this world. Not just for their no-nonsense build and super-sharp picture quality, but astronomical pricing too. The Leica Q encompasses all of those things and yet despite its near-£3k price tag it's still an incredible camera, certainly the best full-frame fixed-lens compact ever made. The Q is that rare Leica that will transcend users old and new thanks to its combination of classic and modern features. A rare yet wonderful thing indeed.
46. Naim Mu-so
The Naim Mu-so is one seriously standout wireless speaker. Sure, its £895 price tag is going to deter its fullest possible audience, but the Mu-so is so good it's worth saving up for. The industrial design aesthetic mirrors some of Naim's higher-end hi-fi products and sound is sonically sensational whatever tracks you happen to throw at it.
It's a wonder why it's taken Naim so many years to create its first wireless speaker, because as first attempts go, the Mu-so is a stormer. It is one great-looking, great-sounding product with plenty of input sources and a decent app to boot. Hear it and believe: The Mu-so is the new-wave hi-fi for the 21st century.
47. Sphero BB-8
At £130 the Sphero BB-8 is a little expensive, especially as the original Sphero is £30 cheaper and comes with more games. But with BB-8 you don't get the Star Wars experience and that's really what you're paying for here on top of the original.
Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, BB-8 is great fun, especially if you take the time to create an obstacle course to traverse. It's likely to be one of the must-have Star Wars toys to own this Christmas.
48. Sony Bravia X94C 4K
With its 75-inch screen and built-in speakers the Sony Bravia X94C is undeniably huge, but as its little brother X93C (available in a 65-inch screen size) can't live up to the same performance levels, we couldn't help but love the 75X9405C.
Minor issues are nothing more than the classic molehill next to the mountain of stuff that Sony's flagship TV gets right. What you really need to think about with this TV is which bits of furniture you can sell to make the space and money you need to get a 75X9405C in your lives. As 4K TVs go, the Sony Bravia X94C is hugely impressive.
49. Lego Dimensions
Lego Dimensions had a mountain to climb in order to catch-up with the other well-established toys-to-life games, namely Skylanders and Disney Infinity. But it's more than done that, establishing itself as the most imaginative and open-minded of the bunch.
The actual value delivered is considerable, from the physical toys through to the additional sections opened within the game as a result. Playing Lego Dimensions with just the Starter Pack purchase is a huge amount of family-friendly fun too - it's a game that will keep families of all ages highly entertained for time to come. Make no bricks about it, Lego Dimensions is the toys-to-life game of the year.
50. LG 65EF950V 4K OLED
When it comes to the sources widely available today, LG's flat OLED debutante spends the vast majority of its time producing pictures more flat-out beautiful than anything we've seen before.
There are limits to the LG950V's capabilities that you need to try and stay within where possible but the combination of LG's strongest OLED picture quality with a controversy-free flat screen shape and a ground-breakingly low price makes it an AV force to be reckoned with. This is the most convincing proof yet that OLED is surely still destined to play a large role in the future of the gogglebox.
51. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV
There's no escaping it - the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV is one pricey compact camera. Is that the price of perfection? Almost. Finding genuine gripes with this camera is tricky. Sure, Canon has come out with its touchscreen G9 X, but that feels like a plaything by comparison to this Sony (despite being excusable at half the price), while most competitors offer nothing nearly as capable, nor as pocketable.
A more detailed and faster autofocus system wouldn't go amiss, but even so the Sony RX100 is still the high-end compact camera to beat.
52. Asus Zenbook UX305
The mid-range laptop market tends to be a sea of nondescript plastic but that's not so with the Acer Zenbook UX305, which is certainly in the running for king of the mid-range laptops. Of course there are more powerful and feature-heavy laptops out there, but at this £649 price point, with its Full HD 13.3-inch screen, metal build, full size keyboard, silent operation and super-slim build, the Asus Zenbook UX305 is hard to fault.
Even if it's not as spec heavy as the original maxed-out model shown at IFA last year, for the money you'll struggle to find many Windows laptops that can better the UX305. It injects a little much-needed excitement into the mid-range market.
53. Anki Overdrive
The kids we let loose in the office loved Anki Overdrive's different game modes, while the snappable, swappable track pieces gave them plenty of room to adapt and change the set when they got bored. Push the accelerator to full blast and the car whizzes around the track with little effort, while the cars are so intelligent it can take the fun out of it a little.
That said, Anki Drive is great fun and we love the way it merges the real and the virtual to great effect. Our kids told us that Anki is more fun than Lego Marvel Super Heroes on the PS4. And considering we struggle to get them off that, that's high praise indeed.
54. Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is a powerful smartwatch with plenty of features on offer - from calls, to notifications, and thousands of apps all on your wrist. There's not much that sets it apart from the competition, however, save for its good-looking design.
It's the most designer, fashion-aware take on the smartwatch yet and a more luxurious accessory than most of the competition offers. What Apple has created is fantastic, but it hasn't yet fully addressed the social issues associated with wearing such a device on your wrist. We put the Watch on each day like an item of clothing and it has become an extension of our daily tech lives, but it is still a tough sell and it will probably continue to divide opinion for a long time to come.
55. Neato Botvac Connected
The Neato Botvac Connected impressed us. It not only managed to seamlessly cross between varying floor surfaces, but it left them clean and it was able to cope well enough without being babysat. It might have got stuck a couple of times, but it was more accurate and less clumsy than its competitors.
Its controllability also goes hugely in its favour. The app is fantastic and although we won't be dumping our Dyson anytime soon, as robot vacuums go this Neato is an excellent cleaner that keeps on top of things for a much less painful weekly top-up vacuum.
56. LG 55EG960V 4K OLED
The LG EG960V has black levels as good as they get and while it loses some realism for the sake of saturation when it comes to colour, a little settings tweaking and the EG960V's picture quality is truly excellent.
Ultimately, and despite its high price tag, the LG 55EG960V sets itself up as the best-in-class 4K OLED. But then it's also the only one out there (ignoring the 65-inch version). Given how well the EG960V handles 4K and 1080p content (plus it's future-proofed to handle 4K broadcast) though, on the evidence we've seen this OLED option is certainly worth its asking price for serious home cinema enthusiasts.
57. Withings Activite
The Withings Activiti is a beautifully designed device that, without a shadow of a doubt, delivers on its promise of being a wearable that you'll actually want to wear. It looks fantastic and we happily replaced our standard watch with it.
It is made from quality materials that exude a premium feel and the effort that went into designing this device is more than apparent. If you're after a stylish activity tracker, the Withings Activiti hits the nail firmly on the head. It's simple, subtle and the perfect balance between form and function.
58. Hive Active Heating 2.0
Hive Active Heating remains one of the more accessible smart heating systems. There are a growing number of rivals, but with British Gas pushing Hive, it's an easy option to select. The latest iteration of Hive Active Heating is the most compelling so far. The refreshed thermostat gives a visual lift with a smarter retro design and offers much better functionality than the previous version.
The new features give you more flexibility for greater control, but the competition from the likes of Honeywell and Nest remains strong and there has been no word on HomeKit compatibility. Overall though, Hive Active Heating is great, offers a new thermostat that looks fantastic in this latest version and continues to strengthen its offering.
59. Amazon Echo
We think hands-free voice control is a godsend and that Alexa, Amazon Echo's personal assistant, truly distinguishes this Bluetooth speaker from the competition. It blew our minds. Alexa converses well, feels natural to interact with, and is very useful. Over time, it will become more useful, with Belkin WeMo and Philips Hue compatibility coming soon.
As a Bluetooth speaker, Echo failed to blow our minds however. It's simply not the best sounding speaker out there and there's no on-board battery either, so it always needs to be wired to a wall socket. Still, we can see where Amazon is going with Echo. And it's not entirely music-led: add chicken broth to our shopping list, check if it'll rain tomorrow, or look up Johnny Depp's birthday. Why not.
60. AKG N90Q
Not all headphones are made equal. The AKG N90Q epitomise this by offering a number of technological firsts including TruNote, the ability to read your ears for a bespoke listen paired with the stamp of approval from legendary producer Quincy Jones.
The AKG N90Q are big, bold, full of high-end features and staggeringly good. Comfortable, with exceptional noise-cancellation and world-first intelligent features, the AKG N90Q deliver sound quality every bit as good as you could hope for. We'd happily plug in, put our feet up, hunker down into the sofa and just let the music take over. It's a listening experience; and that pleasure should be enough to distract from the sizeable price point.
61. Samsung UE65JS9500 4K
The Samsung UE65JS9500 isn't quite perfect but if you can install it so that you're not too affected by its reflection issues then its picture strengths far outweigh its flaws.
The JS9500 is a High Dynamic Range master, the brightest screen available in 2015, and it marries a uniquely forward-thinking feature set to make this Samsung flagship feel like the year's most tantalising glimpse into TV's future.
62. Panasonic Viera TX-55CX802
What the Panasonic CX802 offers that its competition doesn't is value; and value without compromise. You won't find a comparable 55-inch HDR-capable LG or Sony for under £2,000, let alone the TX-55CX820's £1,799 price tag.
The CX802's picture quality is excellent, especially following some customisation, so whether streaming, watching Blu-ray, gaming or delving into a bit of daytime TV, everything looks quality. If you want 4K without major compromises and a bit of change from £2,000 then look no further, this is the TV to go for. Just make sure you own a TV stand wide enough to accommodate it.
63. Sony MDR-1ABT
The Sony MDR-1ABT Bluetooth over-ear headphones are not just big in size, they're just as big in the audio department too. Delivering big bass without being over-the-top, there's oodles of all-round quality and excellent balance to be found here, albeit at a price point way beyond their non-Bluetooth 1A counterparts.
If you've got deep pockets, Bluetooth is a must and high-resolution audio tickles your fancy, then the Sony MDR-1ABT are in with a shout of being among the best over-ear cans out there. Just like the earlier MDR-1A the BT model sounds absolutely ace.
64. Garmin Forerunner 920XT
While smartwatches and activity trackers are ever improving, and can often do what a GPS watch does, none of them do it as well as the Garmin ForeRunner 920XT. It tracks activity, running, cycling, swimming and triathlon with brilliant accuracy and for long enough to keep up with even mammoth sessions.
For those looking for the widest data readouts and most accurate tracking, at a glance, the ForeRunner 920XT is undoubtedly the top of the pile. It might be expensive, but it's well worth it and certainly worthy of its nomination in this category.
65. Philips Hue with Siri
We really like the Philips Hue lighting system, and the variety of lighting options it delivers. For 2015, Siri of course is the fun element that will make you feel like you are on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise asking the computer to do things for you and those things happening instantly.
The bigger picture will be HomeKit operability with other systems like sensors, heating, or security, and while that's still a long way off for many - given the lack of options in the UK (there are a few more in the US) we expect this eco-system to only grow with time. If you are a current Hue user, £33 is a cheap price to pay for what should deliver plenty in the future, and voice control in the present.
Wow, we've seen a lot of gadgets and games this year, whether that's virtual reality headsets, smartphones, tablets, cameras or simply updates on previously seen greats. And there have been plenty of amazing devices among that lot.
The year saw the launch of a curved Samsung Galaxy, a giant iPad Pro and the Apple Watch. Elsewhere, both the PS4 and the Xbox One had major updates making them even better than when they launched.
On the camera front, we saw the demise of the compact in favour of more robust rangefinder style cameras. And contrary to some suggestions, laptops still stuck around proving that it's not all tablets, tablets, tablets.
It was also the year of connected toys, amazing cars and drones... lots of drones.
Our job here at Pocket-lint is to help you search through the vast array of gadgets, games and gizmos to give you an idea of the crème of the crop - the gadgets you should be excited about. Which you should be selling body limbs for. And the ones you need to get to make your life easier.
So here are the best gadgets of 2015, presented in no particular order because they are all fantastic and worthy of attention. There's not a duff one in this list as you'll soon find out once you start flicking through the best of the best of 2015 in our gallery above.
Enjoy!
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