Mobile reviews

The Beoplay E8 Sport are the latest set of true wireless earbuds from the iconic, and uber-expensive Danish audio brand behind some of the world’s most “premium” speakers. They  offer users the same core audio experience as the regular E8 3rd Generation earbuds, but with a more sporty, gym-ready design. And after a full fortnight with the earbuds, I can confirm that, outside of the Nuraloops , they are one of the best sounding sets of wireless sports headphones available. The only downside is that, despite offering a solid enough fit for most cardio exercises, the E8 Sport’s design is significantly larger than many competitors, making them prone to dislodging during more heated workouts, like working a bag or HIIT (High-intensity interval training). Related: Best running headphones Beoplay E8 Sport are designed for runners The E8 Sport are the prettiest sports headphones you’ll find at the moment. They feature a distinctly art deco design with grooved plastic sides and a sil...

There’s an area in Stockholm just across the water from Södermalm named Luma after its historic light bulb factory. It’s an area known for its functionalist Swedish architecture. The Urbanears Luma are a pair of earbuds that embrace the functionalist design. These budget earbuds come in five vibrant colours that rival the brilliance of a light bulb factory. The Luma earbuds mark Urbanears’ first foray into true wireless, alongside the cheaper Alby. For an extra £20, the Luma offer a wear-detection sensor, dual mics and a longer battery life. So, let’s find out if these cheap wireless earbud’s audio is as interesting as its design. Related: Best wireless earbuds Urbanears Luma design – A colourful AirPods alternative Visually, the Luma are AirPods with more personality. The earbuds have the same round in-ear shape and elongated stem design as the Apple buds, plus a more rectangular tail that’s home to the Urbanears logo. The most obvious difference between the Luma and the AirP...

Despite being a relatively new face on the audio scene, EarFun has already won multiple awards for its affordable true wireless earbuds. The EarFun Air are the latest addition. These true wireless earbuds sit right in the middle of EarFun’s headphone lineup, sandwiched between the EarFun Free and the EarFun Air Pro. Having reviewed the EarFun Free earlier this year, the price of both earbuds have plummeted to almost half their original price. I was thoroughly impressed with the EarFun Free , which offered a decent set of features at a budget-friendly price. Read on to discover what the EarFun Air have to offer. Related: Best wireless earbuds Earfun Air design – A secure fit and plenty of touch controls The EarFun Air are a lightweight pair of true wireless earbuds. Where the EarFun Free are small and round in a style reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus , the EarFun Air are slightly bigger and feature the elongated stem design made popular by Apple’s AirPods . The Air come...

The Nokia 8.3 5G is HMD Global’s first attempt at an affordable 5G phone. It targets the same busy space as the Pixel 5 and Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro . As a piece of hardware it doesn’t have all the next generation bells and whistles seen on its competitors. Check the phone’s specs sheet and you’ll find there’s no fast refresh rate screen or clever software additions to be found. But, by getting nearly all the basics right and offering the blissfully bloatware free Android One experience, it remains a solid choice for any buyer on the budget looking for a 5G phone. Related: Best smartphone The Nokia 8.3 5G is not a subtle phone Nokia execs’ used to joke that if you dropped one of their phones, it’s the floor that’ll come off worse. The Nokia 8.3 5G follows this strategy when it comes to design. It’s a chunky, well built lump of a phone that’s noticeably larger and heavier than most current gen’ handsets measuring in at 171.9 x 78.6 x 9 mm and weighing 220g. The plastic, shiny back al...

The Nokia 8.3 5G is HMD Global’s first attempt at an affordable 5G phone. It targets the same busy space as the Pixel 5 and Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro . As a piece of hardware it doesn’t have all the next generation bells and whistles seen on its competitors. Check the phone’s specs sheet and you’ll find there’s no fast refresh rate screen or clever software additions to be found. But, by getting nearly all the basics right and offering the blissfully bloatware free Android One experience, it remains a solid choice for any buyer on the budget looking for a 5G phone. Related: Best smartphone The Nokia 8.3 5G is not a subtle phone Nokia execs’ used to joke that if you dropped one of their phones, it’s the floor that’ll come off worse. The Nokia 8.3 5G follows this strategy when it comes to design. It’s a chunky, well built lump of a phone that’s noticeably larger and heavier than most current gen’ handsets measuring in at 171.9 x 78.6 x 9 mm and weighing 220g. The plastic, shiny back al...

If the Aonic 215 wireless earbuds were any indication, Shure isn’t interested in making ordinary headphones. While the company has been around for several decades, the Aonic 50 are its first venture into the wireless headphone market. To make it more of a challenge, the Shure Aonic 50 are bringing noise cancellation to the fight. It might be a bit of an ask, but of all the audio brands in the ring, there are few that have the musical heritage of Shure to pull off a pair of wireless headphones on their first attempt. Related: Best headphones Shure Aonic 50 design – Not exactly portable Shure’s design approach stands out, summed up by the gigantic circular case in which the Aonic 50 come. While the design of the headphones is more ‘traditional’, they too are distinctly uncompromising. The ear cups can be swivelled to face flat, but that’s the only concession to portability, since there’s no folding mechanism. If you want to keep the headphones safe from scratches, you’ll need to fi...