Straight outta testing and into our rankings. NEW

A product of techy genius that’s set our hearts aflame. HOT BUY

A proper steal. Worth owning regardless of cashflow. BARGAIN BUY

Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten entries. UPDATE

HOW TO USE THEM

SMARTPHONES

TIPS & TRICKS

● Select Optimised Battery Charging to limit top-ups to 80%, keeping your battery in prime condition.

● Create a Contact Poster by tapping on My Card > Edit > Edit; add a photo and any text you want.

● In Find My, select any AirTag and you can share its location with a trusted group.

1 HOT BUY

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max from £1199 /go.stuff.tv/15ProMax

This is the best iPhone Apple has ever made. The camera revisions are great, USB-C was long overdue but is fantastic now it’s here, and the action button is genuinely useful. It’s probably only worth upgrading from the 2022 equivalent if you’re desperate for that USB port, but there’s no denying this Max lives up to its name.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Just a solidly sensible advance, but the new camera smarts are an absolute joy

● NOW ADD THIS

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1

This solid MagSafe charging dock lets you top up your iPhone, Apple Watch and Air Pods.

£140 / belkin.com

Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated

2 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra from £1249 /go.stuff.tv/S24Ultra

Yet another epic do-it-all flagship, elevated to even more desirable status by its titanium build and superior screen. The AI additions are perfect for productivity and it also takes avery good photo, even if Samsung has taken its foot off the gas just alittle on that front.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Proper ‘future phone’ vibes… just be prepared to pay for them

3 Google Pixel 8 Pro from £999 /go.stuff.tv/Pixel8Pro

Aprice hike has pushed this Pixel firmly into premium territory for the first time… but it is the best-looking, best-feeling Google phone yet, and it’s clear the brand isn’t going to give up its photography crown without afight because its camera skills are truly stunning.

Stuff says ★★★★★

No value champ, but it continues Google’s run of top photo-takers

4 OnePlus 12

★★★★★ from £849 /go.stuff.tv/OnePlus12

Acompelling package thanks to its boosted camera and impressive core specs.

5 Apple iPhone 15

★★★★★ from £799 /go.stuff.tv/iPhone15

Apple’s best this time around is at the top and bottom of the range: you can’t go wrong here.

6 Nothing Phone 2

★★★★★ from £499 /go.stuff.tv/Nothing2

Rivals edge it out in some areas, but they can’t match this phone’s pocket presence.

7 Samsung Galaxy S24

★★★★★ from £799 /go.stuff.tv/S24

The ‘basic’ S24 is not one for specs snobs, but it’s still an ace Android all-rounder.

8 Xiaomi 13 Pro

★★★★★ £1099 /go.stuff.tv/Xiaomi13Pro

With its 1in main sensor, outstanding photography makes this a highlight of the current phone crop.

9 Google Pixel 7a

★★★★★ £449 /go.stuff.tv/Pixel7a

Fast, long-lasting, and it takes a killer photo: this is the sub-£500 Android phone to beat.

10 OnePlus Open

★★★★★ £1599 /go.stuff.tv/Open

Cheaper than its rivals and brilliantly well made, the OnePlus Open is the finest foldable phone yet.

IN-EARS

1 HOT BUY

Sony WF-1000XM5

£259 /go.stuff.tv/WFXM5

The WF-1000XM5 in-ears are significantly smaller than the XM4s, which were themselves a whole lot more compact than their predecessors. And yet Sony has still squeezed even larger drivers inside each earbud, along with the firm’s best active noise-cancelling yet. The feature list is as extensive as ever, and they’re priced to compete with Bose’s best. Add in decent battery life and a strong app, and you won’t find anything more well-rounded for less.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Sony’s already fantastic flagship in-ears get even better ANC, a more comfy fit and simply stellar audio

2 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

£300 /go.stuff.tv/QCUltraBuds These buds don’t offer much of a design upgrade over their predecessors, but they deliver a fresh listening experience courtesy of Immersive Audio –and Bose hasn’t let its noise-cancelling standards slip.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Premium in-ears with world-beating ANC

3 Beats Fit Pro

£199 / go.stuff.tv/FitPro

These Beats are excellent on many levels. Unless you really love the earhook design of the Powerbeats Pro, they’re definitely the best workout ’phones in the Apple/Beats range and rival any others at the price.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Good battery life, punchy sound, lock-tight fit

4 Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C

★★★★★ £229 /go.stuff.tv/Pro2

Apple’s pricier in-ears sound superb, and now come with the bonus of USB-C.

5 Jabra Elite 10

★★★★★ £230 /go.stuff.tv/Elite10

Really long-lasting buds, though you can get better audio and ANC for the cash.

OVER-EARS

1 HOT BUY

Sony WH-1000XM5

£299 /go.stuff.tv/WHXM5

Nobody was able to displace Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones from the top of this list for two years… yet the latest model manages to be even better. Key to the XM5s’ overall quality is the new carbon-fibre composite 30mm drivers: they bring even greater clarity than the previous generation, and the sound reproduction is beautifully precise. The simple fact is that these are the best noise-cancellers around by almost every measure. You really won’t regret buying them.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Sony keeps its grip on the top spot with an unrivalled combo of great sound, ANC and comfort

2 Sennheiser Momentum 4

£249 /go.stuff.tv/SM4

These are headphones that sound naturalistic, engaged and entirely musical, making every recording sound like an event. And they’ll last a startling 60hrs –even with ANC switched on.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Great audio, great battery life, great price

3 Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

£351 /go.stuff.tv/S2e

There really wasn’t all that much wrong with the Px7 S2 cans –in audio and build quality they justified their price premium over Bose, Sennheiser, Sony and all the rest. But the ‘e’ model brings significant upgrades.

Stuff says ★★★★★

The smartest way to spend this sort of cash

4 Focal Bathys

★★★★★ £699 /go.stuff.tv/Bathys

Brilliant ’phones in every respect, from build quality and comfort to deft sound and ANC.

5 Grado GW100X

★★★★★ £239 /go.stuff.tv/100X

No ANC, no app, no travel case… but more complete sound than any of Grado’s rivals.

SMARTWATCHES

1 HOT BUY

Apple Watch SE

from £209 /go.stuff.tv/WatchSE

The SE is easily the best-value Apple Watch. It tracks sleep and all the exercise you need, supports Apple Pay, works great with your iPhone and… what more do most people require? The user experience is broadly identical, and while the screen bezels are a bit larger than on the Series 9 it’s hard to tell them apart without getting right up close. Note also that your SE will now be carbon-neutral if you take it with a Sport Loop (unless you choose one of the fancy multicoloured options).

Stuff says ★★★★★

Offers most of the full Apple Watch experience for a whole lot less cash