Sony’s new Bravia QD-OLED TV takes the fight to Samsung

Sony’s 2025 TV range looks a bit simpler, with two new models heading to Australian shores: the Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV, and the Mini LED Bravia 5. Both are relatively high-end models that will compete among Australia’s best TVs.

It’s a departure from Sony’s extensive line-up from 2024 that came with no fewer than four separate models to choose from. Like Samsung’s OLED TVs, the Sony Bravia 8 II uses a hybrid QD-OLED technology that incorporates quantum dots in the panel. If you’re interested in the deep-dive technical details, RTINGS has a good explainer.

Sony claims that the Bravia 8 II has better scene detection algorithms, automatically adapting contrast levels and colour representation based on what you’re watching.

Curiously, Sony’s new QD-OLED TV only comes in two sizes here in Australia: 55 and 65 inches. It starts at $4,499 locally, placing it roughly on par with LG’s premium G5 OLED TVs.

Bravia 5 Mini LED TV. Image: Sony.

As a more affordable option, the Sony Bravia 5 is said to bring last year’s top features into a more wallet-friendly TV. Sony told The Verge that its 2025 Mini LED TV has “up to six times more dimming zones” than the X90L it’s designed to replace.

Starting at $2,499 for the 55-inch model in Australia, the Bravia 5 comes in more sizes, including a whopping 98-inch model that costs $9,999. Both new TVs are set to land in Australia this May.

Sony Bravia Projector 7 and home audio

Alongside the new TVs, Sony also revealed the Bravia 7 Projector, using laser technology to support a 4K picture at up to 120Hz. It projects a reasonably bright 2,200-lumen image, which Sony says is well-suited to performing well with a room’s ambient lighting.

In Australia, the Bravia 7 projector costs $13,999, so it won’t be cheap when it arrives in August. It’s not quite the $25k price tag of Epson’s high-end projector, which might make it more appealing to some buyers.

Bravia 7 Projector. Image: Sony.

Sony then rounded out its 2025 home entertainment range with several new Bravia Theatre speakers. There’s the Bravia Theatre Bar 6, an $899 3.1.2-channel soundbar, and the 5.1-channel Bravia Theatre System 6. This $1,199 system comes with a soundbar, a set of rear speakers, and a subwoofer for a surround-sound setup.

Sony is also selling standalone rear speakers and subwoofers in the form of the Theatre Rear 8 and Theatre Sub 7, priced at $699 and $499, respectively. All Bravia speakers will arrive in Australia this July.

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Robot vacuuming to change drastically with new Ecovacs Deebot

One sucks better than any Ecovacs robot before it, while the other is one of the slimmest: two new Deebots have arrived in Australia, led by the T50 Max Pro Omni that uses a brand-new technology to change robot vacuuming.

The $1,799 Deebot T50 Max Pro Omni uses a new technology called Boosted Large-Airflow Suction Technology, which maximises airflow via larger fan blades and a wider air inlet. Ecovacs’ main take-home message is that the robot’s 18,500Pa suction power is impressive, yes, but suction power alone doesn’t make for an effective vacuum cleaner.

Also, a fun acronym is always a good play, and Ecovacs has delivered on that front, with its new tech spelling ‘BLAST’. Good stuff.

Combining suction power and a higher airflow rate, Ecovacs claims the T50 Max Pro Omni not only cleans more efficiently but also at a quieter volume.

It also mops, albeit not to the same level of force as the brand’s top model, the X8 Pro Omni. Based on specs, its rotating mops should still do a reasonable job, applying downward pressure to scrub pesky stains away.

At the slightly cheaper end of the scale, the Deebot T50 Pro Omni (note the omission of “Max”) is the thinnest of Ecovacs’ new range. Standing at just 81mm tall, it’s designed for tight spaces and fitting underneath low-hanging furniture.

The T50 Pro Omni can also reach into hard-to-reach areas. Image: Ecovacs.

This $1,499 model has 15,000Pa of suction power, which is still relatively powerful for robot vacuums. Understandably, some minor compromises take place here to accommodate the thinner profile and cheaper price.

Both new Deebots come with an auto-empty and cleaning station, taking care of most of the robots’ daily maintenance for you. These stations empty the robots’ dustbins as well as washing the mopping pads with hot water before air-drying them.

Available in Australia now, you can grab each of the T50 Pro models from the usual suspects, including JB Hi-Fi and direct from Ecovacs.

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Big W has the cheapest Nintendo Switch 2 games so far

One thing we learned from the mega Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is that it’s going to be notably more expensive than the original console. With a starting price of $669.95 and games exceeding the $100 barrier, a new era of gaming has well and truly arrived. Fortunately, you can save a few coins by getting your Nintendo Switch 2 games from Big W, thanks to the retailer’s discounted pricing.

While specialist retailer EB Games lists the newly revealed Mario Kart World for a hefty $119.95, Big W’s pre-order listing sits at $109. That’s still pricey, sure, but a $10 saving is a $10 saving.

This $10 saving applies across the board, including games like Donkey Kong Bananza, and the enhanced Switch 2 versions of Super Mario Party Jamboree, plus Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

Not every major retailer has Switch 2 pre-orders live yet. Amazon, for example, is one storefront that typically sets the lowest prices. But if you want to secure your Nintendo Switch 2 games now, Big W is your cheapest option so far.

Nintendo Switch 2 games at Big W

Here’s where you can pre-order all things Nintendo Switch 2 from Big W, including some hardware and games:

• Nintendo Switch 2 console: $699
• Nintendo Switch 2 console + Mario Kart World bundle: $769
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $119
• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $69
• Mario Kart World: $109
• Donkey Kong Bananza: $99
• Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV: $99
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World: $99

Again, it’s clear that Nintendo’s historical $70-80 pricing is no more. The prices of these games are more in line with what you see from Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S consoles.

Nintendo Australia hasn’t listed Switch 2 games on its online storefront yet, but the UK version indicates an £8 differential between physical and digital versions of games. How that translates locally remains to be seen.

If you spy a better deal elsewhere, let us know so we can share the bargain love.

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Nintendo Switch 2 price is $699.95 in Australia, June release date

More than eight years since Nintendo launched the original Switch console, the house of Mario has finally confirmed the Switch 2 details we’ve all been waiting for, including the price and release date.

As revealed in a 60-minute Nintendo Direct presentation streamed overnight on YouTube, Australians will pay $699.95 for the Nintendo Switch 2 when it arrives on 5 June 2025. For the bundle that includes the newly announced Mario Kart World, the cost is $769.95.

Unsurprisingly, it’s more than the original Nintendo Switch, which has held its $469 recommended retail price since launching in March 2017. Considering the hybrid console has sold more than 146 million units, it’s no wonder Nintendo has opted for the iterative approach with the Switch 2.

Nintendo also previously confirmed that existing games will work with the Switch 2 via backward compatibility. With such a large install base, it makes sense to ease the transition between consoles as much as possible.

At the time of writing, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order situation looks a bit fragmented. EB Games announced its pre-order availability within hours of the Direct airing, while Nintendo will have a separate allocation go live on 9 April. Based on overseas information, Nintendo’s pre-order system will prioritise existing Switch players.

Stay tuned for more info.

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LG’s new 40dBA dishwasher is as quiet as a hushed library

Energy and water efficiency are a couple of big deciding factors when choosing a dishwasher. What about noise? LG claims its new 15 Place QuadWash Dishwasher is the company’s quietest, designed to cause as little disruption as possible.

Advertised as running at 40dBA, the dishwasher is roughly as quiet as a library, making even less noise than the hum of a fridge. Based on the strictest definitions, it’s not quite whisper-quiet, measuring at around 25dBA, but it’s still considerably softer than the 60dBA of people speaking.

LG says the 15 Place QuadWash Dishwasher, priced at $1,899 in Australia, is suited to open-plan homes that set dishes going overnight. With a subtle running volume, the dishwasher shouldn’t bother even the lightest of sleepers.

As far as its cleaning is concerned, LG’s dishwasher uses steam technology alongside sprayed water to thoroughly clean and leave fewer water spots. It also has a dedicated wine glass rack, letting you wash delicate glassware at the same time as your pots and pans.

Late-night dish stackers also benefit from the dishwasher’s internal LED lighting. Although perhaps excessive to some folks’ needs, at least you don’t need to turn on the overhead lights just to sneak in a mug after everyone’s gone to bed.

Like most LG appliances, the dishwasher connects to the brand’s ThinQ app. This lets you control settings and wash cycles directly from your phone. As evidenced by our time with an LG washing machine, it’s a surprisingly handy feature for when you want to control exactly when a wash cycle finishes.

Available now in Australia via LG’s website, the 15 Place QuadWash Dishwasher comes in a Matte Black finish. At the time of writing, it’s discounted to $1,699, down roughly $200 from its recommended retail price.

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Bespoke AI Jet Ultra is Samsung’s “most powerful” cordless vac

Samsung has launched its 2025 Bespoke AI range of home appliances in Australia, including the Jet Ultra, which is said to be the company’s “most powerful” cordless vacuum yet.

Built with up to 400W of suction power, the $1,699 Bespoke AI Jet Ultra also lasts up to 100 minutes on a single charge when used at its base power level.

It’s tricky to compare vacuum power between brands, as each uses a different measurement unit. Some companies use watts, while others use air watts, and some advertise pascals (Pa). Regardless, the Bespoke AI Jet Ultra is a big step up from the 280W model released in 2023.

Driving the power increase is a technology Samsung calls the “HexaJet Motor”. It’s reportedly able to improve airflow and motor efficiency, hence the higher possible wattage.

Samsung also claims the vacuum has an upgraded AI Cleaning Mode 2.0, which automatically adjusts suction power and brush speed depending on the surface. Advertised as being able to detect “six different cleaning environments”, the technology senses the vacuum’s surroundings to more efficiently clean your home.

Alongside the new cordless vacuum are two new fridges from Samsung: the $3,299 615L AI Home Side-by-Side Refrigerator, and the $6,999 809L Bespoke AI Family Hub + French Door Refrigerator.

Samsung’s new 615L fridge. Image: Samsung.

Both fridges have displays that function as a smart home hub for connected devices. The 615L fridge has a nine-inch screen, while the 809L model has a much larger 32-inch display in addition to an internal camera that can detect 33 different types of food.

It all ties into Samsung’s grand vision of appliance interconnectivity based on AI technology. The company previously launched Samsung Food, a platform that provides recipe recommendations, and a companion subscription service designed to add more personalisation for specific dietary needs.

Each appliance is arriving at Australian retailers in the coming weeks, with more details available via Samsung’s website.

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Tonight’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct to last 60 minutes, amid leaks

Tonight’s the big night for Nintendo, as it prepares to reveal all the major details for the Switch 2, the successor to one of its most popular gaming consoles.

Nintendo has also confirmed that tonight’s Switch 2 Direct will air for “around 60 minutes, ” making the presentation one of the company’s longest in recent history.

A teaser trailer for the upcoming hardware aired in January, providing an early glimpse at the console. This early look only shared a brief look at the Switch 2’s larger controllers and screen, with no confirmation of specs, price, or a specific release date.

Tonight’s Direct presentation, which will air live on YouTube, is expected to reveal those missing details. Leaks and rumours are already in abundance, with some publications reporting 4K resolution capabilities, which, if true, would be an upgrade from the original Switch’s 1080p limit.

Media and creators are flocking to New York, where Nintendo is hosting the first wave of hands-on preview events before the Switch 2 launches. Closer to home, Nintendo has already locked in a Melbourne event in May for locals keen to be among the first to try the console.

Based on the success of the 2017 Nintendo Switch, which sold close to 150 million units, the follow-up supports backward compatibility, meaning it can play the original’s existing library of games. As for new games, Nintendo previously shared footage of an unidentified Mario Kart game, which could be a launch title to help drive sales.

When to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in Australia

To watch the Direct live, Aussies need to prep for a late night. The stream starts at midnight on 3 April for most of the east coast, while the rest of the country gets to tune in late in the evening on 2 April.

Here’s when you can watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct per Australian time zone:

• AEDT: Thursday 3 April 2025 at midnight
• ACDT: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 11:30 PM
• AEST: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 11:00 PM
• ACST: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 10:30 PM
• AWST: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 9:00 PM

There will be plenty of eyes on Nintendo tonight as it sets the agenda for the game-maker’s future. Most speculation hints at the Switch 2 being an iterative upgrade, but Nintendo is known for its penchant for surprises.

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