If you’ve been holding off on a PS5 waiting for a sale, now’s as good a time as any – Sony’s PlayStation 5 console is down to one of its lowest prices in Australia.
As part of a new local promotion, the disc-based PS5 model is on sale for less than $684.99 across many major retailers. Down from $799.95, the promo price is live now until 8 October 2023.
Despite global supply chain issues plaguing the console’s launch in November 2020, it’s gone on to be a best-seller, having moved more than 40 million units worldwide. Although the PS5 initially retailed for $749 before a $50 price increase, the current sale is still incredibly strong.
PS5 sale sees big savings of up to $150
As always, it’s good to shop around for the best price. Even though $684.99 is the official promo, retailers like EB Games, JB Hi-Fi and Amazon have taken the ball and run with it. At the time of writing, you can grab a PS5 on sale for as cheap as $649 from Target – a significant saving of $150.
Previous PS5 sales have typically involved a bundle, like the God of War Ragnarokpromotion last year. It’s not as often that we see deep discounts on the standalone console, so it’s worth taking the plunge if you’ve been waiting for a decent discount.
Maximize your play sessions with near instant load times for installed PS5 games
The custom integration of the PS5 console’s systems lets creators pull data from the SSD so quickly that they can design games in ways never before possible
Immerse yourself in worlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games
Now several years into the current console generation, the PS5 has plenty of games worth playing. Many of them featured heavily throughout The Game Awards 2022 in addition to our personal favourites of last year. This year has seen the likes of Final Fantasy XVI garner attention, and next month sees the highly anticipated launch of Spider-Man 2.
Covering the basics without breaking the bank, the Motorola G14 is the sweet spot for those shopping on a very tight budget.
While it’s great to own the latest flagship smartphone with all the bells and whistles, often the feature set and price tag are far beyond the needs of many people. These days there’s a great range of mid-range phones that fit the bill, although even these can seem overkill if your needs are simple and your budget is tight.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options on the table if you need change from $250, or you’re shopping on behalf of family and friends with basic needs. The $229 Motorola G14 offers impressive value for money for those who require an affordable but dependable Android smartphone in their pocket.
Motorola G14 first impressions
Motorola makes a vast range of handsets these days and it’s settled on a standard design that offers plenty of real estate while still fitting in your hand and your pocket.
The Motorola G14 features a 6.5-inch display, which is tall but not too wide thanks to the 20:9 aspect ratio. It tips the scales at 177 grams, ensuring it’s not too heavy for your hand, pocket or bag.
The power button is on the right, close to the centre of the handset with the volume buttons above. This puts the power button, with its built-in fingerprint reader, nicely under your thumb (or your pointer finger if you’re a southpaw). On a tall phone, this makes life easier than reaching for an onscreen fingerprint reader at the bottom of the display.
The Moto G14 features a plastic frame with a shiny faux-metallic finish and a textured coloured plastic back – dubbed vegan leather – which give it an elegant look and feel.
It’s not blessed with slender curved edges, which gives it a bit less of a premium look, but in return, it’s easier to keep a grip on the handset – especially if you’re using the supplied transparent protective case. It’s a welcome addition that offers some impact and scratch protection, but doesn’t seem as robust as something like a Tech 21 case.
Fire up the screen and its sharpness and colours are respectable, but those with an eye for detail will pick that the IPS LCD screen isn’t quite as rich and vivid as a mid-range AMOLED screen, which in turn isn’t as impressive as a top shelf OLED screen. You also miss out on the higher refresh rates found on many handsets these days.
There’s no screen notch for the front camera, just a pinhole, but the fact it sits in the middle of the Android status bar means that it’s unlikely to get in the way.
As for connectors, you’ve USB-C for 10W charging – but no fast charging or wireless charging – and an old-school 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The Motorola G14 is a good fit for both your hand and your budget.
Motorola G14 specifications
Display size
6.5-inch, 20:9 aspect ratio
Display resolution
2400×1080 pixel, 405 ppi
Display technology
IPS LCD
Audio
Stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support
Moto Spatial Sound support
3.5mm headphone jack
Bands
3G, 4G
Chipset
Unisoc Tiger T616
CPU
1.8 GHz octa-core CPU
GPU
50 MHz Arm Mali-G57 MP1
Rear camera
50 MP sensor (f/1.8, 0.64 µm) 4 in 1 with 1.28 µm | PDAF | Quad Pixel technology
The Moto G14’s dual-camera rear array includes macro, but leaves you without a dedciated telephoto lens.
Features
The Motorola G14 runs Google’s Android 13 smartphone operating system, with minimal bloatware that ensures a clean interface that is likely to appeal to everyday users.
While Motorola promises three years of bi-monthly security updates, it’s only guaranteed one OS update, taking it to Android 14. That seems a bit stingy when many Android handsets are promised at least two OS upgrades these days.
As you’d expect in this price range, you won’t find a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon powerhouse under the bonnet, just a basic Unisoc accompanied by 4 GB of RAM. That’s certainly enough for basic day-to-day tasks, keeping in mind that the Moto G14 isn’t aimed at people who like to push their phones to the limit. Those who do would prefer at least 6 GB of RAM, not to mention a bigger power plant.
When it comes to photography, the Moto G14 packs in a dual-camera rear array. There’s a 50 MP primary shooter and 2 MP macro, while the front sports a single 8MP selfie camera.
When it comes to audio, you’ve got stereo sound but, unlike some high-end Android handsets, there isn’t a dedicated speaker along the top edge. Instead, you’re relying on the earpiece speaker that you use for listening to calls.
Another key concession is that the phone can only take advantage of 4G LTE and not Australia’s new superfast 5G networks. That’s not unreasonable at this price point, but something to keep in mind if you’re keen to get a taste of 5G speeds.
The middling processor, standard refresh rate and lack of 5G all help boost the battery life, which is already generous thanks to a large 5000 mAh battery which should easily go a day between charges.
Take care as it’s only a “water-repellent design” so you don’t want it to go for an unexpected dip. More durability is reserved for the $699 Motorola Edge 40 which comes with a strong IP68 design.
Quality
The GeekBench 6 benchmarks really emphasise the fact this is an entry-level model, with the phone scoring 450 on the CPU single-core test and 1587 on the multi-core, plus 508 GPU OpenGL. It’s enough grunt to remain responsive when performing basic everyday tasks, but it’s certainly not aimed at serious multitaskers or gamers.
When it comes to photography, that 50 MP camera figure sounds impressive but megapixels aren’t everything. The phone’s picture quality reflects its price tag and small sensor pixels, producing reasonable shots in good light but falling a little short when it comes to detail and colours. That said, its low-light capabilities are surprisingly good, at least for this price range.
Who is the Motorola G14 for?
Realistically, the Motorola G14 is for someone who absolutely needs change from $250 when buying a budget Android phone which still does the job. Its most likely market is pre-teens and pensioners, as even tech-savvy teenagers may end up hitting its performance limitations.
To be fair, it makes compromises in all the right places to hit the sweet spot in this price range. If your budget will stretch a little further there are other options from Motorola and a few other Android handset makers worthy of your attention. If not, the Motorola G14 might hit the spot.
Motorola G14
A budget-friendly Android phone for those with simple needs, the Motorola G14 makes compromises in all the right places.
Although AI is on the tip of everyone’s tongue, hardware is still a big focus for many major tech companies, as was seen with the announcement of the new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 overnight. Microsoft even took a swing at Apple’s highly-touted MacBook Pro in the process.
Microsoft spoke a lot about its Copilot AI assistant software, but its new devices also saw some of the limelight. At the top of the range is the Surface Laptop Studio 2, which the company labelled its “most powerful” Surface to date. Accompanying the high-end portable PC is the Surface Laptop Go 3 in addition to an enterprise and education version Surface Go 4.
Among the backdrop of AI’s potential to change everyday workflows, Microsoft’s aim with the new devices was one of portability and power. Although none of the laptops wield the recently-announced Intel Core Ultra processors with built-in neural processing units, it’s clear that the future of computing is to further enable machine learning technology at both a hardware and software level.
Surface Laptop Studio 2: better than M2 Max MacBook Pro?
At first glance, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 looks a lot like a MacBook Pro. As soon as its touch-enabled display kicks out to act as a tablet, the Surface assumes its own persona. Using a flexible hinge that offers three different configurations, it’s aimed at creative professionals who need power and the responsiveness of a studio-level tablet.
With up to 1TB of storage and 64GB of memory, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 runs on a 13th Gen Intel Core i7- 13700H CPU. To power its graphics, you can spec it anywhere between the integrated Iris Xe GPU and an Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada laptop card.
Notably, Microsoft went as far as to claim that its 14.4-inch device yields up to twice the graphics performance of a MacBook Pro M2 Max – which is a big call. Apple’s pro laptop is a great device in terms of both performance and battery life.
Microsoft’s proclamation, while bold, was based on a CineBench 2024 GPU benchmark – with the software now measuring graphics performance for the first time in years. More specifically, the benchmark compared the RTX 2000 Ada version of the Surface Laptop Studio 2 against a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Max chip housing a 12-core CPU and 30-core GPU. Which, admittedly, isn’t the most powerful version, considering you can get the M2 Max MacBook Pro in a 38-core GPU configuration.
Synthetic benchmarks, while helpful, only tell part of the story. It’s undoubtedly an interesting comparison Microsoft has made, but real-world results will be the ultimate test. Other than the raw spec, the Surface Laptop Studio 2’s flexible hinge and touch display, combined with an accessible haptic touchpad, put it in a slightly different weight division. It’s arguably better suited to artists than a MacBook, for example, due to its Surface Slim Pen 2 integration.
Surface Laptop Go 3 keeps things light
Billed as Microsoft’s lightest Surface laptop, the Surface Laptop Go 3 weighs a petite 1.13kg, making it a lighter option than a 13-inch MacBook Air. Compared to its Studio sibling, the Laptop Go 4 runs on a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U CPU, up to 16GB of memory, and only comes with integrated graphics.
It also contains a 12.4-inch touch display, albeit only in a 1536 x 1024 resolution, compared to the Studio 2’s 2400 x 1600 screen. In addition to a fingerprint-activated power button, the Laptop Go 3 is said to provide a good typing experience to round out the package. It also comes in four colours: Ice Blue, Sage, Sandstone, and Platinum.
Exclusive to enterprise and education users is the Surface Go 4 for Business, a Chromebook-like tablet device designed for use with web-based apps. It seems like the kind of gadget suited for workers who don’t spend all day at their desks and need a durable device to take with them.
Release date and price
Microsoft’s flagship Surface Laptop Studio 2 starts at $3,519, while the Surface Laptop Go 3 starts at $1,429. Both versatile laptops are due to arrive beginning on 3 October, while the Surface Go 4 for Business is available through enterprise channels.
As tech companies continue to adopt AI technologies in various forms, the hardware here almost takes a backseat to the upcoming Copilot software. We’ll see in the coming years how much of a tangible impact such technology will ultimately have.
Amazon’s home security company, Ring, announced the Stick Up Cam Pro, the latest version of its best-selling range, now with 3D motion detection technology.
Alongside reveals of new Fire TV Sticks and the Echo Hub smart home controller, the Ring Stick Up Cam Pro marks the latest in a range of Amazon devices coming to Australia soon. With new technology under the hood, the Pro version of the security camera is said to provide more accurate motion alerts and better quality audio.
As explained in a blog post, the 3D motion detection feature uses radar sensors to measure the distance of objects within the camera’s line of sight. The result is the ability to further customise motion detection zones so you only get notifications when someone enters a specific location you designate. It’s something that other Pro Ring devices already have – like the Video Doorbell Pro 2 and Spotlight Cam Pro – but it’s the first time the feature has come to the Stick Up Cam range.
Enhanced audio features are another change coming to the Stick Up Cam Pro. Under the umbrella term of “Audio+”, the device includes two array microphones for better audio, echo cancellation, and a security siren.
Ring Stick Up Cam Pro release date and price
Available in battery and plug-in configurations, the Ring Stick Up Cam Pro is out on 18 October, with pre-orders live now. The solar-powered version costs $329, with pre-orders available directly through Ring’s website, and will also come to Amazon at launch.
Like other Ring devices, such as the Video Doorbell Plus, the new camera works in tandem with Alexa. This means you can use connected devices like an Echo or Fire TV to monitor cam feeds, as well as listen and speak to visitors. It stands to reason that the new Echo Hub, which enables viewing multiple camera feeds simultaneously, would work nicely with the latest Ring device.
Some of your other smart home security options include the Arlo Pro 5, or – if your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far – the Wyze Cam Pan which comes in at under $100.
It wasn’t just smart home devices that Amazon announced at its event overnight. Alongside the Echo Hub, the global company also announced new Fire Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max models.
Although the naming convention hasn’t changed, which may lead to confusion among shoppers, the new models of the TV streaming devices are said to be faster and more powerful than the previous generation.
Most of the changes to the new upper-end Amazon streaming stick are under the hood. For starters, the second-generation device uses a quad-core 2GHz processor (up from 1.8GHz) and doubles the storage to 16GB. It even weighs less, with the new Fire TV Stick 4K Max dropping nearly five grams compared to the first iteration.
Improved wireless technology may be the most immediately useful upgrade. There’s now support for Wi-Fi 6E tri-band connectivity, a faster version of Wi-Fi. Granted, you’ll need a 6E-compatible router to fully benefit, but it should mean faster and more reliable streaming – even if your house is filled with wireless gadgets. Plus, the 4K Max now uses the Bluetooth 5.2 protocol (up from 5.0).
Our most powerful streaming stick. Elevate your entertainment experience with a powerful processor for lightning-fast app starts and fluid navigation.
Enjoy the show in 4K Ultra HD, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
Stream more than 350,000 movies and TV episodes. Watch favourites from Netflix, BINGE, Stan, Disney+, Prime Video, and more, plus watch sport live and on-demand with Kayo Sports and Optus Sport. Subscription fees may apply.
Another welcome addition to the streaming device is that it comes with the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, which includes a “Recents” button for easily accessing previously used apps. It’s the same remote that ships with the more expensive Fire TV Cube.
Outside of the usual streaming fare, the second-gen 4K Max also enables any TV to not only become a smart TV, but also a digital art display. Accessed by using voice commands or holding down the home button, the Fire TV Ambient Experience kicks in. Included as part of the feature is the ability to cycle through calendars, reminders, photos, and over 2,000 artworks. This includes a mix of overseas and local artists, like Nicole Blake and First Nations artist Biddee Baadjo.
A faster Fire TV Stick 4K (sans the Max)
Amazon claims that the second-gen 4K streaming stick’s 1.7GHz processor is 25% more powerful than the original, and its 2GB of memory is 33% more powerful. Internal grunt improvements aside, it also now has Wi-Fi 6.
Our best-selling 4K stick in the world. Elevate your entertainment with the next generation of our 4K stick, with improved streaming performance.
Enjoy the show in 4K Ultra HD, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
Stream more than 350,000 movies and TV episodes. Watch favourites from Netflix, BINGE, Stan, Disney+, Prime Video, and more, plus watch sport live and on-demand with Kayo Sports and Optus Sport. Subscription fees may apply.
It’s worth mentioning that the non-Max version doesn’t get the latest remote. Instead, it has the non-“Enhanced” version, which excludes the “Recents” button. A slightly annoying omission but not worth getting too hung up on.
Release date and price
Both new Fire TV devices are available to pre-order now ahead of a 27 September 2023 release date. The next-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max costs $119, while the non-Max model costs $79.
If you favour smoother navigation and have a Wi-Fi 6E router to take full advantage of faster speeds, it makes more sense to get the 4K Max. Otherwise, Wi-Fi 6 is still a fast wireless protocol, so the vanilla 4K stick would suit your needs adequately. Either device will capably transform any dumb TV into a smart TV via an HDMI port.
With so many people using smart devices, it’s easier than ever to enjoy media anytime, anywhere. So what if you want to watch something on the big screen? This is where the BenQ GV31 portable projector shines. We recently went hands-on with the pint-sized device to see just how versatile it is.
With just a small device that fits into a backpack, you can enjoy a massive 100-inch picture from just three metres away from a projection surface. You’re not just confined to projecting onto a wall, either, because the BenQ GV31 uses its compact stand to swivel upwards, transforming unused ceiling space into an instant cinema.
If you’re worried about constantly moving the projector around and needing to spend ages getting a sharply focused image, fear not. The BenQ GV31 comes with autofocus and auto keystone features, so you can enjoy a crisp, well-proportioned picture without any hassle.
Streaming your favourite shows is effortlessly easy, too. In addition to an in-built Android dongle with access to pre-loaded apps like Netflix, you can also smoothly cast content from other devices via Chromecast and AirPlay. Doubling as a portable speaker, the BenQ GV31 also includes Bluetooth connectivity so you can also cast music to the device.
A good battery life accompanies the GV31, an important factor considering the projector is wireless. With a 5800mAh capacity – a 1000mAh upgrade over the GV30 – you can enjoy up to three hours of video playtime before needing to plug the projector in.
BenQ GV31 portable projector price
Available for $999 from the BenQ website and tech retailers, the GV31 offers an easy and versatile way of watching movies and playing games on a big screen. If you’re looking for a bigger, more permanent fixture to take your gaming to the next level, there’s also the BenQ X3000i projector.
Among a range of announcements overnight, Amazon revealed the Echo Hub, a $329 wall-mountable smart home control panel designed to manage all of your devices.
Taking the form of an eight-inch touch display, the Echo Hub includes Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant while supporting Zigbee, Thread, Bluetooth, and Matter connectivity. In other words, it’s not just for controlling your Amazon devices, it should also play nicely with tech from other brands.
Its dashboard is fully customisable to help you manage devices, widgets, and access media controls. There are also home security benefits, too. With the Echo Hub, you can connect to security cameras and view multiple feeds at the same time.
Adding to Amazon’s extensive range of smart devices, the Echo Hub looks a little bit like the Echo Show smart display. One of the main differences here is that the Show doubles as a Fire TV streaming device, while the Hub pares it back slightly to focus primarily on smart home management.
What does the Amazon Echo Hub do?
Privacy-conscious users may be drawn to the Echo Hub more than some of Amazon’s other smart displays. This is because there’s no included camera. Instead, it uses infrared tech to wake up when you approach it, meaning you’re one screen tap away from turning on a light or accessing a camera feed. It does include a microphone for voice activation, but you can switch this off at any time.
Billed as a solution to the fragmented smart home ecosystem, Amazon claims that the Hub is compatible with over 10,000 smart devices. This includes cameras, lights, thermostats, speakers and other home tech that uses the same wireless protocols. You can even connect the Hub via Ethernet if you have patchy Wi-Fi.
Although you can use your phone and various apps to manage smart home devices, there’s not much in the way of a standalone controller currently available. That’s where Amazon hopes the Echo Hub will slot in, as a device that functions as naturally as a light switch, untethered to your phone. Not only is it wall-mountable to literally take the place of the humble light switch, but you can use a compatible stand to prop it up on a counter. Also, when you’re not using the Hub, it can function as a digital photo frame or show live information like the weather.
INTRODUCING ECHO HUB — An easy-to-use control panel for your smart home devices — just ask Alexa or tap the display to control lights, smart plugs, camera feeds, and more — for a customised smart home at a great price.
STREAMLINE YOUR SMART HOME — Customise the controls, widgets, and cameras displayed on your dashboard to quickly adjust lights, play music, start routines, and more.
WORKS WITH THOUSANDS OF DEVICES — Compatible with over 10,000 connected cameras, lights, locks, plugs, thermostats, speakers, and more. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter and Thread devices sync seamlessly with the built-in smart home hub.
On paper, it looks like a more comprehensive smart hub than something like a Google Nest, which you may only need if your home houses multiple smart devices from different brands.
As part of its recent announcements, Amazon also detailed updates coming to its Echo Show range. One is Adaptive Content for the Echo Show 8, a cool idea that changes what it shows on-screen based on how far away you are. From a distance, you’ll see a large clockface, for example, which will change to show more details as you approach nearer. Meanwhile, the Echo Show 15 now gets a Top Connections widget, showing your most-used devices and favourite contacts at a glance for quick access. Amazon mentioned that the Echo Show 5, 8, and 10 will also get the Top Connections Widget in the coming months.
As for the Echo Hub, we’re waiting on an official launch date, but its listing is currently live on Amazon.
