Month: March 2022

Sony’s PS Plus service offers different tiers to choose from. Here’s what you get with each one, including Classic games.

PS Plus offers an extensive lineup of games for its subscribers. Pound for pound, it’s finally starting to challenge Xbox Game Pass, and there’s new games added every month at no extra charge.

The PlayStation game subscription service combines PS Plus and PS Now into a neat package for PS4 and PS5. It was only a matter of time before Sony answered the juggernaut that is Xbox Game Pass, but it’s not a like-for-like competitor.  

The games that make up the PS Plus catalogue range from AAA blockbusters to indie darlings. Depending on the tier you are subscribed to, you may also have access to a selection of retro titles too, including PS3, PS2, PS1 and PSP games.

Here’s what you need to know about PS Plus, including how it now breaks down into three tiers. You’ll find pricing info for each as well as some details on the free games you’ll get with each subsequent tier.

PS Plus price

(Image credit: Sony)

The new PS Plus rolls both PS Now and existing PS Plus into one all-encompassing service with three tiers. For regions without cloud gaming support, like Australia, there’s a slightly cheaper tier called PS Plus Deluxe instead of Premium. 

We’ll go into details of the tiers in the next section, but in terms of pricing, here’s what we’re looking at: 

PS Plus Essential

$9.99 monthly / $24.99 quarterly / $59.99 yearly
£6.99 monthly / £19.99 quarterly / £49.99 yearly
AU$11.95 monthly / AU$33.95 quarterly / AU$79.95 yearly

PS Plus Extra

$14.99 monthly / $39.99 quarterly / $99.99 yearly
£10.99 monthly / £31.99 quarterly / £83.99 yearly 
AU$18 monthly / AU$54.95 quarterly / AU$134.95 yearly

PS Plus Premium

$17.99 monthly / $49.99 quarterly / $119.99 yearly
£13.49 monthly / £39.99 quarterly / £99.99 yearly 

PS Plus Deluxe

AU$21.95 monthly / AU$63 quarterly / $154.95 yearly

PS Plus Essential is exactly the same service as your previous PS Plus subscription and for that tier, pricing is unchanged. 

PS Plus lets you play online, and gives you a handful of free PS4, PS5, and PlayStation VR games every month, alongside offering member-exclusive discounts and content. There’s also 100GB of cloud storage thrown in too, along with the Share Play feature. 

PS Now let you download or stream from a collection of PS4, PS3, and PS2 games on PS5, PS4, and Windows PC. It wasn’t available in Australia but it was priced at $9.99 / $24.99 / $59.99 for one, three, and 12-month options in the US. UK pricing came in at £8.99 / £22.99 / £49.99 for the same increments. So, assuming you subscribed to both services, PS Plus Premium essentially matches that price. 

If you’d previously subscribed to PS Now, that subscription’s been migrated over to PS Plus Premium. Better still, this came with no increase to your existing subscription fees at launch. Otherwise, existing PS Plus subscribers have moved onto PS Plus Essential.

PS Plus tiers

(Image credit: Naughty Dog / Sony)

The PS Plus subscription features three tiers called PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium. 

For territories with cloud streaming, PlayStation Plus Deluxe is on the table for a lower cost compared to PlayStation Plus Premium.

The former standard PS Plus subscription is the same as the new Essential tier, and pricing has remained the same.  

PS Plus Essential

Benefits:

Two monthly downloadable games
Exclusive discounts
Cloud storage for saved games
Online multiplayer access
Provides the same benefits that PlayStation Plus members are getting today
There are no changes for existing PlayStation Plus members in this tier

PS Plus Extra

Benefits:

Provides all the benefits from the Essential tier
Adds a catalog of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games – including blockbuster hits from PlayStation Studios catalog and third-party partners. Games in the Extra tier are downloadable for play.

PS Plus Premium

Benefits:

Provides all the benefits from Essential and Extra tiers
Cloud streaming access for original PlayStation, PS2, PSP and PS4 games offered in the Extra and Premium tiers in markets where PlayStation Now is currently available. Customers can stream games using PS4 and PS5 consoles, and PC.
Time-limited game trials will also be offered in this tier, so customers can try select games before they buy
Adds up to 340 additional games including:

PS3 games available via cloud streaming
A catalog of beloved classic games available in both streaming and download options from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations 

PS Plus Deluxe

PS Plus Deluxe is a regional equivalent to PS Plus Premium. It’s only available in regions which don’t currently support cloud gaming, such as Australia and New Zealand, for a cheaper price. Otherwise, Deluxe includes all of the other benefits from the Essential and Extra tiers. That’s alongside a catalog of classic PlayStation, PS2, and PSP games to download and play, and limited-time game trials. 

PS Plus games

(Image credit: Sony)

PS Plus offers over 400 PS4 and PS5 games from first- and third-party developers for Extra/Premium subscribers. There’s also retro games from the PS1, PS2, and PS3 (via cloud streaming) eras. 

However, the catalog for Extra/Premium subscribers changes between months and like Xbox Game Pass, once they’ve left PS Plus, you don’t retain access. There are new titles to dig into in the middle of each month, the amount of which will vary, but this is spaced out nicely from the PS Plus Essential games. 

Check out the PlayStation website for a full list of every game in the catalog.

Upcoming PS Plus games

(Image credit: Miguel Lagoa/Shutterstock)

Here are the new additions for for the PS Plus Extra library: 

Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection | PS5

Tchia |PS4, PS5

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction | PS4, PS5

Ghostwire Tokyo | PS5

Life Is Strange: True Colors | PS4, PS5

Immortals Fenyx Rising | PS4, PS5

Life Is Strange 2 | PS4, PS5

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot | PS4, PS5

Street Fighter V Champion Edition | PS4, PS5

Untitled Goose Game | PS4, PS5

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD | PS4, PS5

Rage 2 | PS4, PS5

Neo: The World Ends with You | PS4, PS5

Haven | PS4, PS5

As for the PS Plus Premium library, you’ve got all the games included in Extra, plus a few additional classics:

Ridge Racer Type 4 | PS1

Ape Academy 2 | PSP

Hot Shots Golf 2 | PS1

We can usually predict when we’ll find out when the next PS Plus games are being announced, both for Essential and the Extra/Premium catalogs.

Essential games are usually revealed on the last of Wednesday of every month. Sony has also confirmed that we’ll see the catalog expand halfway through each month, so expect to hear more at that moment. 

These are the biggest upcoming PS5 games we’re looking forward to

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March Madness TV sales are starting to arrive, and we have all the best early deals from Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon.

The big dance is just weeks away (March 14, to be exact), and that means March Madness TV sales are starting to arrive from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon. To help you find all the top early offers, we’ve rounded up today’s best March Madness TV sales and deals around the web.

Our top March Madness TV sale picks include everything from a 55-inch OLED display to a massive 86-inch 4K TV, with a range of features and prices from brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, and more.

While March Madness hasn’t officially begun, plenty of incredible deals are available right now, and we’ve listed the top offers below. Some highlights include our best-rated TV, LG’s 65-inch C2 OLED, on sale for a record-low of $1,599.99 (was $3,786),  this Insignia 65-inch 4K Fire TV marked down to just $379.99 (was $549.99) and Sony’s 55-inch 4K Google TV for $449.99 (was $549.99).

See more of the best March Madness TV sales below, and make sure to bookmark this page, as we’ll be updating it with all the best TV deals leading up to the championship game.

The best early March Madness TV sales

Amazon: up to $900 off 4K, QLED and OLED TVs

Best Buy: smart TVs as low as $249.99

Samsung: up to $2,000 off 8K and 4K TVs

Walmart: cheap 4K TVs starting at $198

The best early March Madness TV deals

Shop more TV offers with our roundup of the best cheap TV deals, and see more premium options with our best OLED TV deals roundup.

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Street Fighter 6 now has a release date, meaning players will be able to jump in very soon indeed. Here’s what to expect.

Street Fighter 6 is now well within reach, and looks set to kick off a whole new era for the long-running fighting game franchise. The game’s roster has been revealed, though there’s likely to be more fighters added post-launch. At present, it’s a great collection of brand new faces, alongside fan favorites from previous games.

Capcom had been keeping pretty quiet about Street Fighter 6 for many years, until it finally lifted the lid properly last year. Since then we’ve seen new gameplay, gotten detailed breakdowns of the new characters, and even a look at the new single player campaign and what it will entail.

To help keep you in the loop with all things Street Fighter 6, this page will be regularly updated with all of the latest news on the game. You’ll also find trailers, and details on gameplay as more details are revealed by Capcom. For now, here’s what we know about Street Fighter 6 so far.

Street Fighter 6: cut to the chase

What is it? Capcom’s sixth mainline entry in the Street Fighter franchise

When can I play it? June 2, 2023

What can I play it on? PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S

Street Fighter 6 release date and platforms

(Image credit: Capcom)

Street Fighter 6 will release on June 2, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. This release date was revealed during The Game Awards 2022, alongside a brand new look at the World Tour mode. New fighters were also announced, including Street Fighter 2’s Dee Jay.

Street Fighter 6 trailers

Latest trailer

The latest trailer for Street Fighter 6 was shown off during a Sony State of Play that aired in February 2023. It showed off some of the new characters and fighting locations.

More trailers

We’ve included some more Street Fighter 6 trailers throughout this article. For a look at every Street Fighter 6 trailer released so far, be sure to visit Capcom’s official YouTube channel.

Street Fighter 6 roster

Thanks to the recent release date reveal trailer, Capcom has now outlined the full launch roster for Street Fighter 6. While DLC characters are inevitable additions, here’s who players can expect off the bat:  Luke, Jamie, Manon, Kimberly, Marisa, Lily, JP, Juri, Dee Jay, Cammy, Ryu, E. Honda, Blanka, Guile, Ken, Chun-Li, Zangief, Dhalsim, Dee Jay, Manon, Marisa and JP.

Of these characters, Kimberly, Marisa, Manon, JP, and Jamie are brand new. In terms of fighting styles, Jamie is a professional dancer, so has extremely acrobatic moves and skills. He is described on the official SF6 blog as follows: 

“This self-styled Chinatown peacekeeper aspires to the example set by Yun and Yang, the Twin Dragons. An expert dancer, Jamie places justice and friendship above all else, defending his town with martial skill.”

Kimberly on the other hand, is basically an aspiring ninja with a spray can. She has heaps of visual flair, and a fun 80s aesthetic. Here’s how she’s described on the same blog:

“Uninvited student to Guy, the 39th successor to Bushinryu. Kimberly had an ordinary upbringing, but she’s a genuine prodigy who graduated college early…and now wants to be a ninja. Loves ’80s pop culture.”

Marisa is an up-and-coming jewelry designer from Italy who claims ancestry to ancient Greek warriors. As a child, she was inspired by a vision of the Colosseum in its prime.

Manon on the other hand, is something of a fashionista. She struts the catwalk of street fighting to become the world’s strongest model.

Finally, JP is head of an international NGO responsible for many successful investment projects. He also has a beloved cat named Cybele. JP loves chess puzzles and local cuisine, but hates stains on his clothes, and sleep.

Street Fighter 6 modes

Street Fighter 6 is set to bring back several returning modes alongside two new modes. Fighting Ground offers a classic fighting game experience and will include Arcade Mode, online matches, Training Mode, local versus battles, and more, according to Capcom.

In addition to these returning modes, Street Fighter 6 will introduce the Battle Hub and World Tour modes. World Tour offers “an immersive single-player story experience” and, from the announcement trailer, appears to allow for free-roaming 3D gameplay. Some more on World Tour was shown off during The Game Awards 2022. Players can train their own avatar, taking them across the world to learn new abilities from Master fighters found in each location.

Battle Hub, on the other hand, is Street Fighter 6’s multiplayer segment, and essentially serves as a social hub where players can hang out and challenge each other to fights or mini games.

Street Fighter 6 gameplay

It’s not just new modes that Capcom is introducing in Street Fighter 6. Drive Gauge is a new battle system mechanic that aims to allow for more “creativity”. This gauge can be used to perform five different techniques that will improve your defense or offense.

“A Drive Impact is a powerful strike that can absorb an opponent’s incoming attack and can lead to a wall splat,” Capcom writes in a PlayStation Blog post. “Use Drive Parry to repel your opponent’s attack and refill your Drive Gauge. Cancel out of a Drive Parry or normal attack into a Drive Rush to quickly close in on your opponent. Overdrive Arts are similar to EX Moves from past games that power up your Special Moves. Use Drive Reversal to perform a counterattack to get you out of tight situations. One gauge, five techniques, unlimited possibilities. Use your creativity to choose which technique to utilize and when.”

Street Fighter 6 also aims to be more accessible to new players with the introduction of the Modern Control Type. While the Classic Control Type will still be available, the new type will allow for “easier inputs” for Special moves, so you can simply use the Special Move button with a directional input to unleash your extravagant fury.

Another new addition for Street Fighter 6 is the Real-Time Commentary feature which sees real-life fighting game commentators (Jeremy ‘Vicious’ Lopex in English and Aru in Japanese are confirmed) lending their voices to the game commentating on your fights as they happen and providing explanations about the gameplay.

Street Fighter 6 news

(Image credit: Capcom)

Zelina Vega added as a Street Fighter 6 commentator
WWE superstar Zelina Vega will feature in Street Fighter 6 as a color commentator. The actress/wrestler/gamer will join the already impressive roster of commentators.

These are the upcoming games we’ve got our eyes on

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A neurobiologist and sleep expert shares her simple test for checking whether your pillow is right for you or not.

You might be getting the right amount of sleep every night, but are you getting enough quality sleep? If you’re racking up enough hours but waking up with aches and pains and generally feeling out of sorts throughout the day, it could be that your pillow is the culprit.

Finding the best pillow for your sleeping position can make the world of difference to the quality of your slumber, as can knowing how many pillows you should sleep with; get these two factors right and you should find that you’re waking up every morning feeling fresh as a daisy. But if you’re not sure whether you have the right number of pillows or if they’re the perfect type of pillows for you, there’s a straightforward test you can do at home that’ll enable you to work it out quickly.

We spoke to Dr. Verena Senn, neurobiologist and Head of Sleep research at Emma Sleep, to find out how to identify problems in your pillow setup, and to pick up some other pillow-related tips.

Expert explains how to wash and care for pillows so they last longer
This is what happens to your pillows when they aren’t washed regularly

How to test if you’re sleeping on the wrong pillow

When you’re sleeping on the wrong pillow for your sleep style, you could be at risk of neck pain and posture issues. Thankfully there’s an easy way to tell if yours suits you or not. 

If you have a family member or friend nearby, Dr. Senn says you can ask them to check your head, neck and spine while your head is resting on your pillow. You could also set up your phone or camera to take a photo of yourself lying down.

This is what to look for, according to Dr. Senn: “Imagine a flat, horizontal line running up along the center of your spine. Your head should neither be above nor below your spine.” If your bodyline curves or bends, then it’s time to find a pillow that offers the support you need.

(Image credit: Getty)

How many pillows should you sleep with?

“There is no one size fits all when it comes to the number of pillows,” says Dr. Senn. “Rather it’s about figuring out the right size and number for your body.” For some sleepers a single pillow will be sufficient, while for others two might offer the comfort and support they need.

The key thing to keep in mind is to ensure your head and neck are supported while in a neutral position, mitigating any stress on the seven vertebrae in your neck that can lead to pain and discomfort. 

You’ll also want to take into account the type of pillow you have. “If you have very thin pillows you might need more than one,” explains Dr. Senn, “whereas a large pillow may create un-alignment in your neck with just a single pillow.” For example, our petite tester had this issue for our Saatva Down Alternative pillow review. 

How to pick a pillow and match it to your mattress

“When on the hunt for the perfect pillow, you should consider what type of sleeper you are,” says Dr. Senn. Knowing your dominant sleep style (side, back or stomach) will point you towards the ideal pillow.

How about sleepers who find themselves very hot at night? Dr. Senn says the material of your pillowcase should be made with a breathable fabric – think cotton or copper – to allow heat to flow from your head into the atmosphere.

Here are Dr. Senn’s recommendations for each sleep style:

Back sleepers “should seek a thinner, flatter pillow to align the neck with the spine.” For sleepers who already experience neck pain, Dr Verena suggests they opt for a more supportive pillow, such as the contouring Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow.

Side sleepers, meanwhile, need a thicker, firmer pillow. Dr Verena says good rule of thumb is to find a pillow “as thick as the distance between your shoulder and ear.” Read our Layla Kapok Pillow review for an excellent pillow for side sleeping.

Stomach sleepers will benefit from a soft pillow…if they even want a pillow under their head at all. For the latter group, Dr Verena recommends they place a soft pillow under their stomach and pelvis for proper alignment.

(Image credit: Getty/Wavebreakmedia Ltd)

Sleeping on the best mattress will only do so much for your sleep quality if your pillow isn’t holding up its end of the bargain. “When choosing a pillow, it’s always worth considering the type of mattress you have, as different mattresses provide varying levels of support,” says Dr. Senn.

Your mattress should support your whole body – hips, shoulder, head, and legs. Adding the right pillow will allow it to work in harmony with your bed to provide proper alignment and all-around comfort so you wake up refreshed. 

Dr. Senn emphasizes that “your pillow plays just as important a role in improving your sleep quality as your mattress.” Spend some time testing out pillows of varying firmness and materials to find the right one, many come on a risk-free trial of at least 30 days too, so you’ll have time to get acquainted.

Hopefully, even with such a small change, you’ll be sleep better than ever. An easy way to tell is how you feel when you wake up – are you refreshed or tired and sore? You can also use one of the best sleep trackers to monitor your progress.

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We asked cleaning experts to tell us what builds up on a mattress that isn’t cleaned regularly. Brace yourselves.

When was the last time you showed your mattress some TLC? And what builds up on that soft, pillowy surface when it isn’t cleaned regularly? Dust mites, sweat and pet dander are just a few of the things you can expect. Even if you have recently invested in the best mattress for your sleep, keeping it fresh from the start will help it last longer (and save you money).

As Yordan Yordanov, a mattress cleaner from Fantastic Services, tells us: “While most people tend to agree that buying a quality mattress is essential for a good night’s sleep, keeping it clean is just as important in order to prevent allergies and health-related issues from arising, as well as to have a high-quality sleep. 

“Some people almost never clean their mattress until it rips open, which is the wrong way to look at it,” Yordanov argues. “We spend approximately a third of our lives sleeping, so it’s right to ensure we have as much high-quality sleep as possible. Regular cleaning and maintenance are key – there is simply no other way around it.”

Our feature on how to clean a mattress talks you through the process, but for now, here’s a look at what could build up on your mattress if you don’t clean it regularly. And to get an idea of just how well you’ll be sleeping on your soon-to-be fresh and clean mattress, take a look at our guide to the best sleep trackers.

1. Layers of dust

Just like dust resides on our lamp shades, mirrors and pretty much every other surface in the house – the pesky allergen can also settle on our mattress. Yordanov explains: “Dust build-up is common on most mattresses, as dust is composed of dead skin cells, hair, dead insect parts, sand, and anything else that could be brought from the outdoors, through your open windows or on the shoes you bring indoors. 

“To reduce overall dust, you should clean and dust your entire home regularly, as well as invest in an air purifier, preferably with High Efficiency Particulate Air filters.”

(Image credit: Getty/Ratchat)

2. Dead skin and body fluids

From sweat to saliva and urine to faeces, if not cleaned regularly a whole cocktail of body fluids will embed themselves into your mattress. Gary Farron, from professional cleaners Silent Mites, tells us: “Stains will gradually build up over time, from various body fluids, sweat and saliva. Also dead skin cells will collect as we can shed anywhere between 15 million to half a billion dead skin cells every day. This will make it perfect for bacteria, which will multiply.”

Drift off to the best sleep apps

3. Dust mites

This leads on nicely from the point above. Unfortunately, once our skin has been shed, it makes for the perfect feeding playground for dust mites. Farron adds: “Further down inside the mattress you can expect to find dust mites – microscopic relatives of the spider, feeding on our dead flakes of skin. 

“It is estimated that a 10 year old mattress will contain more than 10lb of dead flakes of skin which is a food source for millions upon millions of dust mites, whose waste is a very potent protein that can trigger many allergies such as asthma, eczema, rhinitis, itchy skin, itchy red eyes and sneezing. 

“A good mattress protector will help prevent stains and offer a guard against the build up of bacteria, fungi and dust mites. However these will just take the brunt of the problems so it is important to wash bed sheets, pillows, pillow cases and protectors regularly. Airing the mattress when you wake up will also help. Letting natural sunlight get to the bed and allowing the humidity to dry out of the mattress will all play a role in keeping the bed fresher.”

(Image credit: Getty/Chris Winsor)

4. Pet dander

At TechRadar we love our pets beyond measure, but if you let your much-loved furry friend have 40 winks in bed with you, as snuggly and comforting as that is, you could be opening up the door to more than just a warm hug and a wet, whiskery kiss. 

Melissa Homer, Chief Cleaning Officer at MaidPro, explains: “Mattresses are home to remnants of whatever is present on them regularly, including our food, our pets, and us. If your furry friends join you in bed, their dander is also adding to the party, as are the stray bits of popcorn from the movie you watched in bed the other night.” 

5. Mold

If you’ve ever had mold in your home – whether it’s your bathroom or bedroom – you’ll know how much of a pain it can be. The spores thrive in warm and damp conditions, and unfortunately for us, they can get into your mattress because they’re airbourne.

Yordanov adds: “Mold is another major hazard that might develop in high-humidity areas, especially if there’s poor sunlight and ventilation. It’s also very difficult to remove if left untreated for prolonged periods, as it gets inside the mattress, which renders it dangerous to human health. Mold needs to be treated immediately because it has many adverse health effects, it grows fast and is especially dangerous to people with asthma.”

This advice goes for your mattress topper or pad too, so make sure you also keep those cleaned on a regular basis. It’s especially important to quickly deal with any mold you spot on a bedding accessory before it spreads to your mattress.

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to Breath of the Wild. Here’s what we know about it so far.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is mere months away from release. From what we’ve seen so far, the game appears to be building off of its predecessor in some very smart ways indeed. 

Releasing exclusively for Nintendo Switch, Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to 2017’s Breath of the Wild, which is widely considered to be one of the best Switch games ever and was the console’s biggest launch title. In other words, Tears of the Kingdom has some big shoes to fill.

Nintendo has kept pretty quiet on the finer details relating to Tears of the Kingdom, and we still haven’t even see extended gameplay. The story is a mystery too, though there’s clear hints towards darker themes. Here’s everything we know so far about Tears of the Kingdom, including all of the latest news. As new details emerge, this page will be updated.

Tears of the Kingdom: cut to the chase

What is it? The upcoming sequel to 2017’s Breath of the Wild

When can I play it? May 12, 2023

What can I play it on? Nintendo Switch

Tears of the Kingdom release date and platforms

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches on May 12, 2023. Unsurprisingly for a first-party Nintendo game, it’ll be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch console family.

Tears of the Kingdom was initially due to release in 2022 but, in March of that year, Nintendo pushed the date into 2023, with series producer, Eiji Aonuma, telling fans it was out of a desire to “extend out development time a bit”. You can pre-order The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom now.

Tears of the Kingdom trailers

Latest trailer

Our latest look at Tears of the Kingdom arrived during a Nintendo Direct on February 8, 2023. A new trailer was shown off, which covered everything from new traversal mechanics to a peak at what the story might entail. 

Providing our best look at Tears of the Kingdom yet, we see all new enemies, as well as some returning ones. Vehicles are also featured, including a sort of car, and a flying vehicle as well. Check it out below:

More trailers

We’ve included some key Tears of the Kingdom trailers throughout this article but you can find all of the Tears of the Kingdom trailers that have been released to date on Nintendo’s official YouTube channel.

Tears of the Kingdom story and setting

In terms of plot, we know very little about Tears of the Kingdom at present. It’s a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, and Link and Zelda seem to be traveling together to investigate a mysterious blight.

Back in 2019, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that the game is going to have a darker tone than Breath of the Wild, and will even be “a little bit darker” than Majora’s Mask (via IGN).

The trailer certainly supports this, with what looks like Ganondorf’s corpse being resurrected by a disembodied hand, and seemingly imagery from 2006’s Twilight Princess, which saw Hyrule turned into a bleak shadow realm – largely in response to the far cheerier and cartoonish The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. That said, it won’t be all doom and gloom – visually at least – as recent trailers have at least indicated that we’ll take to the skies and explore amongst the clouds.

Something that has been apparent since the very first trailer (which is embedded above this section) is that time will be a theme in Tears of the Kingdom. In the reveal trailer, the music appears to be playing backwards, as do some of the scenes shown. In recent trailers, this has been repeated, so it’s likely that Tears of the Kingdom’s story could revolve around time manipulation in some way.

Tears of the Kingdom gameplay

In the trailers we’ve seen so far, it’s clear that the skies will be a big part of Tears of the Kingdom. We’ve seen Link free-falling, using a new glider, and even riding on the back of flying creatures. There looks to be a mechanic that allows Link to travel upwards through clouds and other objects, aiding in vertical exploration. In the latest trailer, we even saw a flying vehicle of sorts.

Three patents filed by Nintendo could give us an insight into the gameplay mechanics of Tears of the Kingdom. As spotted by GameReactor, the three patents have been registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

Each patent contains a diagram of what could be Link abilities for Tears of the Kingdom. The first patent, for instance, describes the ability “to perform a special action” while a character is falling such as “a shooting action of shooting a predetermined object.” The diagram in the patent shows a character falling through the air with their arms wide and it’s a strikingly similar pose to Link’s at around 25 seconds into the E3 2021 trailer. 

Something else that appears to be a theme in Tears of the Kingdom is time manipulation. In the trailer embedded above this section, we see Link holding onto a boulder as it rises upwards. By the looks of things, the boulder is actually reversing its falling trajectory. Similarly, time manipulation was used in the very first trailer. The music was clearly being played in reverse, as glowing particles moved inwards towards an ominous green light.

All in all, we’ve yet to see much Tears of the Kingdom gameplay, so it’s likely that Nintendo is holding things back until just before launch. If we hear more, this page will be updated.

Tears of the Kingdom news

A new glove item may take the place of the Sheikah slate in Tears of the Kingdom (Image credit: Nintendo)

Tears of the Kingdom will be $70
Nintendo revealed the pre-order and pricing info for Tears of the Kingdom alongside a Nintendo Direct held on February 8, 2023. The biggest news was that Tears of the Kingdom will cost $70 at launch, an increase from the standard price of other Switch games. 

Nintendo clears up confusion around the title
During its September 2022 Direct, Nintendo finally announced that the game will be called The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, not Breath of the Wild 2 as it was long unofficially called. However, fans were still left with a question: is that ‘tears’ or ‘tears’? As in, should our confusion be making us tear our hair out, or should our eyes be filling up with tears?

Fortunately, Nintendo stepped in to clear things up, confirming to Eurogamer that it’s crying tears. That is at least one mystery around Tears of the Kingdom mopped up. 

Here are the best Nintendo Switch games to play right now

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Starfield is planned to arrive later this year. Here’s what we know about the game so far including all of the latest news.

Starfield is set to release later this year. It’s the first new IP in 25 years for Bethesda Game Studios, and sets its sights skyward, offering up a spacefaring adventure for players to enjoy. 

From what we’ve seen of Starfield, it very much looks like an evolution for the studio. There are elements of Fallout in there, but Starfield is decidedly more of a straight space-sim than many were perhaps expecting. It’s still a single player RPG first and foremost, but there’s also trading, ship customization and more to enjoy.

While we wait for more info on Starfield, this page will stay up to date with all the latest news and rumors related to the game. As more info is revealed, you’ll find it here. For now, here’s what we know about Starfield so far.

Starfield: cut to the chase

What is it? A Bethesda RPG set in outer space

What can I play it on? PC and Xbox Series X|S

When can I play it? First half of 2023 (exact date TBC)

Starfield: Release date and platforms

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Starfield launches for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC sometime in the first half of 2023, after Bethesda announced a delay for the game. This was recently reconfirmed (January 2023) via an update to the game’s support page. (opens in a new tab).

When Starfield does release, it’ll be an Xbox console exclusive, with the E3 2021 trailer explicitly confirming this, ruling out a PS5 release. It won’t be on Xbox One either, Bethesda’s moving on from Microsoft’s last-gen console. With Microsoft now owners of developer Bethesda, this could be indicative of the future of titles like The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 going forward.

Starfield trailers

Latest Trailer

The latest trailer we’ve gotten for Starfield was shown off last year, at the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase. It offered up our very first look at extended gameplay. You can check it out below:

More trailers

We’ve included some key Starfield trailers throughout this article but you can find all the Starfield trailers that have been released to date on Bethesda’s official YouTube channel.

Starfield gameplay

During 2022’s Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, we got our first in-depth look at Starfield’s gameplay. Starting with customization, we’re playing a fully customizable protagonist. Changeable skin tone, head shapes, hair, hair color, eyes, and body details, Bethesda’s giving us the usual options here, alongside ‘Background’ and ‘Traits’.

Backgrounds offer three starting skills each. For example, picking ‘Dueling’ awards 10% extra melee damage, while ‘Gastronomy’ lets you create unique food and drinks, alongside researching further recipes. Meanwhile, Traits can shape your personality, so if you choose the ‘Extrovert’ trait for example, you’ll have more endurance when travelling with companions, and less when alone. Unsurprisingly, this can’t be mixed with the ‘Introvert’ trait, which does the opposite.

This presentation also gave us our first real look at ship customization too, which we know is modular. You can piece entire sections together, swapping out core components like cockpits, engines, and more, and it seems that there’s no need to individually craft those parts. It looks like we’ll buy these from individual vendors across different locations. 

Shortly after the presentation, Bethesda confirmed more on its Twitter account. Revealing that Starfield uses a first-person perspective for dialogue, our character also won’t be voiced, which may prove welcome news. For the unaware, a voiced protagonist was first attempted by Bethesda in Fallout 4, which faced widespread criticism. Unsurprisingly then, this change has been (mostly) well received. 

Thanks to an IGN interview with Todd Howard, we learned plenty more about Starfield. Speaking about Starfield’s length, Howard explains it’ll be 20% bigger than Bethesda’s previous games, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. Estimating you’ll need 30-40 hours for the main story alone, he advised: “This one’s ending up a little bit longer [than our previous games] and we may tune that some still. It’s more quests, so it might be 20% more than our previous ones”.

He’s also clear that despite the large-scale freedom to explore, Starfield still offers a clear ‘golden path’ to follow, for those only interested in the main story. Telling IGN there’s more handcrafted content than Bethesda has ever created in Starfield, Howard confirmed.

Starfield story and setting

Starfield promises a grand spacefaring adventure across the vast universe, set 300 years into our future. After a few initial missions, our protagonist gets invited to join Constellation, the last group of space explorers. We’ll be meeting them in the United Colonies’ capital city, New Atlantis, tasked with searching for artifacts across The Settled Systems.

Speaking to IGN in a June 2022 interview, Todd Howard revealed New Atlantis will be Bethesda’s biggest city yet. “It has all the services you would expect, and you can work on your ship there, the factions touch that. But that’s also the headquarters for Constellation, which is the faction that you join that is the last group of space explorers – kind of this NASA-meets-Indiana Jones-meets-The League of Extraordinary Gentleman [group].”

Unsurprisingly, there’s rival groups with separate goals, like the Crimson Fleet, who it seems we’ll be frequently clashing with. Previous videos from Bethesda have also confirmed the existence of violent Spacers, ecliptic mercenaries, and fanatical religious zealots of House Va’Ruun. 

This takes place across 1000 fully explorable planets between 100 star systems, and four major cities. Including New Atlantis, we currently know about three of them.  Following a past war with the United Colonies, the Freestar Collective marks the other major faction within The Settled Systems, and both currently maintain an uneasy peace. 

Controlling three star systems, Freestar uses the walled Akila City as its capital, which keeps out “alien predators that are a cross between a wolf and a velociraptor.”  Then we have Neon, a pleasure city created by the Xenofresh Corporation. Having created a unique psychotropic drug, Aurora, it’s now a popular tourist spot.

Starfield news

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Starfield is getting its own showcase in the coming months
Microsoft recently revealed an Xbox Developer Direct for January 25. While listing the games that would be shown, Starfield was left out, to the confusion of many. Speaking in a blog post about the event (opens in a new tab), Xbox reveals that Starfield will get its own showcase later on in the year:

“To dedicate the proper amount of time for a deep dive into Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield, a standalone show is in the works.”

All we know so far is that this deep-dive will air after the Developer Direct.

Starfield may be lonely, but that’s exactly what Bethesda wants
Speaking in a recent interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, Todd Howard, the game’s head director, explained how the team at Bethesda embraced the “beautiful desolation” of Starfield’s massive open world.

These are the upcoming games we have our eye on

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We list the best alternative email apps for iOS 15, to make it simple and easy to manage your email outside of using Apple Mail.

The best alternative email apps for iOS 15 make it simple and easy to manage your email outside of using Apple Mail.

It’d be fair to say that much of the world runs on email, making it a must to have the best iOS email app for you. And while communication tools like Slack, WhatsApp and Discord all exist for instant messaging, email remains the way many people communicate, particularly in business. Whether it’s sending projects for approval, connecting with a loved one, or simply sharing notes for the latest office meeting, there’s plenty of life in email yet.

While your iPhone comes with Apple Mail installed, it’s not for everyone. Apple continues to improve it, but it can be a little clunky to use and lacks many of the more nuanced features of other email apps. For basic sending and receiving messages, it’s great, but if you deal with a lot of emails, you may be looking for something flashier.

Thankfully, there are plenty of alternative email clients out there you can use on your iPhone or iPad, all of which make smart changes to the basic formula. To put together our list, we’ve compared the best features offered with each, including smart inboxes, usability, calendar and meeting compatibility, and cost.

Here then is our list of the best alternative email apps for iOS 15.

We’ve also listed the best business Macs.

The best alternative email apps for iOS of 2023 in full:

(Image credit: TechRadar)

It may seem a little strange to be trumpeting Microsoft’s Outlook as one of the best email apps for the Apple iPhone, but it really is an excellent choice.

Microsoft’s long-running email client looks better here than it ever has before, it’s also slick to use and plenty powerful too. Its Smart Inbox works out which emails are important for you and snoozes the others for later. You can also swipe emails to perform quick actions (something that many other apps on this list do).

Perhaps our favorite aspect though is that the calendar within Outlook is so good you can use it as your main planner. Its inclusion means that all your meetings and events, whether they’re from Google Calendar, iCloud, or elsewhere, are all in one place. 

Read our review of Microsoft Outlook 

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Hey has been the subject of much discussion, both in terms of its pricing, feature set, and the fact that the developer and Apple had a falling out over in-app payments.

Nonetheless, Hey is an excellent email client from the makers of Basecamp, the widely-used project management software. Its avant-garde approach to email won’t be for everyone (nor will its hefty $99 annual fee), but users desperate for a new approach to email will be thrilled. 

For they’ll find that they get all kinds of great features, like the ability to screen emails from new senders, and unique filtering rules like the Paper Trail (for receipts) or The Feed (for newsletters).

To use Hey, you’ll have to direct all your existing email to it, but doing so will let you pick a custom @hey.com address.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Of all of the apps on this list, Spark feels the fastest to use, and it’s got a great visual style with plenty of color in icons but mostly plain everywhere else.

Available on the App Store for free, there are plenty of features here that should give Apple something to ponder for an updated version of Mail.

As with others on this list, there’s a Smart inbox, but we’re particularly fond of Spark’s array of ‘actions’ – you can snooze a thread, remind yourself to follow up later, create Smart Notifications, and more. There’s also a nice slide-over calendar, too.

Spark also plays nicely with attachments, letting you download and open files within the app itself rather than dipping into another option. Attachment search is great, too, and you can attach whatever you’re sending to cloud services straight from the app.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Edison is another good-looking Apple Mail alternative, but its real superpower is its built-in assistant.

Edison’s assistant will filter your emails by type or sender, and it’s perfect for those with butterfingers since it’ll let you undo the sending of an email up to fifteen seconds after you hit the Send button. There’s a clean, uncluttered interface that makes good use of the slide-to-action options seen elsewhere on this list, too.

There’s also support for dark mode; and a unified Inbox that enables you to combine your inboxes from most providers (but not currently Exchange). It’s also ad-free and automatically blocks email trackers to help protect your privacy.

Edison leans a little on Hey’s business model, now that it works with OnMail. You can use Edison for free, but paying $4.99 will get you a custom domain, password-protected large file links, and an increased attachment size up to 250MB.

Read our review of Edison Mail for Mac 

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The new kid on the mail-block, Twobird is part email app and part to-do list – and it’s great at both.

The email experience removes as much from around the actual content of your email as it can, cleaning up the experience to let you focus on the who and the what. 

Like others on this list of best alternative email apps for iOS there’s a unified inbox, but what stands Twobird apart is you’ll also be able to turn the emails in your inbox into a task list of sorts, tying it in with your other daily reminders, while smart notifications work out what you need to know and when.

Twobird is off to a great start, but there’s a big caveat – there’s no option to currently add your iCloud here, sadly. Gmail and Exchange users, however, will find a lot to love.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Airmail has a smart-looking design that feels ripped straight from Apple’s own design language. In fact, it feels like Apple Mail, but better. Not that this should come as a surprise, as it has been designed specifically for iOS, macOS and watchOS.

The real strength of Airmail is in its integrations with other services – be those web services like Gmail, Outlook, and Exchange, or other apps on your phone. If there’s an app you use, chances are, Airmail can too; Google Drive, Todoist, Drafts, Trello, they’re all here. It’s a far cry from Apple’s more siloed experience.

While Airmail is free, you can upgrade to a Pro plan for $2.99 per month (or $9.99 per year). Doing so gets you a unified inbox, multiple themes, and the option to snooze and delay sending. There’s also a really useful rules function that can handle email automatically when it arrives, depending on your preferences.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Spike shakes things up by attempting to blur the lines between email and instant messaging. It looks closer to iMessage than it does to Apple Mail, which may put some people off.

In truth, it’s closer to something like Slack, stripping away the need for long emails full of headers and signatures and boiling it down to the message content and any attachments. It’s configurable for teams, too, so you can send an email to a group of colleagues as if it were a Slack message.

There are built-in notes and task management options, too, with both working collaboratively. And just like others on this list, there’s a Priority Inbox so you never miss an important email.

As a relative newcomer to the scene, some growing pains have been reported with some features of the app, but there’s no doubt that as these are ironed out Spike will become a major player in the space.

We’ve also listed the best iOS productivity apps.

How to choose the best alternative email apps for iOS for you

If you’re an Apple user and you’re on the hunt for the best alternative email apps, then there’s a good chance you’re not entirely satisfied with Apple’s default Mail client. So the first thing to consider is why you’re not entirely convinced by Mail?

Do you find it too clunky? Is it not quick enough? Or is it lacking certain features that would make your emailing experience a much more intuitive process?

Once you’ve decided what factor you require improvement on or what features you’re on the hunt for, you can begin to whittle down the list of best alternative email apps for iOS. As the above explains, Outlook is a great shout if you’re looking for a platform that offers seamless synchronisation with your default planner or calendar. Alternatively, some of the newer kids on the block offer smart inboxes that offer a level of automation on how your emails are filed and filtered. 

Even something as seemingly minor as Edison’s delayed send could prove a vital feature if you find yourself commonly emailing the wrong recipients. Either way, once you’ve prioritised your key requirements, align it with your budget, as not all options on this list come free.

The best alternative email apps for iOS: How we test

To come up with our list of best alternative email apps for iOS, we’ve considered a range of options that provides a real variety of approaches to email. No longer are users restricted to the basics of sending and receiving mail, with newer applications taking a fresh new approach to electronic mail. 

This includes ‘smart’ inboxes, which can be tailored by the user to file emails based on set rules. In the above list, we’ve considered where and how this may be of use, or where infact it may provide a step too far for some people in terms of required functionality. We’ve therefore also compared more traditional yet immensely useful functionality – like synchronising with calendar and meeting applications, delayed sending, and email chain snoozing. 

Of course the key to an easy life these days is connectivity, and so any mail app worth its salt should be compatible with a host of other apps and services – we’ve listed above where this is the case.

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

Leave your iOS data legacy to someone else when the time comes

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We’re rounding up all the best Audible promo codes and discounts out there and looking to give you some cash-saving tips.

We all know Audible can be an expensive service, but thankfully there are always a few Audible promos and discounts you can take advantage of to get you up and running with a respectable library in no time.

Right now’s a fantastic time to be checking in as Audible has just posted an awesome tie-in deal for the upcoming Amazon Prime Day event that offers new customers an extended three month trial. Previously, the trial only lasted a single month and this Prime Day Audible deal is also for the (usually) pricier Premium Plus subscription tier, meaning you’ll get free book tokens as well as unlimited access to the Audible Originals library.

There’s also an existing promotion for UK customers that lets them bag their four months of Audible for £3.99 right now, with a total saving of £16 overall. This is an old pre-Prime Day deal that’s pretty good but it’s worth noting that UK customers can also take advantage of that extended three month free trial right now, which might be a better option for you.

If you’re already signed up, then Audible deals and discounts on monthly membership fees tend to be pretty rare. Don’t fret though, there are still some great promos available all year round on gift memberships and on books in the Audible daily deals section. To see what’s available this week, simply scroll down to the Audible promo codes section further down the page.

Audible discounts available now

We’ve got a really in-depth breakdown of what’s included with an Audible membership, as well as frequently asked questions in our Audible price and membership guide. If you’re still on the fence, then you can also check out the 30-day free trial of Audible, which we’ve also broken down with a detailed Audible free trial guide.

Audible promo codes

While there are currently no promotional codes that will get you free membership months on Audible, there are some great free giveaways and bonuses to be had, including free access to over 300 kids audiobooks. We’ve listed out the best Audible offers down below, including where to get the Audible daily deal.

Audible promo codes: how to save money

Audible promo codes tend to be pretty rare, so often the best savings are to be had around one-off membership promotions (such as the one included at the top of this article) or by getting a discount in the Audible deal of the day.

Most of the Audible membership discounts tend to revolve around new subscribers, so if you’re an existing member it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll be able to knock some cost off next month’s bill. Existing members, however, do have access to the audiobook deals section on the Audible site, where Audible tends to put up sales on a fairly regular basis. This Audible discounts can run anywhere from 10% to 30% discounts to $5 audiobook deals, so they can be a great way to save a little bit of cash on the side when used in conjunction with your 30% off flat storewide membership discount.

Other excellent Amazon services

If you’ve already got Audible but still want to save some cash, Amazon has a load of other excellent subscription services that you can check out for free. Everything’s covered here, from movies, music, books to TV, and you’re sure to find something of interest.

Most of these subscription services run a 30-day free trial, with a few even offering up to 6-months for free. All of these will require your card details to sign up to but remember you can simply cancel your subscription immediately and still get full access for 30-days – giving you a lot of time to check out the service without incurring any cost.

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These cheap soundbar deals prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune on spectacular, room-filling sound.

Quality soundbar speakers don’t usually go on sale, but on the rare occasion, you can find a powerful and high-quality soundbar deal that you shouldn’t pass up. We’ve done the hard work for you by finding the best cheap soundbar deals and sales for quality soundbar speakers. 

Our soundbar deals include top brands such as Sony, LG, and Yamaha. If you’re worried about price in regards to quality, we’ve found some of the cheapest soundbars on the market can still add a decent level of clarity and audio oomph to your living room on a scale that your regular TV can’t. 

Generally speaking, soundbar deals tend to be best around big shopping events like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, which usually take place in November and July respectively. That said, good deals do crop up all year round so if you happen to miss a retail event it’s not a huge biggie. 

Once you’ve got your hands on a new soundbar, the results speak for themselves. But trying to dig around and find the best soundbar deal right now can be a long slog. That’s because the world of soundbars, and audio products more generally, are filled with a random series of numbers – Vizio SB-3830-D0 38-inch soundbar, anyone?

There are also a lot of drastic differences in price that can be overwhelming even to the most seasoned of audiophiles. But don’t worry, that’s where we come in.

What’s the best soundbar deal?

As you’d expect, the answer to that question is going to be different for everyone.

Some people are fine with a standard soundbar, that means no subwoofer and no streaming capabilities. Others might want the sub, but no streaming. Then there are those who might want all of the above, plus two satellite speakers. It’s a your-miles-may-vary situation. 

That said, we can give you some good ideas of what to look for and where to find those great deals when they pop up. 

For most folks, you really just want the basic package: a soundbar with a digital audio cable input that should connect to most modern TVs. You can get a bit tricky with HDMI passthroughs, RCA inputs and 3.5mm jacks, but sometimes basic is better. Of course, we also recommend looking for soundbars with a subwoofer included, that way you’ll get the full audio range from your favorite TV shows and movies, not just the highs and the mids. 

There’s plenty of soundbars to pick from, and more coming out every week, so without further ado here are the best cheap soundbar deals we’ve found this month.

Best cheap soundbar deals

(Image credit: Amazon)

The Yamaha SR-B20A Sound Bar was released in 2020 to replace the popular YAS-107 from 2017. It may be slightly pricier than its predecessor, but the Yamaha SR-B20A has been finessed enough to justify the increase. Contained within its compact form factor are a pair of 75mm bass drivers, two 55mm midrange drivers situated at either end of the soundbar, and a couple of downward-facing two 25mm tweeters.

Notably, the Yamaha SR-B20A stands out for its highly-detailed midrange – which is excellent news if you indulge in plenty of dialogue-heavy films. Obviously, you won’t avail of the Dolby Atmos sound found in pricier soundbars, but the SR-B20A does offer DTS Virtual:X 3D for a ‘3D surround’ sound that’s impressive in its own right.

If you merely want to boost your TV’s native audio, the Yamaha SR-B20A Sound Bar is an economical way to achieve that.

Read the review: Yamaha SR-B20A Sound Bar

(Image credit: Roku)

The Roku Streambar is akin to giving your television a makeover. Not only will it augment your TV’s audio with fuller, clearer sound – it’ll also imbue it with 4K/HDR streaming. It measures just 14 inches wide, which makes the Roku Streambar a fantastic choice for anyone who lives in an apartment or dorm room.

Wireless connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.  A hard-wired Ethernet connection is also possible courtesy of the lone USB port. Sonically, the Roku Streambar is very good, providing clear dialogue and sound leveling for commercials. The bass is lacking, but you can remedy that issue by purchasing the Roku subwoofer and rear speaker kits (sold separately).

If you need both a soundbar and a streaming device – but have limited space and a tight budget – the Roku Streambar is the way to go.

Read the review: Roku Streambar

(Image credit: Amazon)

The 3.1-channel Sony HT-G700 Soundbar delivers TV and movie audio excellently. Though it’ll noticeably enhance the audio on any TV, select features (such as stereo Bluetooth) will only work with a number of compatible Sony televisions. Thus, if you’re already invested in Sony’s home theater ecosystem, you’ll be able to harness the full potential of the HT-G700.

The Sony HT-G700 is a soundbar and wireless subwoofer pair that features Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony’s Immersive AE. This wide range of audio formats translates to clean, wide sound while watching your favorite TV shows and movies. And if you want to customize your sub frequencies on the fly, there’s a dedicated subwoofer volume button to get the bass right where you want it.

For a solid entry-level Atmos-enabled soundbar/subwoofer combo, definitely consider the Sony HT-G700.

Read the review: Sony HT-G700

(Image credit: Amazon)

The Sony HT-X8500 delivers quality sound at an affordable price. It includes dual built-in subwoofers for deep sounding bass, while still maintaining a slim, sleek design. Its compact size will fit perfectly in front of your TV and won’t clutter up your space.

This Sony soundbar features Vertical Sound Engine technology that’s combined with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to produce a cinematic three-dimensional surround sound experience. The remote also includes seven different sound modes so you can control and enhance your entertainment experience.

If you’re seeking a top notch sound system that won’t put a sizable dent in your budget, the Sony HT-X8500 is one of the best options around.

Read the review: Sony HT-X8500

(Image credit: Amazon)

The Razer Leviathan may be an older model that’s geared toward gaming, but in actuality it’s a really smart soundbar that costs less than most TVs – and it’ll help those TVs sound a lot better, too.  

Razer’s audio monster doesn’t have the most power-per-inch at only 30 watts, but we really liked how low it could go with the accompanying subwoofer. Plus, while other speakers on this list might not even attempt surround sound, Razer gives it the ol’ college try and actually does a decent job with it. 

The Razer Leviathan might not be as good as a true 7.1 system, but try finding one of those for under $199/£159. You’re getting a fantastic bargain here.

Read the review: Razer Leviathan

(Image credit: Amazon)

The LG SK8Y may not be the newest model on the market, but it’s still a great value soundbar. The soundbar has one of the most appealing designs we’ve seen; it can fit elegantly underneath your television. Meanwhile, the accompanying  sub has a more plain facade and can go right behind your sofa or under a side board.

The sound quality and source flexibility of the LG SK8Y are well worth what you pay for here, and then some. In addition to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, there’s also support for Chromecast plus Google Assistant control. The on-soundbar display also isn’t too shabby, either. 

Unfortunately, this model no longer appears to be available in the UK. If you’re Stateside, however, pick up the LG SK8Y at a bargain while you can.

Read the review: LG SK8 (LG SK8Y)

More articles about home audio:

The best stereo speakers: bookshelf, floor, and Hi-Fi
The best Dolby Atmos speakers for object-based sound
The best smart speaker: more than a music player

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