Horizon Forbidden West is fast approaching its 18 February, 2022 release date, and with its PS5 and PS4 launch looming the first of its age ratings has been revealed.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which assigns age and content ratings to videogames in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has deemed the further robot-hunting adventure of Aloy a “T” for Teen game, meaning it wont be suitable for the younger members of your family.
The ratings board tags the game as featuring “Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, and Violence” in its rationale for the rating – nothing too surprising given similar content in the first game.
Death by statue
But the description that accompanies the rating gives a little more insight into what to expect from the game. According to the ESRB rating:
"This is an action-adventure game in which players assume the role of a hero (Aloy) traveling to discover the source of a mysterious signal. From a third-person perspective, players traverse post-apocalyptic environments/landscapes, complete quests, interact with characters, and engage in combat against enemy tribes and robotic creatures.
“Players use slingshots, bows, javelins, and spears to kill enemies in frenetic combat. Puffs of blood are depicted as human enemies are hit; blood stains also appear underneath bodies in some environments. Players can also perform stealth attacks (e.g., spear impalement) to eliminate enemies discreetly. Cutscenes depict additional acts of violence: a character impaled by swords or spears; a character crushed to death by a statue. The game depicts drunk characters stumbling around, and in one area stating, 'I'm inebriated'; one cutscene depicts Aloy drinking beer from a mug; several background characters are seen drinking alcohol in taverns. The word 'sh*t' is heard in the game."
We’re liking the sound of “Death by statue”, that’s for sure. Have always wanted to wield the Venus de Milo against a giant titanium T-Rex, so fingers crossed that niche wish will finally be ticked off by Horizon Forbidden West.
As well as a delay to its release, Horizon Forbidden West had initially rankled PS5 and PS4 owners when, for starters, the game was revealed to be a cross-generation release (and thus seemingly not making full use of the PS5’s powers in order to cater to the older PS4 machine), and also that players on PS4 would eventually be required to pay an additional fee to upgrade to next-gen PS5 features. Thankfully, that later decision was eventually backtracked.
It's hard to think of a better gift to find in your Christmas stocking than a DJI drone. These flying cameras are simple to fly, but can also quite literally take your photography and videography to new heights.
Whether you've unwrapped the new DJI Mavic 3, or a smaller model like the DJI Air 2S, DJI Mini 2 or DJI Mavic Air 2, we have nine essential tips to help you get you up and flying, as well as mastering that stabilized camera.
Recent advances in technology have made it incredibly easy, and indeed safe, to fly drones. But don’t let this lure you into the expectation that you can simply unbox your new drone, charge up the batteries and shoot awe-inspiring photos and videos on your maiden flight – there’s still lots to learn.
So, if you’ve been good this year and Santa has brought you a shiny new DJI drone for Christmas, here’s our guide to getting into the air and shooting stunning photos and videos in no time.
While your new drone is charging, the very first thing you need to do is register your drone. This process will vary depending on your region and local laws, but for the US and UK you'll need to visit the FAA or CAA websites respectively.
As an example, we're going to run through the CAA's process in the UK. You'll need to register as an operator and take a multiple-choice test to receive a flyer ID number that will need to be displayed on your drone.
For all drones, even those weighing less than 250g such as the DJI Mini 2, you now must be registered as an operator.
(Image credit: Apple / CAA)
If you have a camera drone weighing under 250g you don’t have to take the multiple-choice test to obtain a flyer ID, but the CAA recommends that you do so because it gives you an overview of the laws surrounding drone flights and will ultimately help you to stay safe and legal.
If your drone weighs 250g and above, you must register as an operator, take and pass the test and display your flyer ID clearly on your drone. To learn more about drone laws and where you can fly safely and legally check out our UK drone laws article. Or to find out the exact laws in your region, check with your local civil aviation agency.
2. Activate your drone
Now it's time to get your drone connected to its partner app. For DJI drones, there are two main apps, and the one you need depends on which model you have.
If you have a Mavic 2 model, the original Mavic Air, the Spark, a Phantom 4 model and one of its professional models, you'll need the DJI Go 4 app (for iOS or Android). Got the DJI Mavic 3, Air 2S, Mavic Air 2, Mavic Mini or Mini 2? You'll need the newer DJI Fly app (for iOS or Android) instead.
Once you’ve installed the app on your phone or tablet, you’ll most likely need to create an account. This gives you the ability to access flight data that’s backed up to the cloud.
(Image credit: Future)
With DJI drones, you’re also given a 48-hour window to sign-up to DJI Refresh. This is an insurance policy that covers you against accidental damage for up to two replacement units in a year for a small additional charge for accidents.
The two DJI apps are mainly used for adjusting drone and camera settings, as well as providing a live view from the camera. But they also handily provide the ability to access training resources, flight records, the Find My Drone feature, the DJI store, firmware updates, plus an image viewer when connected to the drone and a video editor. Without them, you can’t successfully shoot stills or video.
3. Attach the props and calibrate the compass
You might think that there’s little that can go wrong with attaching propellors, but you'd be wrong. Because two of them rotate clockwise and two rotate counterclockwise, the propellors must be attached to the correct motor.
The great thing with most DJI drones is that you can only attach propellors to the correct motor, and this is signified on DJI drones with a grey ring or no marking. Most drones feature toolless propellors, while a handful require a tool to secure and remove propellors.
(Image credit: Future)
Another thing you'll need to do the first time you use your drone, plus every time you fly in a new location, is calibrate the compass. In most situations, you’ll be prompted to do this, but if not 'Calibrate Compass' can be found in the main menu of the app.
The app will guide you through the calibration process; it simply involves rotating the drone held horizontally and then vertically when the app alerts you to do so. If calibration fails for any reason you can perform the process again – the most common is magnetic interference from being too close to metal.
4. Start with Beginner Mode
Once you've found a safe and legal place to fly, you'll want to make your first flights in Beginner Mode.
This is like a set of digital stabilizers for drone learners and limits the maximum flight distance and altitude of your drone to 30m, so the drone won’t be able to fly beyond these vertical and horizontal limits.
This is ideal for practicing take-offs and landings, as well as simply getting used to the control sticks on the controller. You won’t need to use this mode for long at all; 20-30 minutes or a full charge of a single battery will be enough to familiarize yourself with the flight basics.
(Image credit: Future)
Once you’re ready to fly further away to try more interesting and complex maneuvers, you should turn off Beginner Mode and switch on the Distance Limit. This should be used by all drone pilots because you can set the maximum legal limits of a maximum 120m altitude and a max 500m distance, so you can’t accidentally exceed the legal limits.
To begin with, set the maximum altitude to 80m and the distance to 100m and get used to flying at these distances before increasing the limits to the maximum. Remember that when in flight, you must be always able to see your drone with the naked eye.
5. Practice these manual maneuvers
Most DJI drones come with several automated flight patterns to allow you to capture professional-looking video footage with minimal flying experience. While these generally work well, their pre-programmed nature means that they have a generic look that sticks out like a sore thumb.
Flying manually with full control over the drone is by far the best way to capture unique, smooth and ultimately much more professional-looking video footage. And the best way to train yourself to take better control of your drone and fly it like a pro is to practice just three basic maneuvers.
(Image credit: Future)
The first, called 'top hat', is where you imagine the shape of a top hat with the drone facing away from you and then fly right to form the left base, up to create the left side, right again to create the top, down to create the right side, and then right again to create the right base. This can be reversed and also tackled with the drone facing to the left or right.
Another maneuver to practice is the 45-degree incline. As the name suggests, this is where you fly the drone forwards and upwards at a steady 45-degree incline, and then downwards at a 45-degree decline. This is trickier than it sounds to achieve with smooth flight, and will help you to get used to using both control sticks at the same time.
The third maneuver builds on the use of the two control sticks at the same time and is called the 'orbit'. This is where you fly in a smooth circle above and around an object, and requires you to yaw left/right with a little throttle using the left control stick, while simultaneously using the right control stick to roll left/right with some forward pitch.
Again, this is not as easy as it sounds, but by practicing this and the other two maneuver, your flying skills and confidence will quickly grow.
6. Set up the camera view
Before shooting any stills or video, it’s worth taking a little time to set up the camera settings for both stills and videos, which we’ll cover in the next two steps. But another equally important task is to set up the camera view.
By default, you’ll be able to see camera settings such as ISO, shutter speed and aperture (if your drone features an adjustable aperture). There’s also a shutter button and a menu button to access further camera controls.
(Image credit: Future)
Out of the box, you could use the default view and shoot stills and video, but there are a handful of on-screen guides and warnings that can make it quicker and easier to shoot.
In the camera menu, you can set the histogram to show so that you can assess exposure. Another handy tool is an overexposure warning, which uses zebra lines to show when highlights have blown. And a couple of other useful aids are the grid option for showing the rule-of-thirds grid on-screen to assist with composition, plus focus peaking to show what’s in focus.
7. Essential photography settings
To shoot stills, you’ll need the standard camera mode to be active and this is signified by a DSLR icon. Shooting itself is self-explanatory, but it’s the settings that will make the main difference. The camera view is similar to that of a compact camera or a smartphone camera, so you should generally feel at home.
(Image credit: Future)
The first thing you need to consider is file format – will you shoot in JPEG or raw format? Once this is set you’ll need to dial in ISO, which is the sensitivity of the sensor to light. Since drones have small sensors, it’s best to try to keep it between ISO 100 and 400 to avoid high ISO noise.
If you’re shooting with a Mavic 3, DJI Phantom 4 or Mavic 2 drone, you can also shoot in aperture priority, shutter priority or manual because there are separate shutter and aperture controls.
(Image credit: Future)
But if you're shooting with a smaller drone, such as the Mavic Air 2 or Mini 2, you'll have a fixed f/2.8 aperture, which means you’ll only need to change the shutter speed to adjust exposure.
Single-shot is the main mode you’ll want to use and, as the name suggests, this will take one shot when the shutter button is pressed.
8. Bracket your exposures for more detail
One of the problems when shooting photos with a drone is maintaining detail throughout the entire scene.
This is simply because the difference in the exposure between the sky and ground is so large. Expose for the ground and the sky is bleached out and pure white; expose for the sky and the ground will severely underexpose and look too dark. This is less of an issue when shooting with the sun behind the drone, but you can’t always guarantee that this will be the case.
(Image credit: Future)
The simple way to overcome the problem of capturing detail in high contrast situations is to shoot HDR. Most drones have an HDR mode, but this is best left alone because while it makes light work of creating HDR images, this mode generally only produces JPEGs that are processed in-camera, so you have no control over the way they look. It’s also safe to say that they never look as good as manually processed HDR images made up of 3-5 bracketed exposures in Lightroom.
(Image credit: Future)
The best way to shoot 3-5 bracketed exposures is to shoot with the camera set to capture images in raw format, with the shooting mode set to AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing). This mode will shoot three or five bracketed exposures, with the middle exposure being the one you set the camera to, while the surrounding exposures will be under and overexposed in one-stop increments.
This means that in most situations, opting for five bracketed exposures is best. Once shot and downloaded these images can be blended in Lightroom, Photomatix, Sylum Aurora HDR or other phto processing software.
9. Video settings and 'the 180 rule'
Video settings are a little more complex, but don’t let that put you off – once everything is set up, you may not need to change them again for some time. To shoot video you’ll need the video camera mode to be active, which is signified by a video camera icon.
Settings outside of the standard exposure controls that you’ll need to set include video size, which is often best set at the highest setting of 4K. If you’re an expert video shooter, shoot with the color mode set to DLog-M or similar so you can color grade your footage – this is like shooting video in a raw format.
For casual users, shoot in Standard mode so the footage you shoot is ready to use straight away without the need for additional processing. Shooting this way is similar in some respects to shooting stills in JPEG mode, rather than raw format.
(Image credit: Future)
For video, it’s best to shoot with all camera settings in manual so there are no changes to depth-of-field, shutter speed, ISO or white balance in during filming. It’s also best to conform to the '180 rule' – in a nutshell, this states that the shutter speed of the camera should be roughly twice the frame rate of the footage being recorded.
So, if you’re shooting at 30fps, shutter speed should be around 1/60 sec so that movement is captured looking natural. It’s more common for shutter speed to be too fast in daylight, so ND filters (see image above) allow you to shoot at slower shutter speeds by reducing the amount of light entering the lens.
Let’s face it – January can be a pretty bleak month. With the festivities of Christmas behind us, pay-day seemingly ages away, and with many carrying a few extra pounds thanks to indulging in delicious festive food, a New Year’s Resolution to eat healthier and lose those additional pounds will be top of most people’s list.
However, depending upon where you are in the world, weather-wise, January can be pretty cold – which is unlikely to make anyone want to tuck in to a tasty salad. If you’re like me, the cold weather will bring on cravings for hearty, comfort food: pies, mashed potato, and rich, warming puddings.
Add to that the lethargy many of us feel in January; the festive season can be pretty exhausting. I usually squeeze in seeing the various members of my family and friends that I rarely see through the rest of the year, while also spending more time in the kitchen than usual making food from scratch to give as gifts at Christmas.
You can see where this is going, right? Basically, despite all my good intentions, January sees me plough into more takeaways than the rest of the year combined – because it’s quicker and easier than cooking for myself. Besides, indulging in tasty food puts a smile on my face; better than suffering the January blues, surely?. However, this year with the help of an air fryer, I plan to break the takeaway habit.
Made the decision to pick up an air fryer already? Then check out some of the best deals we’ve found right now.
Healthier alternatives
The best air fryers offer a healthier way to cook fries, chicken wings and other indulgent treats, because they use far smaller quantities of oil to crisp food than deep frying. There are two styles of air fryer on the market. The first comes with a basket or perforated crisper plate on which you place food to be cooked; the other is a bowl-style air fryer, which has a solid base with a paddle to move the food around the bowl.
Whichever type of air fryer you choose, both work by having hot air circulate around every inch of the food to create a crisp and crunchy finish – the type of finish you’d achieve by submerging food in to boiling hot oil. The latter is certainly the cooking method employed by the likes of McDonalds, Burger King and, of course, KFC for my preferred takeaway foods of chips and fried chicken.
So exactly what can you cook in an air fryer? As mentioned, air fryers are great for cooking healthier versions of fries and chicken wings. If you’re looking to ditch McDonalds or Burger King, then basket-style air fryers can also be used to cook burgers – the crisper plate with holes will ensure any residue fat drains away from the meat, again decreasing the calories you consume. Sadly, we can’t help when it comes to creating a healthier alternative to the burger bun. However, most air fryers can also roast, reheat and grill, so depending upon how you like your burgers cooked, it may be worth experimenting with the different settings.
We’ve also previously had great success in cooking KFC-style chicken in an air fryer, using breadcrumbs to create the crispy, crunchy texture of the deep-fried coating. A spritz of oil ensures the chicken is browned to an appetising golden color. However, if your preference is for chicken with a crispy skin rather than wrapped in a crunchy coating, then an air fryer can be of help here, too. You can cook everything from chicken wings, chicken thighs and even chicken breast with crispy skin and succulent and juicy meat on the inside.
To be clear, air fryers do require the use of some oil. However, how much you use will depend on the model of air fryer you opt for. For example, the Instant Vortex Plus, which currently tops our list of the best air fryers, requires just 2tsp for a 1.1lb / 500g batch of fries, whereas the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400 recommends anywhere from 1tbsp to 3tbsp for the same-size batch of fries. As such, if you’re looking to keep your calorie intake as low as possible, then check the requirements before you buy.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Speedier cooking
Speed is also a reason I resort to takeaways in January. I’m usually fairly exhausted come the first month of the year, partly because of overdoing it through December, but also where the UK is concerned, the nights draw in relatively early. Often this means I see cooking as a chore in January, rather than a task I enjoy – which is how I feel the rest of the year. As a result, the delivery app on my phone sees plenty of action.
How to cook fries in an air fryer
1. Start by peeling 1.1lb / 500g of potatoes and chopping them into 0.4 inch / 1cm batons and soak them in water for between 10 and 30 minutes.
2. Thoroughly dry the potatoes using a dishcloth and then place them into a clean bowl and drizzle over the required amount of oil.
3. Toss the potato in the oil to ensure every inch of the batons are coated, and add any season you require.
4. If your air fryer requires it, activate the pre-heat. Once complete, select the temperature and cooking duration based on the instructions supplied with the air fryer. Add the coated fries to the basket or bowl and press start.
5. Remember to shake the fries halfway through cooking. When the air fry program finishes, remove the fries and serve with the condiments of your choice.
However, cooking in an air fryer is generally much faster than using traditional cooking methods. For example, a batch of fries can be ready in around 20 minutes, which is almost a third less time than it would take to create healthy fries in the oven. Similarly, I can tuck into some tasty chicken wings in just over 15 minutes; in the oven, I’d expect them to take between 35 and 45 minutes.
Most air fryer crisper plates, and in some cases the basket, too, are dishwasher-safe, so while using an air fryer may well generate slightly more washing up than opting for a takeaway, it really isn’t a big deal. There’s far less rubbish created when using an air fryer, too.
There’s no denying that an air fryer can be an expensive purchase – for example, the Instant Vortex Plus will set you back $119.95 / £119.99 / AU$269 – but given that I spend an average of £12 (the equivalent to $16 or AU$22) at a time on takeaways, in 12 trips I’d have already broken even. However, the positive effect that opting to cook in an air fryer will have on my health is priceless, making the outlay more than worth it.
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December 26 may have come and gone, but the Boxing Day sales are still going strong, with plenty of excellent deals on Fitbit fitness trac...
December 26 may have come and gone, but the Boxing Day sales are still going strong, with plenty of excellent deals on Fitbit fitness trackers and smartwatches.
The best Fitbit deal we've spotted so far is on the the Fitbit Charge 5, which has dropped to its lowest ever price at Amazon, falling from £169.99 to just £128.06 - that's a saving of over £41.
The Fitbit Charge 5 was released in September 2021 and it packs all the best features of Fitbit's premium watches into one small stainless steel case, including on-board GPS, stress-monitoring, an ECG sensor, Fitbit Pay, and all-day heart rate monitoring.
If you're after something a little cheaper, there's a big discount on the Fitbit Inspire 2, which has plummeted to just £57.99, down from £89.99. Or, for those looking for the best fitness tracker to monitor mood and stress levels, the Fitbit Sense has been slashed from £230 to £179, the lowest price we've ever seen.
Whatever kind of smartwatch you're hunting for, we've rounded up all the very best Fitbit deals we've spotted in the late Boxing Day sales below.
Today's best Fitbit deals
Fitbit Charge 5:£169.99£128.06 at Amazon Save £41.93 - This is the lowest price we've seen for the Fitbit Charge 5. This deal also comes with six months of Fitbit Premium, and it's one of the best fitness trackers money can buy right now.
Fitbit Inspire 2:£89.99£57.99 at Amazon Save £32 - The sleek Fitbit Inspire 2 is the more affordable device in Fitbit's current lineup, and with this deal at Amazon it's even better value. The offer applies to the Lunar White and Desert Rose colorways, and is one of the best offers we've seen on the Inspire 2 to date. If you're on a tight budget, it's one to check out.
Fitbit Sense:£230£179 at Amazon Save £51 - This is the best deal we've ever seen for the Fitbit Sense, so it's worth snapping up right away. It has dropped by £51 in this deal, but compared to its £299 RRP, that discount is even bigger. When we tested it, we particularly liked its detailed mood and stress tracking features that you don't get on many other Fitbit products.
Fitbit Versa 3:£199.99£149 at Amazon Save £50.99 - The Versa 3 is Fitbit's take on the smartwatch, and a great alternative to an Apple Watch if you're mostly interested in keeping tabs on your physical and mental wellbeing. There's now over £50 off the navy colorway, which isn't quite the lowest price we've ever seen, but is very close.
Fitbit Versa 2:£139.99£109.99 at Amazon Save £30 - If you don't want to spend that extra for the Fitbit Versa 3, you can get the last-gen device for a bit less in the late Boxing Day sales. It's down to £109, and it offers a similar design plus most of the same fitness tracking stats you'll find on the Versa 3. This isn't the lowest price we've seen, but it's pretty close.
Fitbit Charge 4:£129.99£99 at Very Save £30 - If you're starting to get into running, the Fitbit Charge 4 is a great lightweight fitness tracker that should suit you well. Despite its small size, it features built-in GPS, so you can run without carrying your phone. It also tracks heart rate, sleep and steps throughout the day, which you can then check in the Fitbit app. This isn't the lowest price we've ever seen it, but it's lower than its normal price.
Fitbit Ace 3:£69.99£49.99 at Amazon Save £20 - Looking for a fitness tracker for your child? The Fitbit Ace 3 is likely a strong choice for you and your little one, so why not take the opportunity to save £20?. We've yet to see this one drop much in price, so we expect this to be the biggest price drop it'll get in 2021.
At this point it seems certain that an Apple AR/VR headset is on the way, even if it hasn't been officially confirmed – and we just got another big hint that the device's launch could be happening sooner rather than later.
According to Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple has hired Andrea Schubert from Meta (the company previously known as Facebook). That may not interest you too much, until you hear that Schubert was the head of communications and public relations for augmented reality at Meta.
Putting two and two together, it seems the appointment may well be linked to the arrival of Apple's new piece of hardware. Previous rumors have suggested that the headset is going to make its debut at some point in 2022.
VR plus AR
At the moment there's some uncertainty around this headset that Apple is reportedly making. It's been tipped as a self-enclosed virtual reality (VR) device in the style of the Oculus Quest 2, where everything you see is computer generated.
However, we've seen lots of suggestions that the hardware will support augmented reality (AR) too – that's digital graphics overlaid on the real world. As well as being slated for a 2022 launch, it also sounds as though the device is going to come running a custom Apple chip, as we would expect.
But this is a separate device to the more lightweight AR specs that Apple is also rumored to be working on, in the style of Google Glass. These glasses are said to be launching after the main VR/AR headset, perhaps at some point in 2023.
Analysis: Apple's next big product category
(Image credit: TechRadar)
It may seem somewhat tenuous to connect a new employee to a hardware launch – people change jobs and roles all the time, after all – but considering the momentum behind rumors of an Apple AR/VR headset, the appointment of Andrea Schubert to Apple's ranks does seem telling.
The device won't be confirmed by Apple until launch day of course, but what is on the record is CEO Tim Cook's love of everything AR. Cook thinks the technology can "amplify human performance" and we've seen augmented reality features added to the iPhone and iPad in recent years.
And Cook is also reportedly keen to oversee the introduction of one more big, new product category before he hands over the reins at Apple. The safe bet for that product is something to do with AR and VR, although you could probably get decent odds on it being the Apple Car as well.
The last time Apple launched something completely new and separate from its existing products was April 2015, when we got our first look at the Apple Watch. All the signs are that 2022 could be the year for another expansion at Apple.
It may be December 27 but the Boxing Day sales are still running. And it's fantastic news if you're looking for one of the best TV deals as the LG C1 OLED has been reduced to its lowest price ever.
Right now, you can get the 55-inch LG C1 OLED for £999 (was £1,499) at RGB Direct when you use the voucher code 'SAVE150' at the checkout. That brings the premium TV down to a record low price at the independent electronics retailer - and is a further £100 saving on the previous best price during Black Friday.
Named one of TechRadar's best TVs, it's much sought-after in this year's Boxing Day sales thanks to its stunning picture quality, rich contrast and multiple HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K gaming at 120Hz on the latest PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
But that's not all. Anyone with a smaller budget or looking for a smaller screen can also find the 48-inch LG C1 OLED for £799 (was £1,199). Again, that's another £100 less than the cheapest price we've ever seen for this screen size that features the same capabilities as the larger 55-inch set.
LG C1 OLED TV deals
LG C1 OLED 55-inch:£1,499£999 at RGB Direct Save £500 – RGB Direct has the premium LG C1 for a record-low price of £999. The 55-inch set is one of the best TVs you can buy, thanks to the crisp OLED display, Alpha a9 Gen. 4 processor and virtual surround sound audio. Altogether, it's the top pick in our list of best TVs you can buy. One for any PS5 or Xbox Series X owners who want to take full advantage of 4K gaming at 120Hz, or those who want a high-end screen for films and TV.
LG C1 OLED 48-inch:£1,199£799 at RGB Direct
Save £400 – This is a terrific price for an OLED TV and the cheapest we've ever seen the 48-inch LG C1. If you want a top of the range screen on a tighter budget or have a smaller space to fill you won't find a better price than this today - or for the rest of the year.
Definitely don't miss this chance to get an OLED TV for under the £1000 mark as we rarely see these prices available - especially on the latest models. Be sure to add the free HDMI cables and LG HBSFN4 Wireless Earbuds to your basket through the bundle offers section on the store page to sweeten this LG C1 OLED deal even further.
If you do want to give it some more thought before hitting that buy button, you can check out more of the latest TV deals and cheap OLED TV deals just to see how good these are in comparison to everything else right now.
Plus, anyone ready to pair their new LG OLED with a console and are looking for some bargain games or accessories can find all those in our hubs dedicated to all the PS5 deals and cheap Xbox game deals.
More OLED TV deals
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Many of this year's Boxing Day laptop sales are now underway and we've already spotted some massive savings across laptops, Chromebooks and MacBooks. Most of these price cuts should extend all the way through to the January sales as well in case you aren't exactly in the right state to go bargain hunting after the Christmas celebrations.
Those up bright and early today find savings like this and many more in the Boxing Day sales. We're here to bring you all the cheapest laptop deals that are already available. The Currys Boxing Day sales got thing started a little earlier this year, so it was actually possible to save on laptops and other electronics even before Christmas Day. Now, the likes of Amazon, John Lewis, Argos and Very have all got involved today, too, as well as some of the more specialist retailers such as Box and Laptops Direct.
Whether you've got £200 or £2000 to spend, you should be able to find something on offer to suit your budget. That may be one of the many cheap Chromebooks we've already seen throughout the year, a small discount on the latest M1 MacBook Pro model or something in between. From this page, you can jump to each individual retailer sale, but we'll also highlight some of the very best Boxing Day laptop deals if you need some inspiration.
This is likely the last chance to grab a bargain before the year comes to a close, so bookmark us or check back in over the next couple of weeks as we continue to share all the top offers up for grabs now and in the January sales.
Until some Boxing Day laptop sales are actually underway at a number of retailers, we've dropped in some of the top offers from our weekly roundup of the best laptop deals you can buy right now. Just below, you can find a selection of cheap Chromebooks for light work, as well as some excellent value for money mid-range machines and powerful ultrabooks for more demanding jobs.
Asus 11.6-inch Chromebook Flip C214MA:£329.99£149 at Amazon
Save £191 – This is a terrific bargain price for a 2-in-1 laptop from Amazon. These are rarely found below the £200 mark so this drop to £150 is even better than normal. Definitely don't miss your chance to get a flexible machine for more than 50% off. There's 4GB RAM and 32GB storage that will be fine for basic tasks and is a reasonable specification for a basic budget laptop.
Samsung Galaxy Book Go:£399£319 at Amazon
Save £80 – The Samsung Galaxy Book Go is normally more expensive than similar laptops in its price range but is now much more affordable with this deal. As well as a £50 discount right now, you can save another £30 by applying the voucher on the store page. At £319, it's a great price for a laptop that has an impressive 18-hour battery life. With a spec that features 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD, you're also getting a well-performing machine for your money that will handle everyday jobs, work and media streaming.
Asus VivoBook 15:£699.97£599.97 at Box
Save £100 – You can pick up this powerful Asus VivoBook from Box. This laptop comes with a huge 16GB of RAM that gives it a considerable performance boost over other devices at a similar price. There's also a clear and detailed IPS display, speedy i5 processor and large 512GB SSD for fast access to files and applications. This is the laptop to go for if you want to use it for more advanced photo and video editing or more involving tasks.
Apple MacBook Air (M1):£999£889 at Amazon
Save £110 - You're saving a healthy £110 on the latest MacBook Air here – and one with the powerful M1 chip at the helm no less. That's an excellent price - even if we have seen it around £20 cheaper in the past in a particularly speedy flash sale. This configuration offers 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD.
Last year's best Boxing Day laptop deals
Below is a selection of the very best Boxing Day laptop deals we saw last year. Prices have changed considerably over the last twelve months and new product launches means discounts could be even larger this time around. You can use these to get a general idea of what to expect at the end of the month as well as a way to compare which prices are actually good deals come the Boxing Day and January sales.
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 10.1-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook:£349£299 at Currys
Save £50 - If you're looking for maximum flexibility out of a cheap laptop, then this 2-in-1 Lenovo IdeaPad is a great option today at Currys. Usable as both a touch-screen Chromebook and tablet, you're getting 128GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM, and a MediaTek P60T processor here.
Asus Flip C433 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook:£499£399 at Currys
Save £100 - It's rare to find a cheap Chromebook with a 2-in-1 design, but that's exactly what you're getting here. If you don't want to deal with the faff of Windows but still need a flexible laptop / tablet you'll find 64GB of storage (expandable with an SD card), 4GB RAM and an Intel m3 processor in here.
HP 14-inch laptop:£549£419 at Currys
Save £139 - For power to price ratio, this HP at Currys really takes some beating if you're budget is firmly below £500. With a 10th gen Intel Core i5, 4GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD, you're getting quite a lot of power on tap here in a solid, if workman-like package. Recommended, especially for a decent working from home machine.
HP 15s 15.6-inch laptop:£528.99£479.99 at HP
Save £49 - You're getting a brand new 11th gen Intel Core i3 processor with this HP 15S over at the official store this week - a really speedy little component for a mid-range laptop. A 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM are also great specs to have on such a versatile machine.
HP Pavilion 14-inch laptop:£699£529 at Currys
Save £170 - A 512GB SSD gives this HP Pavilion 14 at Currys a huge amount of speedy storage for the price, perfect if you want to store large media files. Of course, the 10th gen Intel Core i5 procesor and 8GB of RAM aren't bad either, and give you a ton of headroom for more intensive applications.
Dell XPS 13 13.3-inch laptop:£918.99£849 at Dell
Save £69 - There's a tidy little saving on the entry-level Dell XPS 13 right now over at the official site, which, while not huge, is still a nice discount on such a premium ultrabook. This one comes with an 11th gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, specs that are a great start if you need a machine for both casual and work use.
New Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020, M1):£1,299£1,193 at Amazon
Save £106 - Though still pricey, you can score yourself a significant discount on the M1 MacBook Pro 13 right now at Amazon. With 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and the brand new Apple M1 chip, the new Apple MacBook 13's look to offer a significant performance boost over their now superseded Intel counterparts.
MSI GF63 Thin 15.6-inch gaming laptop:£1,099£849 at Currys
Save £250 - A hefty discount from Currys this week makes this MSI GF63 Thin an absolutely solid buy for the money currently. It's got not just a 10th gen Intel Core i7 processor, but a GTX 1660 Ti, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD - really awesome high-end specs that normally carry a bit more of a premium for sure.
Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop:£999£899.99 at Very
Save £100 - This upgraded, top-spec Nitro 5 proves Acer makes fantastic value machines at all price points this week. Rocking an Intel Core i7-10750H processor, 512GB SSD, and GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, this Acer is a top choice if you want a machine that'll take on any modern game at 1080p resolution and decent graphical settings.
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Three days after it was first available, a PS5 restock is (somehow) still live at Game with a selection of console bundles available to buy on Boxing Day. It has to be the longest we've seen the PS5 stay in stock for months, so don't miss this opportunity to secure a console before the end of the year.
As always seems to be the case with these things, the standalone console has already sold out. However, a significant number of the bundles are still available to order today, including top games such as Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank and FIFA.
It's worth pointing out that any consoles ordered in this PS5 restock at Game won't arrive before the end of the year - it's essentially a pre-order. The retailer itself has confirmed that payments will not be taken until around December 29, then the earliest ship date for consoles is January 7 for express orders, but it could be as late as January 21 for the rest.
If that all sounds good to you, we think the best value bundle is definitely the PS5 with Spider-Man: Miles Morales for £501.98. That gets you the latest Sony console and one of the best PS5 games to get you started. If you have more cash to splash you can go for bundles with an additional controller or more games, too. We'd suggest doing your best to avoid the ones with items of questionable value, such as the clothing items, but they do tend to be less popular (as you'd imagine) and easier to snag quickly.
So, some customers could be waiting a while to get their console. On the plus side, if you haven't got your console yet and you do manage to pre-order one then you can really put your feet up over the holidays secure in the feeling that you're getting one soon(ish).
As always, this PS5 restock is going to be rapidly selling out so we'd recommend acting quickly if you're interested. Under no circumstances should you simply hang around - get yourself in that queue then decide later.
PS5 restock at Game
PS5:bundles from £501.98 at Game Individual consoles may have sold out, but there are still loads of bundles are available today at Game for delivery in January. You can have your pick of them all right now, but our advice is to load up on your most-wanted games and accessories while avoiding the clothing items. If you do find one is out of stock you can simply try another to see if you have any better luck.
It may be a shame that there's a small wait to get your PS5, then. On the plus side, if you haven't got your console yet and you do manage to pre-order one then you can really put your feet up over the rest of the holidays secure in the knowledge that you're getting one soon(ish).
And even though it's been live for three days, you can be sure that this PS5 restock is going to sell out soon enough. We'd recommend acting quickly if you're interested as we really haven't seen an opportunity like this before.
Still, if these bundles suddenly sell out and you don't manage to score yourself a console with this PS5 restock then we recommend checking in at our main where to buy the PS5 guide and bookmarking the page. It's updated regularly with all the latest PS5 restock news and all the latest tips to help our readers secure a console. For any extras, our PS5 deals page has all the latest discounts on games, accessories and more.
You can also check the links to buy a PS5 at various retailers below, including the PS5 Digital Edition. Keep checking these as more consoles will hit the shelves throughout 2022. Our Boxing Day sales live blog will also share any PS5 restocks we spot throughout the day. Whatever you do, we'd recommend not paying over the odds to scalpers because restocks are now more frequent - and, going by this one, longer-lasting too.
Not after the PS5? You can always keep up to date with the latest on where to buy the Xbox Series X and where to find Nintendo Switch OLED stock right here as well. Both consoles have been in heavy demand over the last year.
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This year's Argos Boxing Day sale is now live, with the majority of savings focused on furniture, jewellery and homewares. Outside of these key categories, there are also thousands of deals across fitness, storage and baby products. You can also dive into the vast clearance sale where the biggest tech bargains live, including cheap TVs, laptops, headphones and more.
While a few other retailers launched their Boxing Day sales early this year, Argos kept its deals under wraps until the big day itself. Since Boxing Day falls on Sunday this year, there could be shorter opening hours in-store, which means it's well worth checking your local store's situation before you visit - more details on this below.
Either way, we've covered the vast online sale with this article right here with all the best Argos Boxing Day deals that are available today. If you've been with us throughout the pre-Christmas sales and Black Friday, you might not find too many familiar products as the focus is on those home and furniture items. Not bad if you're looking to redo a new room in your house next year.
At the bottom of the page, we've also included information on Argos' same-day delivery (one of the best perks from Argos) as well as a report of last year's event. If you'd like to see what other retailers are offering, head on over to our main page covering this year's Boxing Day sales in their entirety.
Boxing Day falls on November 26th this year and that's when we're expecting Argos to launch its Boxing Day sales. It is worth keeping an eye out in the lead-up, however, as some retailers tend to launch their sales a few days earlier. It's very unlikely Argos will follow in this vein since it tends to keep its powder dry until the big day itself but it definitely pays to be keeping an eye on retailer store pages from Christmas eve onwards.
Will Argos be open on Boxing Day?
This is going to depend on your local store. So far, it's looking like most standalone Argos stores will be open for business over Boxing Day although that is of course subject to change depending on covid restrictions. Also bear in mind that since Boxing Day falls on a Sunday this year it's likely business operating hours will be short.
We'd recommend checking in with Argos' store locator page to see opening times and also consider that there may be restrictions around face masks and general visitor numbers.
Furthermore, those Argos outlets that are operating out of a Sainsbury's store will not be open over Boxing Day as that retailer has announced a nationwide closure of its stores this year.
Argos same-day delivery
One of Argos' main selling points as a top retailer is its fantastic same-day delivery option, which can see you score your item of choice on the very day you ordered it for as little as £3.95
According to Argo's own delivery guidelines, same-day delivery is still available nationwide, and we're expecting that to continue to be the day with the upcoming Boxing Day sales too. However, it's very likely demand will be really high on the big day itself, so definitely don't rule out potential disruptions to speedy delivery.
Last year's Argos Boxing Day sales
Last year's Argos Boxing Day sales featured a huge range of price cuts on everything from appliances to toys. Here's a quick run down of our highlights from covering last year's event.
First up, we saw some fantastic options for TVs. Both cheaper and expensive sets were on sale and of particular note was the special promotions the retailer was running. You could, for example, score some cheap soundbars, stands, or even free films with a number of excellent TVs from leading brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony - many of which were discounted by themselves too.
For laptops, we saw some great options on HP and Huawei mid-range Windows machines, and even a few price cuts on high-end Apple MacBooks. Our favorite laptop deals, however, were on the Asus Zenbook range of Windows ultrabooks, which featured tidy price cuts of up to £200.
Gaming-wise, Argos was a top destination to bag a gaming deal or two - both on consoles, peripherals, and even the games themselves. As expected, we didn't see many deals on consoles last year since stock levels were suffering (and still are), however, we did see a ton of great sales on PS4 and Xbox games - including a two for £30 promotion. PC gamers could also treat themselves to a bunch of tidy discounts on a range of peripherals from Logitech and Corsair.
If you're already getting ready for those new year's resolutions, then you'll be pleased to note that last year's Argos Boxing Day sales featured plenty of good deals on smartwatches. We saw one of the first savings on the then-new Apple Watch SE, plus, savings of up to £50 on an array of rival devices from Samsung and Garmin, the latter of which are fantastic for tracking a range of fitness goals.
One of the biggest areas from last year's Argos Boxing Day sales - both in size and discounts - was in the retailer's home and kitchen section. Argos, alongside Currys has one of the biggest inventories for home and kitchen goods - especially appliances. We saw some of the best offers in this very category, including 20% savings on all types of furniture, 25% savings on small kitchen appliances, and a host of extended warranties and freebies.
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The Currys Boxing Day and January sale is live online, with big savings up for grabs on loads of top tech and home items. Currys says there...
The Currys Boxing Day and January sale is live online, with big savings up for grabs on loads of top tech and home items. Currys says there's up to 30% off thousands of products, but we've seen bigger discounts than that - there's 66% off some coffee machines, for a start.
Currys was one of the first retailers to kickstart this year's Boxing Day sales. As you might expect, it's stuck to offers in traditionally strong areas such as laptops, TVs, tech and large home appliances. There are also many deals outside of this, many of which will be familiar if you shopped during the retailer's last-minute Christmas deals - which have been available for a while.
Here, we've picked the best deals in the Currys Boxing Day and January sale. They include offers on the most-wanted products, items with massive savings, and just deals we don't think you should miss.
JVC 50-inch Fire TV Edition Smart 4K HD LED TV:£449.99£319 at Currys Save £130.99 - If you're after a budget TV that will deliver a satisfactory 4K image and comes with all of your favorite streaming apps built-in then look no further than this deal on a JVC Fire TV with Amazon Alexa controls.
Dolce Gusto by De'Longhi Infinissima coffee machine:£99.99£34 at Currys
Save £65.99 - This futuristic-looking coffee machine is 66%-off making it a super-cheap option for a coffee lover on a budget - and with a range of over 50 different pods to choose from you're sure to find the perfect drink to suit your tastes.
Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Vacuum Cleaner:£349£179 at Currys
Save £170 - This massive saving on the Shark Anti Hair cordless vacuum is well worth looking at. Shark makes some of the best vacuum cleaners you can buy, and this is one of the more affordable cordless vacuums out there. It can can tackle dirt, dust, and hair, and at under £200 it's a bargain.
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 15.6-inch laptop:£529£429 at Currys
Save £100 - This cheap laptop is now an even better price thanks to this deal from Currys. While it won't blow you away its Intel i3 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD storage are sure to help you perform regular tasks quickly and with ease.
55-inch Sony Bravia X85J HDR LED TV:£999£729 at Currys
Save £220 - If you have a PS5 or Xbox Series X and don't want to fork out for one of the more expensive OLEDs to get the best gaming performance then this Sony Bravia is an excellent alternative. It comes with HDMI 2.1 ports to support 4K gaming at a lightning-fast 120 fps, HDR10 for improved lighting and all the Smart TV features you need to enjoy films and TV at the highest quality.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Currys Boxing Day sales begin?
We expected the Currys Boxing Day and January sales to begin on December 26 this year, but early bird deals have been live from Christmas Eve. As we've seen throughout 2021, it's not been unusual for retailers to start their sales early - something that's becoming increasingly common over bigger events like Black Friday.
Will Currys be open on Boxing Day?
Yep, Currys should be open on Boxing Day with most, if not all, of its Boxing Day sales being available in store. As you'd expect, this is subject to change depending on restrictions, but as of writing, we've seen nothing to indicate that this year stores will be closed.
There may be requirements for masks or customer number restrictions in store over the day, so definitely be prepared for that. Last year we saw an uneasy tiered lockdown system where some stores we open and some weren't, so we'd recommend using the Currys store finder to check your local situation. The store finder can also be used to look up local opening times.
Currys Boxing Day sale: what to expect
There are a few categories (and products) that we expect to be the main areas of focus in this year's Currys Boxing Day sale. These include appliances, laptops, TVs, headphones, smart home, mobile phones and gaming. This is mostly based on what's been on sale previously at the retailer over the Black Friday and pre-Christmas events, as well as what's generally popular right now. There will, of course, be literally thousands of items on sale over the entire store page, but we imagine the above will be the categories that most people are going to be shopping for over late December and in January.
Making the most of the Currys Price Match promise
Whether it's Christmas, Black Friday, or the January sales, online retailers are always looking to undercut each other on price. That's good news for consumers, but it does mean you have to spend time searching around the web to make sure you're paying as little as possible for a particular gadget.
Enter Currys Price Match Promise. As the name suggests, Currys will match the price of a product if you can find it cheaper elsewhere – there are a few terms and conditions to make a note of, but that's the gist.
It means that if you see the same product available for less at any other retailer – either online or in store – Currys will match that price if you shop with it instead. The company will even match any discount codes that are being offered, so you don't need to pay a penny more than you have to.
There are a few terms and conditions to bear in mind, as we've mentioned: the competing offer must be from a UK retailer, and the items must be identical, right down to the model number (it's always worth double-checking). Also, delivery and installation charges, product protection services and other add-ons aren't included, so factor those out when comparing prices.
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