Note, if you’re looking for something a little more lightweight – you can also get fitness trackers for children. These can be found in our best fitness trackers for kids guide.

There’s a growing amount of smartwatches out there now that are built specifically for the wrists of children of all ages but there are some good and not-so-good ones. We’ve picked out the best smartwatches for kids that we think are worth considering. So whether you don’t want to dish out a smartphone just yet or you like the idea of some of the safety features that these wearables offer, these are the top children’s smartwatches to take a look at.

What’s the best smartwatch for kids?

We think the Spacetalk Adventurer (buy now) is the best smartwatch for kids. The Adventurer offers a good mix of safety and fun smarts to make it appealing to both kids and parents as well.

Other kids smartwatch recommendations

The best kids’ smartwatches you can buy today:

1. Spacetalk Adventurer

The Spacetalk Adventurer is our favourite full-featured kids’ smartwatch. It can handle taking calls, help parents know their child is safe and there are some smarts to have fun with too.

All of those features are packed into a design that offers some resistance against water with the OLED touchscreen display firmed up with some Gorilla Glass to give it an extra layer of protection. We think it feels pretty well made.

For parents, it can be used as a GPS tracker to monitor the location of the wearer along with creating safe zones they can stay inside of, with 4G connectivity and the ability to send text messages also supported.

For the kids, there’s a 5-megapixel camera to snap pics with, a heart rate monitor and a step counter to keep active, plus a school mode that strips back those features so they can only be distracted by checking in on the time.

2. NickWatch

NickWatch, from everyone’s favourite kids’ brand Nickelodeon, has all the features you’d expect of a connected kids’ smartwatch, including GPS tracking, two-way messaging, calling, and a camera. But, we love about the NickWatch is that it’s plastered with Nickelodeon characters and colourful icons throughout the whole operating system.

Beloved characters such as Spongebob Squarepants, The Loud House and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles star in regularly updated games and promote creativity, independence and physical activity. This, we think, is an amazing feature that will make children actually want to wear the watch.

NickWatch comes equipped with a USB-C cable for charging and two easily changeable velcro watch bands: the grey Simple Strap and the Snazzy Strap printed with Nickelodeon characters. 

3. Vtech Kidizoom Smart Watch D

Vtech’s smartwatch sits at the more fun end of the kids’ watch spectrum and is aimed at users aged 4-12 and comes in your pick of just pink or blue case looks.

That case is only splashproof, so not fit to go for a dip in the water but does host a good-sized, 1.44-inch LCD display that is the touchscreen kind little fingers can prod at.

The fun stuff includes a dual camera to drop effects onto images and videos, playing augmented reality games and being able to personalise watch faces. There’s even some onboard memory for a voice recorder feature.

We are disappointed it lacks big safety features found on other smartwatches but does include the ability to track daily activity if that’s something that’s important to you. Ultimately though, this is a smartwatch that’s a good pick for much younger users who want something on their wrist that has a more playful feel.

4. Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is primarily designed for adults, but with the addition of Apple’s new Family Setup feature, we think it’s one that can feasibly work for older kids too as opposed to the ones that are still running rings around you.

Using that Family Setup means an adult can let their child use the Watch to receive notifications, make calls and share location, putting some of its typical features off limits in the process.

If you’re worried they might go on an App Store spending spree you can set it up so you have approval on app and game purchases and when they wander to school with it you can set up the Schooltime mode to stop them from being pestered by notifications until they’re out of the school gates at the end of the day.

So they get one of the best smartwatches available and you can keep in control of the big Watch features they’re using and when they’re using them.

5. Xplora X6 Play

Another kids smartwatch that aims to offer plenty of grown-up smartwatch features along with one’s parents can put to good use from afar, the R1 is equipped with 4G/LTE connectivity to handle calls and uses that onboard connectivity along with GPS to locate the position of the wearer and includes a class mode to turn off distracting features.

We like the raised edge design to help protect the display from damage, has a splashproof as opposed to a swim-friendly design and does let you change the straps if they start to get a bit grubby.

You can snap pictures with a 2-megapixel camera, pile on up to 500 songs to turn it into a music player and include fitness tracker smarts to help make sure your little ones are not sitting staring at a screen for most of the day. It’s a good-looking kids’ smartwatch with plenty of strong features that inevitably push the price up.

How to buy the best smartwatch for your child

When buying a smartwatch for your child there are several things you’ll want to keep in mind to ensure it’s a suitable and safe choice.

The first and most important thing you want to think about is what age the smartwatch is designed for. Different watches cater to various age groups, with some designed for younger kids with simpler features and others better suited for older children with more advanced capabilities. We’ve included a range to suit all age groups in this list.

Of course, when it comes to children, safety and privacy are paramount. You’ll want to get a smartwatch that prioritises these aspects, ensuring that any data collected is encrypted and stored securely. Robust security measures are crucial to safeguard your child’s information.

While we’re on the topic of privacy, you’ll also want to consider whether the smartwatch you get includes GPS. The inclusion of GPS tracking is useful for parents to locate and keep a digital eye on their children. However, it can also be seen as an invasion of privacy. If you do opt for a watch with GPS, ensure that the tracking features are accurate and reliable.

You’ll also want some form of parental control on the smartwatch. Look for devices that allow you to manage settings, contacts, and other functionalities remotely.

Most kids’ smartwatches also have some form of activity tracking, allowing you to keep an eye on their activity levels and encouraging them to be more active. Smartwatches offer extended capabilities, such as calling and messaging, games, educational apps, and even cameras. If you’re only interested in fitness tracking, then you could consider one of the best fitness trackers for kids instead.

You’ll want the smartwatch to be durable, as many children have active lifestyles (and aren’t very careful when it comes to tech). Durability is key here, opt for a smartwatch that is built to endure rough handling, and has some form of water resistance.

As with all technology, battery life is another essential aspect. The smartwatch should ideally last a few days without needing recharging.

Of course, as children will be using these, ease of use is essential. You’ll want a smartwatch with a user-friendly interface that ensures your child can use the watch’s features without any assistance.

Finally, it’s crucial that the watch is comfortable to wear and fits well, otherwise, your child won’t want to wear it.

Oh, and if you’re shopping for an adult, don’t forget to check out our lists of the best smartwatch overall as well as the best GPS watches.

What age should a child get a smartwatch?

Like many things when it comes to raising children, determining the right age for a child to have a smartwatch depends on several factors. You have to take maturity, features, and parental goals into account. Typically, ages 5-7 might benefit from basic safety features like GPS tracking. Ages 8-10 can handle more functions with parental guidance. Pre-teens aged 11-13 can use more advanced features responsibly.

Consider the child’s maturity level and level of parental supervision when introducing a smartwatch. Younger children need more oversight. Start with basic models and gradually introduce more features. Set clear rules on usage and privacy and regularly monitor their activities.

Ultimately, there’s no definitive age, starting with simpler models and progressing to more complex ones as children mature and demonstrate responsibility is a sensible approach.

There are plenty of gas and charcoal options across a variety of price points, so let’s dive right in, shall we?

What’s the best BBQ in the UK?

We reckon Char-Broil’s Gas2Coal hybrid model (buy now) is one of the best choices for most people, given its ability to use both gas and charcoal for cooking. You can even use gas to quickly and easily ignite the charcoal, making for a much faster all-charcoal experience, if you prefer.

Other BBQ recommendations

The Char-Broil’s Gas2Coal isn’t quite right for you? Fear not, for there are plenty of other grills we recommend:

If you’re looking for a portable BBQ, then check out our guide to the best portable BBQ, too.

The best BBQs in the UK you can buy today:

1. Char-Broil Gas2Coal

If you’re indecisive, then Char-Broil’s hybrid model is one of the best choices for you, thanks to its ability to convert from gas to charcoal in less than 60 seconds. Simply remove the supplied charcoal tray, and cook with regular gas burners if you’re short on time with hungry mouths to feed.

If you’ve got a hankering for old-fashioned charcoal though, load up the tray, and handily light the charcoal with the gas burners themselves — no chimney stacks or lighter materials required. The charcoal tray itself also helps prevent flare-ups, resulting in more even cooking.

Better yet, there’s a built-in side burner for additional cooking powers, along with a warming rack and porcelain-coated cast iron grates for longevity and easy cleaning.

2. Weber Master-Touch

Weber’s Original Kettle charcoal BBQ is one of the most iconic choices and one that will spring to mind for most people. But we’re big fans of the Master-Touch model, which keeps the essence of the Kettle, while serving up a multitude of improvements in the process.

It’s a little taller, for starters, making for a more comfortable grilling experience. The lid is a little deeper too, and can be handily stored in a built-in lid holder, which is an improvement over the original’s lid hook. The addition of Weber’s Gourmet BBQ System grill is another big draw, letting you swap out different modules like pizza stones for more versatility. It’s easy to clean too, thanks to a clever ash sweeping/collection system, and we think the Slate Blue variant, in particular, is rather dashing.

Overall, if you’re a charcoal fan, this is a BBQ that will serve you well for years to come, while looking superb in the process.

3. Landmann Triton MaxX 4.1

Landmann’s capacious four-burner entry has more than enough space to feed large, ravenous groups, with specially designed enamel-coated steel flame tamers to help distribute heat evenly across the grill. A built-in warming rack lets you serve everything at an appropriate temperature at the same time, while a modular cooking system supports extra accessories like pizza stones.

The real star of the show though, is the infrared side burner, which is capable of reaching a blistering 1500°F (800 °C). This makes it an absolute godsend for creating perfectly seared steaks in record time, letting you create perfect outer crusts without over-cooking the insides. Once you’ve tried infrared, you’ll never want to sear on anything else ever again.

4. Blackstone 36-inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Griddle Station

If you’re sold on the wonderful world of flat-top griddles, then you can’t get much better than Blackstone. This huge gas-powered 36in model is one of the best BBQs in the UK, and features more than enough space for feeding smash burgers to a horde of hungry guests — though there’s nothing stopping you from using it for stir-fries, pancakes, eggs, or anything else you require.

Four independent heat zones provide plenty of control over your cooks, while there’s plenty of space on either side for storage/prep. If you find yourself cooking in cast iron skillets, why not cut out the middleman and cook directly on this massive surface instead? You won’t regret it.

5. Royal Gourmet Portable Table Top Gas Grill Griddle

Don’t be put off by the flat-top nature of this griddle. Yes, the lack of bars means no aesthetic grill lines, but it makes up for it in practically every other way. The flat surface means that everything from burgers and sausages, to steaks and vegetables will make full contact with a heated surface, resulting in a much better, more consistent Maillard reaction (aka, the delicious browning that makes food extra delicious).

This also makes it a perfect choice for smash burger fans, who can press down balls of mince to create super-slim and crispy patties for multi-layered burgers bursting with flavour. Throw in the fact that this is easily portable for both backyard and camping use, and it could potentially even replace your dedicated BBQ. Win-win.

6. Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050

Masterbuilt’s Gravity Series is aptly named, with the 1050 model featuring a capacious gravity-fed hopper capable of fuelling your cooks for a whopping 12-15 hours of use. Supporting up to 9.9lbs (4.5kg) of lump charcoal or 15.4lbs (7kg) of briquettes, you can enjoy slow-cooked delicacies like brisket and ribs without being chained to your outdoor cooking station.

Cast-iron grates produce perfectly-seared results, while a digital control panel, complete with an accompanying Bluetooth/Wi-Fi controlled app, make keeping an eye on everything a breeze too. With convenient racks and numerous shelves, it’s got everything you need for a hassle-free backyard cookout.

7. Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill

This capacious, affordable charcoal grill features ample cooking space, along with porcelain-enamelled steel cooking grates for durability and performance. A built-in thermometer provides an easy way to keep an eye on the temperature at a glance, while a height-adjustable charcoal pan allows for quick and easy control over the level of cooking heat.

If that wasn’t enough, it also has a useful built-in offset smoker, complete with its own lid, letting you smoke anything from meat to vegetable side dishes for an extra dash of BBQ goodness. An included cover, utensil hooks, and a smoke stack, round off the features rather nicely. Plenty for your money, at this price.

8. Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Hub charcoal BBQ

If a BBQ has world-renowned chef Heston Blumenthal’s seal of approval, it’s not going to be cheap. Or ordinary. And the charcoal-fuelled Hub BBQ makes good on both.

Hefty price tag aside, you’re clearly getting something that’s far more refined than your average heap of industrialised, functional metal. With sharp lines, rounded corners, and angular legs, it’s as much a design talking point as it is a food-searing powerhouse.

On that note, it’s a heck of a performer too, managing to stand out from the rest of the competition with its built-in rotisserie system. From succulent chicken to mouth-watering pork, the possibilities for both taste and visual theatre are endless. And if you require something a little easier, there’s an electric-powered version too.

9. Tepro Grillwagen Toronto

While Tepro’s Grillwagen is lacking in the brand recognition department, it more than makes up for it with excellent bang for your buck. The cheapest offering on our list, this is a charcoal BBQ that offers plenty to love, including a speedy assembly time of just 30 minutes.

A generous grilling area is made even better by a built-in warming rack and handy ash collection tray, while a Grid in Grid system lets you pop in modular accessories like pizza stones if you wish to mix things up.

The best part, though, is a built-in handle that can be turned to raise and lower the coals, letting you change the intensity of the heat to achieve the perfect finish. If you’ve ever suffered from burnt buns or overly sizzled sausages in the past, this will be a particularly useful defence mechanism.

10. LotusGrill XXL

If you fancy that delicious charcoal flavour without the pesky smoke, then LotusGrill’s clever grill should be your first choice. Its built-in battery-powered fans not only help your coals come to temperature in a blistering five minutes, but the extra aeration they provide also results in far less smoke than a regular charcoal BBQ.

You can even adjust the speed of the fans to control the temperature, and the generous grill size of the XXL model should be good enough to feed around 20 people. It looks the part too, with a range of eye-catching colours and a UFO-like design.

Its closed-container nature also reduces the risks of flying sparks and escaping embers, providing extra peace of mind if you’re surrounded by curious pets and inquisitive toddlers.

11. Char-Broil Kettleman

Char-Broil’s answer to Weber’s iconic kettle BBQ is far from a mere shape-inspired copy. Thanks to some clever design features, it promises to do more with less charcoal. In other words, you can cut back on how much charcoal you use per cook, while getting more heat out of it. Neat.

The first of these clever design tricks is the 360-degree air inlet holes that surround the main body of the BBQ itself, letting plenty of oxygen get sucked in to fuel those flames at all times. Not only that, but the Kettleman also has Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared tech, which prevents flare-ups for more evenly cooked food.

This not only creates an even temperature across the entire grill surface, but the end result also provides juicier food than normal. Up to 50 per cent juicer, in fact, according to Char-Broil. Consider us sold.

12. Weber Genesis EPX-335

After the Lambo of gas grills? Look no further than Weber’s eye-wateringly expensive Genesis. Featuring three gas burners and an extra large sear zone, it also has an expandable top cooking grate for simultaneous grilling, letting you whip up mains and sides at the same time.

Its biggest trick though, lies in its smart real-time food temperature monitoring, which lets you keep an eye on internal meat temperatures remotely via your smartphone, letting you achieve perfectly delicious results without any guesswork involved.

Compatible with Weber’s Gourmet Barbecue System, you can add additional accessories as you see fit, and it even has built-in illumination, for night-time grilling sessions. With an extra side burner, generous side shelves, hooks, and a spacious cabinet, it’s practically an outdoor kitchen in its own right.

Is a charcoal BBQ or a gas BBQ better?

Choosing between a charcoal barbeque and a gas barbeque depends on several factors, we’ll go through them all below.

In terms of taste, a charcoal BBQ generally provides a smoky flavour that many grill enthusiasts love. The high heat and smoky aroma from the burning charcoal can enhance the taste of grilled foods significantly. On the other hand, while a gas BBQ may not impart the same intense smoky flavour, it can still produce delicious grilled food. Some gas grills even come with smoker boxes to add a hint of smokiness, though it may not be as pronounced as with charcoal.

Convenience is another major consideration. Charcoal barbeques take longer to heat up and require more effort to maintain a consistent temperature. Additionally, cleaning up ash and disposing of charcoal can be more time-consuming. In contrast, gas barbeques are quick to start and offer easy temperature control, making them more convenient for quick grilling sessions. Cleaning a gas BBQ is generally easier as well, with no ash to dispose of.

When it comes to cost, charcoal BBQs are typically less expensive upfront than gas grills. However, the ongoing cost of charcoal can add up over time, whereas gas can be more economical in the long run, as propane or natural gas is generally cheaper and more efficient than buying charcoal regularly.

When considering environmental impact, charcoal BBQs produce more carbon emissions and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution. Charcoal production also involves deforestation and can be less sustainable. Gas BBQs burn cleaner than charcoal, producing fewer emissions and making them a more environmentally friendly option.

In terms of versatility, charcoal grills offer higher cooking temperatures, which can be better for searing meat. They also allow for different cooking methods, such as direct and indirect grilling. Gas grills, however, provide precise temperature control and often come with additional features like side burners and rotisserie attachments, enhancing their versatility.

Ultimately, if you prioritize flavour and don’t mind spending extra time on preparation and cleanup, a charcoal barbeque might be the better choice. However, if you value convenience, ease of use, and a cleaner-burning option, a gas barbeque would be more suitable.

Now check out the best camping accessories.

Today, you can buy cracking handsets that are nigh-on inseparable from smartphones that cost twice as much, covering almost all of your needs without bleeding your wallet dry. From premium builds to nippy performance, all-day battery life, and even decent cameras, there are plenty of handsets out there that more than nail the basics, while capable of serving you well for years to come.

What is the best mid-range smartphone?

We think the Google Pixel 8a (buy now) is the best mid-range smartphone you can buy. It’s the latest phone in Google’s more affordable ‘a’ series. You’ll love its impeccable camera skills, punchy performance, minimalist Pixel design and pure Android experience.

Other mid-range smartphone recommendations

The best mid-range phone you can buy today:

1. Google Pixel 8a

The Pixel 8a is part of Google’s affordable ‘A’ series, which promises a similar Pixel experience to its more expensive siblings for less money. We think this makes it a superb bang-for-buck option. And there’s lots to love here.

From its impeccable camera skills and punchy performance to a minimalist Pixel design and pure Android experience, this could be the ultimate choice for Google fans. Previous Pixel A phones had a few specs that lagged behind some of the competition, but the latest 8a has fixed that, making it unquestionably the best mid-range smartphone around.

Okay, the charging speeds remain slightly behind rivals, and not all AI features are available to buyers in the UK and Europe, but unless you’re willing to spend nearly double the money on a flagship with even more versatile cameras, the Pixel 8a is everything you’ll ever need.

• Read more: Google Pixel 8a review

2. Apple iPhone SE (2022)

The new iPhone SE (aka the iPhone SE 3, released in 2022) is one of the best-value iPhones ever made. While it looks seriously old-fashioned by today’s standards thanks to its home button and thick bezels, it more than makes up for it on the inside — despite costing less than half the price of the iPhone 13, it’s still rocking the same incredibly powerful A15 Bionic processor.

If you prefer dinkier screens for easy one-handed use, then its 4.7in LCD display (sadly not OLED) will be an absolute joy to use, banishing over-stretched thumbs for good. If you don’t mind the fact that it’s only got a single camera, smaller battery, and no Face ID smarts, then this should definitely be a consideration for Apple fans on a budget. Is it the best affordable mobile on sale? No siree – but it is the best mid-range Apple one.

• Best iPhone: every Apple phone compared

3. Nothing Phone 2

Don’t be fooled by the see-through shell: the Nothing Phone 2 is no gimmick. Sure, the transparent design and lighting strips do plenty to catch the eye, but there’s also one of the best mid-range smartphone models on sale lurking beneath the surface.

The 6.7in OLED display punches above its weight, while the construction materials give it the feel of a more premium device. The CPU is last year’s flagship, so plenty potent: running Nothing’s minimalist take on Android 13, it operates very smoothly in day-to-day use, with no noticeable slowdowns.

Battery life is much improved over Phone 1, and while the revised rear camera hardware can’t dislodge Google as the best snapper going under £600, it still shows meaningful gains over Nothing’s debut effort. If you’re keen on a genuinely refreshing take on the affordable smartphone formula, Phone 2 should sit near the top of your list.

• Read more: Nothing Phone 2 review

4. Red Magic 8 Pro

Searching for an excellent value gaming phone? Your answer is the RedMagic 8 Pro. For a reasonable mid-range sum, you’re getting Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 power and 256GB storage, along with a seriously geeky, fit-for-purpose UI that’s perfect for gamers and tinkerers alike.

We particularly loved its large, uninterrupted near-bezel-less display in our review, along with its transparent back that offers something different from the norm. And while its camera won’t deliver best-in-class performance, it’s hard to argue with its overall features at this price — making it a great choice for the overall best mid-range smartphone as well as the best mid-ranger gaming phone.

• Read more: Red Magic Pro 8 review

5. Motorola Moto G82

Hitting the price-performance sweet spot, the Moto G82 is a welcome reminder that Motorola knows how to nail a keenly priced all-rounder. A surefire steal of a smartphone, it packs a superb OLED panel with high refresh rates, a giant 5000mAh battery and an optically stabilised 50MP main camera – all specs you’d expect to find in handsets costing a good chunk more.

It’s not the last word in performance for the money, and you can get more power for not much more cash. But Motorola’s marvellously minimalist take on Android runs bloat-free and briskly enough, while 30W charging means a full refuel in an hour. Provided you don’t need the option to record 4K video, you’re getting a lot of smartphone here for your readies.

• Read more: Motorola Moto G82 review

6. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G

The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G might have a horrifically convoluted name, but it more than makes up for it with a beautiful, premium design, bolstered by quality specs and performance in all the right places. Slathered front and back in gorilla glass, it’s available in grey or a head-turning Jade Fog finish, making it one of the best looking mid-range handsets money can buy.

Ready for super-fast 5G, it’s powered by MediaTek’s powerful Dimensity 1300 processor, which has made a name for itself as one of the best mid-range CPUs currently available. It’s got a triple-camera setup too, though its main snapper will be the one that gets the majority of the legwork done.

Throw in speedy Google, Samsung and Apple-trouncing 80W fast charging, a 90Hz AMOLED display, and a dual-SIM slot for extra flexibility, and you’ve got one of the top mid-range Android picks around.

• Read more: OnePlus Nord 2T review

7. Poco X5 Pro

A better budget gaming phone than its forebear, with a UI that runs delightfully smoothly – not always a given when talking this sort of cash. The Poco X5 Pro is also thinner and lighter than the phone that came before, and brings back great battery life (and fast charging).

Adding 4K video recording is welcome, but there haven’t been too many meaningful updates to the camera hardware, so this isn’t the phone for photographers with tight purse strings.

The screen doesn’t get quite as bright as the X4 Pro, and the weird-feeling plastic back won’t be to all tastes. But ultimately it doesn’t make you feel like you’re compromising in too many areas, so find one at the right price and it’s still a good buy.

• Read more: Poco 5 Pro review

8. Realme 9 Pro+

The Realme 9 Pro+ might just be the best overall choice for most people searching for the best mid-range smartphone (unless, of course, you’re after an iPhone).

Its primary selling points are a 90Hz OLED display, and a best-in-class main camera that genuinely goes toe to toe with premium flagships come day or night. It can even shoot HEIF 10-bit photos like the iPhone 13 Pro, for smoother gradients and colours for enthusiasts to work their editing magic. Its digital zoom isn’t too shabby either, and the same goes for its 8MP ultra-wide snapper.

As usual, the third macro camera isn’t really worth using more than a few times for experimentation, but given the imaging quality elsewhere, that’s fine by us. Powerful enough for smooth gaming with 60W charging thrown in for good measure, this is one of the best mid-range handsets currently available, at a borderline budget price tag.

• Read more: Realme 9 Pro+ review

9. Honor Magic 5 Lite

One of those phones for people who spend more time in Google Chrome than Call of Duty, the Honor Magic 5 Lite is a great-looking handset that sticks with a modestly mid-range CPU in order to go big in other areas, like its screen. A 6.67in AMOLED is a treat for the eyes, especially at 120Hz, and the 5100mAh battery is capable of excellent longevity away from the mains.

While its secondary snappers don’t add a whole lot of value, the main sensor does a decent job of justifying the price. The super slim dimensions, glass rear and choice of head-turning colours are what give the Magic 5 Lite its strongest appeal, so if you like your tech to make a design statement, it’s a great choice.

• Read more: Honor Magic 5 Lite review

How to choose the best mid-range smartphone for you

Choosing the best mid-range smartphone is a lot like choosing the best smartphone, but if you’re reading this then you’ve already defined a budget of between $450/£450 and $650/£650. If that’s still too much money, then you should check out Stuff’s guide to the best cheap smartphones.

These affordable mobiles tend to offer a good balance between features and affordability. You may miss out on some headline features, such as a super-zoom camera or massive OLED display, but if you want a phone that’s brilliant at the basics without anything flashy, then these are perfect for you.

As we mentioned in the introduction as well, performance shouldn’t be an issue, with mid-range processors from reputable brands like Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek performing much better than they used to.

In terms of display, you should be looking for smartphones with at least Full HD (1080p) resolution and an IPS or AMOLED panel for vibrant colours and good viewing angles.

Despite being mid-range, you can expect a decent camera with multiple lenses and sensors (although, it may not be market-leading). You can look for features like optical image stabilization (OIS) or night mode.

If you’re looking for more specific buying recommendations, then you can check out Stuff’s guides to the best smartphone for gaming, the best smartphones for photography, and the best Android phones.

Netflix is absolutely stacked with documentaries. Some of which are fantastic and many of which are little more than schlocky trash TV. But fear not. We’ve picked through the detritus to bring you our definitive list of the best pieces of fact-based film and TV on the streaming service.

• Best streaming service for the US: all the top platforms compared

Whether you’re interested in towering sporting achievement, tech history, true crime or culinary exploration, there’s something here for you.

Like Netflix, Amazon is constantly adding fresh eyeball fodder to its streaming library, so much so that it can be difficult to keep up with all the new stuff. So, as we do with Netflix each month, we’ve decided to dedicate a regularly-updated article to what’s new – as long as we deem it worth watching, of course. This extends to Freevee (Amazon’s ad-supported free-to-view channel) too.

Looking for the latest thing to stream? Read on, and allow us to guide you through all the best recent additions. And why not check all these out with a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime Video here.

Note: the newest stuff is at the top of the list, with material getting progressively older as you scroll down.

• Also check out: The best streaming devices

A VPN can help you surf safely and anonymously whether you’re watching sports or streaming on Netflix and other services.

What’s the best free VPN service?

1. Proton VPN Free

We think Proton’s free VPN service is one of the best around. One of its biggest selling points is the fact that it has no data limits, which means you never have to worry about hitting any pesky caps. Despite being free, it also offers key features like a kill switch (your connection drops if the VPN service goes down so you’re not left unprotected), and the superior WireGuard VPN protocol.

Obviously, you’re going to have some limitations. In this instance, you only have access to three locations — the USA, Netherlands and Japan. And while you can install Proton VPN on as many devices as you like, you can only connect to one at a time if you’re using the free package. Still, considering it’s one of the fastest VPN services around (even on the free tier), there’s very little to complain about here, as long as the limited country choice doesn’t affect your specific use case.

• View the latest Proton VPN Free deals

2. PrivadoVPN Free

While PrivadoVPN can’t match Proton VPN’s unlimited data allowance, it still offers a respectable 10GB monthly limit. We find this should be enough for more casual use on, say, a smartphone, but even if you do reach the maximum amount, you can still use an emergency server to get online. Sure, the latter is limited solely to the Netherlands with a crawling speed of just 1Mbps, but it’s better than nothing.

When you’re within the data limit, you have a generous choice of thirteen locations to choose from, with speedy 350Mbps connectivity to boot. The best part, though, is the fact that you can use the free version to unblock streaming services, including Netflix USA, Prime Video, Disney+, and more.

• View the latest Privado VPN Free deals

3. Windscribe Free

Windscribe stands out from the crowd in a few key areas. While it has the common 10GB monthly cap, you can install and use it on more than one device, which is a feature that many other free alternatives lack. We appreciate that you have the choice of 11 different countries as well, which is more generous than most.

Overall, it’s definitely worth considering — especially if you’re after light use across different devices like phones and tablets. Just be wary of that strict 10GB cap, and you’ll be good to go.

• View the latest Windscribe Free deals

4. Atlas VPN Free

While its 10GB monthly data allowance is decent enough, its Atlas VPNs Mac-specific allowance that really shines. If you’re a Mac user, like us, you can take advantage of a whopping 2GB per day, making Atlas VPN one of the most competitive free VPNs around.

There are, of course, some catches — namely the limit to just two countries (the Netherlands and the USA). Still, you can connect two devices simultaneously, and the speeds are far from shabby. While streaming site unblocking isn’t officially supported, some people have tried their luck and found success, so it could be worth a shot. Not that we condone that, mind.

• View the latest Atlas VPN Free deals

5. Hotspot Shield Basic VPN

Hotspot Shield’s free VPN service offers an unmatched unlimited data limit, letting you stream and surf to your heart’s content. There’s one major catch though — you can only connect via one USA-based location, which might be a dealbreaker for some users, depending on their needs.

If that’s not an issue for you though, then it’s hard to beat that glorious unlimited data allowance. If you can also live without a kill switch, then we think this is one of the best free VPN services.

• View the latest Hotspot Shield Basic VPN deals

Best VPN FAQs:

What is a free VPN?

A virtual private network (commonly referred to as VPN), is a powerful tool that enables you to cloak your whereabouts on the web. VPNs work by directing your online traffic through the servers of the VPN provider, which are often located in various parts of the world.

You could, for example, use a VPN service to simulate your presence in the USA, letting you access Netflix content that may not be available in the United Kingdom. While we don’t officially endorse such usage, this is just one example of a common VPN use case.

Additionally, for individuals travelling to certain regions such as China (where access to popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google are restricted), VPNs become indispensable tools, letting you use your preferred apps while helping you stay in touch with people back home.

Are free VPNs safe?

The safety of free VPNs is a significant concern, and the answer isn’t straightforward because it varies based on the provider.

Many free VPN services log user data and may sell this information to third parties. This practice can compromise your privacy, which is the opposite of what a VPN should do.

Free VPNs might not have strong encryption protocols, leaving your data vulnerable to interception.

To generate revenue, many free VPNs display intrusive ads and pop-ups. These ads can be annoying and, in some cases, may lead to malicious websites.

You may also find that free VPN providers may not have the resources or motivation to maintain robust security measures or provide customer support. This lack of accountability can result in a poor and potentially unsafe user experience.

To avoid these potential free VPN pitfalls, read the section below on how to choose the best free VPN, as well as our reviews above.

How to choose the best free VPN

If you’re worried about choosing a free VPN, then follow these steps:

First, you’ll want to look for reviews (like ours above) from reputable sources and user feedback. Investigate whether the VPN provider has a history of privacy violations or security issues.

You will probably also want to read the privacy policy carefully to understand what data the VPN logs and how it is used. A trustworthy VPN should have a clear and transparent privacy policy.

Some well-known, trusted VPN providers (like the ones included Stuff’s best VPN guide) offer limited free versions of their paid services. These options might be safer as they often use the same infrastructure and security protocols as their premium counterparts.

Finally, consider why you actually need a VPN. For basic tasks like bypassing geo-restrictions or casual browsing, some free VPNs might suffice, but for more critical activities, such as handling sensitive information, investing in a reputable paid VPN service is advisable.

Are VPNs illegal?

VPNs are absolutely not illegal (although there are some exceptions in certain countries so it’s always worth checking), and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to anonymise your personal data and internet activity. Still, this doesn’t give you a blanket excuse to then carry out illegal activity, such as the downloading of copyrighted material. This also means that you shouldn’t use a VPN to bypass per-country streaming rights for services such as Netflix.

Can VPNs protect you from viruses and malware?

Short answer? No. Using a VPN to browse anonymously is one thing, but you’re still susceptible to malware and viruses. Stay away from dodgy sites, and practice your usual (hopefully alert) levels of internet safety. In other words, don’t go downloading .exe files willy-nilly.

Will using a VPN make your internet slower?

Any VPN will have the unfortunate effect of slowing down your internet connection, which makes total sense when you think about the extra steps your traffic is taking when passing through various server locations. Still, if you’ve got a reasonably fast internet connection already, then you shouldn’t notice too much of a difference.

Are paid VPNs better than free VPNs?

Paid VPNs will offer more services in exchange for your cash. In most cases, this means that you have a larger selection of countries and locations to choose from, with more supported devices to boot. If you’re planning on light usage though, then one of the best free VPNs should be enough for your needs.

What to watch with a VPN

Want to watch the NBA from outside your own country? You can, with the help of a VPN and our series of ‘how to’ guides. We’ve covered how you can watch NBA, MBL, the Bundesliga and more, wherever you are in the world. Want to know more? Take a look on the links below:

• How to watch NBA basketball
• How to watch Major League Baseball
• How to watch German Bundesliga
• How to watch Spanish LaLiga
• How to watch Italian Serie A
• How to watch MLS football
• How to watch NFL

And if you’ve got a blockbuster budget, there’s no shortage of classy gear to transform your movie room. Need help to pick the right panel for your pad? We’ve tested a battalion of big-screen TVs to bring you the best 4K TVs fit for every budget (need to upgrade your audio? Check out the best soundbar too)

What’s the best 4K TV in the UK?

The best cheap 4K TVs:

1. Samsung UE43AU71000

When we go shopping for a new TV, few of us are looking for a flagship model. Buying an entry-level box? Samsung’s AU7100 doesn’t require you to make too many sacrifices.

With detailed, vibrant images, a solid build and a slick interface, the AU7100 represents excellent value – especially if you opt for the 43in version. Its materials might not be the most indulgent, but the AU7100 is flawlessly finished and built to last.

Front and centre is an LCD/LED panel with edge-positioned backlighting. It works best with native 4K content, serving up detailed, realistic images with nuanced tones – especially when there’s HDR10+ dynamic metadata involved. Motion is handled confidently, too. Things only really deteriorate when you drop below 1080p.

Sound from the 20W drivers is better than you might expect, although there’s no low-end punch. As long as you don’t watch lots of vintage content – and you’re not expecting the quality of the audio to match the quality of the pictures – this is one of the best ‘real world’ TVs around.

• Read more: Samsung UE43AU71000 review

2. Hisense A6BG

Hisense knows its stuff when it comes to delivering very good entry-level TVs, and this large 65in offering is an absolute bargain at this price. Serving up 4K resolution with HDR (including Dolby Vision support), there’s also an auto low latency mode for gamers, along with built-in Freeview HD. Oh, and it works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa too.

Naturally, given its price, there are a few compromises. The HDMI ports are 2.0, not 2.1, for starters, and the screen itself had fairly limited viewing angles and can struggle with darker scenes. But there’s a comprehensive selection of streaming apps on offer, and again, there’s not much to complain about at this price.

The perfect choice if you’re looking for something simple, straightforward, and really rather massive.

3. TCL 55C645

The TCL 55C645 gives us 90 percent of the performance we want for a lot less than 90 percent of the price. It’s got the technology, the functionality and the specification of a TV costing three or four times its asking price.

In terms of actual performance, the TCL 55C645 is pretty decent. The colour palette is quite extensive and the colour balance is naturalistic, it manages to keep a solid grip on on-screen movement of all kinds, and, although not an especially bright TV, the white tones it generates are clean and every bit as varied as its black tones

Now of course, you can’t expect perfection when you’re shopping at the entry-level – and sure enough, the TCL 55C645 isn’t perfect, but it gets way more right than it gets wrong, though, and in many ways, it outperforms its asking price to a significant degree.

• Read more: TCL 55C645 review

The best mid-range 4K TVs:

1. Philips 55OLED807

Philips has established itself as a hero of the 4K TV sweet spot, delivering great sets where affordability meets performance. And the 55OLED807 knocks it out of the park again. Nicely designed and robustly built, it shows no signs of corner cutting. Philips has even added some swivel adjustment for easier positioning.

Its feature set doesn’t come up short, either. The 55OLED807 works with every mainstream HDR standard and offers a stack of inputs, including a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen console compatibility. Four-sided Ambilight also remains a perfect complement to pictures. We still found setup menus complex and relentless in testing, but the remote at least made it easier to battle through. And the reward is great picture quality in almost every circumstance.

Peak brightness is right up there with the best OLED panels, resulting in incredible contrast, with both white and black tones packed with detail. The colour palette is extensive yet natural, too. Spend time tweaking and you can also achieve smooth, expertly rendered motion. Upscaling is similarly effective and even the 2.1-channel sound system is pretty composed for the set’s size. In short, this is one of the best pound-for-pound TVs around right now.

• Read more: Philips 55OLED807 review

2. Samsung S95B OLED

Samsung’s S95B is incredibly bright for an OLED, although not as bright as any QLED (which is to be expected. Still, it’s bright enough, and colours are beautifully vivid, if not the most realistic. If you’re a stickler for colour accuracy without any tweaking, then you might want to look elsewhere. Most people though, seem to like punchy, saturated colours, and if you’re one of them, then all the more power to you.

Another thing to bear in mind, are the size options available. The S95B has two models: 55in and 65in. If size is key, and you’re after something bigger (or smaller), then you might want to look elsewhere. If it ticks all your boxes though, then you definitely won’t be disappointed.

• Read more: Samsung S95B OLED review

Hisense 65U7KQTUK

Audio or video, it doesn’t matter; you can rely on Hisense to take any expensive new tech and democratise it. Can you think of another TV brand able to combine quantum dot panel technology with MiniLED backlighting and every worthwhile HDR standard in a TV, and then charge less than £1500 for a 65in version? There’s only one brand that can offer that – Hisense.

Treat it to some native 4K content, ideally with an HDR element to it for good measure, and the 65U7KQTUK really impresses. An HDR10-equipped UHD Blu-ray of Christopher Nolan’s borderline-incoherent Tenet, for example, looks an absolute treat.

For an LCD TV, the 65U7KQTUK does really well with black tones, the colour palette is extensive, and it does good work controlling on-screen movement.

A big screen with a big specification but not all that big a price – and given the right stuff to work with, the Hisense 65U7KQTUK turns in a pretty big performance. At least as far as picture quality is concerned, anyway…

• Read more: Hisense 65U7KQTUK review

The best premium 4K TVs:

1. Sony XR-55A80L

In short, the Sony XR-55A80L is a great TV. Subtle, and vibrant, it makes the very best of any content you feed into it. No, it’s not the brightest OLED panel around, but the white tones it creates are clean, and there’s detail and nuance in spades — especially when it comes to accurate colour tones such as those found on skin.

HDR performance is solid, as is motion control, with smooth edge definition too. Combined, all of these attributes result in a beautiful, pleasant viewing experience, bolstered by strong upscaling performance and slick gaming capabilities. You’ll want to upgrade the sound with speakers or a soundbar though, as is the case for most of the picks on our list.

• Read more: Sony XR-55A80L review

2. Sony XR-55A90J

Throwing money at something isn’t always a solution. But in the case of the Sony XR-55A90J OLED, it very much is. Yes, it’s super expensive for a 55in television, but it’s also worth every penny. There’s a lot of cutting-edge tech here: the super-fast and deeply intelligent XR processor is present, with Acoustic Surface Audio+ trickery. Google TV has replaced Android TV, which is a major upgrade. Sony’s exclusive Bravia Core streaming service is included, too.

Performance, as the price demands, is profoundly impressive. The A90J is very bright by OLED standards, so contrasts absolutely pop from the screen. This TV can call on a seemingly limitless array of colours, and easily describe minute differences in shade and texture. It handles on-screen motion with casual effortlessness and can bring detail and subtlety to inky black tones. Plus it also upscales low- resolution content without having a panic attack.

The A90J’s feet can sit low or stand high enough to fit a soundbar beneath, but Sony is so pleased with its in-built audio that it’s fitted speaker binding posts on the back panel, so the entire screen can be the centre channel in a surround-sound setup.

• Read more: Sony XR-55A90J review

3. LG OLED65C3

The LG OLED65C3 has some obvious advantages over the C2 it replaces, not least in its HDR picture processing enhancements and the revision to its UI. Is that enough to tempt C2 owners into a costly upgrade? Probably not. The rest of us, though, can simply be impressed by what is the latest in a long line of high-achieving LG OLED TVs.

From strong gaming and upscaling performance to natural colour balance, true blacks, and wide-ranging contrasts, it’s a joy to behold. As is usually the case though, you’ll want to beef up it stock speakers with some external gear to do justice to the on-screen action.

• Read more: LG OLED65C3 review

4. Sony XR-55A95K

First out of the blocks with a QD-OLED telly, Sony’s A95K promises to combine the advantages of OLED – deep blacks and vivid colours – with the brightness of LCD. In practice, it’s one of the best out-of-the-box TVs you can buy.

All-screen from the front, build quality is everything you’d expect from a premium Sony product. Read: basically flawless. Its feature set is similarly superlative, with two out of four HDMI inputs supporting 4K at 120Hz. Less useful is the Bravia Cam, which attaches magnetically to the top. It will one day adjust settings based on ambient conditions, but for now it’s a glorified webcam.

Like all of Sony’s OLED TVs, the A95K’s screen itself acts as a speaker, reinforced by a couple of rear-firing subs. When it comes to fidelity, detail and outright punch, it can sonically match any TV without a separate speaker bar.

Star of the show, though, is the picture. While it isn’t startlingly brighter than the best non-QD OLEDs, the A95K can generate the most convincing and nuanced brightness of any OLED currently available. Detail is high across the board, colour fidelity is effortlessly natural and depth of field is almost three-dimensional, given the right material. All of which means the A95K is as enjoyable as 4K televisions get right now.

• Read more: Sony XR-55A95K review

The best luxury 4K TVs:

1. Philips 65OLED937

Ever since Philips began collaborating with Bowers & Wilkins for its high-end TV audio systems, the company has set itself apart with high-quality sound, in addition to the brilliant Ambilight feature. In a market where most televisions seem to be far too similar to each other, this has certainly been a refreshing development. Of course, this sort of differentiation doesn’t come cheap. But it’s worth it.

Philips’ gorgeously large eOLDE set delivers both stunning picture quality, and wide, immersive sound, thanks to the aforementioned partnership. A perfect,t high-quality TV for those who want the best experience with minimal faff, it’ll hit your wallet hard, and your eyes and ears even harder. Worth it.

• Read more: Philips 65OLED+937 review

2. LG G2 77in OLED

LG’s long been an OLED pioneer and the G2 is a top-spec telly to cement its reputation. With an upgraded panel, brand-spanking processor and improved heat dissipation, it promises brightness to rival the best LCDs.

LG calls the G2 its “Gallery Edition” for good reason: it’s designed to be wall-mounted. And in 77in guise, it does plenty to justify the framing, as well as the Picasso price tag. Hues are vivd, yet colour accuracy is second to none. Blacks are as inky as you’d expect, while its OLED evo panel is dazzlingly bright. Image clarity is similarly excellent, with clever AI upscaling to make older content look good in 4K. All of which combines to produce a masterpiece and definitely one of the best 4K TV options around.

Besides the occasional bug, LG’s updated webOS interface remains intuitive and clutter-free. A new gaming menu lets you tweak refresh rates, with all four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K at 120fps. The G2’s down-firing speakers also pull off a convincing Atmos experience, simulating virtual surround with decent punch – which you can’t say of many integrated TV speakers.

• Read more: LG G2 77in OLED review

3. Samsung S90C

Samsung’s OLED beast serves up glossy blacks and bright whites to deliver some seriously impressive performance, with plenty of nuance and shade in the tone department. Full HD upscaling is, as expected, formidable, with high details and solid contrasts on offer.

Gamers too, will appreciate the specs on offer here, which include more than enough HDMI 2.1 ports to satisfy multiple consoles, along with a low input lag and 4K 144Hz gaming. That’s pretty impressive for a TV whichever way you slice it, beating other 4K/120Hz sets in the refresh rate department.

Best of all, given the fact that most TV speakers tend to sound rather anaemic, the S90C’s built-in audio hardware actually provides a relatively decent experience — one that’s good enough to stop you from automatically hooking up a soundbar. Not that that would be a bad idea, mind.

• Read more: Samsung S90C review

The best 4K TVs in the US:

1. Samsung S95B

The S95B is one of the best 4K TVs for most people in the US, especially for those already used to (and happy with), Samsung’s TV experience, which includes fancy extras like its cloud Gaming Hub.

Gamers will be able to enjoy 4K, 120Hz gaming, thanks to a generous array of HDMI 2.1 ports, and other features like FreeSync.

Being a QD OLED affair, it offers a brighter viewing experience compared to something like the LG C2 OLED, while its single-stand design makes for convenient placement, even in the larger-screened models.

• Read more: Samsung S95B OLED review

2. Sony Bravia XR A95K

Sony’s A95K set is one of the most expensive 4K TVs around right now, and with good reason. Like Samsung’s excellent S95B, Sony’s offering also offers a stunning, bright QD-OLED screen, but also throws in some additional advantages — namely, support for Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby DTS:X audio.

These extras, coupled with the A95K’s impeccable colour accuracy for enjoying content like the creator’ intended, make it one of the best premium TVs around. Until its successor lands, that is.

• Read more: Sony XR-55A95K review

3. TCL 5-Series

A Quantum Dot LED TV at this price is nothing to be sniffed at, which is why TCL’s 5-Series is our pick for the best budget 4K TV to buy in the US. With support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG, you’re getting plenty of options for your money too.

HDR performance is, as expected, not the best you’ll find around, and you might find the highlights lacking in particular. Once you remember its comparative price though, it’s easy enough to forgive —

4. LG C2

Despite not having the latest QD OLED tech (and therefore not reaching the same brightness levels offered by the Sony and Samsung offerings on our list), the LG C2 remains one of the best 4K TVs in the US. Plenty bright enough (especially for viewing in dimmer rooms), it offers all the superb blacks and punchy colours that OLED displays are famed for.

Our pick of the range is the 42in model, which is not only easier on your wallet, but also ideal for use as a dual PC monitor/TV setup — especially when you take its more manageable screen size, 4K resolution, HDMI 2.1 support, and 120Hz gaming performance into account.

5. Hisense U8H

Hisense’s U8H is a very solid mid-range offering that serves up a 4K LED screen, powered by Google TV for access to all of your favourite apps and games at the touch of a button. Another win, especially at this price, is support for both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, which is something that cannot be said of its Samsung rival.

Obviously, given the nature of its LED panel, it can’t compete against the inky blacks and in-your-face immersion offered by OLED alternatives, but it gets plenty bright, with two HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen gaming at a fluid 120Hz.

How to choose the best 4K TV for you

Buying a television is a big purchase, one that you’ll have to live with for a long time (much longer than a smartphone), so when buying a 4K TV there several crucial factors that should guide your decision-making process.

The first thing you’ll want to consider is the screen size. You need to get a TV that best suits your viewing environment. A larger screen can offer a more immersive experience, but it must fit comfortably within your available space.

There are also plenty of important specs and features you’ll want to look out for, such as HDR, OLED, refresh rates, and viewing angles.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) support is a must when buying a modern television. HDR enhances contrast and colour range, resulting in more vivid and lifelike images. Look for TVs that support popular HDR formats like HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG.

The type of panel is also important. OLED panels tend to offer superior contrast and colour accuracy but may come at a higher price point. LED/LCD TVs, on the other hand, are generally more budget-friendly, but can’t match OLED for contrast and colour accuracy.

The refresh rate is a key specification for reducing motion blur. This is especially important if you’re into gaming or watching fast-paced sports. Higher refresh rates like 120Hz or 240Hz can provide smoother motion.

Viewing angles can be important, especially if you have a wide seating arrangement. OLED TVs typically offer wider viewing angles compared to certain LED/LCD models.

Now, most modern 4K TVs are equipped with smart features, such as built-in streaming apps, voice control, internet connectivity, and the ability to stream content from your smartphone. If you have a favourite streaming service, make sure it’s available on the television before you buy it.

If you own multiple game consoles, media players, set-top boxes and streaming sticks, ensuring you have sufficient ports and connectivity options for your devices is crucial. You want to aim for around four HDMI ports, and if you plan to use your TV for gaming with next-gen consoles, make sure these ports have HDMI 2.1 support.

The TV’s audio quality should not be overlooked. While some 4K TVs have better built-in speakers than others, if you’re really serious about audio you’ll want to upgrade to an external sound system, like soundbars or home theater systems.

Finally, it’s important to note that design and aesthetics matter too. You’ll want a TV that fits well with your room’s decor. Slim bezels and sleek designs are popular choices, while you can now also get televisions that look like paintings when in standby mode.

• Read more: The 32 best things to watch on Netflix US right now

We’ve rounded up a selection of the best auto mowers below, including traditional ones that require laying down a boundary wire (to prevent them from rolling off into the sunset), and more high-tech versions which make use of fancy GPS, cameras, and sensor tech to help keep them on track.

Before you settle on the best robot lawn mower for your needs, it’s wise to double-check the size of your garden, and the angle of your steepest slope. If you don’t, you might end up with one that doesn’t have enough power to get the job done.

And remember — because most robot lawn mowers chop up grass so finely, you don’t have to worry about picking up cuttings after they’re done. In fact, the mulched grass cuttings are a handy source of nutrition, letting your garden flourish with less work required. Clever, eh?

What’s the best robot lawn mower?

The Segway Navimow i105 (read more) is more affordable, can cut shorter and have more smarts than the previous version. AI-assisted satellite mapping means no boundary wire; a 140° camera with built-in Al algorithms detects more than 20 types of common garden objects to dodge.

Other robot lawn mower recommendations

Want an alternative to the Navimow? You got it. Here are a few other top picks, ahead of our comprehensive list of the best robot lawn mowers:

The best robot lawn mowers you can buy today:

1. Segway Navimow i105

Segway’s first-gen Navimow impressed when it launched in the UK barely a year ago; now this new model supersedes it. The i105 and bigger-batteried i108 are more affordable, can cut shorter and have more smarts. AI-assisted satellite mapping means no boundary wire; a 140° camera with built-in Al algorithms detects more than 20 types of common garden objects to dodge. The camera also aids navigation if the satellite signal is poor, helping the mower stay within your boundary.

The new Navimow can also sense a rainy day and automatically hold off when conditions aren’t right for mowing. 4G is an optional extra (£100 including a year’s data), letting you track the mower and tinker with settings wherever you are.

Is it any good?

The Navimow triangulates satellite signals using a separate antenna for precise positioning without a wire. So you have to mount the antenna somewhere with plenty of sky, and the lawn itself shouldn’t be overshadowed by buildings and trees. The antenna mounts on a metal post and connects with a long wire to the mower’s charging dock, so you only need one power socket to serve both. Neat.

Setup was supremely easy out of the box: the app, Bluetooth pairing and Wi-Fi setup all just worked the first time. Then you use your phone like a remote control to take the mower around the lawn perimeter for mapping. It takes a bit of time to master this but it is, frankly, fun. You can store multiple lawns, add fancy stuff to the map – passages, no-mow zones around flowers or hazards – and define whether to straddle the edges of boundaries or not.

With the map made and uploaded, it took a single tap on the app to mow. And this is where the compact Navimow went from impressive to outstanding. I could see from the app that it was mowing the garden in long rows rather than randomly. Progress was visible on screen and the mowing results were efficient and neat. Not a blade of grass was missed and the edging performance was great; then it docked itself to await further instructions.

2. EcoFlow Blade with Sweeping Kit

The EcoFlow Blade is one of the most advanced robot lawnmowers currently available. Thanks to an impressive array of tech and sensors, it’s able to navigate your lawn to within an inch of accuracy, without the need for pesky boundary wire. And, thanks to a combination of visual sensors and LiDAR, it can intelligently recognise and avoid obstacles as well. Opt for the additional Sweeping Kit, and it will even helpfully collect leaves and other debris, leaving your lawn truly spotless.

3. Worx Landroid Vision L1300

This one doesn’t depend on a boundary wire or GPS to define where to mow: it uses a Full HD camera and AI to navigate. The mower identifies what is and isn’t lawn, aiming to cut up to the grass edge but no further. It also has a rain sensor and can postpone its work for drier conditions if necessary.

The AI evolves, learning from real-world experiences. That knowledge then helps to shape firmware updates, which are delivered over the air to all Vision mowers. This one handles lawns of up to 1300m², which won’t do if you live in Blenheim Palace; other models in the range have maximum mowing areas ranging from 600m² to 1600m².

Unlike some robot mowers, this one can just be popped on the lawn and left to do its thing. But it won’t run over non-grass areas: if you want it to cross a path and mow a second section of lawn, you can fit two RFID markers (supplied) in the grass – one on each side – to tell it where to make the crossing. It also comes with two bendy magnetic strips that you can embed in the lawn to fence off ‘no mow’ zones if you need to protect patches, but ordinary borders should be detected fine.

Is it any good?

The initial setup involved a firmware update (over the air or USB), but I’m assured that this isn’t usually needed. After app setup and charging, the mower set forth for a good explore. It didn’t mow – it just went around the perimeter until it got back to its charging base. It did get stuck once when a wheel overshot a brick border, but this was on me and my poor base placement. It didn’t happen when I set it up better.

Once up and mowing, it handled itself immaculately. Results were impressively consistent, even on the first mow, and the edges were great for a robot. The Worx’s styling is a bit ‘boy racer’ but its performance is hard to fault. It works well out of the box, figuring out the lawn for itself. It’s clever but doesn’t try too hard – this thing is not over-engineered. And while the tech is straightforward, it comes with accessories that let you direct it around more complex lawns.

4. Yard Force Compact 300RBS

Yard Force’s entry is one of the cheapest offerings on our list, making it a great entry-level option. Despite its price, it offers a respectable 300m² coverage area, which you can manually set yourself using a boundary wire. Its iRadar ultrasonic sensor tech helps it avoid obstacles, while Bluetooth for app control, coupled with the ability to return to its charging station when rain is detected, make for some impressive functionality at this price.

5. Stihl iMow 6

Here’s the only mower on test that works with a perimeter wire. In fact, it also needs a wire across the middle of the lawn – this guides the mower home to its docking station and also splits the garden into two independent zones.

This all-new model has a swing-tip blade system, a new design, jazzier lights and a new interface: large, simple buttons on top let you mow, stop, send it home or get info. The My iMow app has the same features as previous models, including scheduling, but adds controls such as changing the cutting height (17 choices between 20 and 60mm) or telling it to only mow one side of the lawn.

The iMow 6 has a generous mowing area of up to 3000m² and sits in the middle of Stihl’s 2024 range. The pricier Evo model (£2799) adds a 4G SIM card, so it doesn’t need to be in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range for app control.

Is it any good?

This one mows quietly and the finish is excellent. Its three free-swinging blades ensure a clean cut and rotation changes direction regularly to extend their lifespan. Initial wire setup is straightforward, but dealer setup (from around £200) is best for large or complex gardens. There’s no drop sensor, but run the perimeter cable in from the edge, loop it around that pond and back out again and the iMow will cross the double wire OK but won’t go inside the single-wire loop. Clever.

And the app is nicely intuitive. It’s easy to schedule mowing and adjust settings, while an onboard sensor detects rain and pauses to protect wet grass, rescheduling to make up lost time. It also adapts speed to the terrain for an even cut, and works out the best way back to the docking station to avoid leaving tracks by going over the same route each time.

It will slow down when it detects an obstacle, only lightly touching it (yes, I stood in front of it repeatedly to test this). Security includes geofenced controls that lock if it’s taken away from its garden. I’ve tested previous models of the Stihl iMow and this is quite literally a cut above. And that wire gives supreme accuracy.

6. Husqvarna Automower 320 Nera

Bought solo, the Nera is a regular robo-mower that needs a perimeter wire. But I tested it with the Epos kit (taking the total to £4417), which makes it a modern machine that navigates via satellite location with no wire required.

It looks very cool, but be warned: because both the mower and the Epos kit need a good satellite link, it won’t cope well if your lawn is under tree cover. Two devices means it needs two outdoor power sockets too. The satellite mapping sets the perimeter and can also be used to map stuff like trees or garden furniture. The mower can navigate narrow paths too, varying its route to avoid leaving ugly tracks. It handles slopes well thanks to a pivoting front axis, but exactly how well is complicated: it can handle up to 50% in the middle but only 25% at the perimeter.

Is it any good?

Dealer setup is standard with the Epos, so a chap from Autocut delivered it and set it up. He figured out line-of-satellite-sight placement then navigated the Nera via an app, driving it like an RC car and laying digital waypoints at each turn to map the perimeter. Thanks to the satellite, pins are precise. The mowing results were impressive. Those digital waypoints ensure accuracy: very little grass was left unmowed at the edges, just a few centimetres.

But it doesn’t sense objects: instead, it bumps into them, stops, folds away its blades and turns to head in another direction. This works, but at this price, it’s surprising that it doesn’t have a camera or similar. Pricier Automowers use radar to sense and stop short of obstacles; if you’re going to the expense of a Nera with Epos, might as well go all the way with the 430X or 450X.

7. Bosch Indego S 500

The standout feature of this Bosch robot lawn mower is its LogiCut feature, which maps out your lawn to enable cutting in efficient, parallel lines, making for a faster session compared to some rivals. A MultiArea feature also lets it cut additional lawn areas, while it’s also clever enough to pass through passages as narrow as 75cm between its boundary wires. It also starts each session by cutting the borders of your lawn, for a neat, tidy finish,

8. Segway Navimow

Yes, Segway also makes a robot lawn mower, and it’s an impressive feat of grass-cutting engineering, thanks to its ability to accurately navigate your garden without the need for perimeter wire. With a rugged build and large tread wheels for coping with mud and rough terrain, it’ll trundle along merrily without complaint. Spring for the newer object recognition VisionFence Sensor module, and it’ll happily deal with obstacles too.

• Read more: Segway Navimow review

9. Ambrogio ZR Evo

This novel mini robot mower only has a cutting width of 18cm but who cares? There’s no rush because you don’t have to do the work. It trundles around for hours tending to your lawn. If necessary, it recharges then goes out a second time.

The Ambrogio is tiny. It weighs half as much as most robot mowers. It looks like a remote-controlled truck and you can pick it up easily with one hand – most are heavy to lug.

It features Bluetooth but not WiFi, so you need to be near it to change settings and schedules. Or when ordering get an optional, factory-fitted GSM Connect module to add 4G. This includes two years of data and adds geofencing and tracking as well as remote control from afar.

It uses high-frequency radar and AI analysis to sense grass, comparing it to a vast database. If it senses ‘not grass’ then it turns around, so it’s no good for lawns with stepping stones or bare patches. An ultrasonic cliff sensor spots drops but the sensitivity can be tuned, so it copes with a bumpy lawn yet doesn’t fall down steps.

You adjust cutting height manually with a special screwdriver. An onboard rain sensor means it can reschedule mowing if conditions are wet. And the blade should last at least a year because it reverses direction every 100 hours of mowing.

Is it any good?

The first thing that stands out about the Ambrogio is that you can mow immediately, ‘drop and go’. Take it out of the box, pop it on the lawn and press Start. You don’t need to program it or even set up the charging dock. Mowing uses onboard sensors, with no mapping. You DIY the rest. There’s no perimeter wire, just a short wire to guide the mower to its dock.

I was half-impressed with the performance. The mowing results were good, with a border of 10cm of unmown grass only on the edges beside a wall. This reduces to 7cm over time. But level borders were more of a challenge. If you have a level border at least 25cm deep, like a patio, the Ambrogio works brilliantly: it senses where the grass ends and overshoots on purpose, straddling the edge just enough to mow it all. But I tested it on a lawn which, like many gardens, had a single row of bricks separating the grass from the borders. This just wasn’t deep enough to meet its specs, so the mower crossed the brick, sometimes savaged the primroses and got stuck.

The mower has two chunky rear wheels, smaller castors at the front. The front axle is self-levelling, to keep four wheels on the ground at all times. Usually, if the mower overshot the brick border, it pulled itself back fine. But sometimes it got stranded, one castor stuck over the edge, and sent my phone a push notification to rescue it.

You can adjust sensitivities via app but really the solution is to tweak the garden. The easiest way was to rake out a little bit of soil on the border side of the brick. The mower’s ultrasonic cliff sensor detects drops of at least 5cm.

Get your borders compliant and mowing is impressive as long as you don’t have stepping stones or bare patches. The size and ability to ‘drop and go’ makes it the most portable robotic mower I’ve seen. You can carry it through the house and pop it on your front lawn. Hell, you could even mow a friend’s lawn… and who wouldn’t invite you for lunch if you promised to mow the lawn?! Stuff says Small, portable, affordable. Mows straight out of the box, but check it will work with your lawn edges.

10. Honda Miimo HRM 3000 Live

Top of Honda’s robotic range, the HRM 3000 Live has a huge 4,000m² mowing area (around an acre), mowing for around 90 minutes at a time before recharging for the next session. Its 3G/4G SIM card enables remote app monitoring from anywhere, while GPS tracking lets you view the mower’s location and create a geofenced operating area to protect against theft. Perimeter wire and a charging dock are included, while sensors detect bumps (objects, pets, people) and lifting or tilting, stopping the blades automatically.

11. LawnMaster L10

A great stepping stone into the world of robot lawn mowers, this wallet-friendly model is a simple, solid, reliable option, which uses boundary wire to get the job done. Once set up, the LawnMaster L10 does its thing automatically, and can be set to mow each day, or every other day depending on the size of your garden. It does all this without an app, for even less fuss. Self-charging, quiet, and with adjustable cutting heights, there’s a lot to love, especially at this price.

12. Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD

The Range Rover of the robot mowing world, with all-wheel drive, GPS – including theft tracking – and the ability to create different zones for different bits of your garden, the 435X AWD has enough power to mow lawns of up to 3,500m2 with slopes of up to 70%. The 435X looks like a small Bentley and costs much the same as a second-hand car, but if you’re looking for the ultimate robot mower, you’ll grin every time you see it and every time you look at your lawn.

13. Worx Landroid L

There’s plenty to love about Worx’s offering. It’s got an offset blade, for a start, which means a tidier edge than most rivals. Its charging station, too, has been thoughtfully designed to allow grass to grow through the grid-like base, letting it blend in with the rest of your garden. It’s also clever enough to learn about your specific lawn, automatically building itself the perfect schedule according to the growth rate of your grass. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

14. Husqvarna Automower Aspire R4

The Aspire R4 is fully compatible with smart home setups like Google Home and Alexa, and is clever enough to adjust its sessions according to your lawn’s growth rate. Special sensors let it navigate the slimmest of passages with ease, while a frost guard feature interrupts the mowing schedule in cold conditions, to help protect your precious grass. As with many of the other premium mowers in this list, it can easily be rinsed clean too, making for minimal maintenance.

15. Flymo EasiLife 250 Go

Ideal for small to medium gardens, the 250 Go is a fuss-free option that lacks screens or complex programming. Instead, it’s capable of automatically adjusting itself to a schedule based on the weather, although you can also tweak things via an app. The intelligent guide wire also allows for programmable starting points if you’re looking to cut multiple cutting areas of lawn, while it’s also capable of navigating through narrow passages without trouble.

16. Eeve Willow

Eeve’s long-awaited mower (crowdfunded as the Toadi) needs no perimeter wire… but it does need you to rethink what you expect garden tech to look like.

The Willow is available in C-3PO Gold, Solo Silver or Leia White (what, no Vader Black?). So yes, it’s designed by nerds, for nerds. You won’t find it at your local garden centre. It’s highly customisable, and you can also add a herbicide sprayer, while future plans include a leaf shredder, a brush and an edger.

Is it any good?

The compact Willow is the best-looking of this bunch, although the textured finish looks sure to hold onto dirt – especially in white. The little dock is contactless; it’s hard to tell if the Willow is charging. And the 1.5m power cable is too short for most garden setups. But if you have a patio on the same level as the lawn, it can dock there and drive itself to the grass.

App setup is easy: hold the QR code in front of the mower’s camera to pair up. You’ll see a satellite map; now draw the lawn and dock. This doesn’t set a mowing path – it just gives the Willow an idea of how much time to budget for a mow. Then it does a short exploratory trip to find edges and obstacles – in my case this left a weird set of lines on the lawn till next time.

I struggled with setup at times but the Willow has 4G built in for remote access. With your permission, an expert calls to help set this up. (4G is disabled after the first month unless you subscribe, but Eeve can activate it at any time, for example to locate the mower if it’s stolen.)

The lawn was a bit tufty at first but obstacle detection was great: the camera sensed trees, toes and climbing frames, and turned just short of them. Not so good was edge performance, which left 30cm unmowed. I got this down to 20cm by selecting the ‘Daredevil’ setting… but any more daring and it got stuck. The ambitious planned add-ons mean this is potentially more than a mower. But the absence of a display or buttons means it can be hard to fathom what it’s up to.

17. Gardena Silenio Minimo 250

The Sileno prides itself on being the quietest mower in its class, with a noise level of just 57db(A), making it ideal for close-knit neighbourhoods. Able to operate in all weather and terrain, it can also be easily rinsed off with a hose for quick and easy cleaning. Although it relies on boundary wire, it still uses clever AI for accurate mobility, and offers some pretty appealing functionality at a reasonable mid-range price.

18. Husqvarna Automower 405X

The 405X is packed with features, including the ability to create temporary stay-out zones via an accompanying app. On-board GPS creates a map and registers parts of your lawn it’s already covered, letting it create a more efficient mowing pattern. With a weather timer, smart home integration, GPS theft protection, and more, it’s a premium choice for those with lawns up to 600m².

How to buy the best robot lawn mower

When purchasing a robot lawn mower, several key factors should guide your decision to ensure you select the best model for your yard or garden.

First and foremost, you’ll want to consider the size and terrain of your lawn. Different models come with varying cutting widths and coverage capacities. It’s crucial to assess whether your lawn is flat or has slopes, as some robot mowers are better equipped to handle uneven landscapes.

The size of your lawn will also determine what battery life you’ll need the robot lawn mower to have. Make sure the robot mower’s battery life is sufficient to cover your entire lawn in a single mowing session.

Secondly, pay attention to the cutting height and cutting options provided by the robot mower. You’ll want to look for models that offer adjustable cutting heights to match your preferences. Some mowers even feature multiple cutting modes like mulching or side discharge, providing additional versatility when mowing.

The cutting system and blades of the mower should not be overlooked. Most robot lawn mowers use rotating blades underneath – it’s a good idea to look at the cost of replacements as these can often get damaged.

The navigation system and sensors are critical parts of a robot mower, and this has seen a massive change in recent years. Older robot lawn mowers use boundary wires, which you’ll need to place around the edge of your lawn. The robot will then bounce around inside the boundary wire. Newer models now feature GPS and other sensors, which makes the setup and obstacle avoidance much easier.

These more modern robot mowers will also often come with smart features, such as smartphone connectivity. Like the best robot vacuums, this enables you to schedule mowing sessions, monitor progress remotely, and make adjustments as needed.

If you plan you leave your mower outside rain or shine, you’ll have to look out for a model with weather resistance. This allows the robot mower to withstand various weather conditions, including rain and UV exposure.

You’ll be happy to know that the best robot lawn mowers are typically quieter than their traditional counterparts. This is important because your robot mower will be working a lot more regularly than a traditional mower. But, while the noise levels are generally quieter, the levels can still vary, so if you don’t want to annoy your neighbours, look for models with lower decibel (dB) ratings.

Lastly (although by no means least), if you’re worried about safety, most mowers have tilt sensors that halt blade rotation if the mower is lifted. You can also look for more advanced safety features, such as collision sensors to prevent accidents with obstacles.

If you prefer to get the job done yourself and don’t want a robot stealing your job, check out Stuff’s guide to the best cordless lawn mowers for wire-free mowing.

From portable party starters to properly hefty stereos, the round-up below features our pick of the top outdoor speakers for every space and budget. Some can slip in a backpack, while others require more muscle to move. Size aside, each option in our list is designed to deliver sweet beats outside while shrugging off surprise showers.

Not sure which is best for your picnic party? We’ve also shared some handy buying tips to help you decide. The playlist’s up to you. Once you’ve read this list, you might want to check out Stuff‘s guide to the best Bluetooth speaker, which is full of great options as well.

What’s the best outdoor speaker you can buy?

The best outdoor speaker for most people is the Tribit StormBox Micro (buy now). Despite its incredibly compact size, it still produces crisp, clear, loud, and bassy results, with the added benefit of a waterproof rating for true on-the-go performance. Easy to take anywhere and affordably priced, it won’t let you down.

Other outdoor speaker recommendations

Don’t feel like grabbing the Tribit StormBox Micro? No worries. There are plenty of other candidates for the best outdoor speakers for you:

The best outdoor speakers you can buy today:

1. Tribit StormBox Micro 2

The award-winning StormBox Micro 2 is a seriously tiny speaker that’s won fans over with incredible power, clarity, and bass for its size. Despite its pocketable stature, it still offers 12 hours of use per charge, with fast USB-C charging thrown in for good measure.

An IP67 waterproof rating lets it shrug the elements off with ease, while a handy clip lets it attach to anything from bags and handlebars, to poles and tree branches.

2. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

Capable of impressive sound despite its more compact package, the Wonderboom 3 offers enough juice to blast out tunes for 14 hours, with 360-degree sound ensuring that no one misses any notes.

Waterproof, dustproof, and with the ability to float on water for maximum pool fun (it can even be submerged), it’s an ideal solution for those looking for a hardy compact speaker in a wide range of bright colours.

3. JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi

Forget tepid beer and charred patties: backyard grilling is all about that bass. And if meaty tunes are on the menu, this waterproof whopper is what you need. Beefy at 6.7kg, it pairs an 80W sub with two passive radiators to fatten up the beats. Plus this edition is seasoned with Wi-Fi. Still hungry? Use PartyBoost to create a sonic salad with compatible JBL jukeboxes.

4. Sonos Roam

From main stage to acoustic tent, open-air audio is served in many settings. Don’t know your way around an equaliser? This satchel-friendly Sonos does the adjusting for you: shift to a different arena and Auto Trueplay tunes the output to suit your surroundings. Its premium build is worth of a headline slot, while IP67 waterproofing makes it an all-weather performer.

• Read more: Sonos Roam review

5. Bose SoundLink Flex

Boat parties might be a holiday highlight, but a submerged speaker will soon sink the vibes. Keep the fun afloat with this hardy hailer: buoyant by design, it’ll bob back up if you drop it in the drink. A steel grille and silicone shell reinforce its hardcore credentials, while PostionIQ smarts optimise the audio based on its orientation – whether hanging dry or lying on deck.

6. Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore

Nothing says rugged like a built-in carabiner. Made small but tough, B&O’s clippable barrel is designed to take a beating. At 637g, its anodised aluminium armour can survive adventures without being a burden on your backpack.

Beneath its sheath lives a battery good for 27 hours, as well as drivers that deliver omnidirectional audio refined for the great outdoors.

7. Sony SRS-XG300

Sony’s rather attractive minimalist speaker has curves in all the right places, along with the promise of clear sound, with plenty of bass to get things thumping. And if you aren’t convinced by the latter, the addition of a dedicated Mega Bass button should soon put your mind at ease.

With an IP67 water and dustproof rating, 25 hours of battery life, and some subtle lighting effects thrown in for good measure, it manages to combine all the right elements without being too gaudy.

8. Samsung ST40B Sound Tower Speaker

If you need some serious audio chops for your next house/pool party, look no further than Samsung’s 160W tower. With a wide soundstage capable of reaching the far corners of even the largest gardens (with plenty of bass to match), your guest will love it.

Though we can’t say the same for any close neighbours. IPX5 water resistance offers peace of mind, while 12 hours of battery life is a respectable figure for something of this size and power. Built-in RGB lights, and the ability to play music from multiple connected devices are welcome additions to an already impressive bit of kit.

9. Tribit StormBox Blast

With a room-filling 90W power output and IPX7 waterproof rating, Tribit’s aptly-named StormBox Blast is ready for any party, inside and out. Its crisp, clear, and bassy results are matched by accompanying RGB lighting effects which, naturally, put on a light show in time with the music (in addition to indicating the current volume level).

You can switch the effects/colours on offer, or turn them off entirely if you’re after something more low-key, while a handy built-in handle and impressive 30 hours of battery life round off the specs rather nicely.

10. Marshall Middleton

Between big gigs and tour bus benders, life on the road can take its toll. Luckily, this mini amp from Marshall has the build to match its rock-star styling. Reassuringly solid at 1.8kg, the mighty Middleton is dustproof and water-resistant.

A multi-directional driver setup immerses all your roadies in the post-show playlist, while Stack mode lets you build a wall of sound. Its sturdy shell also uses recycled plastic, because nothing says punk like sustainability.

11. Sony SRS-XE300

Putting the ‘fun’ in fundamental scientific principles, this pentagonal player employs the physics of diffraction to spread the aural energy. Channelling sound through a narrow slot, it distributes waves over a wider area. The result? A consistent listen, front and side.

Shock-tested and shielded against the elements, it also saves battery by adjusting for background noise, while non-circular diaphragms use pressure to amp up the punch.

12. Ultimate Ears Hyperboom

Toddlers might be entertained by empty boxes, but it takes more than cardboard to start a proper party. This megalithic cuboid hits the right angles: with power in spades, it majors on outdoor oomph. An IPX4 rating means it’s safe to splash, while an integrated mic helps it adapt the boom to the room. And thanks to four sources, you can divide the DJ duties.

13. Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus

Trekking wisdom dictates that shoulders are for supplies. The trouble is, there are only so many melodies you can make by drumming on mess tins. Leave the backpacks to your hiking buddies and haul this hi-fi into the hills. Lug it by belt or handle and your reward will be 20 hours of punchy waterproof audio. Adjust it via the Soundcore app for better backcountry beats.

How to buy the best outside speaker

Buying an outside speaker is a lot like one of the best wireless speakers, Bluetooth speakers, or even the best cheap Bluetooth speakers.

Of course, the most important thing about buying an outdoor speaker is its weather resistance, since outdoor speakers will be exposed to the elements. It’s crucial, then, that the speaker you buy has some form of weather resistance or weatherproofing. Look for speakers with an IPX rating that indicates their resistance to water and dust. The higher the ratings, for example, IP55, IP56, IP57 etc, the more protection you’ll get.

It’s important to note that outdoor environments often require speakers with higher power ratings to overcome ambient noise and cover a larger area. So if you’re planning a backyard bash, you’ll want to consider the wattage of the speakers to ensure they can deliver the volume you need without distortion.

Consider also how you plan to play music from your outside speaker. Bluetooth speakers are easy to set up and use with mobile devices, while Wi-Fi speakers might offer better range and multi-room capabilities.

Once you’ve read this list, you might want to check out Stuff‘s guide to the best Bluetooth speaker, which is full of great options as well.

There are thousands of apps for Apple Watch. The tiny snag is that most of them aren’t much cop. Some misunderstand how a wearable is best used, and demand you spend too long with your wrist in front of your face, while others only briefly impress. And some apps have arrived on Apple Watch to great fanfare, only for them to meekly disappear after a while.

That’s not good enough for us. We want apps that are clever and well-designed – and also that we return to on a regular basis. That, then, is what this list is all about: the best Apple Watch apps we’re actively using.

The best new Apple Watch app

Get an instant fix with the Apple Watch app tickling our fancy right now.

Gentler Streak

We’ve grumbled before about Apple’s approach to streaks. Gentler Streak has a more human sensibility, urging you on a daily basis to remain within a fitness ‘range’ – and even suggesting you have a break if it thinks you’re over-exerting yourself.

On the watch, there’s no fancy wibbly graphs, but you can check out the day’s efforts or start a workout – including a ‘gentler’ one, when you only need a small boost. And when you’re exercising the multi-pane interface feels more useful than Apple’s regarding stats and fast access to audio playback.

• Price: free or $7.99/£7.99 per month or $54.99/£54.99 per year or $179.99/£179.99 lifetime
• Works on: watchOS 9.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Gentler Streak Workout Tracker

The best Apple Watch exercise and health apps

Get fitter through Apple’s little helper having you work out, run, and sleep more soundly.

Streaks Workout

This app broke a couple of the Stuff team, but we nonetheless heartedly recommend it for a quick calorie burn. All you need is your Apple Watch – Streaks Workout functions independently of the iOS app – and the will to work up a bit of a sweat.

You choose from four workout lengths (the 30-minutes one suitably being dubbed ‘extreme’), and the app strings together simple exercises. When you’re done with a set of reps, you tap the screen. Easy. Except when your entire body is screaming at you for not initially going for the six-minute option.

• Price: $4.99/£4.99
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Streaks Workout

Runance

You might question an indie taking on the terrifying might of the Runkeepers of this world, but Runance deserves a slot on your Apple Watch – at least if you prize privacy and don’t care about leaderboards and the like.

Kick off a workout on your watch and you can gawp at live metrics as you huff and puff, switch between rolling and average tempos, and control music. Back on iPhone, you can dig into your workout history and maps. There’s no login – and no data is shared with third parties. 

• Price: free
• Works on: watchOS 10.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Runance

WorkOutDoors

There are loads of workout apps for Apple Watch, but WorkOutDoors does something the others don’t: maps. On your wrist, you get a vector-based map that can be zoomed, panned or rotated. It’s like someone stuck a tiny iPhone in an Apple Watch case.

And its ambition doesn’t stop there. There are loads of features that show what can be done when you’re aiming to make more than an iPhone app’s sidekick: breadcrumb trails; multi-coloured speed/elevation/heart-rate trails; alternate layouts and zones; compass support; tons of data options; and POIs to help you navigate your way to the nearest pub. (Well, you need a reward after all that exercise, right?)

• Price: $6.99/£6.99
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download WorkOutDoors

Strava

Rather simpler in scope than WorkOutDoors, Strava goes for a more traditional companion app. You get a giant ‘start’ button, and then stats (time/distance/heart-rate) as you blaze about the place on your bike or on foot.

Given that Strava’s been able to work without an Apple Watch for some time now, it’s one of the more reliable efforts on the platform. The tiny snag is that it might give your battery a bit of a kicking. Still, all the more reason for you to pick up the pace a bit.

• Price: free + IAP
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Strava

Watch to 5K

Getting your bum off the sofa is one thing. Being able to jog 5K without your knees collapsing is another. Watch to 5K eases you towards that goal. You do three runs a week, gradually building up how long sessions are and reducing how much walking time’s involved. In the end, you’ll be able to run 5km in under half an hour. All the number crunching happens right on your Apple Watch, meaning you don’t have to lug your iPhone around or figure out how to shove it inside your day-glo lycra running gear.

• Price: $3.99/£3.49
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Watch to 5K

Moodistory

Your Apple Watch encourages you to track and protect your health — steps; stands; hearing. But Moodistory tries something different, inviting you to keep tabs on your mood.

Naturally, this is quite subjective, but the app keeps things simple, asking you to rate how you’re feeling, thereby gradually building up a picture of your mood over time.

It’s possible, even on Apple Watch, to add basic notes to entries, and check how your mood’s changed during the past two weeks. On iPhone, you can dig deeper into your data.

• Price: free + IAP
• Works on: watchOS 6.2 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Moodistory

Standland

If you feel your Apple Watch telling you to get off your behind once every hour isn’t sufficient motivation, you might enjoy Standland. The app has similar intent to Apple’s nagging, but rewards your heroic activity by dishing out adorable collectable creatures.

Any activity lasting at least one minute during an hour is counted, maxing out at 24 per day. Before long, you’ll have a tiny owl or little bunny to gawp at, which can romp around 3D AR environments back on your iPhone. Just take care to not die of a cute overdose.

• Price: free + IAP
• Works on: watchOS 6.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Standland

Heart Analyzer

There’s a Heart Rate app built right into your Apple Watch, but Heart Analyzer allows you to dig deeper into your thumpiest of organs.

After you’ve performed a bout of exercise, you can peruse wiggly lines, showing how your heart rate changed over time. The app logs averages over the past week, and you can even set a massive graph as a complication.

Overkill? For some. But if you’re sporty, Heart Analyzer seems a good bet for keeping track of what your ticker’s up to.

• Price: free + IAP
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Heart Analyzer

Wakeout

You’re at your desk and feel achy. But there’s no way you can exercise, right? Wrong! Wakeout’s cunning plan is to inject tiny bouts of physical activity into your day. On iPhone, you’ll get a schedule. On Apple Watch, it’s more about selecting a context, watching a brief animation of a randomly selected relevant exercise, and performing it for a short period until your wrist buzzes and tells you to stop.

At north of 50 bucks per year, Wakeout is a hefty investment. It’s disappointing there’s no reasonable monthly offer (that’s a whopping $12.99/£11.49), and the Apple Watch app alone might not convince you to subscribe. But as a complete package, it’s a useful tool to fight aches and pains that come from sedentary behaviour – and you do get a seven-day trial to make up your mind.

• Price: $12.99/£11.49 or $59.99/£52.99 per year
• Works on: watchOS 8.5 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Wakeout

The best Apple Watch essentials and travel apps

Everyday essentials you need to install, along with apps that ensure you won’t get lost at home or abroad.

Reward Card Wallet – Barcodes

Be rid of awkward moments where you fish through every pocket to find the barcodes you need to access your gym/loan books from a library/earn tiny bonuses on groceries. This app puts them right on your wrist.

Barcodes are managed on your iPhone, where you add branded visuals, organise cards into groups, and share them with family members over iCloud. On the Apple Watch, the interface is far superior to Wallet’s, making it a cinch to browse barcodes and get them ready for scanning machine beepage.

You can try three cards for free. Want more? Subscribe or pay the one-off lifetime IAP. 

• Price: free or $1.99/£1.99 per month or $14.99/£14.99 lifetime
• Works on: watchOS 9.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Reward Card Wallet

Carrot Weather

Apple’s weather app places forecast data around a dial. It doesn’t scan well. Carrot does a lot better, with a minimalist take on its superb iPhone app, delivering data-dense forecasts with a dollop of snark. You’ll helpfully be told it “sucks to be you” if it’s about to chuck it down – or that it’s “a bit moony” on a cold, clear night.

The big plus of Carrot Weather, though, is its customisation capabilities. On iPhone, this means you can rework the interface however you see fit. On Apple Watch, its power is in complications, with you being able to have it take over a face, like a wrist-based combination of Siân Lloyd and HAL 9000. You’ll need subscription IAP for a bunch of the Apple Watch features, note – but it’s well worth splashing out.

• Price: free + IAP
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 17+
• Download Carrot Weather

Solstice

Designed for people who look forward to brighter days, Solstice keeps tabs on daylight levels. Along with providing sunrise and sunset times, it outlines how much more (or less) daylight there is on any given day compared to the previous one.

There are complication options, including a large one with a graph and sunrise/sunset times. And you can also set up notifications on your iPhone that’ll appear on your Apple Watch, which for SAD sufferers can be limited to days when daylight’s increasing.

• Price: free
• Works on: watchOS 9.1 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Solstice

Citymapper

On the iPhone, Citymapper is fantastic, giving you point-to-point directions for a range of supported cities, and location-based public transport details and alerts. The Apple Watch app is equally good, offering rapid access to favourite places, and information about nearby trains, buses, ferries and more.

Journey steps are clearly outlined, providing all the assistance you need, such as times of upcoming trains, stops on your route, and tiny maps that link through to Apple’s Maps app. We just wish it could somehow magically work for every town and city in the world rather than just the handful of (mainly) capitals it’s currently set up for.

• Price: free
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Citymapper

Foursquare

The Foursquare mobile app long ago pivoted from telling the entire world where you were to finding out great places to go – far more useful. But when you’re hungry and in a strange city, you probably don’t want to be waggling your expensive smartphone about.

Fortunately, Foursquare for Apple Watch does the business. You can quickly get at the best tips for your current location, search for other options, and get at salient details regarding whatever you’re currently looking at. And if you don’t want to miss somewhere special, have the app ping you a notification when you’re passing by.

• Price: free
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Foursquare

Phone Buddy Lost Phone Alert for Watch

Apple’s Find My is great, but a better bet would be to avoid losing your gadgets in the first place. With PB (‘Phone Buddy’), you can define alerts that have your iPhone shriek for its life should you wander off and abandon it – and the same for your Apple Watch.

Fortunately, there are plenty of set-up options, meaning you can define how far you must go before everything starts blaring, and turn off alerts when on home Wi-Fi, so your iPhone doesn’t deafen everyone nearby when you head to the kitchen for a biscuit.

• Price: $4.99/£4.99
• Works on: watchOS 6.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Phone Buddy

Elk Currency Converter

When you’re overseas, it’s never good when you get currency conversions wrong and later discover you spent a month’s wages on a pair of socks. Elk puts conversions right on your wrist, reducing the likelihood of expensive mistakes.

Even better: this app’s properly thought about how you interact with Apple Watch. There’s no fiddly keypad for entering data – instead, you twiddle the Digital Crown to adjust numbers, and swipe to increment available digits.

• Price: free + $12.99/£12.99
• Works on: watchOS 3.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Elk Currency Converter

MultiTimer

Although Apple’s Timer has a moniker in the singular, it does in fact store multiple timers – including custom ones. However, they’re devoid of context, and you can only run one at once. Not so with MultiTimer.

Set up your timers in the iPhone app, and each is then displayed on your Apple Watch with a colour, label and icon. You can run as many timers as you like, and their progress is seamlessly synced across devices.

• Price: free + or $1.99/£1.99 per month or $14.99/£14.99 lifetime
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download MultiTimer

Countdowns (Free + IAP)

Calendars and reminder apps are fine, but Countdowns gives you a bespoke space to house important dates – and how long away they are (for things like anniversaries) or how long it’s been since they happened (such as if you’re trying to quit smoking).

You edit the list on your iPhone, and there are loads of customisation options. Those vital dates can then be in your face forever, by way of Apple Watch complications. You’ll never miss a date again – unless you forget to add it to the app. So… don’t do that.

• Price: free + or $0.99/99p per month or $19.99/£19.99 lifetime
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Countdowns

The best Apple Watch productivity apps

You won’t be firing up Office on your wrist any time soon, but your Apple Watch can still help you work.

Cloud Battery (Free or IAP)

On your iPhone, iPad or Mac, Cloud Battery lets you add devices to the app’s ongoing list, along with accessories like trackpads and Apple Pencil. On iPhone/iPad, you can define when you get charge alerts, such as when battery levels fall below 25%.

The Apple Watch app is a mere monitor, but that still proves useful. You can at a glance – either in the app or by way of a complication – see which of your devices needs plugging in. Much better than rocking up to it later and finding only a black screen.

• Price: free + or $4.99/£4.99
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Cloud Battery

Cheatsheet

If you fancy quick access to bite-sized notes (such as Wi-Fi passwords and door combinations) and it doesn’t matter too much if other people see them, Cheatsheet is an excellent download. Each tiny information nugget comprises a piece of text and custom icon. Cheats can be synced from the iPhone app too, aassuming you buy the one-off ‘unlock everything’ IAP.

You can also edit, create and organise (into folders) new cheats directly on Apple Watch (by way of dictation), along with using one of these notes as a complication. Just don’t make it your credit card PIN, eh?

• Price: free + $5.99/£5.99
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Cheatsheet

Drafts

Weirdly, Notes has yet to make its way across to Apple Watch, but fortunately Drafts ably fills that particular void. The app enables you to capture new notes by dictation, which are then hurled into your Drafts inbox. Alternatively, you can append or prepend whatever you input to an existing note – for example, to update a diary or shopping list.

If you don’t fancy talking at your Apple Watch, you can use the watchOS Scribble feature to write notes instead. Also, your inbox is browsable and your notes are readable on you Apple Watch, saving you from having to keep heading to your iPhone.

• Price: free or $1.99/£1.79 per month or $19.99/£17.49 per year
• Works on: watchOS 8.5 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Drafts

Halide Mark II

If you’re a serious iPhone photographer, you’ve probably already got Halide installed. If not, you should have – it’s a superb, premium, feature-rich app that unlocks the full potential of your Apple smartphone’s snapper.

Naturally, the Apple Watch app can’t magic up an Apple Watch camera. But it can provide a live preview of what your iPhone’s camera can see – useful when taking a photo with your arm stretched aloft, or when using the main camera for a selfie. Prod the shutter button to take a snap, or set off the timer to give everyone a few seconds to get their best smile on.

• Price: $2.99/£2.49 per month or $59.99/£59.99 lifetime
• Works on: watchOS 4.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Halide Mark II

Streaks

Streaks wants to infuse habits into your daily routine. However, unlike a great many of its ilk, this is a pay-once app – not one with a subscription. It also has a kind of ruthless efficiency that many of its rivals lack.

Here, you’re encouraged to limit yourself to just six habits (although up to 24 are supported). The interface is restricted to icons depicting your habits, which you prod when a task is completed – unless it’s a timer, in which case a tap sets it going. Reminders can also be sent your way as relevant.

It might seem reductive at first, but the app’s blunt nature works, keeping you focused on your tasks.

• Price: $5.99/£5.99
• Works on: watchOS 9.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Streaks

BFT – Bear Focus Timer

On iPhone, Bear Focus Timer is superb for keeping focused on tasks by breaking the day into work and break sprints. The Apple Watch app puts a similar system right on your wrist.

By default, you get 25 minutes to work and five to rest, whereupon a motivational bear picture is shown. Every four sprint pairs, you get a longer break, and all these values can be defined in-app. To further aid concentration you can also have noise loops piped into your lugholes — assuming you’ve connected some wireless headphones.

• Price: $1.99/£1.99
• Works on: watchOS 6.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download BFT – Bear Focus Timer

PCalc

If you’ve fond memories of calculator watches, you’re probably a) quite old and b) not going to be convinced about using a calculator app on Apple Watch. Because frankly, doing so is a mite fiddly.

Still, PCalc is the best of them. The buttons are chunky, and operators can be got at with a long tap or prodded on a second screen. The app also includes a handy third screen for conversions. It defaults to tips, but you can spin the Digital Crown to get at units for all kinds of things, including functions.

Note that freebie PCalc Lite offers similar functionality to massive cheapskates.

• Price: $9.99/£9.99
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download PCalc

Morpho Converter

On iPhone, this conversions app is all about efficiency and speed. You define a bunch of conversions, tap out a number and then see all of the answers at once. On Apple Watch, you cannot add any new conversions to your favourites, but you do get your existing iPhone list right on your wrist.

A calculator interface lets you punch in new figures, colours usefully differentiate unit types, a ‘reverse’ button enables you to instantly swap converted units around, and there’s a complication to put a specific conversion on your favourite watch face. For free, you’re limited to a handful of custom list items. That restriction can be removed with a subscription or one-off payment.

• Price: free or $0.99/79p per month or $19.99/£19.99 lifetime IAP
• Works on: watchOS 9.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Morpho Converter

Clicker – Count Anything

The original Clicker was an app with a big number on the screen that incremented when prodded. Then it gained – horrors! – complexity. Fortunately Clicker’s by The Iconfactory – and those guys know what they’re doing. (In short, all the options are hidden behind a little cog button.)

The first add-on was a goal setting. Reach it and you then see how far beyond it you are. More recently, the app gained new colour options, data sync, and inclement by a custom value. Just the thing for working on your 173 times table, thereby working up the skills to be the next ‘numbers game’ host on Countdown.

• Price: free
• Works on: watchOS 9.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Clicker

The best Apple Watch entertainment apps and games

When it’s time to unwind, make use of that thing on your wrist. Some Apple Watch games are surprisingly good, too.

OneFootball

On mobile, OneFootball is a a one-stop-shop for all things footie, offering news, telly, scores, results, and enough stats to choke the entire Match of the Day research team. On Apple Watch, it’s mostly a wrist-based companion to fill you with anticipation and terror when it goes ‘ding’.

This is because goal alerts are fed to your Apple Watch, meaning if you’re not able to sit in front of the telly when your favourite team’s playing, you can at least keep up with how well – or badly – things are going.

• Price: free + IAP
• Works on: watchOS 6.0 or later
• Age: 9+
• Download OneFootball

Sundial

Many apps advise when the sun and moon are due to make an appearance. Sundial gives you the finer details by way of multiple pages (‘widgets’) you swipe between. You get solar dials, pages that focus on the sun or moon, and an events page that manages to be an info dump and yet retain total clarity.

Everything’s customisable. You can add/remove widgets and rearrange their order, along with tweaking what information’s shown. And for when you don’t fancy delving into the app, Sundial provides a bunch of great-looking complications for your watch face.

• Price: free + $12.99/£12.99
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Sundial Solar & Lunar Time

Overcast

Apple’s Podcasts is on Apple Watch, enabling iPhone-free podcast bliss. But if you prefer using the iPhone’s best podcast app, Overcast, you’ll love its own Apple Watch app. It can act as a remote for whatever’s playing on your iPhone, but there’s a standalone mode as well, for podcasts Overcast syncs to your watch based on criteria you define.

The app’s design is refined and minimal, packing a lot into a small space. The main view provides fast access to settings and your podcasts list. When playing something, you can also use the Apple Watch app to adjust speed and skip chapters, thereby blazing past any boring bits. Bonus!

• Price: free
• Works on: watchOS 9.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Overcast

WatchFunk

This app bravely bridges the gap between ambitious and ridiculous by attempting to put a music studio right on your wrist. It’s not exactly GarageBand, but a fiver gets you a dinky one-octave keyboard for smashing out riffs during dull moments.

Buttons let you change the octave you’re playing, and if the default piano sound doesn’t suit, you can switch to seven alternatives, including a synth and a trumpet. Should you be more rhythmically inclined, a final option is a six-pad drum kit.

WatchFunk isn’t going to make you the next Daft Punk, but it’s fun, usable and a better use of your time than trying to work through your emails on the Apple Watch’s tiny display.

• Price: $4.99/£4.99
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download WatchFunk

Hit The Island

On iPhone, Hit The Island amusingly makes a game out of Dynamic Island. Apple Watch doesn’t have one of those, so the game bungs a fake one at the top of the screen and have you move a bat left and right to deflect a ball at the lozenge.

In short, then, it’s Pong. And if you’re of a certain vintage, you’ll enjoy twiddling the Digital Crown to play, as if you were a giant manipulating an old-school paddle. Well, at least until your own incompetence lands you with a single-figure score for the umpteenth time. (Gnash.)

• Price: free + IAP
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Hit The Island

Deep Golf

If you’re of the opinion golf would be much better if only you didn’t have to deal with all those other people on the course, Deep Golf might be the solution. First, it’s right there on your watch – no need for expensive clubs. Also, it’s set deep underground.

So as you thwack balls about the side-on 2D view, it’ll ricochet off cave walls, stick to terrifying purple goop, smash up bones, and bounce off of giant subterranean mushrooms. There’s little sound to speak of, but that merely aids with the solitude.

• Price: free or $1.99/£1.99
• Works on: watchOS 8.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Deep Golf

Tiny Armies

Turn-based strategy on a PC with a big display makes sense. Your eyes might narrow a bit at the prospect of such games on a phone. But on an Apple Watch? Hang on a minute.

But Tiny Armies has a go anyway, and it’s surprisingly great with its stripped-back, lightning-fast battles on little chequerboard arenas enveloped in a fog of war.

The AI’s not exactly like a savage Civilization, but for some quickfire turn-based larks on your wrist, Tiny Armies does the job admirably.

• Price: $0.99/99p
• Works on: watchOS 3.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Tiny Armies

Star Duster

Star Duster isn’t just our favourite Apple Watch game – it’s a good game, full stop. It echoes old-school LCD titles, with you twiddling the Digital Crown to have your servicebot zoom around the display, collecting space junk.

It looks and sounds lovely, like you’ve accidentally invoked a time travel app and been zapped back to 1982. But Star Duster isn’t done, because it does a lot with a little, providing real challenge as it ramps up the difficulty level with blocking walls and other service bot-worrying hazards. Games are swift, but when you’re defeated you’ll immediately want another blast – a rarity with an Apple Watch game.

• Price: $1.99/£1.99
• Works on: watchOS 7.1 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Star Duster

Asteroid Commando

A classic arcade cabinet on your wrist? Not quite, but Asteroid Commandoisn’t far off. It takes the classic Asteroids (obliterate space rocks; shoot deadly alien ships) and fashions something around the Digital Crown.

Twiddle that dial and your auto-firing ship spins. Power-ups occasionally appear, giving you a fighting chance of getting to the next level. One hit and you’re dead — and even ancient arcade games weren’t that harsh! Still, you do get two themes (classic and modern) and punchy sound effects when you fancy another go.

• Price: $1.99/£1.99
• Works on: watchOS 5.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Asteroid Commando

Dice by PCalc

Instead of playing a game on your watch, Dice by PCalc helps you play games in the real-world, by way of lobbing virtual dice across a virtual table. From a visual standpoint, this is impressive stuff on Apple Watch, but flexibility is the real win.

In the options screen, you choose from a wide range of dice types – or complete sets to roll with a single tap. Your table can be cleared at any point, or you can gradually throw additional dice, while the app tots up what you’ve thrown and the overall score. Cheats can’t prosper here.

• Price: $1.99/£1.99
• Works on: watchOS 7.0 or later
• Age: 4+
• Download Dice by PCalc

• Now read: our guide to the best iPhone and iPad apps money can buy