10 best air purifiers that you can buy in India right now

With the pollution level rising at an alarming rate, air purifiers have emerged as one of the saviours to fight rising complications due to air pollution. Seeing the rise in demand, most of the big brands have started making air purifiers which can cost you up to lakhs. But, before you make that purchase, it’s necessary to look at some decisive factors like the room size, filter replacement charges, standard certification, noise levels, electricity consumption etc.

We’ve been informing you about the best deals on various e-commerce platforms across wide range of gadgets and gizmos, and with Diwali being celebrated last week, air pollution has again taken a toll. Every year, the risk of rise in health related issues increases especially during the festival of Diwali, acting as the major contributor in growing pollution level. PM (Particulate matter) 2.5 is the term used to define the mixture of fine particles including dust, dirt, smoke and liquid having a diameter less than 2.5 microns so naturally it cannot be seen through naked eyes.

In terms of air pollution, Delhi is recently rated as the most polluted city in India for continuously two years in WHO’s list of the most polluted cities in the world. Learning lesson from this, the government stepped forward towards improving air quality in the city and this has resulted in the city to come down to 11th spot from the top. Moving forward, the Supreme Court banned the selling of crackers this year in Delhi/NCR.

While the outdoor air pollution leads to serious health problems, the indoor pollution is no less harmful than that. According to WHO, 4.3 million people die from being exposed to household air pollution. To combat this, several companies have devised air purifiers which can improve the quality of the air indoors. It is believed that within the span of 2 hours, these air purifiers can improve the air quality from hazardous to good. So, in this piece, we have listed some of the best air purifiers which you can use to stay void of such vulnerabilities.

Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2

Using ultra dense Toray EPA filter, the Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier offers resistance from PM 2.5, pollen grains, dust and dirt particles and other allergic components. Equipped with powerful aero dynamic system, the purifier provides a 310m3/h Clean Air Delivery Rate(CADR) and circulates pure air in 21m2 area in 10 minutes. The term CADR refers to the international standard for measuring the effectiveness of the air purifier.

The cylindrical shape of the purifier allows the filter to trap the air from 360 degrees. Its activated carbon filter promises to filter harmful gases and bad odour from the air. It also comes with smart control system which allows users to control the purifier with their smartphone using the Mi Home App. The system also keeps a check on the filter and alerts the user when it needs to be replaced. Priced at Rs. 8,999, the purifier works silently with 58 percent less energy consumption. So, Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2 is an affordable smart device.

Buy  Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2 for Rs 8,999 @ Amazon 

Buy  Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2 for Rs 8,999 @ Flipkart

Honeywell Air Touch HAC35M1101G

Honeywell Air Touch has a 3D air flow function which takes in air from the sides and bottom and releases pure air from the top. With 300 m3/h CADR, the purifier covers up to 450 square feet area which makes it suitable for living rooms and bedrooms. Equipped with multi-layer air purification system, the purifier comes with three filters including Pre-filter, HEPA and the company’s own patented- HiSiv filter.

While the Pre-filter removes the PM 10, pet dander and hair particles, the HEPA filter purifies the passing air by removing bacteria, viruses and PM 2.5 particles. The HiSiv filter further improves the air quality by removing odors, formaldehyde and VOC which is indicated on the LCD display from time to time. The highlight of the purifier is that it is 100 percent ozone free, which means it does not emit harmful gases as the by-product of filtration process. In addition to this, the pre-filter is washable and does not require an engineer to change it.

The purifier is available in Champagne Gold and Classic White color variants at a price tag of Rs 25,990.

Buy Honeywell Air Touch HAC35M1101G for Rs 19,500 @ Amazon

Buy Honeywell Air Touch HAC35M1101G at for 19,500 @ Flipkart

Kent Aura

The well known water purifier company, Kent stepped into the air purifier market with its Kent Aura air purifier. Priced at Rs 15,990, the purifier comes with HEPA filter which removes bacteria and PM 2.5 and SPM particles from the air. Similar to the Honeywell purifier mentioned above, this one also has an activated carbon filter which removes bad odour from the air. Also, to further improve the air quality, Kent has equipped the purifier with an inbuilt ionizer which traps the pollutants either on an electrically charged collection plate or forces them to stick to the surface of the walls of the room.

Having a 180 m3/h CADR rate, the purifier is suitable for small spaces of up to 270 square feet. The Kent Aura air purifier has a LED display which indicates the air quality level in three colours, blue for excellent, pink for good and red for poor. Apart from this, there are three different speed levels and has 8 hour timer function. So, if you are looking for an air purifier for small area at a reasonable price, then this will definitely meet up to your requirement.

Buy Kent Aura at Rs 11,206 @ Amazon

Buy Kent Aura at Rs 10,950 @ Flipkart

Philips 3000 series (AC3256/20)

The purifier comes with Vitashield IPS technology which can remove particles of up to 0.02 micron size which is more than 100 times smaller than the normal PM 2.5. With its numerical indicator and 4 color AQI lights, the purifier provides the real time PM levels in the air. Its special Allergen Mode claims that it can remove 99.97 percent common airborne allergens including the H1N1 virus. The purifier automatically boosts its cleaning performance when it detects any change in the quality of the air.

The purifier has an extra NanoProtect HEPA and AC filter having a CADR rate of 367m3/h which makes it suitable for an area of 95m2. Apart from this, the AeraSense technology of the purifier, calculates the life of the filter and also alerts the user about the replacement of the same. Not only this, it automatically stops working if the filter is not replaced on time. It also features a sleep mode which turns down the speed of the fan of the product resulting in noise level of 33db. Users can also adjust the light indicators accordingly in the sleep mode. Philips has priced the product at Rs 32,995 which is a little pricier than the ones listed above but it looks better and offers some extra features if you want to look beyond the basics.

So, with the capacity of tracing the minute particles including virus like H1N1, the Philips 3000 series (AC3256/20) is a product that you would love to own.

Buy Philips 3000 series (AC3256/20) at Rs 26,487 @ Amazon

Buy Philips 3000 series (AC3256/20) at Rs 23,950 @ Flipkart

Philips 2000 series (AC2887/20)

It won't be wrong if we say that this purifier is the cheaper variant of the above mentioned 3000 series. It serves to clean the air of comparatively smaller area varying from 24 to 41m2. Using the similar Vitasheild IPS technology and NanoProtect filter, the purifier promises to deliver the CADR rate of up to 344m3/h, remove ultra fine particles, harmful gases, bacteria, virus and odour. 

Users can also check the life of the filter as it comes with the company's AeraSense technology, which is an indicates filter replacement alert. The key feature is that it reduces the noise level to 20.5db in the silent mode, allowing users to have a noise-free and comfortable sleep at night.

The purifier comes with a price tag of Rs 22,995 which is 10k cheaper than the 3000 series.

Buy Philips 2000 series (AC2887/20) at Rs 19,220 @ Amazon

Buy Philips 2000 series (AC2887/20) at Rs 15,999 @ Flipkart

Atlanta Healthcare Beta 350 

Next in the list comes the Atlanta Healthcare Beta 350 purifier with air quality sensor and filter change indicator which provides protection from harmful gases, smoke, odour, bacteria, PM 2.5 and PM10 particles. Its 7-stage air purification technology, called the iCuster Technology, helps in combating air pollution with its Pre-filter, Anti-bacterial filter, H13 grade HEPA filter, Activated Carbon filter, Photo Catalyst, Ultra Violet and Ionizer. These 7 layers helps in removing toxic pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, VOC etc.

The purifier delivers a CADR rate of 170m3/h with maximum coverage of up to 350 square feet. Priced at Rs. 11,960, the purifier is easy to use and offers a maximum noise level of 45db. This means, you will get to breathe much pure air passed through 7 stages at an affordable price.

Buy Atlanta Healthcare Beta 350 at Rs 9,999 @ Amazon

Buy Atlanta Healthcare Beta 350 at Rs 11,960 @ Flipkart

Sharp FP-FM40E 33-watt air purifier

Equipped with Sharp’s Plasmacluster technology, the air purifier is the world’s first air purifier with mosquito catcher. The company’s patented technology emits ions which destroy the chemical pollutants and neutralizes the harmful VOC and toxic gases, thus purifying the indoor air. The mosquito catcher uses the non-toxic mechanisms along with a glue sheet which captures the mosquitoes to reduce the possibility of getting bitten.

The purifier also comes with H14 HEPA filter which captures 99.97 percent of dust particles of 0.3 microns and can lasts for up to 2 years. With highest CADR rate in its category, the purifier is certified by 28 global labs for safety and effectiveness.

In other words, apart from giving pure air, this device protects you against deadly mosquitoes. You can buy this air purifier from Amazon India at Rs 25,999.

Buy Sharp FP-FM40E 33-watt air purifier at Rs 25,999 @ Amazon                       

Blueair Classic 480i

The Blueair Classis 480i air purifier improves the air quality by removing harmful pollutants, allergy and asthma causing virus. The highlight of the device is its Wi-Fi connectivity with integrated quality sensors which allow users to connect the purifier with any smart device and monitor the air quality level using the Blueair Friend app. This not only allows the user to control the purifier from a distance but also provides the tips to improve the air quality inside. In addition to this, the app allows the user to control functions like child mode, night mode, operating speed etc.

Using the Blueair HEPASilent Technology, the purifier removes all the airborne pollutants ensuring superior quality of air to the users. It comes with a digital control panel which not only indicates the Wi-Fi and filter status but also informs about the VOC and PM 2.5 levels. The purifier is designed to work in an area of 434 square feet with the CADR level of up to 510m3/h.

You can buy the device from Amazon India at Rs 45,695.

Honeywell Lite Indoor HAC20M1000W-48watt

Making way to the list is another air purifier from the well known brand, Honeywell. Known as the Honeywell Lite Indoor air purifier, the device comes with a three stage advanced filtration process including Pre-filter, HEPA and Activated Carbon which removes more than 99 percent pollutants, PM 2.5 particles, pollen, bacteria, virus, formaldehyde, odour and toxic gases. With a CADR rate of 210m3/h, the purifier can clean the air of up to 315 square feet of area  in just 20 minutes. It comes with filter replacement and LED air quality indicator and offers functions like sleep mode, child lock, auto timer and 3 mode fan speed control.

Priced at Rs 19,990, the purifier offers approximately 2200 hours of filter life, noise level of up to 49.5db and is available in Snow White colour variant.

Buy Honeywell Lite Indoor HAC20M1000W-48watt at Rs 12,950 @ Amazon 

Panasonic F-PXF35MKU (D)

Last but not the least, is the Panasonic F-PXF35MKU (D) air purifier which comes with 3D circulation airflow with nano purification system. Nonoe is a fine and weak acidic water particle with a reactive substance and an electric charge which removes hydrogen from viruses, bacteria and allergens and has 6 times longer lifespan than a normal ion. Also, the 3D circulation airflow is divided into two modes namely, Side Airflow and Front Airflow to remove pollutants.

The highlight of the device is that its filter consists of Super Alleru-buster, Green Tea Catechin and Antibacteria Enzyme which can remove 17 kinds of virus, bacteria and up to 99 percent of allergens.

Apart from this, it has sleep mode, auto mode and can work in an area of up to 283 square feet. The purifier is priced at Rs 14,897 on Amazon India.

Buy Panasonic F-PXF35MKU (D) at Rs 14,897 @ Amazon

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The best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players you can buy right now

Best 4K Blu-ray Player Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Players you can buy in 2017.

The fact that you're here, looking for the best 4K Blu-ray player right now says something about you: you're ahead of the curve. You like owning the latest and greatest technology or, if not owning, at least knowing about the best-of-the-best upcoming tech. 

And why shouldn't you? A day will come soon when everyone will want to watch their favorite TV shows and movies in an ultra crisp 3840 × 2160 resolution.

While looking at 4K Blu-ray players this early in the game makes you an early adopter, manufacturers don't have the same sort of passionate drive to have the latest and greatest that you do.

While most manufacturers have one or two models on the market at the moment, the list of available Ultra-HD Blu-ray players is still a fairly short list.

The good news is that while there aren't many 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players at the moment, content for these players is growing at an exponential rate.

Netflix has started to film many of its shows in 4K high dynamic range, and Amazon and Google Play TV & Movies have recently followed suit. Ultra HD films have started to make their way to store shelves, too, in greater number and include huge hits like The Martian, Wonder Woman and The Revenant. 

But these are just the tip of the very high-resolution iceberg. Expect to see  dozens more of these high-capacity discs make their way to an electronics retailer near you in the coming weeks and months.

• Don't miss our round-up of the Best 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray movies

What else do I need to watch a UHD Blu-ray?

In order to get a true 4K experience, remember that you'll need a 4K Blu-ray player, a 4K Blu-ray disc and, of course, a 4K TV in order to watch it. Don't have that last one? Check out our guide to the best 4K TV.

If you don't have a 4K TV, your 4K Blu-ray player will still work, but it will only display images in 1080p. Buy a regular Blu-ray instead of a 4K version and it will still play in 3840 × 2160 resolution, but it won't be a native 4K image and will be noticeably different than had you used an Ultra HD Blu-ray.

Enough with the caveats. Here are the the best 4K Blu-ray players in the world:

1. Panasonic DMP-UB700 
2. Oppo UDP-203 
3. Sony UBP-X800
4. Panasonic DMP-UB900 
5. Samsung UBD-M9500 
6. Panasonic DMP-UB300 
7. Xbox One S 
8. Samsung UBD-K8500

When it comes to 4K UHD image quality, the DMP-UB700 effectively sets a new benchmark for price and performance. 

Streaming service support, with HDR-enabled 4K Netflix, is well worth trumpeting and the player does a swell job with 24-bit audio, be it with FLAC or DSD files. 

If you're prepared to spend slightly more then you'll be rewarded with support for Dolby Vision and more universal disc support, but as it stands the UB700 offers the most balanced mix of price, audio visual performance, and features. 

Read the full review: Panasonic DMP-UB700

The Oppo UDP-203 is the most expensive Blu-ray player on this list, but depending on your needs it might just be exactly what you're looking for. 

The player supports a full suite of both video and audio formats, including the niche SACD, and features a total of three HDMI ports (one for video and audio, one for audio, and another to act as an HDMI passthrough).

It even supports the premium Dolby Vision HDR standard, which is still a rarity in players.

Unfortunately the Oppo doesn't include support for streaming services such as Netflix, but if you want a premium disc player (at a premium price), this is the one for you. 

Read the full review: Oppo UDP-203

Sony might have been a little late to the Ultra HD Blu-ray party, but its first player is a great machine. It's solidly made, and its overall image quality is superb. 

As an added bonus, the player also supports a wide range of audio formats, can play SACDs, and even DVD-As. 

So why does the player sit the number three slot in our list? Well, unfortunately it lacks support for Dolby Vision, the high-end HDR format that discs are increasingly offering support for, and which the Oppo UDP-203 does now support thanks to a firmware update. Its also more expensive than our top pick, the Panasonic DMP-UB700. 

If you want a UHD player that also doubles as a very capable music player, then the Sony UBP-X800 is a great choice, but if you're after something focussed solely on playing movies, then there are better or cheaper options out there. 

Read the full review: Sony UBP-X800

The DMP-UB900 will restore you faith in physical media. In full 4K HDR guise it offers a level of performance that will have new 4K TV owners gasping. Ultra-HD Blu-ray brings the experience of 4K digital cinema to the home, and rewards with brilliant colour fidelity, deep contrast and almost three-dimensional clarity.

Factor in solid file playback support, plus 4K iterations of Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, and you have a machine that'll make your new 4K HDR TV look sensational.

Read the full review: Panasonic DMP-UB900

Looking back at it now, Samsung’s first Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the Samsung UBD-K8500 (found further down the list) seems like a bit of a trial run.

Its build quality was rudimental as Samsung tried to undercut rival debut units on price. It didn’t carry any sort of built-in display. Its picture quality was OK as a starting point for a new format, but was soon overwhelmed by more heavy duty rivals. And while the deck did what it needed to, its feature count was soon exposed as pretty limited. 

The new $399 (£450, about AU$500) UBD-M9500 feels like such a specific response to its predecessor’s limitations that you can almost imagine Samsung sitting down and ticking the old problems off one by one. 

The result is a far more accomplished player that deserves a seat at the serious mid-range 4K Blu-ray player table - even though a couple of deliberate omissions might frustrate some quarters of the AV enthusiast market.

Read the full review: Samsung UBD-M9500

You'll make a couple of compromises if you want to take advantage of the DMP UB300's budget price-tag – there's no built-in Wi-Fi for example, and rear ports are incredibly limited – but thankfully the machine doesn't scrimp where it matters. 

Picture quality is excellent, it supports a wide range of audio codecs and formats, and there's also streaming services built in if you're willing to go down the wired ethernet route. 

Read the full review: Panasonic DMP-UB300

Not holding the title of a "proper Blu-ray player" doesn't stop the Xbox One S from being a great, cheap way to play 4K Blu-ray discs. 

Sporting a Blu-ray disc drive and the capacity to run Netflix in 4K Ultra-HD, Microsoft's latest iteration of the Xbox is a great 'jack-of-all-trades' machine that's capable of satisfying your UHD disc needs as well as playing the latest console game released for the system. 

The downside of it being able to do everything is that you'll be working with an interface designed primarily for gaming. The controller that comes with the console isn't the most efficient way to control movie playback, and the machine lacks support for Dolby Vision. 

Regardless, if you want a machine that can handle both your gaming and your home cinema needs, the Xbox One S is the console for the job. 

Read the full review: Xbox One S

The K8500 is currently the cheapest route into 4K Blu-ray. It's also a useful hub for 4K OTT services from Netflix and Amazon, and while the design is a bit Marmite, you'll be consistently impressed by its loading speed and colourful UI.

You can get better image quality, support for more formats and better build quality by spending more money, but if you want a cheap machine that covers the basics, then the Samsung UBD-K8500 is yet to be beaten on price. 

Read the full review: Samsung UBD-K8500

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The best Newegg Black Friday deals 2017

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Amaysim now selling phones & tablets outright, throwing 10% off until Oct 31

Amaysim is an Australian telco best known for its focus on international value in its plans, but for anyone in the market for a new handset, its latest announcement is sure to please.

The company has opened up an online device store where you can purchase the latest smartphone handsets (along with some older classics) outright at generally excellent prices. 

If you don’t have the money for an outright purchase on hand, Amaysim's said it will make a number of payment plans available in the near future. Those plans won't tie you to a specific mobile service contract either, nor will they require you to stay locked in with the telco or pay the remainder off in a lump sum when you leave (unlike most competitors).

To top it all off, there’s a 10% discount on the entire store when you use the code HELLO10, so if you manage to get in and order before October 31, you can save some serious dollars.

We’ve sifted through the available handsets and come up with some of the best savings:

• Samsung Galaxy S8 ($761, down from $1,199) – The Coral Blue Galaxy S8 is massively reduced, getting you the best phone of 2017 for an incredible price. 
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (From $1,076, down from $1,499) – There are two options, the first is a direct import dual-SIM version for only $1,076 and the second is Australian stock, although the latter is $1,349.
• Apple iPhone 8 64GB ($932, down from $1,079) – Discounts on Apple products are rare, particularly those that have just been released, so any savings are good savings at this point for the iPhone 8. 
• HTC U Ultra ($419, down from $1,199) – The U Ultra was released earlier in 2017 and has since been overtaken by the HTC U11, but a saving of nearly $800 is stupidly large considering how capable this flagship still is.
• Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus ($824, down from $1,349) – If you don’t mind the (truly awesome) Coral Blue or Rose Pink colour schemes, you can grab yourself a Galaxy S8+ for peanuts. 
• Huawei P9 ($400, down from $799) – Despite being last year’s model, the P9 is still an excellent workhorse of a handset and you can get it here for half price.  

Is it safe to buy from Amaysim?

The slight caveat with Amaysim's store seems to be that they offer both Australian and import stock. With most models there’ll be some indication of whether it’s Australian or imported, and in some cases you’ll even be able to select which stock you’d prefer. However, even if you do purchase a direct import device, the company’s disclaimer (found at the foot of each product page) is fairly reassuring:

“We source from near and far to get great quality devices at sharp prices. Sometimes the stock will be local, in other cases it may be a direct import. In all cases you will receive a solid local [2-year] warranty, Australian plugs or chargers and a device suitable for our network.”

More tech on the way

Nestled in amongst the announcement comes the news that these currently available handsets and tablets are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Amaysim intends for the shop to expand into a "true online tech store", featuring laptops, drones, personal audio, gaming, VR, and connected devices in the near future, although a specific date for the expansion hasn't yet been announced.

This addition will join the Amaysim’s existing mobile, broadband, and energy offerings, as the company hopes to extend its claim on "online convenience, no lock-in contracts and great value". Hopefully we'll be seeing similar savings on the other tech items when they arrive.

• Best phones in Australia 2017: the 10 top smartphones we've tested

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Here's what I learned being 'that' wearable camera guy

When my FrontRow wearable camera came in the mail, I was very hesitant about donning it everywhere to record my life.

Wearable cameras have a bad reputation, arguably since so-called ‘Glassholes’ were first accused of being pretentious and intrusive. And, honestly, there’s some truth in that. Unlike most cameras, wearable ones are always on your person and they could be recording with little-to-no indication whatsoever.

I’ve done plenty of street shooting between my journalistic career and as a hobby, so I have no reservation about capturing public scenes. However, no matter how discreet I was or how small of a camera I used, it was plainly obvious whenever I was taking a photo.

In this way, shooting with a camera or a smartphone felt like adhering to a non-verbal agreement: yes, I might be taking a photo of you, but it’s also obvious when I’m doing so. Wearable cameras break that social contract by hiding in plain sight.

It doesn’t help that wearable cameras still aren’t terribly prevalent. Between the demise of Google Glass, and Snapchat Spectacles falling into obscurity, the most common wearable camera you’ll find are those worn by police officers. So, on top of the social stigma, you’ll also be the odd man out with a wearable camera.

Facing my fears

Despite my many reservations though, I still really wanted to give it a try. So, I decided to record my journey through the halls at IFA 2017 with the FrontRow.

“What a putz,” I said as soon I saw myself wearing the FrontRow camera in the mirror.

The FrontRow camera’s styling is divisive to say the least. It’s a big, round and flat disk that makes many large pendants look small.

Now, as someone who never wears jewelry, this oversized pendant looks as tacky as one of those giant clocks Flavor Flav wore. Still, I forced myself to keep it on and walked out of the bathroom onto the IFA 2017 show floor.

As I walked around the twisting and meandering show floor, I was sure someone would gawk at my strange, oversized pendant and realize in disgust that it was actually a wearable camera.

To my surprise, though, there were more people than I expected who were gleefully curious as to what it was. Most even thought it was actually really cool when I explained what the device was. An even greater number of people didn’t bat an eye to it.

Sure, most conferences have a busy show floor, and everyone was more focused to get where they were going – not to mention that this crowd is way more used to people wearing goofy tech – but I quickly realized most of my fears and suspicions of wearable cameras were more in my head than in reality. 

Of course, there are still places you should never wear the FrontRow, like into a public bathroom.

After using the FrontRow for a few days, it’s clear to me that there is  something more to wearable cameras than just self-aggrandizing. There is something nostalgic about looking back at my time lapses and remembering the time I got lost on the show floor, or when I ran around in circles or that person I shared a quick conversation with.

Wearable cameras are extremely convenient for capturing moments and do the perfect job of reminding yourself of experiences.

Smartphones are undoubtedly the most common device everyone uses to capture photos and video, but sometimes it’s also the most inconvenient way to capture a moment. Whether you’ve got your hands full at the time or want to focus at the experience without distractions, actively capturing an experience isn’t always ideal. 

This is where wearable cameras could come in to fill the gap, and for these reasons I hope they become as ubiquitous as smartphones so everyone can capture.

Now, for the true challenge: wearing FrontRow amidst the general public.

Beyond the Rift is a bi-weekly column where we take a look at emerging technology that's just beginning to sprout up in the world. We'll look at the newest tech like eBoards, eBikes, wireless  headphones, 360 cameras and much more.

Want to drop Kevin a tip? Reach him on Twitter @baggingspam

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The best noise-cancelling headphones 2017

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy in 2017.

Far from being the niche product of a few years ago, noise-cancelling headphones have since exploded onto the mainstream. Now, you can find them lining airplane aisles the world over, not to mention buses, trains and nearly any other form of transportation prone to loud, low rumbling.

It's not hard to see why they're so popular: Noise-cancelling headphones massively reduce background noise, meaning that the rumble of a plane's engines or a train carriage don't get in the way of your music. 

This not only makes your music clearer and easier to hear, but it also means you can listen to it at a lower volume, which your ears will thank you for. 

Even in their most basic form these headphones are still much better than a traditional pair of headphones in terms of keeping outside sound at bay, but if you opt for one of our top picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones, you'll get a pair that will also make your music sound pretty good in the process. 

Talk about a win-win. 

How to buy noise-cancelling headphones

So what do you want to look for when looking for a pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones? Look for anything with the words "active noise-cancellation technology" on it.

Active noise cancellation involves some pretty interesting processes to cancel out sound. Along with the padding which passively blocks sound, microphones planted in the ear wells of headphones actively analyze the ambient noise level and reflect sound waves back into your ear that work to zap the outside noise. The goal is to hear nothing but the music, or whatever it is you're listening to.

Active noise cancelling headphones are more effective at what they do, but the downside is that this noise cancellation requires batteries in order to function, which means you'll have to remember to keep them charged.

Now that you know all that, you're ready to choose a set. Let's take a look at the best noise-cancelling headphones around:

1. Sony MDR-1000XM2 
2. Philips Fidelio NC1
3. Bose QuietComfort 35
4. Bose QuietComfort 25
5. Sony MDR-1000X
6. AKG N60NC Wireless
7. Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
8. Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
9. Sennheiser PXC 550
10. Samsung Level On Pro

Additional resources:

• We have exhaustive guides to the best headphones on the market buy today including the best on-ear headphones, the best in-ear headphones and the best over-ear headphones.
• Want to go wire-free? Check out our guide to the best wireless headphones.
• Looking for some headphones you can take in the pool or on a run? Check out our guide to the best swimming headphones and best running headphones.

The Sony MDR-1000XM2 are an excellent revision of an already great pair of headphones: They sound great, deftly wield noise cancellation technology and cost just as much as a pair of Bose QC35s. They might have a slightly shorter battery life than Bose’s flagship over-ear headphones, but Sony’s MDR-1000XM2 outclass the QC35 in terms of performance and feature-set.  

You’d want to pick these Sony headphones over the Bose because not only do they provide the same level of awesome noise-cancellation, but they have three neat tricks that Bose just doesn't have on its headphones: One is an ambient noise mode that only lets in mid-to-high frequency tones (announcements over a loudspeaker, for instance) and another being Quick Attention mode that allows you to let in all outside noise without taking off the headphones. (The latter is perfect when giving a drink order on a plane or speaking to a coworker for a brief moment before diving back into your work.) The last trick Sony has up its sleeve is the LDAC codec. Alongside the widely adopted aptX HD standard, LDAC enables Hi-Res Audio playback using the 1000XM2.

Great-sounding, feature-packed and just as affordable as the competition? The Sony MDR-1000XM2 are our all-around pick for best noise-cancelling cans.

Read the full review: Sony MDR-1000XM2

Philips presents a more elegant noise-cancelling solution with its NC1. These on-ear headphones aren't wireless like our top pick, but that's hardly a reason to knock them. Coming in at $299, the same price as Bose' QuietComfort 25, the NC1 are a more compact set that's high on comfort and battery life.

You get a lot for the money here. In the box comes the headphones, a hard case for storage and the headphones rock a rechargeable battery that provides noise cancellation for close to 30 hours. But best of all, the sound performance is extremely well balanced and warm.

Read the full review: Philips Fidelio NC1

Coming in at the number three spot is the Bose QuietComfort 35. They're more expensive then the Philips NC1, but the Bose QC35 headphones offer wireless connectivity, so you can be free from cabling as well as background noise. 

They're also a much better sounding pair of headphones than Bose's previous (wired) attempt, the Bose QC25s, and their battery life is long enough for all but the longest of flights. Of course, they also come with a cable in case you want to use them with a device that doesn't support Bluetooth. 

At $349 (£289 / AU$499) the QC35s sit firmly at the premium end of the spectrum, but if you want the best noise-cancelling headphones available right now at any price then there are few out there that can compete.

Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 35

A few years ago, the Bose QuietComfort 25 are the best noise-cancelling headphones we've ever used. The lows, mids and highs came through clear as day, never stepping over each other. Music of all sorts sounded predictably incredible. With the noise-cancellation turned on, we never felt further immersed and concentrated than when we let the QC25 engulf our ears.

But that was a few years ago and time has moved on since. Bose has released not just one sequel to these headphones, but two: the QC35 and QC35 II with Google Assistant built in, both of which we'd recommend above the QC25.

But, it's not all bad. If you don't mind using the older, wired headphones, the QC25s are a finely-tuned set of cans that provide over 35 hours of very good noise-cancelling performance with one AAA battery. 

Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 25

The MDR-1000X are definitely the closest competitor to Bose's QuietComfort series we've ever had the pleasure of testing. Some high-end codecs (LDAC, AAC and aptX) help the 1000X sound even better than the QC35s, but ultimately the noise cancelling is a bit less effective in Sony's pair of cans.

What should drive your decision on whether to buy the MDR-1000X is your music player – if you're a Sony Xperia owner, you'd be hard-pressed to find a pair of headphones that sound as good as these with noise canceling tech built-in. Even if you're not, Sony's wares are still worth a listen – and maybe a purchase – if you aren't too put out by its $400 (£330 / AU$700) price tag.

Read the full review: Sony MDR-1000X

If you prefer on-ear noise-cancellation, then the AKG N60NC Wireless are a great pair of headphones. 

At their mid-range price point the headphones offer fantastic value for money, with great sound quality and a level of noise-cancellation performance that's on a level with the much more premium entries on this list. 

These are a fantastically compact pair of headphones, and offer a very complete package for the price. 

Read the full review: AKG N60NC Wireless

With noise-cancelling tech just as effective as that in headphones from rival Bose, and with a more musical sonic ability, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC are a definite contender for the noise-cancelling crown. More affordable and easy to travel with, these lightweight headphones are a great value all-rounder, whether for flights, commuter trains or busy offices. 

Design-wise, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs seem a more slimmed-down, lighter and more focused effort than the bulky and expensive alternatives from Bose and Sony; and crucially, the HD 4.50 BTNCs are just as good with audio, and almost as good on noise-canceling. Whether you're after noise canceling for long-haul ravel, for the commute, or just to stay more productive in a noisy office, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs are worth considering. 

Read the full review: Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC

With the second generation Plantronics BackBeat Pro, Plantronics went back to the drawing board to fix many of the issues owners complained about the original. The BackBeat Pro 2, therefore, manage to keep all the great things about the original and improved upon its shortcomings, like its bulk and weight. 

In terms of value, the BackBeat Pro 2 are basically a steal. With the BackBeat Pro 2, you’re getting a travel headphone with incredible battery life, supreme comfort, the ability to pair two device as once and, most importantly, good sound quality for the cost. If you don’t want to drop $350 (£290, AU$500) on the Bose QuietComfort 35 or $400 (£330 or AU$700) on Sony’s flagship MDR-1000X, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 should be on the top of your shopping list. 

Read the full review: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

The PXC 550's greatest strength is their sound. Other wireless noise-cancelling headphones might offer a better user interface or better noise-cancellation technology, but ultimately none of the above match up to the sound quality of these Sennheisers. 

However, that said, there are a couple of irritations that prevent us from being able to fully and unreservedly recommend them, such as unresponsive touch controls  These annoyances aren't quite deal-breakers, but there are definitely other noise-cancelling headphones out there that don't suffer from the same issues.

Read the full review: Sennheiser PXC 550

The Samsung Level On Pro Wireless are one of the few headphones we've tested that feel like they're meant as a package deal for another device. Yes they'll work with every Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack-equipped handset on the market, but you're better off sticking to a Samsung device in order to squeeze every ounce of aural goodness from the Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio codec.

It's one of the comfiest pair of cans on the market, and they're also much cheaper than a lot of the competition. If it had a better sound quality for the vast majority of cell phone users it would be an easy recommendation but, as it stands, really makes the most sense at checkout when purchased alongside Samsung's Next Big Thing.

Read the full review: Samsung Level On Pro Wireless Headphones

We're constantly reviewing new noise-cancelling headphones, but let us know on Twitter if there is a set that you'd like us to take a look at.

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The 8 best 13-inch laptops of 2017

Due to their nature, the best 13-inch laptops are constantly changing, as computer manufacturers introduce new products that blend high performance with high portability. A truly great 13-inch laptop will be the ideal pairing of those two aspects, giving you a machine that can go where you go and do what you need it to do.

The category of laptops with 13 inch displays is full of great machines running Windows and Mac OS alike.  Anyone looking for a more inexpensive option can check out the best Chromebooks, though this list does include some quality  cheap laptops as well. 

With AMD’s new mobile Ryzen processors on the way, there could be some huge changes in the 13-inch laptop landscape coming soon as well. Until then, check out our picks for the best 13-inch laptops. 

1. Dell XPS 13
2. Asus Zenbook Flip UX360
3. HP Spectre x360
4. Samsung Notebook 9
5. Acer Aspire S 13
6. Lenovo Yoga 910
7. 13-inch MacBook Air
8. 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display

Now that they boast 7th-generation Intel Core i processors, Dell has struck (rose) gold with the XPS 13. The gorgeous design, long battery life and even the SD card slot are still there, only now it’s beefed up with improved internal components and a sleeker aesthetic reminiscent of the MacBook and HP Spectre lineups. What’s more, the full-size processor and 13.3-inch display are crammed into an 11-inch frame made possible by Dell’s own nearly bezel-less InfinityEdge display technology.  

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 

There’s a new entry to Asus’s Zenbook lineup with the UX360, featuring a lot of the same specs as its predecessor but with the flexibility of a 2-in-1 laptop. While the ability to bend over backwards may diminish the build quality somewhat, it allows for new levels of functionality for computer consumers who want a laptop and tablet all in one. Thanks to an all-day battery, the Zenbook Flip UX360 really can go with you for everything you do. And, with a wide variety of internal customization, you can deck out the Zenbook Flip UX360 for your own personal needs, saving you some cash or boosting its performance. 

Read the full review: Asus Zenbook Flip UX360

The HP Spectre x360 is the one you bring home to your parents. It’s stunningly well-crafted, featuring a silvery design that makes it every bit as cutting-edge on the outside as it is within. Given the option between a 7th-generation i5 or i7 Ultrabook-class processor and a 1080p or 4K screen, HP allows for plenty of room for customization. It’s not underpowered, nor does its battery life suffer from overcompensation. In fact, in our own movie test, the HP Spectre x360 lasted a whole 8 hours and 45 minutes. The only real caveat is that, like a lot of its competitors, the Spectre x360 also lacks an SD card slot, opting instead for a pair of USB Type-C ports. 

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

Though it's failed to make a dent in the laptop space with much more than its Tab Pro S convertible, Samsung's follow-up to the 2012 Series 9 notebook boasts not only capable specs, but a competitive price as well. Marketed as an Ultrabook, it's certainly disheartening to know the battery life lasts only five hours, but given its sleek and sexy design, it almost doesn't matter. What's more, with the Samsung Notebook 9, you won't have to deal with bloatware made infamous by many of the other Microsoft OEMs.

Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 9

The Surface Laptop is Microsoft’s first stab at a 'traditional' laptop, if you can even call it that knowing full well that its PixelSense touchscreen and Alcantara keyboard are anything but conventional. Featuring a full stack of U-series 7th generation Intel Core i processors, the Surface Laptop beats out Apple’s 12-inch MacBook any day of the week, and for a lower starting price at that. Despite the ports and operating system being limited, the Surface Laptop is appealing for its laudable design, beautifully vivid screen and impressive performance.

 Read the full review: Surface Laptop

The Lenovo Yoga 910 is all about second chances. It throws away many of the signature design traits of the previous model, the Yoga 900, in favor of a more pristine outward appearance and a heavy duty Intel Core i7 processor as well as the option of a 4K display. Lenovo also managed to squeeze a larger, nearly 14-inch screen into the same 13-inch chassis of the Yoga 900 without compromise. Not to mention, even with the implementation of USB-C ports, the Lenovo Yoga 910 doesn’t completely neglect USB Type-A, dragging the precious connection standard of the past along with it.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 910

In a market densely populated with slim-line laptops from a massive range of manufacturers, Apple's MacBook Air fights on admirably – though it started showing its age on the outside a long time ago. It has Intel's fifth-generation Core-series processors rather than the newest Skylake variants, but it's still a capable machine; even more so since Apple made 8GB of RAM standard across the line.

Read the full review: 13-inch MacBook Air

The latest iteration of Apple’s seminal MacBook Pro series is here, and as you would expect it makes a number of notable improvements over last year’s offering. While it might not exactly feature the strongest battery life in the game (scoring under an hour less than last year’s offering), it does offer increased performance by way of a new CPU and faster RAM. Add that to Apple’s continued dedication to simplicity and beautiful design and you have a laptop that is sleek, portable and reliable.  

Read the full review: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2017)

Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

• Could the Surface Book 2 be the next 13-inch laptop to make our list?

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Top 5 best e-learning authoring tools and websites

Education is no different from any other business or organisation when it comes to technology - there is a lot of money and time to be saved by implementing digital strategies. That's where e-learning authoring tools come in.

E-learning – which is a major part of the growing EdTech industry – describes the process of learning by making the most of modern technology. That’s not to say traditional means of education are dying, but academic institutions and businesses have identified that we can achieve a lot more by utilising our tech.

The fact is, most of us have smartphones and other internet-connected devices, and there are already a whole host of apps that aim to make learning easier and quicker. If you’re revising for an exam, you can access materials wherever you are. And if you want to learn a language, you can use language learning apps and online flashcards.

Through digital means, learning is on tap. It doesn’t take long to find out a fact, or to develop a specific skill. With this in mind, the way training organisations and educators create courses is also dramatically changing. In this article, we’re looking at the best e-learning authoring tools available right now. 

When it comes to business solutions and software, Adobe always comes near the top, and this is also the case in the area of e-learning. Adobe Captivate is the company’s high quality e-learning authoring tool.

The system is available for both Windows and Mac computers, and it offers an ever-expanding variety of features. Making use of HTML functionality and responsive design, the software lets you create courses that run on PCs, smartphones and tablets.

There’s support for scalable HTML, play bar and mobile themes, and you also have the ability to pause and resume work whenever you want. What’s more, you can import storyboards from Captivate Draft (which is free on iOS devices), and also use the software with PowerPoint-based projects. All text, audio and other functionalities are retained.

• You can sign up for Adobe Captivate here

Elucidat is a web-based system that’s been designed to make creating learning resources easy. It boasts a built-in page template editor, which lets you choose a theme and tweak it to your requirements. 

In most cases, you can make it your own by simply dragging and dropping to insert text, graphics and other media. However, if you’re feeling more technologically adventurous, you have the option to create your very own themes via HTML, CSS and Javascript. 

If you’re looking to publish courses in multiple languages and versions, you’ll be happy to learn that you can manage hundreds of courses at the same time. And because there’s built-in responsive output, your creations will look good on all screen sizes. It’s worth noting that before committing to a premium plan, you can try the software for free - but only for 14 days.

• You can sign up for Elucidat here

While most e-learning authoring tools have responsive capabilities in terms of catering for different screen sizes, Articulate 360 has been created especially for people who want to put mobile first. The platform lets you create highly interactive and visual courses for every device, without having to tweak anything. You simply click publish, and Articulate - through its Storyline and Rise features - automatically ensures your course is mobile-ready.

As well as this, all courses support touchscreen gestures, and the built-in player hides sidebar menus and the like so that all the focus is on the multimedia content. That’s not all, though. When it comes to creating a course, it’s not necessary to have any prior technical experience. Instead, you can access a library of themes, which have been tailored for different use cases.

There’s also a text and image editor, meaning you can get everything right before you make a course public. And when you make changes, all your work is saved on the cloud – just in case something goes wrong. You can even get educational experts to check over your work through a review system, which supports different languages such as Chinese, German, French and Spanish.

• You can sign up for Articulate 360 here

As you may have realised by now, many e-learning authoring tools are web-based, and that’s also the case for Shift eLearning. It’s designed to help you create powerful e-learning resources efficiently and quickly.

Like its competitors, you don’t need any programming experience to be able to create a feature-packed e-learning resource. There are more than 400 responsive screen templates to choose from, utilising both HTML5 and Adobe Flash. These are off-the-shelf themes, so you don’t actually have to do a lot, apart from entering text and graphics.

When you’ve finished putting a course together, you don’t have to worry about tailoring it for different users. The system has a one-push feature, so hitting the publish button once will send it to a variety of devices – regardless of their screen size, resolution or aspect ratio. There’s a generous free trial you can check out, too. 

• You can sign up for Shift here

Lectora Inspire is one of the oldest e-learning authoring tools, now in its seventeenth version. It’s another web-based system that functions across devices, but it requires a bit more scripting experience than some of the other software listed in this feature.

With it, you can create courses for different contexts, such as employee training or selling courses to customers. There’s unlimited scripting, access to advanced graphics libraries, an online reviewer and a screen template library. Another handy element provided is a range of how-to resources.

• You can sign up for Lectora Inspire here

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Top 5 best enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and software

Success in business comes down to many elements. You need to offer customers good products and service, have an effective business strategy and plan in place, conform to enterprise regulations, and conduct successful marketing campaigns.

The fact is, you need to do so much to push your business forward and stay ahead of the competition at all times. But managing all these important resources and areas is far from easy. Conducting business management and planning through typical means such as pen and paper can be very inefficient.

There just aren’t enough hours in the day, and you can easily become unfocused when running a business. This is where the latest technology enters the mix – there are plenty of solutions aimed at making enterprise resource planning (ERP) easier.

Often, these services will give you an integrated way of planning and controlling core business processes in real-time. Some of the best enterprise resource planning software will include product and marketing planning, manufacturing and service delivery, sales and finance tracking, along with elements such as inventory coordination. In this article, we’ve picked out five top-notch ERP offerings.

• Want the best CMS solution going? These are our top picks

There are many resource planning solutions out there that are targeted at specific areas and sectors. Welsh tech startup Veeqo is a great example – it has developed a planning and resource management platform for businesses in the retail industry.

Running an online store can be complicated, especially when it comes to managing orders and dispatching items. Veeqo automates this process. Available on both web and mobile, the service lets sellers track orders, inventories and finances. 

It also offers a variety of helpful integrations. For instance, if you’re an online retailer selling items on platforms such as Amazon and eBay, you can combine all data from these sources in Veeqo. That way, you avoid the tedious process of having to manage separate reports for each store.

• You can sign up for Veeqo here

Apprise is another popular ERP platform, designed for importers, distributors and manufacturers to manage consumer goods. Available on Mac, Windows and Linux machines, the platform gives users a real-time, visible way of tracking all aspects of a business in order to make more informed decisions.

It provides companies with on-demand access to business performance data, financials, sales and profitability analysis, all of which aim to help transform business intelligence processes. More specific for manufacturers and retailers, the system can log and track scheduling, labour, costing and sales.

The platform is fully cloud-based, so data is always backed up. Like Veeqo, users can access some aspects of Apprise via a mobile app. The firm has iOS and Android apps that provide easy access to product catalogues and sales data.

• You can sign up for Apprise here

When looking for effective ERP software, there’s quite a bewildering choice, and one danger for smaller firms is that they could end up purchasing something that’s more targeted at big enterprises. If you happen to be in the small to medium-sized business bracket, Abas ERP could be for you.

It offers businesses a handful of services and features that are accessible through a modern web browser. Using the software, you can easily manage orders, requests and shipment information, planning and scheduling, and keep an eye on production processes. There’s also an integrated finance system to help monitor transactions and other fiscal concerns.

The system has a handy editor that allows for the creation of customisable workflows which can be linked to the main ERP solution. There isn’t much information on pricing, sadly, but you can approach the company for a free demo.

• You can sign up for Abas ERP here

If you’re looking for a good, all-round ERP system, you should definitely consider SAP Business One. Highly scalable and powerful, it covers all aspects of a company and provides critical data to help managers make better business decisions. 

The platform can collect data on customers, partners and suppliers. It’s also capable of handling financial areas such as general ledger, account maintenance, budgets and foreign currencies. Plus, it can organise product information, inventory levels and shipment data – and help create price quotes.

SAP Business One is also integrated with Microsoft Outlook, meaning you can exchange and share data quickly between the two. Finally, it offers very useful reports on all areas of your business.

• You can sign up for SAP Business One here

Like SAP Business One, Aqxolt's ERP Mark 7 also covers a fair few different facets of your business. This highly customisable software provides up-to-date critical information to help companies plan and make more effective decisions at the same time.

The system has capabilities for streamlining supply chains, organising shipping and order information, along with managing assets, maintenance and manufacturing – plus it can be used to implement HR and finance processes. This solution is targeted mainly at businesses with complex processes and growth plans, operating in industries such as health, retail, services, manufacturing and distribution.

• You can sign up for ERP Mark 7 here

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