Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung's latest phablet gets nips and tucks rather than a big makeover

The Galaxy Note phablet is one of Samsung’s most popular products and it’s easy to see why. In theory, it combines the best of a smartphone and a tablet in one 6in device. The Note 4 isn’t dramatically different from its predecessor the Note 3, offering a number of modest improvements rather than an overhaul.

Previous Notes have felt cheaply made, but that’s not the case with the Note 4. It’s bounded by a metal band that runs around its edge, providing welcome rigidity. The Note 4 retains the plastic rear that’s meant to resemble leather, but the absence of fake stitching makes it far less tacky than the Note 3.

Asus ZenFone 5 LTE

A cheap Android 4G phone with one critical flaw

There are plenty of cheap Android phones and the standard by which we judge all of them is Motorola’s Moto G 4G. While it’s by no means perfect, its combination of performance, responsiveness, battery life and price makes it hard to beat. This means Asus has its work cut out with the ZenFone 5 LTE. Not to be confused with its cheaper 3G-only stablemate (which has a different processor), it costs £200 without a contract - £50 more than the Moto G.

Apple Mac mini (2014)

Apple's smallest and cheapest desktop computer

Although there are smaller desktop computers, this one is still compact enough to fit inside a laptop bag. There are several variants of the Mac mini but we tested the mid-range £569 version which comes with 8GB of memory, a 2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 4278U processor ana а 1TB hard drive.

There is an even cheaper version available for £399, but it’s not great value. Equipped with 4GB of memory a 1.4GHz dual-core i5 processor and a 500GB hard drive, it’s almost 50 per cent slower yet only costs 35 per cent less. The drop-off in performance is significant, especially if you want to edit photos and movies or run multiple programs simultaneously, so the cheaper model is best avoided unless you’re really strapped for cash. Both are sold without a keyboard, mouse or monitor so you’ll have to supply your own.

Acer Aspire V3-371

A sleek and inexpensive Windows 8.1 laptop with an infuriating flaw

Inexpensive laptops tend to be cheaply made and plain in appearance - or even downright ugly. The Acer Aspire V3-371 proves this doesn’t have to be the case. Despite costing just £430, it’s a surprisingly well-made and classy-looking laptop.

Most of the V3-371 is made of rigid white plastic. The exception being the lid, which is all eye-catching brushed metal, giving the laptop a touch of style. While it looks good, the lid is the one weak spot in the laptop’s otherwise robust construction - flexing as it does under pressure more than we’d like. But this is a price we're willing to pay, given how slender and lightweight the laptop is - at just 1.5kg, carrying it around all day is a breeze.

MSI Wind Box DC111

A very cheap mini PC

The MSI Wind Box DC111 is an incredibly cheap mini Windows 8.1 PC that’s roughly the size of a router. Although we’ve seen even smaller mini PCs, this is still impressively compact. The DC111 comes with a stand as it needs to be kept upright due to the cooling vents on both sides, but it doesn’t come with a keyboard, mouse or monitor. The stand angles the DClll’s four front USB 2.0 ports and audio jacks upwards for easy connection. All other ports are at the rear and include two USB 3.0 connectors, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a HDMI connector and a VGA port. However, we found it far too easy to inadvertently press the power button when turning the PC around to access the rear ports. Another annoyance is the close proximity of the USB 3.0 ports to the HDMI port. Attempting to plug in a particularly chunky cable or USB stick was often a tight, fiddly fit.

Asus ZenWatch

A stylish but flawed Android Wear smartwatch

Smartwatches are difficult to judge. Because they’re so new, we’re not just evaluating each individual smartwatch on its own merits - we’re also determining if there’s any worth in the very idea of a smartwatch itself. When so many of us already own smartphones, tablets and laptops, it’s hard to see the value in having yet another portable computer.