ZTE Axon Elite

ZTE has got its sights set on the western market with the powerful, yet inexpensive, Axon Elite

ZTE is still a fairly unknown company within the UK, having mainly focused on cheap and/or mid-range handsets until now. It is surprising then to see it ushering in an entirely new smartphone line dubbed ‘Axon’, which will aim to compete with the best devices from premium competitors such as Samsung, LG and Apple. Is this the definitive budget smartphone killer that everyone has been waiting for?

HTC One A9

After numerous leaks, HTC has finally unveiled the mysterious HTC One A9. Will it be enough to turn HTC’s fortunes around?

It is no secret that HTC has been having troubles recently. It seems the Taiwanese company has lost focus. It is back now with a new phone that confusingly has mid-range specs and a premium price-tag.

With the HTC One A9 there has been a shift in focus and the company is now looking more into lifestyle and core features. The A9 will be the first third-party smartphone to come with Marshmallow 6.0 but no one will be noticing that as it looks exactly like an iPhone 6 (and 6s). Not exactly a bad thing as you are getting an iPhone with an Android OS, though £469.99 is still quite steep for a mid-range phone.

Swann One Smart Home Control Kit

Swann has released a product that is aiming to bring safety and security into the palm of your hands. The Swann One Smart Home Control Kit uses an app-controlled interface for iOS, Android and PC. With the interface you’ll be able to control cameras, locks, power switches and detect motion. More features can be added as the kit uses a convenient modular system, so adding another camera or even a smart thermostat is an option.

Libratone Zipp

Libratone is back once again with a new and upgraded edition to its previous Zipp line of Bluetooth speakers. We’ll get the Sonos comparisons out of the way early and state that the Libratone actually has a few unique features that put it ahead of the competition. Firstly, it does not require a power outlet to function and is perfectly usable as a portable speaker thanks to the built-in battery. Secondly, it is also significantly cheaper than the comparable Sonos Play 3 and offers arguably more for the money, although the £219 price tag is still a tall order for some.

Best free password managers

In October, LastPass was bought by LogMeln, which has many LastPass users worried that its new owners might increase subscription prices or withdraw the free version altogether. Andy Shaw weighs up six free alternatives.