Friday 10 December 2021

OnePlus Suspends Rollout of OxygenOS 12 Update for OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro Over Major Bugs: Report

OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro's OxygenOS 12 update has reportedly been suspended. OnePlus has also issued a statement regarding this suspension. Users reported the update was bug-riddled and did not get many of the promised features. Furthermore, many users also reported that the update removed some of the existing features.

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Where to buy Sonos speakers: the best places to find your next home audio system

If you're looking to buy a Sonos speaker, you may be wondering where to start your search. 

Sonos makes some of the best wireless speakers, soundbars, Bluetooth speakers and other audio devices right now – especially for those that value excellent connectivity, space-saving design and great sound. 

However, recent price increases and dwindling stock following the global chip shortage mean that retailers you could usually depend on won't always have Sonos devices available to buy. 

That became very apparent during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, where Sonos deals were few and far between. We'd normally expect to see discounts of at least $100 / £100 on the brand's flagship products, but any deals this year only brought these devices down to their previous prices – before Sonos hiked up the cost of most of its range. 

Prices also varied drastically between retailers, with some offering Sonos devices at much higher costs than usual – the few good deals we saw came from either Sonos itself or from smaller third-party stores like Crutchfield and Sevenoaks. 

All of that means it can be tricky to know the best place to buy a Sonos speaker or if you're being ripped off. 

That's where we come in: we've put together this useful guide to all the best places you can buy a Sonos speaker right now, along with buying advice and the latest Sonos deals available in your area.

But first, here's a round-up of the best Sonos deals in your region:

Today's best Sonos deals

Where to buy Sonos speakers in the US

In a hurry? You'll find all the retailers we'd usually expect to sell Sonos speakers and peripherals below so you can shop for yourself.

Which retailers have the best Sonos prices in the US?

Amazon
Amazon has some Sonos speakers and devices in stock, but many of them are used. Brand-new Sonos speakers are currently selling above their RRP, so you're better off looking elsewhere at the moment. 

Best Buy
Best Buy is currently selling a wide range of Sonos speakers and soundbars, some of which come with six free months of Apple Music thrown in. There are also refurbished models available to buy with big discounts. If you're going to buy a Sonos speaker today, this is the retailer to go with.

Crutchfield
Some devices, like the Sonos Arc, are out of stock at Crutchfield, but you can still buy other models at their regular RRP. 

Sonos
This is the most obvious place to buy your next Sonos speaker, and it's the best place to get accessories like stands and chargers. However, deals are few and far between, so expect to pay full price.

Walmart
Like Best Buy, Walmart is offering discounts on refurbished Sonos speakers, as well as deals on bundles. Otherwise, prices are at their usual RRP.

Where to buy Sonos speakers in the UK

Which retailers have the best Sonos prices in the UK?

Amazon
Amazon has quite a few Sonos speakers and devices in stock, though some colour options are much pricier than the original RRP. 

John Lewis
John Lewis has a wide range of Sonos products available to buy at their original RRP and is offering free standard delivery and returns until Jan 28, 2022.

Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is your best bet if you're looking for Sonos deals. Right now you can save around £20 on the brand's popular soundbars and speakers. 

Sonos prices: what you need to know

Want to save some money? Sonos speakers can be very expensive, so it's well worth keeping an eye out for any deals across the entire range.

Right now, we'd specifically recommend looking out for deals on the first-gen Sonos Beam, as it has recently been usurped by a newer model. The Sonos One is also likely to be discounted, as it was released way back in 2017 (and could be due an upgrade in the near future).

Unfortunately, Sonos deals have been thin on the ground for the past few months, most likely due to the global chip shortage resulting in low stock. 

Whatever Sonos speaker you go for, don't be fooled by the company's recent price increases, which span most of its products. A $100 / £100 discount on the Sonos Arc may seem like a bargain, but this would only bring the soundbar down to its original RRP. You can find the full list of Sonos price increases below for more information:

  • Sonos Arc: was $799 / £799 , now $899 / £899 
  • Sonos Sub: was $699 / £600, now $749 / £749 
  • Sonos Amp: was $599 / £599, now $699 / £699
  • Sonos One: was $199 / £179, now $219 / £199 
  • Sonos One SL: was $149 / £149, now $199 / £179 
  • Sonos Five: was $499 / £499, now £499 / $549 
  • Sonos Roam: was $169 / £159, now $179 / £179

Sonos produces many different speakers and sound systems, so picking the best one can be tough.

If you're after the best speaker around, check out the Sonos One. Not only is it at the top of our best wireless speakers guide, but it's also the best smart speaker around. The soundstage it produces is splendid, and with Google and Amazon Alexa assistant support you'll be able to listen to your favorite tracks just by asking the Sonos One to play them.

For those with a bigger budget to play with, the Sonos Play: 5 is a powerful speaker that will fill your home with great-sounding tunes from your favorite streaming services. During the sales period, you're sure to find a slight discount on this speaker, which could make it an exceptionally tempting offer.

However, if you value portability you'll want to find the best Sonos Move and Sonos Roam deals. Not only are these Bluetooth speakers great for setting up on-the-go party tunes, but the excellent sound quality and full support of the Sonos app make them brilliant speakers to have in your home too. 

the sonos beam soundbar in white on a TV stand

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) launched earlier this year, which means its predecessor could be heavily discounted... if you can find it in stock, that is. (Image credit: Sonos)

Looking for a soundbar? The Sonos Arc is a fantastic soundbar that's sure to make your home cinema experience even more spectacular. It's the best soundbar for good reason, providing excellent audio quality thanks to Dolby’s latest TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus sound codecs. Setting up the Arc is super simple too. It can be pricey when it isn't on sale, though.

If you're after something a little cheaper and smaller, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a great choice, coming with virtual Dolby Atmos and HDMI eARC compatibility. Its compact size makes it ideal for smaller spaces, and you can easily hook it up to a Sonos Sub or a pair of Sonos One SL rear speakers to boost the sound. It's worth keeping an eye out for deals on the original Sonos Beam, too. Although it's been discontinued, you may find some retailers trying to shift leftover stock or refurbished models.



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Thursday 9 December 2021

Hisense’s new 8K Roku TV is $1,000 cheaper than Samsung’s 8K TVs

Hisense has just taken the wraps off its new 8K flagship ULED TV, the Hisense U800GR, which costs significantly less than other 8K TVs on the market.

Available starting December 8, the 75-inch model will come in at $2,699.99 at Best Buy and Amazon - around $1,000 less than the 75-inch Samsung QN800A and $2,500 less than the Samsung QN900A, Samsung’s two latest 8K TVs.

The only 8K TV we know about with a comparable price tag is the TCL 6-Series 8K Roku TV (R648) that was released earlier this year and shares many of the same specs as Hisense’s U800GR.

According to a press release sent to TechRadar, the U800GR comes with 180 local dimming zones - frighteningly fewer than its 4K flagship Hisense U9DG that has upwards of 2,000,000 - and will support both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. 

The TV has a native 120Hz refresh rate plus auto low latency game mode and Variable Refresh Rate technology as well as at least two HDMI 2.1 ports.


Analysis: Cheaper, but maybe not better… 

As folks will be quick to point out, Samsung’s 8K TVs are so expensive because they use Mini LED instead of a traditional LED backlight. That gives them better lighting control and contrast than other LED TVs and puts them closer to OLED in terms of black levels. That would make a world of difference on a TV of this size.

Also, because we’re not expecting native 8K content anytime in the near future, there’s also the challenge of upscaling sub-8K content - something we’ve noticed Hisense has had problems with in the past with its 4K models. 

That’s not to cast aspersions on the new U800GR - as there’s every reason to believe that it will be competitive with other 8K TVs on the market - but it’s something to take into consideration before you leap into line to grab one at Best Buy.

  • On the hunt for a new flatscreen? Check out our guide to the best TVs


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Monday 6 December 2021

Porsche Vision Gran Turismo concept stuns as a digital-only delight - Roadshow

The concept will only exist for the PlayStation's upcoming title, Gran Turismo 7.

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COVID-19 vaccine mandate still suspended for businesses: Today's update - CNET

OSHA suspended enforcement of the vaccine requirement that was set to begin Jan. 4 but was blocked by a federal appeals court.

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Best credit cards for holiday shopping in 2021 - CNET

Use these credit cards to maximize your shopping potential this winter.

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Best mattress for side sleepers in 2021 - CNET

These mattresses for side sleepers will have you snoozing soundly and waking up pain-free.

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