This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
Posted 04/08/2011 at 10:48am
| by TechRadar

This week's key reviews include the second variant of the iPad 2 -- the iPad 2 3G. We've paid special attention to the mobile data capabilities of the new tablet -- you can also check out our other iPad 2 review of course!
Elsewhere, we've looked at Acer's new Aspire One 522 netbook as well as two brand new Sony Ericsson handsets; the long awaited Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (dubbed the PlayStation phone) and the Xperia Arc - one of the finest handsets we've yet clapped our eyes on.
Top five reviews on TechRadar
iPad 2 3G review
There's no denying the fact that the iPad 2 is the hottest gadget of 2011 so far. But if you're going to buy one, should you go for the Wi-Fi only model or the 3G version? While a 3G model will cost you £100 more, it offers you the flexibility of always-on internet access. But then of course you've got to consider that on top of that £100 premium, you'll also have to pay for a 3G data plan. It's a tricky buying decision, so to make it a little bit easier, we've taken a look at all the options available to you in our iPad 2 3G review
Acer Aspire One 522 review
While the tablet is fast emerging as this decade's must-have digital device, let's not forget that the humble netbook still has a part to play. The supply of netbooks is still going strong and we've seen some excellent models lately, such as the highly portable Toshiba NB520 and the feature-packed Asus Eee PC 1018P. However, one of the more interesting netbooks to come our way is Acer's Aspire One 522. It's a fantastic performer, and slender to boot. But will the dreadful battery life drag it down to also-ran status?
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
Anyone for a PlayStation Phone? While the much-mooted and long-awaited Xperia Play doesn't actually bare the famous PlayStation crest, it's as close as we're going to get to the fabled PlayStation Phone for the foreseeable. So the questions are: is it up to scratch, and should you buy the thing? Well unfortunately, we just can't give the Xperia Play the two thumbs up we were hoping to give it. To be sure it's a decent device if you're a keen mobile gamer, but some shoddy software implementation and a high price means it just can't quite keep pace with the other big Android hitters.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
So, after the disappointment of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, what does Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc handset have in store for us? We're pleased to report that the Xperia Arc is a shining beacon in the Arctic wilderness of Sony Ericsson's handset roster. After a string of successful yet disappointing handsets, the Arc has risen as the brand's leading light. It's impossibly thin, it's responsive, it's got a fantastic camera by today's albeit meagre standards, and the screen is both bright and super sharp. The phone is a great little performer, and that's despite the absence of the in-vogue dual-core processor. Impressed? You should be.
Panasonic TX-L32E30B
The 32-inch bracket has long-been the size of choice for the majority of Britons. Our small, pokey flats with their narrow doors and tight corners don't always lend themselves to a mighty 50-inch plasma. Then of course you've got your technophobic partner to contend with. What? You want to spend that much on a telly? 32-inches is a good compromise for those on a budget and those who simply don't have the room for a monster. So how does this Panasonic rate? While it's not the greatest 32-inch TV we've ever seen, it still offers some nifty features and an affordable price, so it's well worth checking out.

This week's other new reviews on TechRadar
Amplifiers
Consonance Cyber 10 review
Primare R32 review
Onkyo M-3000R and M-5000R review
Audio systems
Naim NDX review
Blu-ray players
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 review

Compact cameras
Nikon Coolpix S3100 review
Desktop PCs
Chillblast Fusion Impact review
Cryo PC Nemesis review
Digital TV recorders
Dreambox DM800 HD SE review
Graphics cards
AMD Radeon HD 6790 review
Graphics tablets
Hanvon Art Master III review
Headphones
AKG K830BT Bluetooth Headset review
Laptops
Toshiba NB550D review
Asus Eee PC 1018P review
Kobalt G150 review

Media streaming devices
Prestigio Emporio PWHD01 review
Marmitek Gigaview 820 review
SAC HD Wireless Sender 1080p review
Mice
Arctic Cooling M571 review
Mobile phones
Nokia E7 review
INQ Cloud Touch review
Acer Liquid Mini review

Monitors
Hanns.G HL196 review
Motherboards
Sapphire Pure P67 Hydra review
Gigabyte G1.Assassin X58 review
Netbooks
Acer Aspire One 522 review review
Portable media players
Colorful Colorfly review
Printers
HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus review
Processors
Intel Core i7 990X Extreme Edition review
Software
Humax TV Portal review
Roxio Toast 11 Titanium review
Mapdiva Artboard 1.0 review
Boinx BoinxTV Home review
Mozy MozyHome review
Running With Crayons Alfred 0.8.1 review
BBC iPlayer on iPad review
Channel D Pure Music 1.74a review

Speakers
Creative ZiiSound T6 2.1 review
Dynaudio DM3/7 review
Storage
Clickfree Wireless Automatic Backup review
Tablets
Zoostorm SL8 3310-9500 review
Archos 101 review
Televisions
Technika 32-270 review
Hands ons
Cameras
Hands on: Nikon D5100 review

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