Base model requires pricey add-on for Wi-Fi features
The bottom line
August’s Smart Lock and Smart Lock Pro are wirelessly connected deadbolts aimed at making it easier for you to come and go.
Neither model replaces your existing deadbolt, so you can still use your keys on the outside. But, both smart locks add an easy way for you, your family, or your friends to unlock the door with a phone, and the devices can automatically lock up behind you.
The base August Smart Lock is more affordable at $149 (about £110), but requires a separate August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for more advanced features.
The August Smart Lock Pro has more features, and it comes bundled with the August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, giving it even more functionality out of the box. But, it’s starting price of $279 (about £210) is steep.
August Smart Locks: what you need to know
August’s Smart Lock is slick looking, and the Smart Lock Pro is goes even further. The locks are also subtle, as both locks can mount onto existing single-cylinder deadbolts, replacing the locking mechanism on the interior side of the door while the keyhole on the exterior remains the same. So, someone looking at your lock from the outside wouldn’t know it’s a connected smart lock.
Both locks let you use your phone as the key, with Bluetooth, GPS, and the August app working together to automatically unlock the door when you get home. The locks can also automatically lock when you leave.
Helpfully, August’s DoorSense will determine if your door is actually closed and locked, or if it’s been left ajar.
August’s Connect Wi-Fi Bridge adds more functionality to each lock, but only the Smart Lock Pro comes with it bundled into the package. The Bridge gives the Smart Lock support for Amazon Echo and Alexa, Google Home and Google Assistant, and remote control of the lock when you’re out of Bluetooth Range. The Pro model goes further, with support for Apple HomeKit and Siri.
For smart home fans looking to integrate a smart lock into their existing ecosystem, the Smart Lock Pro’s support for Z-Wave Plus will make it a better choice.
Users can share access codes with friends and family, so they won’t need a key to get in. And, August’s app also has integration for apps like Airbnb, making it easier to get in without having to worry about lost, stolen, or copied keys. The August app will also let you keep track of who has come in.
Should I buy it?
Shoppers looking to just get a smart lock have a good pick in the base August Smart Lock. It’s affordable price, nice design, and potential for upgrades make it a good starting point for anyone.
The August Smart Lock Pro is a harder sell, given the high price. But, shoppers hoping for an easy-to-install, easy-to-use smart lock with great looks, support for the most popular voice assistants, and remote control over the internet, the Smart Lock Pro is a complete package.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus cases are pretty much an essential given the fact that the Android phone has an all-glass slippery design to it.
It’s now time to suit it up in a stylish, trusted case. It might not be what you want to hear, but unless you have Samsung Care, you’ll want to invest in an affordable case.
Below, you’ll find several recommendations that cover a wide range of budgets and style preferences. While some of these options are untested, they are each a cut above the rest due to their value and design, and are backed by positive consumer feedback.
Note: we’ve ranked these from cheapest to most expensive at the time of writing
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Tudia Arch S case
Coming in at $15 and below on Amazon (about £10, AU$20), the Arch S case provides nothing but the basics. It fits snug around the S9 and S9 Plus, and does well not to step on Samsung’s flagship design.
The case is made from Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), which gives it a soft feel, but Tudia has worked some grippy grooves around the case’s edges to make it grippy.
If you need a quick, cheap option, this one should do you well.
Mous ‘Real’ Case
Mous is ready to line your Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus with high-impact ‘Air Shock’ material, which is basically thousands of micro air pockets that acts as tiny springs. It offers maximum protection with a minimalist design and comes in three finishes: Aramid Carbon Fibre, Black Leather, and the light Shell Case. Don’t worry, it still supports wireless charging and comes with a screen protector to boot.
MNML thin case
MNML makes cases that boast a minimalist aesthetic, hence the name. Think of it this way, if the phone manufacturers offered a case for their devices in-box, they’d probably include something super flattering like what MNML makes.
It’s clean, light, thin and best of all, it fits right to the form of the S9 and S9 Plus. It’s not the most protective case out there by a long shot, but if you take good care of your phones, this one will protect against the day-to-day scuffs and scratches just fine.
Spigen Wallet S Case
If you’re looking for utility, you probably want a folio case. Spigen makes one of the most affordable options on the market with its Wallet S folio. It’s made with synthetic leather, but has a smooth, supple feel and suave look. Flipped open, it has room for two cards, or one and some cash.
If you want to watch some video entertainment, the folio can be folded to make its very own kickstand. Beyond this, basically every part of the S9 or S9 Plus is protected, making this a smart buy for those who want more from a case.
Incipio Folio case
It’s tough to find a folio case that’s equal parts durable, versatile and good-looking. For a surprisingly low asking price, Incipio’s does all of this.
The cover is grippy and suave, revealing a softer material used on its back to provide delicate protection for your S9 or S9 Plus’ big screen.
You’ll find a pocket to store cash, a credit card and a bus pass, which links up to a translucent casing that doesn’t hide the phone’s slick design.
This is a pretty no-frills folio case, but if that’s what you’re after, this won’t disappoint.
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Otterbox Symmetry Case
This option is one of the few rugged cases out there for the new S9 that excels at looking like a slimline case. Available in a variety of colors, as well as build materials, the strong design language of the S9 and S9 Plus shine through with these options.
We’ve gotten our hands on a clear option, as well as a matte black Symmetry case. Despite their visual differences, each looks to provide a good amount of protection from dropping at every angle.
At $39 (£29, about AU$43), we feel that Otterbox’s most slick case is a good value.
Hyperknit Cover Case
One of the cooler-looking, albeit still unannounced first-party cases from Samsung, the Hyperknit has a knitted design, which provides a benefit to users both in terms of how it looks (stunning) and how its feel (grippy and protective).
This case will retail for $41 (about £29, AU$52), according to MobileFun. That’s a bit expensive considering that it doesn’t cover the S9’s face. Though this option looks to be available in each of the S9’s launch colors, so it could make for a nice complement to your purchase.
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Lifeproof Slam Case
We haven’t tested a case that feels more durable than Lifeproof’s Slam case. That’s pretty shocking, given how low-profile its design looks and feels.
Installing the case takes a bit of effort, as it requires the included key to pop the plastic back off. Needless to say, once things are installed, it feels incredibly snug and secure from all angles.
For $49, this seems like one of the better deals on this list, though the color options might not do it for you.
Alcantara case
If you’re looking for the most premium slimline case on the market, you’ll want to direct your attention over to Samsung’s own Alcantara case.
Just like the smooth, resilient fabric used on the Microsoft Surface Laptop, Alcantara yields an equally grippy, yet soft feel here for the S9 and S9 Plus. Since it’s designed by Samsung, you can be assured that all of the design highlights brought by its phones remain in full effect, and are almost accentuated by this case.
Bodyguardz Trainr Pro case
It sounds strange to run around with the S9 or S9 Plus strapped on your arm, but Bodyguardz’ low-profile case with strap combo makes it feel anything but.
While not the cheapest case offering, this one offers versatility not seen in the other options above. The strap can snap onto the sides of the case to let you go for a jog without the phone jumbling around in your pocket.
Should you not want to run around with the strap, we also enjoy that this case hugs the S9’s curves tightly, letting the design shine through its translucent back.
Kerf wood case
Wood-covered tech might be baffling to some, but once you cover up your S9 or S9 Plus in the premium-priced (but totally worth it) handmade wood case from Kerf, you’ll see the appeal.
Kerf uses responsible sourced wood for its cases, lines them in suede to make your device fit perfectly with responsive wooden buttons, and even tacks on a lifetime warranty. Its cases aren’t cheap – starting at $59 – but if you’re looking for a case with a one-of-a-kind element, this is definitely one to check out.
The sheer resolving power of full-frame Canon EOS bodies like the EOS 5DS and 5DS R, with their 50.6MP image sensors, demand the utmost sharpness from lenses, while even the EOS 5D Mark IV and EOS 6D Mark II have fairly high megapixel counts, at 30.4MP and 26.2MP respectively. But there’s more to a good lens than just its ability to resolve fine detail.
Handling is a key factor in how a lens performs in real-world shooting. You’ll need fast and accurate autofocus, to ensure that you nail defining moments in anything from a fleeting expression in portraiture to action sports and wildlife photography. In handheld shooting, meanwhile, effective image stabilization can make an enormous difference.
And outright image quality is about much more than sharpness. Good contrast is highly desirable, even when shooting wide-open at the largest available aperture. Other attributes we tend to look for are minimal distortion and color fringing, good resistance to ghosting and flare, and reasonably low vignetting (darkened image corners). Increasingly, shortfalls in various aspects of image quality can be corrected in-camera, or in post-processing, but that’s a poor substitute for great optical quality.
Image quality
Other facets of image quality are harder to quantify, like ‘bokeh’ (the attractiveness of defocused areas within images). It’s a critical aspect of performance for ‘fast’ lenses that enable a tight depth of field, as well as enabling you to retain moderate shutter speeds even under dull lighting without the need to really push your camera’s ISO setting.
Unlike with the systems of some other manufacturers, including Nikon and Sony, you can’t mount a lens that’s designed for a Canon APS-C format body on a full-frame camera. Shooting in ‘crop mode’ is therefore off the menu, and you’ll need to invest in the right type of lenses. So where Canon, Sigma and Tamron classify their APS-C format lenses as EF-S, DC and Di-II respectively, you’ll need Canon EF, Sigma DG or Tamron Di lenses for a full-frame body.
It’s certainly not always the case that own-brand Canon lenses outperform competitors from independent manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron. Indeed, some of the latest lenses launched by the independents are simply superb, while considerably undercutting Canon glass for price.
Based on our extensive lab tests and ‘real-world’ testing, here’s our top-10 list of lenses that cover a wide range of popular categories, as well as great-value alternatives to suit tighter budgets.
Canon’s EF 11-24mm lens reigns supreme as the most wide-angle zoom on the market, unless you go fisheye. However, this Sigma comes so close that you’ll hardly notice the difference, and it costs about half the price. Compared with the time-honoured Sigma 12-24mm II, the more recent ‘Art’ edition of the lens has upgraded optics, with an extra-large-diameter aspherical element at the front, plus five top-quality FLD (Fluorite-equivalent Low Dispersion) elements. Fluorine coatings are applied to the front and rear elements, and the mounting plate gains a weather seal ring. The autofocus system is revamped and noticeably faster, and the new lens switches to a constant-aperture design. From an image quality standpoint, sharpness and control of distortions are excellent, and represent considerable improvements over the previous edition. As with many ultra-wide lenses the hood is built-in, offering physical protection to the bulbous front element. However, this means you can’t easily fit filters, unless you go for a system like the Lee Filters SW150 Mk II.
Great-value option: Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
It’s not quite as ultra-wide as the Sigma, but this Tamron undercuts it for cost while adding optical stabilization and a faster f/2.8 aperture rating.
Wide-angle prime: Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A
The widest f/1.4 prime in Sigma’s current range of Art lenses
Type: Prime | Sensor size: Full-frame | Focal length: 20mm | Maximum aperture: f/1.4 | Image stabilizer: No | Weather seals: No | Minimum focus distance: 0.28m | Filter size: None | Dimensions: 91 x 130mm | Weight: 950g
Excellent build and image quality
Wide f/1.4 aperture rating
No filter attachment thread
No stabilization
Sigma’s ‘Art’ lenses promise to unleash photographers’ creative potential, delivering excellent image quality and fast aperture ratings. There’s a large selection of f/1.4 primes in the lineup, including 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm lenses to choose from. This 20mm is not only the widest-angle f/1.4 optic in the range (there’s also a 14mm f/1.8 lens), but is remarkable in combining such a wide aperture with such a short focal length. The no-compromise design and superlative image quality are enabled by an extra-large-diameter aspherical lens; this makes for an undeniably chunky and heavy build, but it’s a feast of a lens.
Great-value option: Irix 15mm f/2.4 Firefly
It lacks autofocus, but this is a fabulous manual-focus lens that’s beautifully built and a real joy to use. The ‘Blackstone’ edition adds a couple of extra luxuries, but the Firefly is unbeatable value.
Standard zoom: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
It’s the go-to standard zoom for professional photographers the world over
After 10 years of faithful service, the original edition of this lens was replaced by the Mk II in 2012. As range-topping L-series lenses, both featured weather seals, but the newer version boasted stronger build quality and a string of optical enhancements; to name but a few, the Mk II bumps up the number of aspherical elements from two to three and has two rather than one UD elements, plus a new Super UD element, and an extra diaphragm blade to give a more well-rounded aperture. It’s super-sharp and particularly rich in contrast but, unlike recently launched competitors from both Sigma and Tamron, lacks image stabilization.
Great-value option: Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
The G2 (Generation 2) edition of Tamron’s 24-70mm lens combines excellent image quality with a tough build, great handling and image stabilization, the latter of which is lacking in the Canon lens. The original edition of Tamron’s 24-70mm f/2.8 stabilized lens is also still on sale, and rather less expensive to buy.
Standard prime: Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD
Who says you don’t need stabilization in a standard prime?
Photographers looking for a top-quality standard prime for Canon full-frame cameras are usually torn between the somewhat basic and old-fashioned EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, and the outrageously ‘fast’, eye-wateringly expensive EF 50mm f/1.2L USM. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A is ultimately a better choice than both of them for performance and value, but this Tamron wins out for everyday shooting. It loses two-thirds of an f/stop in aperture rating compared with the Sigma, but is a much more manageable size and weight, and features image stabilization. You could argue that you don’t really need stabilization in such a ‘fast’ lens, but we disagree. Standard primes are often used in preference to zoom lenses on account of their excellent sharpness and minimal distortion, not just for their faster apertures; you might well want to dial in a medium or narrow aperture setting to extend the depth of field, and this is where stabilization can be a huge help in handheld shooting.
Great-value option: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
In both our lab tests and real-world shooting experience, the performance of this humble, entry-level lens pretty much matches that of the pricier Canon f/1.4. It’s a crazily good lens at the price.
Superzoom: Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
It’s a supersized superzoom, and definitely not a ‘travel lens’
People often buy a superzoom for holiday and travel photography, the big advantage being that you can fit a single lens onto your camera and be prepared for pretty much any photo opportunity, without the need to carry around a bag full of lenses. Those lenses tend to be relatively compact and lightweight to keep them travel-friendly; by comparison, Canon’s only full-frame superzoom is built like a battleship. It’s not only very sturdy, but it’s also huge, and a real heavyweight at 1,670g. To put that into perspective, it’s more than twice as long and more than twice as heavy as Tamron’s competing 28-300mm full-frame superzoom. On the plus side, image quality is extremely good for a superzoom, although there’s still a little compromise in terms of sharpness and distortions, compared with using two lenses that have more modest zoom ranges to cover the same overall range. Ultimately, it’s only worth considering for event photography, where you might need to quickly switch between wide-angle and telephoto shooting, and everything else in between, with a flick of a wrist.
Great-value option: Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD
It’s much less expensive than Canon’s full-frame superzoom, and much more manageable. Image quality is pretty good overall, but the autofocus system and overall build quality are comparatively basic.
Portrait prime: Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
This new arrival in the portrait lens category is set to become a classic
All too often you have to choose between a really fast aperture rating or image stabilization. For example, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art is a great lens for portraiture, but it lacks stabilization. Then there’s the even faster Canon 85mm f/1.2L, which goes overboard and is capable of a depth of field that’s really too shallow for portraiture anyway. Alternatively, you can sacrifice two-thirds of a stop from f/1.4 and add stabilization, courtesy of the excellent Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC USD. For the first time, however, Canon’s new 85mm f/1.4L IS USM gives you everything. It offers brilliant build quality, stunning image quality, excellent all-round performance, and highly effective stabilization, complete with a fast f/1.4 aperture. Stellar sharpness is maintained right into the corners of the frame, even when shooting at the widest aperture. Equally importantly, the bokeh (quality of defocused areas) is as smooth, rich and creamy as you could wish for from a portrait lens.
This lens doesn’t have the fastest aperture rating, and it’s not stabilized. However, it’s a really smart buy for a budget portrait lens, combining good sharpness and contrast wide-open with soft and dreamy bokeh.
Macro prime: Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro
This lens goes toe-to-toe with Canon’s EF 100mm f/2.8 IS
The latest edition of this Tamron classic undercuts Canon’s range-topping EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM for price, yet goes toe-to-toe in terms of features and specifications. Indeed, the feature list includes a revolutionary hybrid optical stabilization system, which can counteract shift in the vertical and horizontal axes, as well as angular vibration or wobble – this was the Canon’s main claim to fame when it was launched, prior to the arrival of the Tamron competitor. The hybrid stabilization performs better in handheld close-up shooting, but you’ll still need a portrait lens for ultra-close macro shots.
Great-value option: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro
It lacks the Tamron’s hybrid stabilization system and weather seals, but has refined handling and delivers superb image quality.
Budget telephoto zoom: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
A long time coming, the Mk II edition has proved well worth the wait
More than a decade old, Canon’s original 70-300mm IS USM lens was really showing its age, with an outdated image stabilizer and sluggish autofocus that struggled to track moving subjects. Launched early in 2017, the Mk II edition represents a major revamp in terms of design philosophy, features and performance. Capturing sporting action and wildlife on the hoof is much easier, thanks to a new and much speedier Nano USM autofocus system that’s also much quieter in operation; indeed, it combines all the best bits of ring-type ultrasonic and stepping motor systems in one hit. The image stabilizer gains a full extra stop in effectiveness with a four-stop rating and, perhaps most importantly of all, the revised optical path delivers sharper images with better contrast, especially when shooting with wide apertures in the mid-to-long section of the zoom range; this is an important factor for ‘budget’ telephoto zooms which have a relatively slow aperture rating, requiring you to often shoot at their widest apertures to maintain fast shutter speeds. And for a little extra trickery, there’s a neat digital display on the lens barrel. It’s a bit more expensive than Canon’s previous 70-300mm lens, but a much better buy. One sore point is that the lens hood is sold separately, and the genuine Canon article is outrageously pricey in the UK at around £80 (it’s just $45 in the USA).
Great-value option: Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD
As well as being our top pick for APS-C format cameras thanks to its good performance and relatively low price, this Tamron is also a smart budget buy for full-frame bodies. It’s not much cheaper than the Canon lens, but the lens hood is included in the price.
Fast telephoto zoom: Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
This new ‘Generation 2’ lens is the cream of the crop
Canon’s cream-colored telephoto lenses practically epitomize professional photography. More than just a style statement, the cream finish is intended to reflect sunlight and minimize the build-up of heat in big lenses that have a large surface area. Unfazed, Tamron’s 70-200mm is back in black, but it’s nevertheless well suited to shooting in any weather conditions, come rain or shine, with a solid metal barrel, a full set of weather seals and a muck-repellent fluorine coating on the front element. It matches the legendary Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM in most areas, and beats it in others. Autofocus performance is lightning-fast and deadly accurate, improving over that of the original Tamron. Image stabilization is simply the best in class for this type of lens, with 5-stop effectiveness and three modes to choose from, including static, panning, and a third option that applies stabilization only during actual exposures, making it easier to track erratically moving subjects. When it comes to image quality, there’s virtually nothing to choose between this lens and Canon’s finest.
Great-value option: Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
The Sigma is significantly less expensive to buy than the Tamron G2 lens, and delivers very pleasing image quality along with rapid autofocus performance. However, it’s not weather-sealed and the image stabilizer is less effective.
Super-telephoto zoom: Canon EF 200-400mm f/4 L IS USM 1.4x Extender
Until recently this was the only 200-400mm lens that could stretch to 560mm
Canon announced this lens five years ago, and it’s interesting to note that Nikon has only just bought a competing 180-400mm lens to the market. Both lenses have the same not-so-secret weapon for extending your telephoto reach, in the shape of a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, or ‘extender’ as Canon likes to call them. So what you have, essentially, is a top-flight 200-400mm zoom lens with a constant f/4 aperture, with the added bonus being that if you need more reach you can simply push a lever to engage the extender, boosting your focal length to as much as 560mm. As with any 1.4x teleconverter, there’s a downside in that your widest available aperture narrows by an f/stop, in this case to f/5.6. It has to be said that, since Canon launched this lens, Sigma and Tamron have brought 150-600mm optics to the market which don’t need an internal teleconverter, but we simply love this lens for its razor-sharp image quality and stunning all-round performance. It’s ‘the’ telephoto zoom to buy if money’s no object, although you’ll also want to factor-in the price of a sturdy monopod –- this lens weighs the best part of 4kg.
Great-value option: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S
Sigma’s 150-600mm Sport lens is seriously good, overtaking the company’s Contemporary edition for image quality, overall performance and build quality. It’s nearly a kilo lighter than the Canon at ‘just’ 2,860g and much easier on the wallet.
