STACK #243 January 2025

CONTENTS

ISSUE 243 JAN 2025

TECH 5 Tech tips and editor’s pick

7 Back to school: Shopping tips 10-11 Back to school: Laptops 13-15 Back to school: Chromebooks 17-19 Back to school: Tablets 21-23 Back to school: Monitors 25 Back to school: Stay connected 27 Back to school: Peripherals 29 Back to school: Charging solutions 31-33 Back to school: Accessories 35 Qualcomm processors explained 37-39 Portable projectors are go! 41 The best tech of 2024 43 New tech at JB this month GAMING FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 Take 5/Chart/Q5 6 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

WELCOME

When we were young, nothing annoyed us more at the start of the summer holidays than seeing the printed words ’back to school.’ It was an ominous reminder that, no matter how much fun we were having, there was an end date, and it would be here before we knew it. Now, as parents, it seems all too obvious – the early heads-up gives us plenty of time to prep, research, and, more importantly, budget for the school year ahead. January has become our annual back-to-school issue, where we break down what’s needed into an easy-to-understand guide that’s packed with a range of the best tech for school use, and a plethora of helpful buying tips. When it comes to choosing essentials like laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, and monitors, this year we’ve made it even easier to pick the device that’s just right for your child’s needs, according to their grade level. You’ll also find tech to keep you connected with your kids, and the essential accessories to complement and protect their devices – from chargers and headphones to laptop bags and sleeves. If it’s needed for the school year ahead, we’ve got you covered! Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

8 Sniper Elite: Resistance Q+A 10 Razer Kishi Ultra reviewed 14-15 The best of both worlds – accessories for work AND play 16 Our 10 favourite games of 2024 17 Out this month/Fast Forward/Wham, bam, game exam! MOVIES & TV 18 Intro/Take 5/Filmmaker’s Signature/On the Radar/ In Development/Bob J’s Film Buff Bafflers 19 Merch of the Month/Charts/2024 best sellers/Socials 20 Our Top 10 flicks for 2024 21 A melody of madness: Joker Folie á Deux 22 Memoir of a Snail : Interview with Adam Elliot 24 Knuckles’ big break 26 New to 4K 28 New from Imprint Films 34 Gracie Abrams adds four new tracks to her stellar 2024 release, The Secret of Us, while Blink 182’s One More Time gets the deluxe treatment. 35 Fred Again’s Ten Days hits on vinyl, and Franz Ferdinand return with their sixth studio album, The Human Fear . 36 STACK rolls out our favourite 24 Aussie albums from, you guessed it, 2024. 38-39 What fresh music is landing at JB this month? 40 Rock ’n’ roll stories from Stuart Coupe 41 Vital Vinyl - Four new records to add to the collection 30 Out this month 31 The latest anime MUSIC 32 My first album/ STACK Exchange.

jbhifi.com.au/stack

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Billy Pinnell, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Michael Irving, Stuart Coupe, Trista McConville, James O’Connor, Michael Caverzan

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando

Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

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