STACK #259 May 2026

CONTENTS

ISSUE 259 MAY 2026

GAMING 6 Take 5/Charts/Q5/Wham, bam, game exam! 8 Land of the Horizon Sun: Forza Horizon 6 preview 10 Book a date with Yoshi! Yoshi and the Mysterious Book preview 12 Bat's entertainment! LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Q+A 14 Mum's in your thoughts? Go quartz! Razer Mother's Day roundup 16 What's out this month? MOVIES & TV 18 Take 5/Charts/Cinema highlights/ Bob J's Film Buff Bafflers 20 Ethan Hawke gets Hart in Blue Moon / Anemone : The Day-Lewis legacy 22 Origins of evil: Welcome to Derry / A wilder "Wuthering Heights" 24 Desert rave! A father's journey - Sir ā t / Going ape: Primate unleashed 26 Back in the ring: Raging Bull 28 Reel classics: New from Imprint Films 30 4K all the way MUSIC 36 Take 5/My first album 38 New albums: Michael Jackson - Michael / Yungblud - Idols (Complete) 40 New albums: Melanie C - Sweat /Amyl and the Sniffers - Giddy Up/Big Attraction 42 Vital vinyl: Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir (20th Anniversary Edition) 44-45 What's out this month? 32 What's out this month? 33 Game night starts here 34 Ani-May! 4-6 Your guide to smarter TV shopping 8 New RGB Mini LED tech explained 12-13 2026 TVs: LG 14-16 2026 TVs: Samsung 18-20 2026 TVs: Hisense 22-24 2026 TVs: TCL 26-28 The latest soundbars from LG and Samsung 30 JB Hi-Fi TV installation 32 Essential smart TV accessories 34 Smart rings vs. fitness tracker bands 36 The WHOOP tracker band difference 38 Master your laundry with LG 40-42 Hot new laptops out this month 44 Fold and flex with the OPPO Find N6 46 HONOR phones put power in your pocket 48-50 What's new in home hair care 52-54 Level up your latte with the latest coffee makers TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK

WELCOME

When was the last time you upgraded your TV? Like most tech around the house, we tend to buy new when the old one dies or becomes incompatible with new standards. There have been huge shifts in TV technology in the last two years, let alone the last five. If your TV has seen better days, upgrading in 2026 is about stepping into a completely different viewing experience. The biggest shift is how ‘smart’ TVs have become. Modern sets now use AI technology to automatically adjust picture and sound in real time, analysing what you’re watching and optimising it scene by scene - no fiddling with settings required. That means clearer sport, richer movies, and even old content looking sharper thanks to advanced upscaling. Picture quality has also taken a noticeable leap. Brighter OLED panels and improved Mini LED technology deliver deeper blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colour – even in bright living rooms. It’s the kind of upgrade you notice instantly, whether you’re streaming, gaming, or watching free-to-air. Then there’s how we actually watch TV now. With streaming making up the majority of viewing, today’s smart TVs are built as entertainment hubs, giving you instant access to apps, live TV, music, and more in one place. Add in smoother motion for sport and gaming, bigger screen sizes becoming more accessible, and sleeker, wall-friendly designs, and the difference is hard to ignore. Upgrading your TV in 2026 isn’t just an increase in size – it’s an upgrade in how you watch, hear, and experience everything on screen. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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, James O’Connor Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Billy Pinnell, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Trista McConville, Michael Caverzan

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

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

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

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2026 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

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