Pocket-lint

3 Plex settings you need to change for the ultimate movie night

Roger Fingas — Sun, 24 May 2026 22:00:19 GMT

You may have heard recently that Plex is raising the cost of a lifetime Plex Pass to $750. Honestly, that's way too much, since there are free alternatives for streaming local media, such as Jellyfin. The good news is that most people don't need the Pass, and with or without that plan, Plex may still be worth it -- particularly if you want the bonus of ad-supported movies and shows you don't need to host yourself.

How to get the best audio quality from your TV’s built-in speakers

Roger Fingas — Sun, 24 May 2026 19:00:21 GMT

Before anything else, I should address the point that probably immediately popped into your head. Yes, external speakers will almost always sound better than internal ones. There are inherent space limitations to modern TVs that affect their acoustics, especially with anything light enough to mount on a wall. Even a 2.0-channel soundbar is likely to sound better, although you do need to shop carefully -- a Sonos Ray is going to wipe the floor with a $50 model you picked up from Amazon or Walmart.

How to fix the 4 most common HDMI problems on your TV

Roger Fingas — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:00:20 GMT

Unless you're going to use your TV as-is out of the box, it's essential to become familiar with HDMI. It's not just how media streamers, cable boxes, and game consoles connect to your TV -- it's how many speaker systems connect as well. If you're still using a soundbar based on an optical cable or 3.5mm stereo, you're probably not getting the most out of your TV.

6 must-try Pixel features you probably haven't heard of

Ian Carlos Campbell — Sun, 24 May 2026 15:30:20 GMT

On some level, the Pixel is supposed to represent Google's idealized version of an Android phone. Every Pixel is supposed to be the Google-iest version of a smartphone that can exist. The company has spent years developing the hardware and general look of the Pixel line, leading it down the unconventional design path that produced the camera bar, but it's also done the same thing with software.

This universally-loved fantasy movie is free to stream for the first time ever

Amanda Kondolojy — Sun, 24 May 2026 14:01:21 GMT

If you're a fantasy fan, there hasn't been much for you at the multiplexin the 2020s. Sure, there was the How to Train Your Dragon remake, and technically musical films Kpop Demon Hunters and Wicked both fall into the fantasy genre, but if you are a fan of good ol' sword and sorcery, it has been a rough few years.

5 cheap ways to make your old smart TV run faster

Roger Fingas — Sun, 24 May 2026 11:00:18 GMT

With early smart TVs, smooth performance was sometimes an afterthought. The first one I owned was slow from the get-go, saddled with a weak processor and inefficient proprietary apps. It did its job, but I was overjoyed once I plugged in a Chromecast. Casting from my phone was so much faster and easier.

The key advantages physical media still has over streaming services

Anthony Marcusa — Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:10 GMT

For all the seeming convenience that streaming services offer, with vast libraries of titles available on demand, there are subtle and sometimes surprising drawbacks to opting for online entertainment. Netflix and others destroyed the cable model, only to later copy it, but there is still plenty of support for physical media.

How to stop your LG TV from spying on you

Saeed Wazir — Sat, 23 May 2026 22:00:19 GMT

Every LG owner should be aware that their TV is spying on them, thanks to hidden WebOS features. It takes screenshots of the content you're watching and shares your information with third parties. It also stores more information than you think in the user agreements that you might have ticked without reading.

4 cheap ways to upgrade your smart TV streaming quality

Eli Becht — Sat, 23 May 2026 19:00:20 GMT

The world has been moving away from traditional cable for several years now, and that means you should be hopping on the streaming bandwagon. Pretty much any TV you buy these days will have a streaming interface that lets you download all the popular streaming apps like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. A lot of people just install those apps on their TV and call it a day, but there's so much more that can make your streaming setup better. Many upgrades mean you have to spend an arm and a leg, but there are some smaller ones you can make too.

The budget TV picture settings you need to change for a premium picture

Roger Fingas — Sat, 23 May 2026 17:01:20 GMT

To get an important thought out of the way, no, you can't make any major upgrades to a TV through software. Through downloads, you might gain access to an AI assistant, some new apps, or expanded smart home functions, but it's not like you can add 4K or HDR10+ to a TV that wasn't already compatible. It's akin to expecting a patch to add another 20mph to your EV (or PEV).