I have the M2 iPad Air, which was released in 2024, and despite it being a couple of generations old, it still works extremely well. I just wish I could find more reasons to bring it into my everyday life.

Maybe I’m not thinking creatively enough about how it could fit into my daily routine, or perhaps there are opportunities I’m missing. Either way, it’s got me questioning why it isn’t a device I reach for more regularly.

The awkward middle ground

I’ve got the iPad, I’ve got the Apple Pencil, but I also have an iPhone nearby pretty much all the time.

I know not everyone runs their own Substack, but whenever I’m preparing an article, I usually research things on my phone and type up my thoughts on my laptop. This unfortunately means that my iPad is missing from that workflow.

I should point out that I’ve tried using the iPad to write articles in the past, but even though it offers multitasking, I still find a laptop easier to work with. Especially when some of my content requires me to research things in between typing.

I feel as though my iPad sits somewhere in the middle of this workflow. If I’m going to use it as part of my blogging routine, it needs to fit in seamlessly rather than making things more complicated.

What I do find myself using my iPad for, well, for the couple of times a month that I pick it up, is browsing the web and gaming.

Sometimes it’s easier when you’re sitting on the sofa to browse holidays on a bigger display without the hassle of getting your laptop out. You can properly see the images, zoom in with your fingertips and show your other half that discounted summer trip you’ve just found.

Gaming is another good use case. There are some games that are specifically designed for the bigger screen and are genuinely fun to play on the iPad. I definitely don’t game on my laptop, so it’s something I enjoy using the iPad for. But I’m a casual gamer, so it’s not something I do all the time.

Travelling is another occasion when the iPad comes in handy. If I’m on a long train journey, you best believe I’ve got Apple TV and Netflix programmes downloaded beforehand to help pass the time. Especially when the Wi-Fi on trains isn’t particularly reliable!

I guess there’s nothing wrong with using the iPad occasionally, but I like to get the best use out of my technology. And let’s face it, an iPad isn’t cheap.

It’s not that I regret buying it. I just feel frustrated that I haven’t found more reasons to use something I genuinely like.

Searching for a reason to use it

Rather than just writing about why I’m not using my iPad more, I thought I’d share what I’ve been doing to find some inspiration.

Like many people, I turned to TikTok.

I searched for things like ‘best iPad use cases’ before being met with lots of creators showing you how to make your iPad aesthetically pleasing, along with suggestions for planning, taking notes and generally boosting your productivity.

This got me thinking. Has the iPad become a device that’s primarily used for productivity rather than gaming and media? Or is that just the type of content I’m coming across?

I’m certainly not against using my iPad for productivity, but it does seem to be one of the main recommendations whenever I look for inspiration.

Maybe the Apple Pencil plays a part in that too. Taking notes and planning things arguably feels more natural when you can replicate the experience of writing on paper, just on a digital screen.

While the TikTok suggestions are useful, I do wonder whether I should really need to be searching for ways to use a device I already own.

I guess these tips are helpful, but are they more useful for people who are deciding whether to buy an iPad in the first place?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m always interested in discovering new apps and features. If there’s something that could genuinely improve my routine, I’d happily give it a go.

But I don’t particularly want to start using a digital planner just to give myself another reason to pick up my iPad.

Maybe that’s part of the problem. I’m trying to find a reason to use it rather than naturally reaching for it when I need something.

Does everything need to be an everyday device?

Firstly, I don’t want to sell my iPad. Well, not unless I’m replacing it later with a newer model!

I like having it, and it’s there whenever I want to use it. I just feel as though I’m not getting the best use out of it, and perhaps there are occasions when I could be using it more.

On another note, maybe it’s okay that my iPad isn’t an everyday device.

How we use technology is constantly evolving, and I can’t believe how much I now rely on my phone for things I would previously have done on a bigger screen.

Obviously, there are still things where I’d rather use a more capable device. Imagine trying to design a website on your phone? Even with AI, I think that would still be challenging.

But perhaps that’s where the iPad struggles to find its place in my routine. My phone handles most of the everyday stuff, and my laptop is there when I need to get something more substantial done.

That leaves my iPad somewhere in between.

I sometimes feel like I should be using it more, particularly when I think about how much it cost. But it’s not really about the money. It’s more that I enjoy technology, and I know the iPad is capable of so much more than what I’m currently using it for.

Maybe I don’t need to justify having an iPad. Maybe it’s become a device that’s useful at certain times, convenient for browsing and shopping, great for the occasional game and ideal when I’m travelling.

And maybe that’s perfectly fine.

I’m still keen to explore other ways of using it, and I’d love to find something that makes me reach for it more often. But I’m also starting to wonder whether I’m trying too hard to make it part of my everyday routine.

Perhaps the iPad doesn’t need to replace anything in my life. It just needs to be useful when I actually want to use it.

Do you own an iPad that you rarely use? Were you in the same position as me but have since found a great use for yours? I’d genuinely love to hear how you’re using it, so let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Likes

• It looks good - No one can deny that Apple’s iPhones look amazing these days. They look so premium and put together that even though there have been foldables before, the iPhone Duo really feels like something new. It’s only available in two colours right now, but I expect future generations will come in a wider lineup of colours, and maybe even a cheaper version.

• Display - The inner display looks so impressive. It’s ideal if you game, watch streaming services, or want to be productive across multiple apps. Definitely one of the phone’s biggest selling points.

• Software - It runs on the latest iOS, and Apple have really elevated their iOS features this year.

• Desk Stand - Ever charged your iPhone on a stand and noticed that widget screens pop up? Well, on the iPhone Duo, your phone doesn’t even need to be charging. Simply fold it slightly and stand it on your desk, and you’ll be able to display beautiful widgets including a clock, camera and Apple Music.

• Apple Pencil Support - A lot of people might not use this, but it’s the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil. It works with the USB-C Pencil, and once connected, you can draw and navigate your device with it.

Dislikes

• The Sidebar - I don’t know if this is the right terminology, but on the iPhone Duo the controls are all on the right-hand side. Basically, where the dock used to be has now shifted to the side with the other controls. I think this looks good, but apps look left-aligned, especially on the outer display.

• Messaging - I’ve only seen a few use cases of the Messages app on the Duo, but in the ones I have seen, the keyboard takes up the majority of both the outer and inner display. That means you can only see one or two messages above it and need to scroll. I’m not sure if this can be adjusted in the settings, but I like to see multiple bubbles of my conversation when I’m messaging.

• Front Facing Camera - I actually think it’s cool how the front facing camera disappears into the screen, but the 12MP quality isn’t great, especially when most people like a selfie nowadays.

• Camera Zoom - This is a big reason I can’t upgrade. Well, this and the phone being over £2k. I love using the telephoto zoom on my iPhone 17 Pro Max, especially when I don’t get a good seat at a concert and want to zoom in on the performance. It’s a shame the Duo doesn’t have it, as the detail on the big screen would be brilliant.

• Touch ID - If you’re upgrading to the Duo from a recent iPhone, you’ll notice the switch to Touch ID. The iPhone Duo doesn’t support Face ID and requires a fingerprint to unlock it. While this is still secure, it feels like a step back for Apple. It’s not included because of the phone’s design, as there isn’t enough space for the Face ID sensor. Maybe we’ll see it return in future versions of the device.

• App Support - A lot of apps aren’t ready for the Duo at launch. They still work, but it’s basically just zoomed or stretched versions of their existing app views. As the device is so expensive and there’s been huge demand for it, it would have been nice to see more apps support it from day one.

Over to you

As always, I’m keen to know your thoughts on the new iPhone Duo. Will you be upgrading? Do you have it already? Please share your likes and dislikes in the comments.

Why I bought it

You may have seen my earlier post about the Apple Watch, which I’ve had for years across several generations. I said it’s still a great device, but the battery life was inconvenient for me. I had to charge it every day and often forgot, which is understandable given everything it does and the clear screen it has to power.

Then I stumbled across the Oura Ring, probably thanks to my TikTok For You feed. What stood out was that it can last a week on a single charge. Not having to charge daily while it still tracks my metrics was a game changer, so battery was my main reason for switching.

That said, I love tech, so I had to look into the app first. Leaving Apple Fitness and those iconic rings you try to close each day was a big decision. The Oura app is stunning though, and it integrates with Apple Health. I’ve had to say goodbye to the activity rings designed for Apple devices, but the visualisations and active calorie tracking in the Oura app made it look like a suitable replacement.

Just to call out, this is an Unboxed post, so I’m reviewing the Oura Ring 5 less than a week after getting it. This is my initial impression, and I’ll write a Second Thoughts post once I’ve had it for a while and really got to know the ring and its app.

I’d also heard that Oura’s sleep tracking is among the best on the market, and I’m already seeing that after only a couple of days. Each morning you wake up to impressive stats, including how long you slept, heart rate variability, body temperature, respiratory rate and more. It uses these to give you a readiness score based on how well you’ve slept. The app presents it all so well that you really want to read and learn from your stats.

Out of the box

It’s beautifully presented. That was my first impression when I opened the package. You first see the ring on its premium-looking charger, which comes with a charging base and a cable. There’s no plug, like most devices these days, but it’s USB-C so you’ll likely have a connection for it already.

Setup was easy, and the ring arrived with about 80% charge, so I didn’t need to do a full charge to begin with. In fact, a lot of sources recommend short charges every now and then, and keeping the ring in the 30%-80% range for optimum battery performance. The app is what you use to get started, and you’ll need the ring on its charging base to connect it. It guides you through the process and asks for some details, including your measurements, which is standard across smart devices nowadays.

Not every metric is available straight away, as the ring needs to learn you and your patterns. It takes about two weeks before you start to get deeper insights.

It’s worth noting that you need to pay for the app to access all your metrics. There’s a free version, but it’s very limited in what you can see. Most Oura Ring users will pay, so it’s worth factoring in before you buy. It’s around £5.99 monthly, or you can get a discounted annual membership.

The Oura Ring 5 isn’t cheap either. I got the Silver, which cost me £399 on their website. The Black is the same price, and the four other colours are £499.

What I like

1. It doesn’t look like a smart ring. It’s slim and stylish and honestly looks like a normal ring. The only giveaway that it’s an Oura is that I wear it on my index finger.

2. The battery life is really impressive. For context, I charged it to just over 90% a day and a half ago, and as I write this it’s still at 80%.

3. The app is stunning. It really adds to the experience when an app has been designed this well.

What annoys me

Nothing yet, but I still need to live with the ring a little longer, so I’ll be honest if anything comes up in the follow-up. The only thing that could annoy me is the £5.99 subscription when I’ve already paid for the ring, but if the app gives me detailed, actionable insights, I can see past the fee.

Who it’s for (and who should skip it)

If you’re a watch wearer who likes to see your stats at a glance, the Oura Ring might not be for you, as you can’t see your heart rate and other metrics without the app. If you want to track fitness, you’ll also need your phone with you, as the ring has no built-in GPS and relies on your phone’s. It can still track your movement, active calories, steps, activities and more, but it needs your phone nearby for the full experience. If you don’t mind not having a screen and you want amazing battery life, the Oura Ring is for you.

Verdict: Keeper

I’m loving the ring so far, even though I’ve only had it a few days, and I’m looking forward to seeing my stats in full in a few weeks. It was funny at first not having the watch to look at, but I’m liking wearing a normal watch again while the ring does all the tracking.

Are you an Oura Ring user? What do you make of it? If you haven’t got one, is it something you’ve been considering? Let me know in the comments.

Why I bought it

The price was one of the main reasons I picked it up. Amazon were running a better-than-half-price sale at launch, which has since finished. The Fire TV Stick 4K will set you back £69.99 right now while it’s not on sale. If you’re considering buying it, bear in mind that there are other sale events coming up soon, so the price could drop again. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t pay full price for this because it’s pricey for what you’re getting.

Previous Fire Sticks that I’ve owned have always needed a plug. I’m aware the Fire Stick HD had direct power support before this, but this is the first Fire TV Stick 4K to have it. This means you don’t need to plug it into a mains connection. The stick can be powered from a USB port on the back of your TV, which is extremely convenient and the best selling point of this device.

From a technical standpoint, this new generation device features a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. In plain English, that means quicker loading, a stronger Wi-Fi connection and better support for wireless accessories.

This model also runs on Amazon’s new operating system, Vega OS. It’s streamlined, fresh and said to be the fastest yet, while also supporting all the big apps you know and love.

It also comes with a redesigned remote control, shaped to fit your hand better. The buttons have been upgraded too, with a start button that launches your favourite app.

The device also has deep integration with Alexa+, Amazon’s new conversational assistant, with lots of voice commands for controlling your new Fire TV Stick’s features.

Out of the box

I’m a sucker for packaging, so I like that it was neatly packaged in a way that protected the device but still used little cardboard. The first thing I was impressed with was the remote. The curved design really does feel comfortable to hold, much better than the previous flat design.

I then investigated the Fire TV Stick itself, just to understand how it connects to the TV. Amazon also sell an accessory because some TVs aren’t designed to take a Fire TV Stick without needing an HDMI extender. Luckily, it was fine on my Samsung TV. It’s good that they offer the accessory though. In fact, when I bought mine there was a promotion to get the accessory for free, so look out to see if that’s still running.

When setting it up, it had to run an update, which I wasn’t too surprised by as most devices that have been in production prior to launch need the latest software update. This took about 10 minutes and then I was in. The setup process was smooth. It installed the apps I wanted as part of the guided start screens, and I was ready to go quickly. I’ve tried all the main apps and they all work as expected, and they’re pretty fast as well.

What I like

• Compact design – Without the plug there really isn’t much to it, and I’m still impressed that a stick can bring so much content without a set-top box.

• Remote – It’s comfortable, modern and simple to use.

• Software – It’s nice to use and also integrates well with the Fire TV mobile app.

• No plug – Having no plug is a game changer.

What annoys me

• Cost – Had it not been on offer when I bought it, I’d have held off. I think £69.99 is a lot for this device.

• Extender – This doesn’t annoy me as such, but I hope they offer this for free if needed instead of as an additional cost.

Who it’s for (and who should skip it)

• Switching from a digital provider – If you’re leaving a digital TV provider, consider this one-off cost as something you could replace it with.

• Prefer a better interface – Yes, most TVs have smart apps now, but are they as good as this? Do you find them easy to navigate? Are there a lot of apps supported? It might be worth considering the Fire TV Stick if any of these answers are no.

Verdict: Keeper

Overall, I think this is a brilliant device and definitely worth considering if you’re looking for something fresh for your TV. I still have to use it more, so I’ll come back after a while and write about it in the Second Thoughts section.

What do you think of the new Fire TV Stick 4K? Have you bought it? Do you think it’s worth the price tag when it’s not on sale? Let me know in the comments.

Apple has no doubt designed one of the best smartwatches on the market in terms of both design and operating system. But for me, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not enough to keep me wearing the device.

What’s changed

The key reason I’m no longer using my Apple Watch is battery life. A quick search tells me Apple says the watch should last around 18 hours on a normal charge, and I’m not sure I notice it lasting even that long. All I know is that I need to charge it daily, and I often forget.

That’s the real problem for me. I like my metrics to be tracked all the time, so when I forget to charge it before heading out, it’s incredibly frustrating. A whole day of steps, activity and heart rate data simply goes missing, and it makes the watch feel more like a chore than a helpful companion. I remember it being a Sunday morning and I decided I wanted to go a walk in the park, but as I hadn’t charged my watch, it ran out when I was about 10 minutes into my walk.

Even when I do remember, charging it has become one more thing on the nightly to-do list, alongside my phone and everything else that needs plugging in. I’ve been doing it for too long now, and I’d rather have a device that fits around my life than one that demands a routine of its own.

What I’ll miss

There’s plenty I’ll miss. Apple has developed some genuinely recognisable features, the daily activity rings being the obvious one. Seeing your progress each day and trying to close all three rings is a simple but effective bit of motivation, and it’s beautifully integrated into iOS and the Fitness app in particular.

The Apple Watch is also tightly woven into iOS and the default Apple apps. I can check my reminders on my wrist or see my calendar events at a glance, without taking my phone out of my pocket. That kind of convenience is hard to replicate, and it’s what Apple does best.

That said, I’m hoping the advancements coming to Siri will help fill the gap. In theory, I should just be able to chat to my iPhone to stay updated and plan my days, no wrist required. I’ll let you know how that goes.

What’s next

At the time of writing, I’ve got an Oura Ring 5 sizer in the post. I’m still doing my research, but so far I’m impressed, and I’ve never tried a ring to monitor my health before.

Obviously, a ring is a different proposition. It comes without a screen, which is why it can last around a week on a single charge. I don’t mind the lack of a display, though. If I can access my metrics through the app and it’s reliable, I’m happy to give up a digital screen on my wrist. I’ll be keeping a close eye on how accurate and consistent the tracking is, as that will make or break it for me. I’m speaking although I’ve bought the ring already, but its a likely alternative for me.

I’m also looking forward to wearing a normal analogue watch again. I’ve had Apple Watches for years, even before the Series 10, so it’ll be a nice change to go back to something simple, and a good excuse to dig out a watch I’ve not worn in a while. I had a nice Casio watch which has an analogue display, its small and comfortable to wear, and I haven’t worn it in so long.

I do want to call out that I still think the Apple Watch is a fantastic device. I’m just a little bored of it and want to try something new.

Over to you

I’d love to know what your thoughts are on the Apple Watch. Even if I’d upgraded to the latest model, I think I’d still be feeling the same way. They’re still beautiful devices, but battery life is so important to me, and I don’t want something I constantly need to charge.

Do you use a different smartwatch? Are there any better options out there that offer as many features with great battery life? Or are you a smart ring wearer instead? Let me know in the comments.

Before I explore the why, I do think Siri AI is a vast improvement on what we’ve had before, and I understand it has brought a lot of useful updates to the iPhone from a productivity perspective. But I’m exploring why I’m not using it as much as I thought I would, and maybe you’re feeling the same.

Siri finally got smart

A huge part of WWDC was about introducing us to the new Siri, and in true Apple style they delivered a stunning presentation of the new assistant in action. The way you can access it from the Dynamic Island on iPhone, and its visual representation, is so creative. You can now type and talk to it and have natural conversations with multiple requests in one conversation. You can write with it from anywhere across the operating system and take action thanks to its on-screen awareness. It can search your emails in Apple Mail and find things across apps like Photos. Conversations are also kept in a dedicated app that you can access from your Home Screen or App Library. There’s more it can do too, like create shortcuts, make phone calls, compose and send texts, and more.

Why am I still opening ChatGPT?

I expected Siri AI to become my new default AI tool. I even switched my email client to Apple Mail in preparation for the release, as I was ready to go all in on Apple’s AI answer. I thought that because it was using Google’s models, it would be a good choice for my everyday AI requests. But it hasn’t been. I feel as though I’m able to get quicker and better responses to the questions I ask elsewhere. I also like that these AI tools know me and often refer back to their memory. I’ve yet to see Siri do this.

Not all AI is doing the same job

A lot of this comes down to AI doing different things. Siri AI is good for performing actions on your iPhone. Being able to quickly create a calendar event with your voice or ask it to draft a note is ideal, particularly if you use Apple’s default apps.

However, other AI tools do different things. Claude can help in the writing space. Gemini can give comprehensive answers to questions, backed by Google. ChatGPT is a well-balanced all-rounder and tends to generate the best images.

Siri is an assistant. These feel like collaborators.

It’s interesting when you want to ask a quick question about something. This is something I’d love to do on Siri AI, but the conversation flows better and quicker with tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. While I love the animation for Siri, I think the app needs a lot of work to bring it up to the level of the others. I do appreciate that Siri AI is new, though, and I look forward to future enhancements.

The context problem

Siri doesn’t have a built-in memory profile. Instead, it uses the personal context of your device. This is useful, but if you want it to remember a conversation you’ve had with it before, it can’t, as it doesn’t build up a memory profile. All of the other tools mentioned in this post are aware of previous conversations and can pull from them to support future discussions. This is a vital feature and is probably one of the main reasons I continue to opt for third-party services.

Convenience doesn’t beat habit

I wish it did, but having Siri AI accessible at the press of a button or a word command hasn’t made it my first choice. Along with other reasons, I still go back to the other tools depending on what I need. I actually have widgets set up on my phone for all the AI tools, so to be honest they’re still pretty easy to access. I also know you can enable ChatGPT responses in Siri, but you still get responses in the same pop-up interface, which doesn’t work well for everything you’re asking.

My AI toolbox

I do still like Siri AI and it’s promising so far. It may introduce memory and improve its app features in future releases, but I guess that depends on whether Apple wants to stay a personal context assistant or become more than that.

This is how I currently use each of the tools:

• Siri AI – quick requests, like adding things to my calendar

• ChatGPT – thinking things through and ongoing conversations

• Claude – writing and working through ideas

• Gemini – thorough answers that take advantage of the Google ecosystem

Remember, I blog, so I may use AI differently to you.

Apple has the distribution. Does it have the preference?

Apple has over a billion iPhone users across the world. This gives it a huge platform to develop Siri AI further and make it a default choice, but that depends on whether it wants to. Apple’s approach of using personal context might be enough for the company’s strategy, or maybe it will update the assistant year on year, continuously making it better.

Maybe Siri doesn’t replace them?

Rather than replacing other AI tools, Siri might simply complement them. There will still be users who are cautious of AI, and thanks to Apple’s privacy approach, it can give people a way to take automated actions. A lot of people will be more comfortable with Apple looking through their phone content than permitting access by third-party apps.

So has Siri changed how I use AI?

It hasn’t. Well, not yet anyway. It’s definitely more useful than it was, and it works well across the operating system. For me it’s more of a convenience right now, and I don’t feel as though I rely on it day to day. I don’t use the writing tools yet, so I’ll try them out and do another post soon about what I think. I do get Claude to proofread for me, though, so it will need to be pretty good for me to run to Siri.

Thanks,
Chris

I only discovered it recently, so I’m passing it on.

Firstly, you might be wondering why you wouldn’t just have multiple publications under one account, as that is an option, but I guess it depends how you use Substack. I make use of Substack Notes, and I’d like each of my sites to have its own dedicated Notes feed without sharing it with my other publications. To let each publication have its own space and branded profile, creating another account can be the best solution.

I have three publications across three accounts, and the main reason is so each publication can have its own Notes feed, as this is a vital feature I use to share updates.

How to manage multiple Substack accounts

If you open Safari on your iPhone and visit Substack, you can only sign into one account, which isn’t ideal, but trust the process. Here’s what you need to do in Safari:

• Visit Substack.com in Safari and sign in to your first account.

• Once signed in, go to your dashboard by tapping your profile image at the top right and selecting Dashboard.

• Then, at the bottom of Safari, tap the icon to the left of your website address:

  

• You'll then see a menu. Tap Share:

  

• Then expand the menu that pops up by tapping View More:

  

• Then you’ll see an option to Add to Home Screen.

  

• Finally, you’ll get to name the icon for your home screen, and it’ll use your Substack publication icon.

  

• Once you’ve done this, open the new icon on your home screen, then sign out of Substack and sign in again. This effectively resets the Substack login, and once you’ve signed back in, you’ll stay signed in to Substack only in that home screen app.

Each icon keeps its own separate login, which is what makes this work.

Simply repeat the above for each Substack publication you have across different accounts, signing in again once each icon is on your home screen. You’ll remain signed in to each one and be able to launch them instantly from your home screen.

I find this very useful and hope it helps you too.

Thanks,
Chris

For months now there has been speculation that Apple is bringing various improvements to its home setup with a new generation of HomePod devices, an upgraded Apple TV, and potentially a new iPad model. There are more products rumoured, but for this post I’m going to talk about these 3 categories. It’s worth saying up front that none of this is confirmed, and they might not all be announced at the same event, though it’s the HomePod devices that look the most likely to be announced.

A new generation of HomePod

The HomePod mini is rumoured to be getting an upgrade which visually won’t be much different compared to its previous generation, but reportedly there will be new colours available, with pink and green said to be added to the range. Even though these devices may not look very different, they’re rumoured to have under-the-hood improvements including upgraded chips and an improved speaker system, and they’re expected to be powered by the new Siri AI which landed on iPhones last month.

What’s even more exciting about the HomePod rumours is that there’s said to be a new device on the way which includes a display. We’ll refer to this as the Home Hub for now. This has been long rumoured, and the reports suggest a small iPad-like display which sits on the speaker mount. Some sources are speculating it’ll resemble the iMac G4 design as a nod to Apple’s past. It’s rumoured to feature a 6-inch display, which could potentially be removable so you can lift it away (again, this is all rumour at this stage). It’s also speculated that it may include a camera for FaceTime calling.

Apple TV upgrade

The Apple TV is already a neat device, but an upgrade is rumoured to be on the way. As there have been recent upgrades to Apple’s operating systems, it’s speculated that the new Apple TV will form part of your upgraded home setup, and also include enhancements so it can make use of Siri AI. As Apple have been promoting Siri AI having personal context, it would make sense for this experience to launch throughout the full suite of Apple products.

iPad Mini with OLED display

There has been some talk about a new iPad mini which is rumoured to feature an OLED display as well as some hardware improvements. I think a few people were surprised by this rumour, but if it’s true, the mini may still be an appropriate alternative for those who want a smaller device but don’t want to switch to the Duo just yet. Like the rest of this list, it’s not confirmed, and it may not be announced at the same time as the home products.

The event is rumoured to be online only and take place on October 13th, though Apple hasn’t confirmed anything yet. If this is the case, then I’d expect we’d see an announcement of the event next to tell the press and Apple fans that it’s coming.

If the rumours are true, which of these products are you looking forward to seeing? Will any of them be on your wishlist?

The all-new 6-inch Kindle

This is the cheapest device in the lineup and often referred to as the standard Kindle. If you’re looking for something that’s small, sort of fits in your pocket, and is ideal for taking with you on trips when you don’t quite have the luggage space, then this device is probably ideal for you. It comes with 16GB storage which holds between 6,000 and 15,000 books - that’s a lot of reading. Battery life is up to 6 weeks, and books open 30% faster than the previous generation. The display now has a flush front design, meaning the bevel has gone! You can buy it in Ube and Graphite colours.

If you’re looking for a different feel to the Kindle, there’s also a slightly more expensive version with aluminium casing. This starts at 32GB and is available in Alpine Sky Aluminium and Seaglass Green Aluminium.

Price-wise, the new Kindle is £149.99, with the aluminium version coming in at £169.99.

Would I buy it? I think it depends on whether you want a neat-looking device or not. A lot of people customise their Kindles with covers and stickers to make it their own, so I’d only recommend upgrading if you feel like your existing device is a little tired or if you want to have the latest gadgets. These devices are really pretty, but the basic version doesn’t come with a warm light, a feature that many users love in the more expensive devices. However, the standard Kindle is still great to read on and it’s perfect if you need to take it on the go without taking up too much space. Oh, and just to call out, this device isn’t waterproof whereas the other versions are.

The all-new Kindle Paperwhite

The new Kindle Paperwhite is lighter and thinner than previous generations. It comes with an adjustable warm light which makes it easier to read at any hour of the day. It has a whopping 12 weeks of battery life from a single charge. It’s also waterproof, so perfect when you’re sitting by the pool on holiday. The screen is slightly larger at 7 inches, compared to 6 inches in the standard Kindle. This is available in Graphite.

There is also a signature edition of this device available which adds aluminium casing, 32GB of storage, an auto-adjusting front light, and a magnetic charging pinpoint.

This device is being rolled out gradually and as of right now, it’s not available to buy in the UK. Prices are expected to start from around £200.

Would I buy it? Potentially. I really like the look of the Paperwhite. It’s a beautiful device. Those additional features are welcome. The only deciding factor I’d have between this and the standard Kindle is the size. I’d probably prefer the small size, to be honest.

The all-new Kindle Colorsoft

If you want a bit of colour in your device from book covers to highlights, the Kindle Colorsoft might be the option for you. This comes with various enhancements to make reading your favourite books feel more natural. There are various technical improvements and a redesigned display to improve your reading experience. There has been a focus on reducing glare and improving clarity. This device comes with a 7-inch display and the standard version comes in Graphite.

There is also a signature edition of this device available which adds aluminium casing, 32GB of storage, an auto-adjusting front light, and a magnetic charging pinpoint. This is available in Graphite and Fig colours.

This device is being rolled out gradually and as of right now, it’s not available to buy in the UK. Prices are expected to start from around £290.

Would I buy it? I haven’t been sold on the Kindle Colorsoft yet, if I’m being honest, however I believe that’s down to my own preference. I can understand why users might want a colour device though, really enhancing book covers and making it easier to see highlights etc. I still need convincing on whether I’d buy this device but I’d probably need to see it in person.

What else is new

In addition to the new Kindle devices, Amazon has already launched some brand new versions and accessories to accompany the range. These include:

• All of the Kindle devices come with Kids versions with newly designed cases.

• Various new cases per device. Some bring back the iconic buttons for turning pages.

• Amazon Kindle Click - Amazon now has its own page turner which connects using Bluetooth. No need for third-party alternatives.

• New screen protectors, chargers and cables.

Prime Big Deal Days is 6-7 October

We’re currently in the lead up to Amazon’s Big Deal Days on 6-7 October. It’s unknown whether they’ll reduce the price of these new devices, so check out the website for the latest pricing, before or on the days of the event.

Fire TV Stick anyone?

OK, so this isn’t Kindle-related but I need to mention it. Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Stick 4K, and for the first time ever, it no longer requires a plug and can be powered directly from the USB port on the back of your TV. I’ve just ordered this, so look out for my thoughts on it when I’ve tried it out.

What do you think of the new Kindle lineup? Will you be upgrading? Let me know in the comments.

In November 2025, I ordered a pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses after reading a few reviews. I was so excited about them, right up until they arrived then I had the returns form completed within an hour. This was my mistake. I didn’t realise the pair I’d bought had no display in the lenses and were really only for recording short videos. They did a couple more things than that, but I don’t know what led me to believe you could see something in the glasses too. I checked the website, and it turns out glasses like that were coming soon. The Meta Ray-Ban Display are out now, but they come with a much higher price tag, and the ones I ordered didn’t have that functionality. To be fair, Meta were very helpful, and I returned the glasses and got a refund pretty swiftly.

I was a little gutted, to be honest. Then I found myself browsing the Meta website to see what else they had to offer, and I discovered the Meta Quest 3S. I think it’s the cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3 and a really good introductory VR headset. Before I knew it, I’d ordered it in place of the glasses, not really knowing what to expect. Even though I’d watched videos and read about the features, I had never actually tried a VR headset, so the whole thing was new to me.

Unboxing

It arrived on 6th January 2026 and I was amazed by the unboxing. It was so well presented, with the headset and controllers placed perfectly in the box. The build quality is brilliant, and the controllers fit perfectly in your hands. I read a bit more about the device before unboxing it and putting it on my head. It also comes with a charging cable and plug, plus a spacer so you can use it while wearing glasses. It was really easy to put on and the straps were easily adjustable. I pressed the power button, waited for it to load up and, when it did, I was instantly impressed.

Design and Comfort

Even though this is a budget device, I couldn’t believe how premium it felt. There are other VR devices out there which cost thousands of pounds, and while this probably isn’t on their level, it feels like more than a budget entry into the world of VR. It doesn’t feel too heavy on my head, but I only wear it for short periods, so I’m not sure whether you’d notice it more if you were a daily player. Overall, I find it very comfortable when I do have a shot of it.

My First Time in VR

As mentioned, I was new to VR and didn’t know what to expect, but to say I was blown away would be an understatement. I was even impressed with the menus and navigation windows, because they’re literally right in front of you and bigger than any screen I’ve played a game on. There are two ways to control the system and apps: you can use the controllers, or switch to a controller-less mode and use your hands. The headset has cameras built in which detect your hand movements. The first app I tried was YouTube, as I wanted to see a video on a huge screen. It did not disappoint. I’m not sure if it was super high definition, but it was clear to me and seemed at least HD. The sound quality was also great, and you don’t need any third-party accessories for audio as the speakers are built into the headset.

The Games

Amazing. Honestly, some of the games available on this device are superb. You can buy games individually via the store, or you can get the Meta Horizon+ subscription at £7.99 a month, which comes with access to some of the top games.

Here are a few of the games I’ve played and my thoughts on them:

• First Hand – If you want a VR game with cracking graphics that gives you the wow factor, First Hand is unreal. You use your hands to solve puzzles in real time.

• Premium Bowling – A classic bowling game where you feel like you’re actually in a bowling hall. It feels so real, and you can even look behind you as you pick up your ball, ready to take your shot.

• Shooty Fruity – This game is such fun. It’s a fruit-shooting game that keeps you on your toes, as not only do you need to battle fruit monsters, you also need to scan groceries at a checkout. It’s a pretty unique concept.

Just to mention, if you want to play with others but only have the one headset, you can cast what’s on your screen to the Meta Horizon app on your phone, and then cast that from your phone to the TV. Really good if you want to help each other navigate some of the games.

Mixed Reality

Some of the games on the Quest 3S give you an immersive experience where you can’t see your surroundings, but others take advantage of mixed reality. This means you can literally place a game in your living room. It’s really cool and there are some brilliant games to play in mixed reality. And don’t forget apps like YouTube and Disney+ can also be used as part of your space.

The 9-Month Verdict

On the website, Meta say the Quest 3S is for gaming, entertainment, sports and fitness. I’ve yet to watch a full movie on it, but I think it works well for short YouTube clips. For me, gaming is definitely the top use case.

It’s a great device, but if I’m being honest, I’ve only played it a handful of times since getting it in January. That’s nothing to do with the device, and I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for something in the VR space. I just don’t think I’m a huge gamer, so I’m not always inspired to put the headset on.

So who’s it for? If you’re a keen gamer, I’d say go for it. If you’re more like me and only dip in now and then, it’s still a fun bit of kit, but it might not get as much use as you’d expect.

Specs

This post is my own personal view of the Meta Quest 3S after 9 months. I’m not overly technical when it comes to VR, but I’ve noted a few specs below if you’re thinking of buying:

• 8GB RAM

• High-definition resolution of 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye

• 2.5 hours of average run time

• Two storage options: 128GB and 256GB (I bought the 128GB version)

What are your thoughts on the Meta Quest 3S? Do you have one and, if so, how often do you use it?

Only last week I was searching the App Store on my phone, looking through productivity tools. This is actually a habit of mine as I frequently search for better ways to organise and plan. This is when I saw Trello and, if I’m being honest, it took a bit of scrolling to find it as it’s 150th(ish) in the App Store charts and I don’t usually scroll that far down. After checking out the description and screenshots, I thought I’d give it a go and see what it’s all about.

After downloading Trello I was initially a bit confused with how it worked. It has a modern and simple UI, but there are tabs along the bottom, including Boards, Inbox and Planner. I did my research as I wanted to learn what these were without assuming. Here are my learnings, which will hopefully help you too.

Boards - here you can create an individual board for each of your projects. In this case, I’ve created a different board for each of my Substack publications to keep their posts separate.

Inbox - this is a really neat feature. Inbox allows you to drop anything quickly into the app so you can pick it up later. Perhaps you’ve got a quick idea or want to drop in a link to a website, you can add it right into Inbox. Inbox is separate from your boards, but once you’re ready to work on something in your Inbox, you can move it right into any of your boards. It’s a place where you can jot down things for any of your projects, then move them into the relevant one later.

Planner - if you’ve added a scheduled date to any of your tasks across any of your projects, these will appear in a schedule/calendar style view in Planner. For me this is great because if I have posts scheduled across each of my projects, I can see them all together in the one place.

Admittedly, I’ve only been using Trello a week but it’s really working for me right now, and I’m excited to see how easy it makes managing my Substacks in the months to come.

For each of the boards, which are split by my different Substack publications, I’ve created the same 3 lists within them: Idea Bank, Drafting and Queue. Any post ideas I get are put into Idea Bank, when I’m writing them I move them across to Drafting, and when they’re scheduled to go out, they go into Queue. Finally, when a post is published, I simply mark it as Complete in the Queue. You can customise your own system for tracking and preparing posts, and make it work for you. Note that this is how I use it with Substack for planning my content, but there are so many use cases out there for Trello, including:

• Content Planning - it doesn’t matter whether you use Substack or another CMS. You can plan any content here.

• Event Planning

• Habit and Goal planning

• Meals and recipes tracker

• Small businesses

Trello is well established, so it has different features, including the ability to add to your Inbox by emailing from the email address associated with your Trello account. There’s even a Google Chrome extension so you can grab details of a web page and pop it straight into your Inbox.

I hope this post helps anyone looking for a new planning tool. Keen to know if you’ve used Trello? If not, what is your go-to planning tool?

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The main product to look out for is a new iPad mini 8, which will feature the new A20 Pro chip, a camera moved to the landscape edge, and a new speaker design system. There are also rumours that the new device will come with an OLED display. This one actually surprised me, as I wasn’t sure if Apple would keep going with the iPad mini lineup or drop it, given it’s now developing phones which effectively have a built-in mini iPad. It does look good though if you’re in the market for something smaller.

The second thing that was rumoured was a new generation of the HomePod mini, which admittedly looks the same as the last one, but there are new colours. The new-gen model features green, pink and blue alongside white and black. Even though these devices don’t look that different, it’s likely that they’ll be faster and have compatibility with the new Siri AI.

Finally, there’s a new Apple TV, and similarly to the above, it doesn’t look that different. However, the Apple TV device doesn’t really need to look different - it’s already a pretty device. Like the above, it’ll have under-the-hood improvements, and there might be some software and app enhancements. Apple’s operating systems are pretty hard to beat in my opinion.

The iPad mini, HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV devices could be available as soon as next month.

So what would I buy out of these rumoured devices? I’ll rule out the iPad mini right away, as I’ve already got an iPad which I don’t use as often as I should. I was, however, considering a HomePod mini upgrade, but I need to see what’s actually changed and whether it’s worth it. I won’t lie, I was hoping for a bit more of a visual HomePod mini upgrade, and I’m still holding out for a HomePod with a screen. On Apple TV, I’d actually buy one if it could replace my Sky subscription, but I’m still waiting on a device to arrive that can actually do that - come on Apple, deliver something cool with Apple TV!

So my view is that I don’t know, based on the rumours, whether any of these devices are worth updating to, but they do have potential. I’m really hoping there are some exciting features that haven’t been leaked yet.

What do you think of these devices? Is there anything you’re waiting for in the lineup?

One of these capabilities allows Muse to browse and buy from e-commerce stores on your behalf. However, Amazon, one of the world’s largest retailers, has blocked Muse from being able to do this on its platform. Amazon started blocking the agent from 20th September due to it not identifying itself while browsing, and due to concerns that it may store the user’s login credentials.

Meta has pushed back, saying Muse doesn’t have visibility of passwords or payment details, and that it asks before making any purchases.

Meta Muse has only rolled out in the US so far - it’s not available here in the UK yet - so this post is based on what we’ve seen happen there. Given that Amazon operates worldwide, it’s likely trying to get ahead of the situation before Muse reaches other markets. Amazon has also shifted its position, now claiming AI agents are breaking its terms of service more broadly.

This isn’t an entirely new fight - Amazon previously sued Perplexity over its Comet AI agent shopping on Amazon, and won an initial court order blocking it back in March. But Perplexity appealed, and in August a federal appeals court sided with Perplexity, ruling it’s the user, not the AI agent, who’s actually accessing Amazon’s site when it shops on their behalf. So the last time this exact fight reached a court, Amazon lost.

Meta has partnered with several brands to allow direct agentic shopping, including Shopify, Walmart, and PayPal.

This probably won’t be the last we’ve heard of this. Will Meta and Amazon come to an agreement they’re both happy with, that will allow Muse to shop on Amazon? Or will Amazon continue to block this type of shopping on its platform?

For my perspective, I’m glad Amazon is taking this stance. Not because I don’t think allowing an AI to shop for you is okay, but it’s more around third-party services using your account to perform tasks, especially when they hold your payment details. I’m pretty sure Alexa can perform shopping tasks for you, but for me, I’d be more comfortable using that as it’s all part of Amazon’s own ecosystem. I’m supportive of Amazon taking a stance for now because these technologies are advancing so rapidly, and sometimes I feel as though things need a lot more testing before public release, as they’re performing all these actions for you. And are you covered if the agent makes a purchase on your behalf that you didn’t intend to make? Is “my AI ordered it by mistake” a good refund reason?

A lot to think about, but keen to hear your views. Are you excited about Muse? Do you think Amazon should allow it access?

In this post, I’ll tell you why I switched from Gmail’s own app to Apple’s Mail app, and it might not be for the reason you’d think.

I love Gmail

Firstly, before I start this post, I just want to make it clear that I love using Gmail. I find the service fast, modern, and reliable. The @gmail.com domain name is short and easy to say when you’re giving your email out. It’s also tied to Google’s own ecosystem, so you can use your account to access YouTube, Docs, Gemini, and much more. Even the Gmail app is great; it’s super fast and obviously works seamlessly with its own email services.

Apple Mail: Look & Feel

In recent years, Apple Mail has continued to get better. In previous iOS releases, it improved its design, with a stunning edge-to-edge look for emails and great integration with the glass interface. They’ve even introduced categories, making it easy to manage your emails regardless of who your email provider is. You can give emails different flags (which actually works perfectly with starring on Gmail – if you flag an email, it’ll be starred in your Gmail). I also like that Apple Mail has a dedicated app across all of its devices, and if you’re a Mac user, you get access to its stunning desktop app.

Switching ahead of Siri AI in iOS 27

I’d been using the Gmail app for a number of years. I love it – it’s reliable, fast, and really simple to use. So why did I make the switch to Apple Mail? Well… it’s all because of the new Siri AI, which landed with iOS 27 this month. The new Siri is heavily integrated with the Apple ecosystem, and you’re able to ask it to find emails for you, a feature which I thought would be great, as we all know how easily emails can get lost when your inbox is full. As Apple Mail downloads your emails to the device, these all get indexed by Siri AI, so with the power of Apple Intelligence, Siri knows your inbox and can find what you’re looking for, and also take action through the mail app.

I’m glad I switched to Apple Mail prior to iOS 27 launching, as I’ve achieved what I set out to. I can ask Siri to find an email for me and it does it, so I feel as though I’m really taking advantage of this new feature.

Apple has announced that third-party apps will be able to link in with Siri, so this feature may well come to third-party mail apps in the future, but after reading some information online, this feature coming to Gmail isn’t guaranteed – and if it does, it might be a few years down the line. So that’s my reason for switching, and I actually did it early so I could get used to Apple Mail before the new iOS launched.

No Push Notifications

Okay, so there’s one downside to having Gmail in Apple Mail, and that’s the fact that it doesn’t support instant push notifications; it only supports fetch. This means that instead of being notified about a new email as it arrives, it can take at least 15 minutes (longer if your settings aren’t set to this minimum time). Gmail only supports push notifications in their own app and select third-party ones – not in Apple Mail. This doesn’t bother me too much, as you can always open and refresh the mail app and it’ll download your latest emails, but I guess it could be quite annoying if you like instant notifications.

Gmail may get better

As mentioned above, the Gmail app might eventually allow integration with Siri AI. If it does, I may consider switching back.

So that’s why I made the switch to Apple Mail, and I’m really enjoying it so far. I’m in the Apple ecosystem, so it made sense for me to switch and get the benefits of the new Apple Intelligence features. If notifications are important to you and you’re a Gmail user, that’s one thing to note – you won’t get instant email notifications. There are some providers out there which support push notifications and will work seamlessly with Apple Mail; these include Outlook and Yahoo. I didn’t want to switch email providers, though, as my Google account is also used for services like Gemini, and should I ever need to use the web, I find Gmail’s web version the best, and I can easily access my docs too.

Did you switch to Apple Mail with iOS 27, or is there another app you prefer? I’d love to know what you’re using and why.

Rather than keep you guessing until the end of the post, I’m an Apple Music user currently. I used Spotify for several years before deciding to make the switch, and I’m glad I did, especially in recent years as Apple Music has come on a lot, bringing its features on par with Spotify.

Now it’s time to compare the main features of each platform and give my take on the differences in what each one offers.

Music Discovery

Spotify does discovery really well; you get access to daily and weekly mixes, tailored for you. You also have the ability to create blended playlists where it will make recommendations based on what you and others are listening to.

I don’t think Apple Music’s discovery used to be that good, but it’s definitely got better in recent years. There are several playlists made for you, including Your Essentials, which learns from your history. My favourite feature is the stations – you get your own station, playing music you’ve listened to, as well as the discovery station, which is personalised to you, recommending songs you might like.

Audio Quality

Spotify offers 320kbps audio quality for premium users, and this is generally very good for most people, unless you’re really looking for the best in the business.

Apple excels at audio quality with lossless and hi-res lossless included, as well as Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. This, paired with Apple’s AirPods, is the perfect combination.

Music Library

Both platforms have 100M+ songs, so there’s no shortage of tracks to add to your library.

Spotify’s library is clean, fast and easy to navigate. You can split between grid and list view, and easily apply filters to keep your music, podcasts and more separate.

I feel as though Apple Music does the library part well. Remember, Apple already had music before streaming subscriptions – it had the iTunes Store, which has evolved into this library. It’s neat, organised, and syncs across your devices. You can even pin your favourite albums.

App Design

This is an interesting point as both platforms are really slick.

Spotify has had quite a distinct look for several years. For me, it feels like a social network in ways, as the homepage gives quick links and a sort of feed style at the bottom. The tabs are placed along the bottom, giving quick access to your library and create. One thing I don’t love about Spotify is that the app doesn’t have a light mode – it’s always in dark colours. I like when an app has the option of both.

For me, Apple Music wins at design on iOS. It has a stunning menu at the bottom which fits in with Liquid Glass. The tabs are simple and useful: Home, New, Radio and Library. There’s also a search button too, and the now-playing bar appears here when scrolling. It supports both dark and light mode. The homepage is more of a grid, giving you picks and the top songs at the top.

Device Support

Spotify has wide support across many devices, and it offers the same beautiful look and feel across devices, which is probably why it hasn’t adopted Liquid Glass on iOS. One area where Spotify wins is the ability to connect directly to Alexa devices and play music. This isn’t as simple with Apple Music.

Apple Music is available on Android, but you’re going to get the best experience on iOS thanks to its integration with the platform, using Liquid Glass and stunning home screen widgets. It’s also integrated fully with the Apple ecosystem.

Podcasts

Podcasts are integrated directly into the Spotify app, so there’s no additional app needed. You can subscribe to loads of them and they’ll appear in your library, where they can be filtered separately.

Apple has gone for a different approach and has its own dedicated podcast app, keeping your music library completely separate. You may prefer this – the podcasts app is good too!

Social Features

Spotify offers the ability to create blended playlists with partners, family and friends. You can also follow artists, share clips, access merch and see upcoming concerts.

In Apple Music, you can add friends, see what they’re listening to, create shared playlists, view artist concert listings, favourite artists, pin albums and more.

Price

Spotify has a free ad-supported version. Premium prices are £12.99 for an Individual account, £17.99 for Duo (two premium accounts), and £21.99 for Family (up to 6 premium accounts). A student plan is available for £5.99, but student proof is required.

Apple Music doesn’t have a free tier. The Individual plan is £11.99 a month, £1 cheaper than Spotify. The Family plan is £19.99 a month, allowing you to share with up to 5 people via Family Sharing – £2 cheaper than Spotify, but Spotify gives you an extra user. Student is priced the same at £5.99, but it comes with free Apple TV+.

You can also get Apple Music as part of Apple One, which starts from £18.95 a month. Apple One offers bundled Apple services at a cheaper overall price.

Final Thoughts

I’ll echo what I said at the start: both of these services are great, but it really comes down to what works for you. I use Apple Music, but I’m also in the Apple ecosystem device-wise – I’m not sure how appealing Apple Music would be on Android, please let me know if it is! Spotify is still very much a market leader, and it does have so many features that users enjoy, including the yearly Wrapped – Apple Music has its own version of this too! If you’d like to try one of the services, if you’ve always been on the other, look out for free trials – just remember to cancel it before the trial runs out.

I hope this comparison has been interesting. As always, I’d love to hear your views. Let me know which one you choose and why in the comments.

A name nobody saw coming

If you watched the Apple Event last week, you’ll note that they left it until later in the conference before introducing the new iPhone Duo, with one of the biggest surprises being the name. It was heavily rumoured from various sources that the device would be called the iPhone Ultra, so when John Ternus said Duo, everyone was a little taken aback. I thought it was a pretty clever name though, as it represents the two screens.

Design and hardware

I have to say, the device is beautiful, and even though there have been foldable phones on the market for years, Apple knows how to present a device that looks like something pretty special. It has a titanium frame and hinge cover, and the cameras on the back bring a 48MP dual fusion camera system. It runs on the newly announced A20 Pro chip, which is vapour cooled to offer that high performance. It has a dual battery system so they can offer all-day power, which will get you through the busy working day, and nights out. And of course, the all-new Siri AI is well integrated throughout the operating system. I think Apple does software exceptionally well, and you can tell they’ve really thought about it for this device. iOS 27 has been customised on the iPhone Duo, offering an app sidebar, with apps designed in a way that makes them look amazing on the Duo.

The two screens

The two screens are so impressive as well. The outer display lets you do pretty much anything you can do with an iPhone, and if you want more, simply open the phone to the full display. The transition on opening the phone has received positive feedback from critics, as the animation is so seamless. Once opened, the phone has a 50% larger display than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, so that’ll give you an idea of what you’re getting for your money.

iPhone Duo is available in two colours, Night Sky and Star White. Both of which look premium and smart.

The extra features

There are so many nifty features throughout, made possible by the new hardware and software. Here’s a few other things you can do:

• StandBy mode, even when the phone isn’t on charge. You can turn your phone into the perfect desk accessory, displaying your clock, calendar, photos or your favourite widgets.

• Flexible views - if you’re watching a video, you can watch it on whichever screen suits, with the phone positioned in different ways.

• Hands-free FaceTime - iPhone Duo can stand on its own so you don’t need to prop your phone up. You can even open it halfway - sort of like a mini laptop.

• The front camera is also under the display for FaceTime and selfies. There are some reports of the quality not being as good, but the technology that covers the camera is impressive.

• Smart Take lets you take photos automatically. And thanks to the other display, you can let the person you’re photographing see themselves, helping you get the shot right first time.

For a first-generation device it is brilliant in my opinion. Yes, there will be things they can improve upon, but the excitement that Apple has finally created a device like this is definitely felt throughout the internet. Although some people are pointing out that other foldable phone makers developed more of these features first. I do think iPhone wins on iOS though - it’s one of the most stable and reliable platforms out there, built with privacy in mind.

The price is where it falls down

So I’ve spoken about the positives, but I need to comment on one negative until I know more about the device once it comes out and I’ve been to the Apple Store to try it. The negative for me is the price. For the base 256GB model, it costs a whopping £1,999, and if you want more memory, the price goes up to a staggering amount. If you were to purchase this phone on a UK contract (prices are to be confirmed), I’d say it would cost you £83 a month for the device alone on a 24-month contract. There will be options to bring the price down, but it’ll mean opting for a 3 or 4 year contract, and if they release new iPhone Duo devices on a yearly basis, your phone might become old quickly. This is what’s stopping me from upgrading just now, as there is a limit on how much I would pay for a phone, and I can’t justify £83 a month - so for now I’ll stick to my iPhone 17 Pro Max. It’s funny because there isn’t enough of a difference for me to get the 18 Pro Max, and there’s a huge difference with the fold, but it’s too costly. I should point out that if you buy the phone on a plan from Apple, it can be cheaper, but it’s over 30 months instead of 24.

If you are looking for this device, pre-orders start on 16th October at 1pm.

I’m keen to know your thoughts on the iPhone Duo. Was it what you expected? Will you be buying it? Let me know in the comments.

My initial impressions were that the colours are stunning, however the overall phone looks much like my current phone, and that’s what I’m going to talk about today.

Last September, I upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the orange colour that some love, and others hate. My iPhone comes everywhere with me, and I rely on it not only for using social media and contacting people, but I also rely on it for managing my websites including emails, post content and more.

After a full year of using the phone in everyday life, here’s what stands out for me - and my view on whether it’s worth upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro models.

1. Build Quality & Durability

My phone is still in really good nick, but I must admit I always have a case on it. I remember when this phone was released, there were some reports online of the case chipping but due to my quality case, I haven’t experienced this. Shout out to Blanc Space, a company that provides fantastic quality iPhone cases at reasonable prices.

• Screen & Glass: One thing I haven’t used is a screen protector because I’m not a fan of how they feel, but my screen has held up really well. There’s maybe minor scratches if you hold it under the light, but nothing I notice daily. I am conscious when I put my phone in my pocket though - I always make sure it’s in a pocket on its own, and make sure I don’t put it in with my keys. So there isn’t any distinctive screen damage, showing that it’s well made. I’ve even dropped my phone a few times and it’s been fine, phew!

• Buttons & Haptics: The Action Button and Camera Control remain tactile and clicky with no real signs of wear and tear. Admittedly I never use the button that lets you zoom in and out with the camera app. I forget it’s there sometimes. Oops!

• Ergonomics: I have the Pro Max model, so the phone is large, but honestly I couldn’t switch back to a smaller phone now. You really do settle into it after the initial shock of how huge it feels at first. I think initially it can feel like your hand is straining to hold it, but after a month or so, it’s absolutely fine.

2. Battery Health & Heating Up

This is usually where long-term reviews fall apart, but the 17 Pro Max has been surprisingly resilient.

• Battery Capacity: After a full year of daily charge cycles, mostly via a really long wire because that’s my preference over MagSafe, battery health is sitting at 98%. My phone easily lasts a day, but I do need to charge it in the evenings. I think a lot of this is down to the fact that I scroll TikTok in bed.

• Heat: The updated thermal dissipation in the 17 series solved the uncomfortable warmth that plagued earlier models during video export or extended camera use. It gets warm under heavy loads, but never uncomfortably hot. There have been one or two occasions where I’ve felt it hot while charging, so I’ve taken it off charge to cool down. Nothing concerning though.

3. The Camera & Everyday Capture

I don’t use this phone to shoot cinema-grade films; I use it to capture quick B-roll, product close-ups, daily moments, and some architecture - I like capturing pictures of my city.

• The Good: Colour consistency across the lenses remains top quality. The 5x telephoto lens has become my default for framing clean, compressed shots of desk setups and hardware details without distortion. I find the iPhone camera the best in the phone market, and it’s only kept getting better throughout the year.

• The Gimmick: As mentioned above, the dedicated Camera Control button ended up being something I used far less than expected after the first month. It’s a nice feature to have, but I’m a pinch-to-zoom kind of photo taker, so that option still wins for me. I guess if you were more into your photography though, it’s a nice feature to have.

4. Software & Daily Performance

Performance on the A19 Pro chip hasn’t degraded in the slightest. System animations are fluid, multi-tasking across heavy apps like Notion, Mail, and photo editing tools is instantaneous, and local AI tasks complete without stutter. I am confident that when iOS 27 is released, it will work seamlessly on this device.

The iPhone 18 Pro models are claimed to be faster, with up to 6 hours more video playback on the iPhone 18 Pro Max on a single charge.

The Final Verdict

If you’re currently holding an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, there is almost no practical reason to upgrade to the iPhone 18 this month. Hardware iteration has matured to a point where a one-year upgrade cycle simply doesn’t yield a noticeable jump in daily utility.

However, if you’re holding an older device (like an iPhone 14 or 15 Pro) and eyeing discounted or certified pre-owned 17 Pro Max units once the 18 drops, it’s an absolute powerhouse.

It hits the sweet spot of design refinement, battery endurance, and thermal stability.

The iPhone 18 Pro models do come with some pretty decent upgrades if you do decide to go for the new device. Colour-wise there’s a new burgundy and glacier, as well as the standard colours in Black and Silver. The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned and is now smaller and supports more apps. The camera is also a big talking point with its new variable aperture.

What’s your take on one-year phone upgrades? Are you holding onto your current device or planning to upgrade this cycle? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.