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.

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.

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?

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.