This week on the NZ Tech Podcast Paul Spain and I discuss UNESCO’s call to ban phones in school classrooms just hours before New Zealand’s main opposition National Party announced it plans to impose similar rules if it wins this year’s election.

See Momentum building for school phone bans for more on what is happening elsewhere in the world.

The discussion links to a plan by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) to limit children’s use of phones to under two hours a day. This is also covered in the story linked above. We cover some of the negatives about imposing bans and, if such bans are good for children’s mental health, what that might imply for the rest of us.

Elsewhere in the podcast we cover Wisk and what is happening with NZ’s Airspace Integration Trials. There is discussion about using AI to combat text scams and we cover One NZ’s late arrival on the eSIM for wearables scene and look at the contradictions in Zoom’s edict for its workers to return to the corporate office.

FineWoven was a rare misstep for Apple. It was a brand name for what Apple generously described as a ‘premium’ material used to replace leather on phone cases and other accessories.

Apple has stopped using it for phone cases. If you want an Apple branded case for a new iPhone 16, you’ll have to make do with one made of silicone or plastic.

The FineWoven MagSafe Wallet lives on for now, but, presumably. once stocks are sold, any replacement will use a different material. And Apple continues to sell Watch straps, or what it calls Watch bands, made from the material.

Leather replacement

FineWoven was noble enough idea, by replacing leather with the largely recycled FineWoven material, Apple could reduce its carbon footprint. We can assume the carbon footprint will go back up if it is replaced by plastic.

Reviewers, myself included, gave FineWoven a drubbing.

In hindsight my review was fair, but incomplete. The testing I reported was genuine enough, but in the weeks after my test, the stains and the material didn’t get any worse.

That said, I soon stopped using the case and continued with a naked iPhone 15. The phone never came to any harm with or without the FineWoven case.

Leather remains the best material for phone cases

While plastic and silicone cases appear to be popular, they are nothing like as good as a leather phone cases. Every time I’ve had a leather phone case it has outlasted the phone. The material more robust and looks better. It’s that simple.

In my experience silicone cases aren’t great either. I’ve had the layers of the material peel away making them ugly to look at. Apple’s decision to move away from leather cases has left the market wide open for third party case makers. It’ll be interesting to see if Apple does a U-turn and returns to selling leather cases.

The 2025 MacBook Air M4 handles Logic Pro and other demanding apps with ease, making it a surprisingly capable choice at NZ$2400. This was originally posted in May 2025.

Basics

Apple sent a review model 13-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This configuration sells in New Zealand for $2400.

I used it as my daily work computer for four weeks. The biggest change isn’t raw performance, but how quietly and consistently it handles everyday work.

From the outside, it’s indistinguishable from the 2023 or 2024 models apart from the pale metallic finish. Apple calls this colour “sky blue”, replacing space grey.

Otherwise, nothing has changed. It’s thin, light and solidly built. The ports, screen, keyboard and trackpad are all carried over. There was nothing to fix.

Apple doesn’t mess with a formula that works.

Screen nit-picking

The 13-inch Liquid Retina display is excellent. At 2560 × 1664 pixels, text is crisp and colours are vivid. Photos and video both look great.

Apple sticks with a 60Hz refresh rate. MacBook Pro models offer 120Hz, which is smoother, but for most users it’s a nice-to-have rather than essential.

If you’re gaming at high frame rates or scrubbing video timelines all day, the Pro still makes more sense.

Fewer pixels than the MacBook Pro

The Air has fewer pixels than the MacBook Pro’s 3024 × 1964 display, and it’s slightly smaller at 13.6 inches versus 14.2 inches.

Brightness is also lower: 500 nits compared to the Pro’s 1000 nits sustained (1600 peak). On paper that sounds significant, but in practice the Air is bright enough for almost any job.

During testing I had cataract surgery. Beforehand I needed higher brightness, which hit battery life. Afterwards, I could turn it down. That’s not a typical benchmark, but it did underline how usable the display is across conditions.

If one screen isn’t enough, the M4 Air now supports two external displays while the lid remains open.

Keyboard, trackpad and ports

You’ll struggle to find a better laptop keyboard. As someone who types all day, I find the MacBook Air the best laptop for writing.

At the top right, the power button doubles as a Touch ID sensor. It’s fast, reliable and works for logins, passwords and payments.

Competitors come close on keyboards, but Apple’s trackpad remains unmatched. It’s precise, fluid and natural.

Ports are unchanged: MagSafe for charging, two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. Some complain about the lack of HDMI or Ethernet, but USB-C covers almost everything now.

Webcam and video calls

The upgraded 12MP webcam is a big improvement. Apple’s Center Stage keeps you framed and in focus during calls.

It works automatically. You don’t think about it, and that’s the point.

Apps like Zoom, Teams and FaceTime now feel like first-class experiences rather than compromises.

More computing power

If you’re upgrading from last year’s model, the performance bump is noticeable mainly in demanding apps.

Apple has doubled base memory to 16GB. Last year, that upgrade cost extra. Now it’s standard.

That matters. With 16GB you can comfortably run multiple apps at once. It’s the practical minimum for anything beyond basic office work.

Performance without noise

The M4 chip delivers strong performance without fan noise. The Air stays cool under normal use and only gets warm under sustained load.

I ran a demanding game in the background to stress the system. It became warm, not hot. For everyday work, it stays cool.

It won’t make you type faster, but it will render video, process images and handle 4K workloads without hesitation.

I tested it with Logic Pro and FL Studio. Even pushing towards the limits, there was still headroom.

Productivity: external displays

The ability to run two external monitors with the lid open is a meaningful upgrade.

With multiple screens, it’s easier to spread out research, documents and apps. It’s a genuine productivity boost, especially for writing or editing work.

Earlier Apple silicon Air models had limitations here. The M4 removes them.

Battery life

Apple claims up to 18 hours. In practice, I saw around 13 hours.

Higher screen brightness and external drives both reduce battery life. Even so, it’s enough for a full working day.

Long battery life has been a MacBook strength since Apple moved away from Intel.

Windows laptops have caught up in endurance, but often by trading performance. The M4 Air delivers both.

Running Logic Pro and other demanding apps

At $2000, this is Apple’s cheapest laptop. Yet it handles workloads that once required a MacBook Pro.

Logic Pro runs smoothly, even with large projects, multiple instruments and real-time effects. There’s no stuttering.

That’s a big change from Intel-era MacBook Air models, which struggled with even modest sessions.

The M4 handles advanced features, including AI tools, without breaking a sweat. I only found limits by deliberately overloading it.

FL Studio shows a similar story. Where older Air models hit limits quickly, the M4 runs cleanly and reliably.

Memory and storage options

The M4 MacBook Air supports up to 32GB of unified memory. That’s important for demanding workloads.

While 16GB is enough for most users, serious music or video work benefits from 32GB. It’s expensive, but it adds long-term headroom.

Storage is another constraint. The base model fills quickly if you work with media. Realistically, 1TB is a better starting point, with 2TB worth considering if budget allows.

A fully loaded 13-inch model reaches NZ$4400. The 15-inch version goes higher.

Verdict

You won’t find a better mix of performance, features and usability at this price.

It’s faster, more capable and now slightly cheaper than before. That’s rare.

The keyboard, trackpad and speakers remain best-in-class. Battery life is strong. Performance is more than enough for almost any task.

Upgrades are still expensive, but worthwhile if you need them.

Last year’s M3 MacBook Air was arguably the best all-round laptop available. The M4 version takes that title and strengthens it.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does the MacBook Air M4 support two monitors? A: Yes, unlike previous models, the M4 Air supports two external displays while the laptop lid is open.

Q: Is the M4 MacBook Air good for music production? A: Yes. In my month of testing, it handled Logic Pro and FL Studio sessions that would have made older Intel models stutter.

Q: Is 16GB of Ram actually enough for professional audio in Logic Pro? A: Surprisingly, yes. While the 32GB upgrade offers more “future-proofing,” the new 16GB base configuration handles serious Logic Pro and FL Studio sessions with dozens of tracks and multiple real-time effects without stuttering. Because the M4’s unified memory is so fast, the “memory pressure” stays in the green for most home studio and mid-level professional projects. Only those working with massive orchestral sample libraries or high-end 4K video editing should feel the need to spend the extra $800 on the 32GB model.

In September 2024 I returned a review iPhone 15 Plus and pulled an eight-year-old iPhone 7 Plus out of a cupboard. How did that work out?

Living with an eight-year-old iPhone

✓ Hardware still handles basic tasks
✓ Battery can last a work day, just
✗ App compatibility is the biggest problem — stuck on iOS 15
✗ Modern screens are a major step up

Verdict: Workable for light users, but expect app frustrations.

The plan was simple: see how well a 2016 flagship copes in 2024. The iPhone 7 Plus became my main phone for two months.

It performed better than expected, but there were frustrations. In the end, I upgraded to an iPhone 16 Plus.

Today’s bigger displays matter

The biggest change is the screen.

Moving from 5.5 inches to 6.7 inches does not sound dramatic, yet the newer phone offers far more usable space. The difference is obvious within minutes.

Compared with that, most other improvements feel marginal.

Software is the real problem

The iPhone 7 Plus is stuck on iOS 15. It runs iOS 15.8.1, which remains secure enough and performs well.

The problem is app support.

Many apps no longer run on iOS 15. When I flew to Wellington, the Air New Zealand app would not update. I had to use a paper boarding pass.

That alone is manageable. The wider issue is that more apps are dropping support. During my test, one of my regular apps updated and stopped working.

That was the turning point.

What I did not miss

Some newer features are easy to live without.

Face ID is more convenient than Touch ID, but not essential. Wireless charging is useful, but I rarely depend on it.

Carrying a Lightning cable when travelling is a minor inconvenience.

Performance and battery

On paper, modern chips are far ahead. In practice, I noticed little difference for everyday tasks.

That says more about how I use a phone than about the hardware.

Battery life is more of an issue. The iPhone 7 Plus can last a long day, but only just. I was more cautious than usual.

Newer iPhones remove that concern.

The phone lacks 5G, but this was never a problem. For everyday use, there is little noticeable difference between 4G and 5G performance.

Camera: good enough

Newer phones have far better cameras. The difference on paper is huge.

In practice, the iPhone 7 Plus camera is still good enough for everyday use.

If anything, I preferred the simpler image formats. Photos were easy to send without conversion.

This helped clarify my thinking. I did not need to pay extra for a top-end camera phone.

Update: January 2026

More apps have dropped iOS 15 support since late 2024, especially social media.

Apple has continued to issue security updates. The latest, iOS 15.8.5, arrived in September 2025.

These are now maintenance updates. Full support has effectively ended.

The phone still works, but its usefulness continues to decline.

What this taught me

The hardware has held up well. At a stretch, I could live with the smaller screen and older design.

Software is the limiting factor.

An eight-year-old iPhone is close to the end of its useful life if you rely on apps. A six-year-old model would fare better.

What should you buy instead?

If you already own an iPhone 7 Plus, you can keep using it for light tasks.

If you are buying used, there are better options:

• iPhone XR (2018): Larger screen and longer software support. Often priced similarly.
• iPhone 11 (2019): Still well supported with a much better camera. Expect NZ$300–400.
• iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020): Smaller, but faster and more capable. Also around NZ$300–400.

If you need a reliable everyday phone, it is worth choosing a newer model.

Motorola Moto G56 5G at a glance

New Zealand’s 3G shutdown means some older phones will soon stop working. Motorola’s Moto G56 5G is a low-cost replacement.

It is a mid-range handset ready for today’s 5G networks. That means faster downloads and more reliable connections in crowded places.

If you are price conscious, the hardware could last for years. The weak point is software support.

Toyota Corolla of phones

Motorola makes few bold claims. This is a workhorse.

If it were a car, it would be a Toyota Corolla: dependable, affordable and aimed at buyers who value function over flair.

It focuses on a decent screen and clean software rather than camera tricks, AI features or raw speed. For some, that is enough. Others may find it too plain.

A good display for the price

The phone has a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a 2400×1080 resolution.

Motorola uses a tall 20:9 aspect ratio. It can look unusual at first, but feels comfortable in the hand.

At 391 pixels per inch, it is below premium phones and at the lower end of mid-range devices. Even so, it is good for the price.

Text is clear. Colours and brightness are solid. In everyday use, the screen is more than adequate.

Clean software, unclear support

Motorola’s My UX overlay is light. It feels close to standard Android and includes useful gestures, such as a double chop to turn on the torch.

Software support is less impressive. The phone is likely to get one major Android update and three years of security patches.

That is well behind Samsung’s policy for similar devices and far short of Apple’s longer support window.

The hardware could last many years, but the software support means it may not be safe to use for that long. If longevity matters, look elsewhere.

There is also unwanted software. Apps such as TikTok, LinkedIn, Copilot and others are preinstalled and cannot all be removed.

Motorola says the phone supports One NZ Satellite TXT. This allows messaging when you lose mobile coverage, provided you have a compatible plan. The feature is not obvious, but works through the standard messaging app.

Adequate performance, average camera

The phone uses a MediaTek Dimensity 7060 processor. It is a budget chip.

The New Zealand model comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That is generous for the price.

Performance is fine for everyday tasks. Scrolling and basic apps are smooth. Demanding apps and games will struggle.

Battery life is strong. The 5000mAh battery can last a full day or more. No charger is included in the box.

The 50MP main camera performs well in good light. Photos are fine for sharing, but unremarkable.

An 8MP ultra-wide camera adds flexibility, but quality drops in low light. This is typical at this price.

The phone has IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. It is tougher than many rivals.

How it compares with rivals

Samsung’s Galaxy A17 5G and Oppo’s A5 Pro 5G are close competitors.

Samsung offers better software support and a stronger screen. Motorola counters with better durability and water resistance.

Oppo stands out for fast charging. Its camera processing is more aggressive, which may or may not appeal.

Verdict: safe choice with little excitement

The Moto G56 5G is a sensible Android phone.

It gets the basics right: a good screen, clean software and solid battery life.

You give up performance, camera quality and long-term software support.

At the full NZ$430 price, there are stronger options. At under NZ$300, it is a bargain.

Update January 2026: Now available for NZ$309 at the Oppo New Zealand online store. This makes a huge change to value comparisons. At the price it is a steal.

Value tablet handles modest workloads with style

Oppo’s NZ$500 Pad SE (Matte Display Edition) is priced squarely between no-frills bargain basement tablets and Apple’s $700 base model iPad.

In its marketing, Oppo describes the Pad SE as “a dependable, family-ready tablet that doesn’t break the bank”. That’s a fair summary. It’s not as powerful or as versatile as an Apple iPad, but it’s a cut above most other Android tablets. If you need a device for basic tasks, surfing the web, consuming music or video, handling email, video conferencing or social media, then this will meet your needs.

For Android phone users who are comfortable with Google software, the Oppo Pad SE is one of the best tablet options right now. If money is tight and you only need to produce occasional simple documents, then couple the Pad SE with a Bluetooth keyboard and you can avoid the expense of a laptop.

Don’t buy this if you use other Apple hardware such as an iPhone or Mac; get an iPad instead, the integration between Apple devices is so powerful.

Display is a strength

The Pad SE screen measures 11 inches across the diagonal. That’s the same as the base-level iPad, yet if you put the two side-by-side, you’ll notice they are different shapes.

Oppo’s Pad SE’s screen is long and narrow with a 16:10 ratio. The iPad is squarer, with an aspect ratio of 10:7. Which one suits you best can be a matter of taste; one is not necessarily better than the other, but they are distinct. The matte anti-reflective coating helps when using the screen outdoors. It’s bright enough for almost any application; you can read it outside on a sunny day.

Fast screen refresh rate

Oppo uses a 90 Hz refresh rate. That’s middle of the pack in late 2025. Today’s tablets can range from 60 Hz to 120 Hz. Apple’s base model iPad refreshes at 60 Hz.

In theory, this should mean you get smoother video and a more responsive feel on the Oppo, but not the wow factor you find when movies and games play at 120 Hz. In practice, there’s no noticeable difference between the Oppo and the iPad.

This could be because of screen resolution. The Pad SE has a full high definition (FHD) screen, which is modest by late 2025 standards. It has a pixel density of 207 pixels per inch. This means images and text are not as sharp as you’d find on almost everything other than bargain basement devices.

For comparison, the base iPad has 2360-by-1640-pixel resolution at 264 ppi. The iPad is also a smidgeon brighter. That makes the iPad easier to read.

That’s a lot of words and a lot of technical description to say that the Pad SE has a good display, which you may or may not prefer to the iPad. But either way, you won’t be disappointed in this department.

Cameras

You might be disappointed by the camera. Realistically, few people choose a tablet based on the device’s camera. That’s just as well. The Oppo SE has a single rear camera. Like most other tablets, there’s a camera mound. It contains a single, large lens.

Both the rear and front cameras are 5 megapixel, that’s modest in late 2025. Apple’s camera is 12 megapixel and includes zoom and image stabilisation. You’ll probably notice immediately that the photos you take with the Pad SE are not as good as the ones you get from your phone.

In use, people on the other end of video calls will see a poor image. If that’s important to you, then perhaps you might look for another tablet.

Solid build

Build quality is good for the price. The case is sturdy and can take the normal rough and tumble you might get from young users. The back is mainly made of a solid metal with a strip of plastic so that the WiFi and Bluetooth antennae don’t run into problems. The review model came in a muted shade of blue.

Four speakers sit two at each end of the unit. The sound won’t knock your socks off… what do you expect from a tablet? But the speakers are more than adequate for making video calls. There’s no SIM in the review model and WiFi 5. You’d normally expect to see at least WiFi 6 in a device sold in late 2025. Apple’s iPad has WiFi 6.

Processor performance

On paper, Oppo’s choice of processor is the Pad SE’s weakest point. The chip is the MediaTek Helio G100. When it comes to raw processing power, this offers around half the performance of the A16 processor in the base model iPad. It also has less Ram, 4GB compared with 6GB in the iPad.

This performance difference is noticeable when running demanding apps. Yet that’s the interesting aspect of this comparison: few people will buy an Oppo Pad SE for demanding tablet apps.

If you’re planning to run a business, build websites, edit movies or produce audio, if you want to go beyond basic photo manipulation, this is not the right device for you. For that matter, neither is the base model iPad. You should consider either an iPad Pro or a laptop.

Why to buy

✅ Matte display is excellent for outdoor reading. ✅ Exceptional battery life for the price point. ✅ Sturdy, metallic build quality. ✅ Affordable alternative to the base iPad.

Why to avoid

❌ Modest camera quality for video calls. ❌ Lacks WiFi 6 support. ❌ Not suited for heavy video editing or gaming.

Verdict: Oppo Pad SE Matte Display Edition

The Oppo Pad SE is good value for money and a step up from lower-priced generic tablets. As an aside, I recommend you avoid cheap, the word ‘cheap’ causes problems with some companies, tablets unless you are desperately short of funds; they aren’t worth bothering with.

You’ll find the Pad SE performs much better in the areas that matter for everyday use. The screen is more comfortable and outperforms those on cheaper tablets. Battery life is exceptional. The audio is passable, and having enough Ram and storage removes many of the frustrations with low-end tablets.

That said, you couldn’t describe the Pad SE as a premium tablet. You need to spend upwards of NZ$700 to move into that class. It doesn’t offer much in the way of camera resolution, very high refresh rates, ultra-fast chipsets, or very sharp screens.

HP’s OmniBook 5 14-inch promises next-generation AI performance. In practice, its strengths are battery life, portability and value. It is a smart, efficient machine, as long as you don’t expect the AI branding to change your workflow. Review oringally posted in October 2025.

You can buy the HP OmniBook 5 14 for a shade under NZ$1500. It suits anyone who values portability and battery life over raw performance. Think senior school students, undergraduates or office workers.

It is also a good fit for journalists.

Performance is fine for web apps, office software, media streaming and light creative work. You will need to spend more for video editing or 3D rendering.

Despite the AI branding, battery life is the key feature. This is not a laptop for GPU-heavy tasks or demanding games.

Build quality

Build quality is serviceable rather than premium. It should cope with normal home or office use, but not rough handling.

It is less robust than Microsoft’s laptops and not as solid as an Apple MacBook.

Commuting is fine. A building site or farm may be a step too far. It is not ideal for users who are hard on their gear.

Even so, it represents good value. This is a well-balanced mid-range Windows laptop with strong battery life, a decent screen and a good keyboard.

You may find more powerful processors at this price if you shop around. Even so, this model deserves a place on a mid-range shortlist.

Snapdragon X Plus processor

HP uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip. The review unit has the base X1-26-100 model: an 8-core processor built on a 4nm process with a 45 TOPS NPU. It is tuned for efficiency rather than speed.

HP claims up to 34 hours of battery life. I could not verify that, but saw consistent results of more than 24 hours between charges.

That is still excellent for a Windows laptop.

The review unit has 16GB of Ram, which is at the low end for 2025. It will handle multiple apps, but heavy multitasking will slow things down. The 512GB storage is typical at this price and limits large media libraries.

Keyboard, trackpad, display

The keyboard is spacious and comfortable. Keys are close to full size and typing feels natural. This is as good as you will find at this level.

The trackpad works well, but does not match the smooth feel of a MacBook.

HP describes the display as “2K”, which is generous. In practice, it is a 1920×1200 OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate.

The screen is good for the price. Text is sharp, colours are strong and contrast is excellent. It is bright enough indoors, but struggles in direct sunlight.

Verdict: HP OmniBook 5 14

You get a lot for less than NZ$1500. Battery life is excellent, the keyboard is strong and the overall package is well judged.

What you do not get is high-end performance. That may matter if you are buying into the AI message in HP’s marketing.

Otherwise, this is a balanced, practical laptop for everyday use.

Worth knowing: do you need an AI laptop?

Most mid-range and premium laptops now come with some form of AI branding.

In practice, you may not notice much difference in day-to-day use.

Even so, this is the direction the market has taken. Unless you buy at the low end, your next laptop will almost certainly be sold as an AI device.

That is not necessarily a bad thing. These machines can offer good value. It does mean you should treat some of the marketing claims with caution.

Oppo’s Find X8 Pro is a flagship Android phone that shows the Chinese handset maker can go head-to-head with Samsung. It may be more phone than you need, or can afford, but it does a lot to promote Oppo’s brand. This story was originally posted in December 2024.

Cameras have been the headline feature in premium phones for a decade. There’s a reason for that.

Little changes in a handset’s ability to make calls or send messages from year to year. Processors are more powerful, but have long been good enough for most apps. Many apps that demand extra power are little more than digital trinkets.

Most other changes are cosmetic or incremental.

Peak phone camera

This camera-first trend reached a new peak when Oppo launched the Find X8 Pro in Auckland.

Speakers at the event focused almost entirely on the cameras. A guest photographer said he now uses the phone for professional work.

This is not the first handset to put the camera front and centre. From the outside, though, it looks more like a camera than most.

Distinctive camera ring

The rear is dominated by a large circular camera ring with four prominent lenses.

Early camera clusters tried to blend in. Not here. Oppo has gone out of its way to make the module stand out.

There is also branding from Hasselblad, the Swedish camera maker.

Hasselblad Master Camera System

The Find X8 Pro includes the Hasselblad Master Camera System. It sounds impressive, even if the name will mean little to many buyers.

Oppo itself may be unfamiliar. The company is New Zealand’s third largest phone brand behind Samsung and Apple.

Globally it ranks fourth. Xiaomi sells more elsewhere, but Oppo outsells it in New Zealand. In effect, it has taken the place Huawei once held.

Even so, it trails the leaders. Samsung and Apple account for about 85 percent of local sales. Oppo has roughly 10 percent.

Zoom with periscopes

The headline feature is a 50-megapixel camera system with a 135mm (6x) periscope lens and a 23mm wide-angle sensor. It is the first phone with two periscopes, giving a wider zoom range.

The technology is impressive. You can capture a clear image of a car on the Auckland Harbour Bridge from a kilometre away at Birkenhead Wharf.

The question is whether you need it. A 60x zoom is striking, but hard to justify in everyday use. Most people will rarely need that reach.

At times it feels close to voyeurism.

Artificial intelligence

No 2024 phone arrives without AI features. Oppo uses AI to enhance zoom images, filling in detail to improve quality.

The results can feel uncanny.

There are also AI editing tools. You can remove reflections, sharpen images or deblur shots. Another tool can remove unwanted people from photos.

This is powerful, but raises questions about how much we can trust images.

Apple and Samsung offer similar features. Comparisons are difficult and largely come down to taste.

Other AI tools include text summarising, transcription and grammar checking. These are useful, but now standard at this price.

Other features

The review unit did not include a charger, so fast charging was hard to test. Using a standard USB-C charger, the phone reached 30 percent in about 20 minutes and a full charge in just over an hour.

The 5910mAh battery is larger than most rivals. In practice, it delivers up to two days of normal use. Heavy photography will reduce that.

Verdict: Oppo Find X8 Pro

It is a bold move to charge NZ$2300 for a phone without the Samsung or Apple badge. You can buy a high-end iPhone or Galaxy for similar money.

If you are considering one, handle it in a store alongside rivals before buying.

Zoom aside, there may not be enough here to tempt committed iPhone users to switch. Samsung users, however, have a credible alternative.

If you want extreme zoom and can justify the price, this phone delivers.

More broadly, Oppo is a brand worth taking seriously. The technology is strong and its mid-range phones are often keenly priced.

Tiny, powerful and pricey, the Oura Ring 4 tracks sleep, fitness and stress without a bulky watch. For some people, skin reactions could be a real risk. This post was written in October 2025..

Review: Oura Ring 4

The Oura Ring 4 is the latest version of a popular smart ring that tracks fitness, sleep and stress. This is not a full review. Testing finished early because of an adverse skin reation. Think of it as a snapshot.

Many readers will like the idea. I could not live with the reality. In testing, it did not last 24 hours on my finger.

I’ll explain in more depth why this happened later. First, some background.

The ring is a neat piece of engineering. It weighs five or six grams and sits quietly on your finger while monitoring vital signs.

There are limits. Small devices can only hold so many sensors. Physics and thickness still matter.

The Oura phone app

There is no display on the ring, so you use a phone app to view data. The ring connects over Bluetooth.

The app is well organised and easy to navigate. Some details take a little digging, but it works well.

You can see heart rate in real time. A sleep score appears soon after you wake.

Other insights take longer. You need to build up a body of data before recommendations appear.

Sizing kit before you buy

The ring is about the size of a large wedding ring. Before shipping, Oura sends a sizing kit. There are 12 sizes.

There are multiple colours and finishes. Buying direct, prices start at US$350 for silver. Most models cost about US$500. At the time of writing that’s roughly NZ$850 to NZ$900, plus GST. New Zealand pricing is exchange-rate dependent and may date quickly.

You can also buy from retailers such as JB Hi-Fi. At the time of writing, a gold model sells for NZ$979.

This is not a product you should buy blind. Fit matters.

Oura is expensive for a smart ring. It costs more than rivals from Samsung. At this price, you could also consider an Apple Watch.

Even basic functionality requires a subscription

There is a controversial catch. The ring is of limited use without a subscription.

When you register, you are asked to complete account setup. That includes payment details.

The fee is US$6 a month or US$70 a year. It is not huge, but it feels steep after the upfront cost.

By comparison, Samsung does not charge for its ring app. Apple does not charge for core Apple Watch health features, although that could change.

There is a wider trend here. Hardware makers are looking for ongoing revenue from connected devices. Not everyone will like that.

Without a subscription, you see only basic scores for readiness, sleep and activity, along with battery alerts.

Battery life

The lack of a display helps battery life. Oura claims up to eight days on a charge.

That sounds plausible. I could not test it. My experience did not last long enough.

Why I had to send the ring back

I found the ring less comfortable than a smartwatch.

It is light, but noticeable. If you are not used to wearing rings, you may feel strange.

In my case, things got worse. Ten years ago I had a serious skin reaction to an early Apple Watch.

I kept that in mind during testing. At first, the ring felt fine, if slightly irritating. Later, my finger became itchy, then faintly red.

At around 1:30am I woke in pain. My finger was swollen and throbbing. It was hard to remove the ring. Another hour or two and it might not have come off.

By morning, the swelling remained. I did not wear the ring again.

Oura acknowledges this risk. Its safety advice says you should remove the ring if irritation occurs and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

Verdict: Oura Ring 4

It is unusual to deliver a verdict after limited use. Even so, the idea is sound.

Oura has built a device that can track health data without getting in the way. For most people, it will be unobtrusive.

It may even flag health issues early. That alone could justify the cost.

For a minority, comfort and skin reactions will be a barrier.

HP’s EliteBook Ultra G1 is a business-class Windows laptop with a solid build, strong security and a heavy emphasis on corporate features. It costs far more than a typical consumer notebook. That makes it attractive if your employer is paying, but a harder sell if you are spending your own money.

Smart, corporate design

From the outside, the EliteBook Ultra G1 looks exactly as a corporate laptop should. The matte magnesium case, rounded corners and clean lines give it a restrained, professional appearance.

At 1.2kg and around 18mm thick, it is light and portable without feeling fragile. There is a clear sense this is a premium device designed for executives who travel.

Screen and media

The 14-inch OLED touchscreen has a 2880 by 1800 resolution and a variable refresh rate.

At 400 nits, brightness is adequate for most environments. It is not the brightest display in its class. Users accustomed to more luminous screens may find themselves wanting more headroom.

The screen can fold flat, allowing the laptop to double as a makeshift desktop tablet. In practice, this is useful in limited scenarios rather than everyday use.

Audio is a highlight. The quad-speaker system performs well for a device this thin. Calls are clear and voice-based applications sound excellent. Music playback is respectable, although still constrained by the form factor.

Keyboard, touchpad and ports

HP gets the fundamentals right. The keyboard is responsive and comfortable for long typing sessions. The haptic touchpad is equally well executed and adds a sense of precision.

Port selection is generous for a modern laptop. On the left, there is an audio jack, a USB-A port hidden behind a pull-down cover and a USB-C port with a charging indicator. On the right, you will find two more USB-C ports, another charging light and a lock slot.

Like Apple, HP has dropped the microSD slot.

Connectivity

The EliteBook Ultra G1 supports WiFi 7, putting it at the leading edge of wireless connectivity. While many users will still be on earlier standards, this ensures the laptop is ready for faster networks as they become more common.

Performance and battery life

On paper, the combination of an Intel Lunar Lake processor and 32GB of Ram suggests strong performance.

In practice, it is less impressive. Everyday tasks run smoothly, but at this price you might expect more headroom. Comparable MacBook Air models, costing significantly less, can outperform it in a range of applications.

One notable detail is how quiet the system remains. Even under load, the fan rarely makes itself known.

Battery life is solid. Around 14 hours of video streaming is realistic, which is enough for long-haul travel. It is not class-leading, but it is more than adequate for business use.

AI: not the main event

HP positions the EliteBook Ultra G1 as an AI laptop, but the reality is more modest.

The machine lacks a dedicated GPU and the Intel processor is not heavily optimised for AI workloads. As a result, it feels more like a traditional business laptop with a few AI extras.

HP’s AI Companion is essentially a branded interface for GPT-4. It requires an internet connection and offers little beyond what you can already access through standard tools, aside from some system-specific functions.

There is also a dedicated Copilot button for Microsoft’s AI assistant. It is convenient, but not a compelling reason to choose this laptop.

Security sets it apart

Where the EliteBook Ultra G1 distinguishes itself is security.

HP Wolf Security for Business adds multiple layers of protection beyond standard Windows tools. This includes anti-phishing measures, BIOS tamper protection and system hardening features.

The trade-off is usability. Security prompts can interrupt workflows, particularly when installing software that is not on an approved list. Unlike some systems, there is limited scope to override these restrictions.

For individual users, this may feel intrusive. For corporate IT departments, it is a significant advantage. The ability to manage and secure fleets of devices will appeal to organisations concerned about risk.

Verdict

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1 is a premium business laptop aimed squarely at corporate buyers.

It excels in build quality, security and manageability. Performance is competent rather than exceptional, and the AI features do little to justify the marketing emphasis.

For individuals, there are better-value options with more power. For organisations that prioritise security and control, the EliteBook Ultra G1 makes a strong case, even at a high price.

First posted February 2025: HP’s OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a thin, light and flexible 2-in-1 Windows laptop. Battery life is impressive for an Intel machine and the hardware rarely puts a foot wrong. Yet it falls short of HP’s promise of delivering “the ultimate AI experience”.

OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 at a glance

For: Long battery life, solid build quality, practical 2-in-1 design.
Against: Expensive for a consumer laptop, similar money buys more powerful hardware, underwhelming AI features.
Maybe: Odd port placement, Intel still comes with trade-offs.
Verdict: A strong choice if you want a thin, light Windows laptop with good battery life and full Intel compatibility.
Price: Officially NZ$3700, although retail pricing can dip closer to NZ$3000.

Familiar design, well executed

At first glance, the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 looks like a business-class hybrid. In reality, it sits in HP’s consumer range.

The plastic chassis is a surprise at this price, but it works. Where some plastic laptops feel flimsy, this one is sturdy and well put together. It feels capable of handling the knocks that come with everyday travel.

The hinge is another potential weak point on 2-in-1 devices. During a month of testing, it proved reliable and smooth in operation.

As a hybrid, the device can be used as a standard laptop, folded flat into a tablet or propped up in a tent configuration. The latter may appeal for presentations, although it is not something everyone will use.

Display and everyday use

The 14-inch OLED touchscreen has a 2880 by 1800 resolution and supports refresh rates up to 120Hz.

Indoors, the display performs well. Colours are rich and the higher refresh rate helps with smooth scrolling and general responsiveness. Outdoors, it is usable in shade or overcast conditions, but struggles in direct sunlight.

Speakers are adequate for calls and general office work, although they sound thin when playing music. This is typical for laptops of this type.

The keyboard spans the full width of the device and is comfortable for extended typing sessions. The trackpad is responsive and accurate.

Price and positioning

With a list price of NZ$3700, the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 sits in a competitive bracket.

At this level, buyers could opt for a well-specified MacBook Pro or a fully loaded MacBook Air. Windows alternatives include premium models from HP, Lenovo and Microsoft, some offering more raw performance.

The key distinction is the processor. While many rivals are moving to ARM-based chips, this model sticks with Intel. That means fewer compatibility concerns, even if it comes at the cost of peak efficiency.

Retail discounts make a difference. At closer to NZ$3000, the OmniBook Ultra Flip becomes easier to justify.

Performance and battery life

In everyday use, the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is quick and responsive. It handles typical workloads with ease and should remain capable for years.

Battery life is the standout. For an Intel-powered laptop, it lasts far longer than expected and comes close to what you might see from ARM-based machines.

For many users, this combination of performance and endurance will be more than enough. Those needing sustained high performance may still be better served by a business-class machine.

Windows 11 holds it back

The weakest link here is not the hardware, but the software.

Windows 11 continues to feel inconsistent. During testing, there were occasional crashes, including while the machine was asleep, along with driver issues that appeared without warning.

Even when stable, the experience lacks the polish found elsewhere. For users coming from macOS, the difference is noticeable.

AI: more promise than delivery

HP leans heavily on AI as a selling point, particularly through its integration with Microsoft Copilot.

In practice, this is not a compelling reason to buy the laptop. The AI features feel underdeveloped and add little to the day-to-day experience.

HP’s own AI tools are still in beta, which shows. Some features, such as performance optimisation, are difficult to assess and did not make a clear impact during testing.

For a device at this price, buyers could reasonably expect more mature software.

Verdict

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a well-built, thoughtfully designed hybrid with strong battery life and dependable performance.

It does not redefine what a Windows laptop can do, and its AI ambitions are not yet realised. Even so, the hardware is solid and the overall package is easy to recommend for those who want flexibility and full compatibility.

If you are committed to Windows and want a premium 2-in-1 with long battery life, the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is worth considering.```

From March 2025: Sitting between the entry-level iPad and the iPad Pro, Apple’s iPad Air continues to hit the sweet spot between price and performance. In 2025, that balance makes it the best tablet for anyone who wants to do more than basic browsing, viewing and listening, but does not need top-tier power.

This review looks at how the iPad Air performs as a tool for business, creativity and education.

Seventh-generation iPad Air at a glance

This review is based on the blue 11-inch model with 1TB of storage and cellular connectivity.

A speed bump, but still the right choice

Apple’s seventh-generation iPad Air is not a dramatic update. The move to the M3 processor is a classic speed bump rather than a reinvention.

Even so, it remains the best choice for buyers who need a capable, portable tablet for creative work, study or business tasks.

Performance is around 20 percent better than last year’s model. It is also a clear step up from older iPads, including devices powered by the A12X Bionic chip. While the latest iPad Pro with an M4 processor is faster again, it also costs more. The Air continues to occupy the middle ground.

More than just raw speed

The M3 chip brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which improves performance in games and graphics-intensive applications.

For most users, this will not be the deciding factor, but it does underline how far the Air has moved into territory once reserved for professional devices. Only the most demanding creative workloads now require an iPad Pro.

Despite its name, the iPad Air is not the thinnest or lightest tablet in Apple’s range. The difference is marginal, but the Pro models now hold that distinction.

Screen

Apple offers the iPad Air in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. The larger display is a better fit for watching video or working with complex apps, but the 11-inch model remains practical and portable.

In everyday use, the smaller screen does not feel like a compromise. It handles streaming, browsing and even live sports comfortably, and works well with AirPlay when sending content to a television.

The display uses an LCD panel rather than Mini LED. It is bright enough for most situations, although in strong sunlight you may need to push brightness to its limit. For most users, this will not be an issue.

Battery life

Apple rates the iPad Air at around 10 hours of battery life for web browsing or video playback. In practice, that figure holds up.

A full day’s use on a single charge is realistic. Demanding apps may reduce that slightly, but not enough to cause concern in day-to-day use.

iPad Air versus MacBook Air

At NZ$1200, the base model iPad Air overlaps with the MacBook Air. Once you add storage, accessories and cellular, the price can climb quickly.

A fully specified iPad Air with 1TB of storage, Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil can approach NZ$3000. At that point, you are in MacBook Pro territory.

The choice comes down to how you want to work. The iPad Air offers flexibility and portability, while a MacBook delivers a more traditional computing experience. There is no shortage of options at this price point.

Who should buy the iPad Air?

Like any iPad, the Air is excellent for reading, browsing, streaming and social media. If that is all you need, the standard iPad will do the job for less money.

The iPad Air comes into its own when you move beyond those basics. It is better suited to productivity, creative work and multitasking.

Apple Intelligence

The iPad Air is the entry point for Apple Intelligence on iPadOS. The base model iPad does not support these features.

At present, this is not a strong reason to upgrade. Apple Intelligence remains limited and does little to transform the experience. That may change over time, but today it feels more like a foundation than a finished product.

A capable writing machine

The iPad has long been a strong device for writing. The iPad Air improves on that.

The extra performance is not always noticeable when typing, but it helps when switching between apps, researching or managing notes alongside a document.

More importantly, the iPad Air supports Apple’s better keyboard.

Magic Keyboard

The Magic Keyboard for iPad Air is expensive, but it transforms the device. Paired together, you get much of the functionality of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet.

For serious writing or productivity work, it is close to essential. It turns the iPad Air into a credible alternative to a traditional computer.

Music and creative work

For creative applications, the M3 processor makes a significant difference.

Apps like Logic Pro, Final Cut and Photoshop run comfortably on the iPad Air. Compared with older iPads, there is far more headroom for complex projects and processor-intensive plugins.

In music production, this is particularly noticeable. Projects that would struggle or require track freezing on older hardware run smoothly on the M3 iPad Air. It takes a far more demanding workload to reach the system’s limits.

The same applies to apps like FL Studio Mobile, where performance remains consistent even under heavier loads.

If your focus is music production, the 13-inch model is worth considering. The extra screen space makes complex arrangements easier to manage.

Verdict

The iPad Air with M3 is not a radical update, but it does not need to be.

It remains the best-balanced tablet in Apple’s range, offering enough performance for almost all users at a more accessible price than the iPad Pro.

It is not worth upgrading from last year’s M2 model. The differences are too small to justify the cost. For anyone using an older iPad, however, the jump in performance and capability is substantial.

For students, creators and professionals who value portability, the iPad Air is the standout tablet choice in 2025.

From September 2024: The first Windows laptop that can match, and in some cases better, a MacBook’s performance and battery life. That alone makes the OmniBook X worth a look.

A Windows laptop without Intel

HP’s 14-inch OmniBook X is the first Windows laptop to land on this desk in more than a decade without an Intel Inside sticker. In its place sits a Snapdragon X Elite badge, just below a screen-printed “AI” logo.

These details signal that this is not business as usual. At least on the inside. On the outside, it is another slim, aluminium ultrabook that could pass for any number of rivals. Remove the badges and there is little to distinguish it.

While HP’s marketing leans heavily on artificial intelligence, the reality is more grounded. The software remains tied to narrow, practical uses. It is a long way from the sweeping promises of general artificial intelligence often heard in technology circles.

OmniBook X versus MacBook Air

The OmniBook X is roughly the same size as a 14-inch MacBook Air. Performance in everyday tasks is comparable and pricing sits in the same bracket at a little over NZ$3000.

Most buyers will not choose between the two. Even so, the comparison is unavoidable. They target the same audience and, for the first time in years, meet on equal terms.

In design terms, the OmniBook X plays it safe. Aside from branding, it is not far removed from Apple’s laptop.

Keyboard and touchpad

At first glance, the keyboard appears to use larger keys. In practice, this is an illusion. Measurements show it is almost identical in size to the MacBook Air keyboard.

The difference is typographic. HP uses larger, bolder lettering on the keys, to the point where it borders on an accessibility feature.

The keyboard and touchpad are otherwise conventional. The touchpad lacks some of the smoothness found on Apple’s machines, although that may come down to familiarity.

One addition stands out: a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to Microsoft’s AI assistant.

An unexpected USB-A port

HP includes a legacy USB-A port, something you will not find on a modern MacBook. Fitting it into a 14mm-thick chassis is an impressive piece of engineering, complete with a small hinge mechanism.

Alongside this are two USB-C ports, one of which is used for charging. Like the MacBook Air, you will still need a dongle for HDMI or other connections. Apple’s advantage is its MagSafe port, which frees up both USB-C ports for accessories.

Screen

The 2240 by 1400 pixel touchscreen offers more resolution than many rivals in this class. On paper, it is impressive.

In use, it is less convincing. The display is noticeably dimmer than a MacBook Air and colours lack the same vibrancy. In bright rooms or direct sunlight, it can be difficult to view.

For some users, this will not matter. For others, it may be a deal breaker. The lower brightness may contribute to the laptop’s strong battery life, but it comes at a cost.

At 14 inches, the screen is fractionally larger than the MacBook Air’s 13.6-inch display. For most everyday tasks, it is more than adequate despite its shortcomings.

Performance and battery life

This is where the OmniBook X changes the conversation.

Since the arrival of Apple Silicon, Windows laptops have lagged behind in both performance and battery life. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite aims to close that gap.

Benchmark results elsewhere suggest the OmniBook X has an edge in multicore tasks, while trailing slightly in single-core performance. In day-to-day use, the difference is hard to detect. Both this machine and a MacBook Air handle common workloads with ease.

More importantly, there is no longer a clear advantage for Apple. Windows laptops are no longer a generation behind.

Battery life tells the same story. The OmniBook X runs for around 15 hours on a charge, matching the MacBook Air. Not long ago, a comparable Windows laptop would struggle to last a working day.

AI: promise versus reality

HP makes bold claims about the OmniBook X’s AI capabilities. Demonstrations at launch events are impressive, showing real-time video and image manipulation.

In practice, the included tools feel more like a preview than a finished vision.

There are useful touches. A Paint app can tidy rough sketches. Language translation has potential, although it is not instantaneous. Microsoft’s Copilot helps navigate settings and find information more quickly.

None of this is essential. The bundled software does not justify paying a premium for an “AI PC”. To unlock the hardware’s full potential, you will likely need additional software, such as an Adobe subscription.

If that is your plan, the OmniBook X begins to look more compelling.

Compatibility

Moving away from Intel brings trade-offs. Some Windows applications, particularly games and specialist software, do not yet run on ARM-based systems.

This is not a new issue, but it remains relevant. While there were no problems during testing, it is worth checking compatibility before committing to a purchase.

Verdict

The HP OmniBook X marks a turning point. It is the first Windows laptop in years that can genuinely match a MacBook for performance and battery life.

There are weaknesses. The display is underwhelming, the AI story is oversold and software compatibility is not perfect.

Even so, this is a capable, efficient machine that handles everyday work with ease. For business users and students, it represents solid value and a sign that competition in the laptop market is returning.

This post is from October 2023.

There are few surprises in the iPhone 15 Plus. Many of the differences from the iPhone 14 Plus first appeared in last year’s Pro models, which makes this feel more like a consolidation than a leap forward.

It is still a worthwhile upgrade. The improvements are small, but they add up. If you are coming from an iPhone 14, you will notice the refinements.

You probably shouldn’t be upgrading every year. Most people now hold on to phones for three years or more. If you are moving from an iPhone 11 or 12, the jump in performance and camera quality will feel significant.

Size matters

This review focuses on the iPhone 15 Plus, but most of the comments also apply to the standard iPhone 15. The key difference is size.

The iPhone 15 has a 6.1-inch display and starts at NZ$1650. The iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch display and starts at NZ$1850.

That extra screen space makes a real difference. It is better for reading, writing and watching video. If you spend a lot of time looking at your phone, the larger display is worth the extra NZ$200.

The base models come with 128GB of storage. That may be enough if you rely on iCloud. If not, you will need to pay more for 256GB or 512GB.

Familiar, but refined

The overall design has not changed much since the iPhone X. You still get an edge-to-edge display with a slim bezel and a camera cluster on the back.

There are subtle refinements. The edges are more rounded, which makes the phone feel smoother in the hand. The new colour finishes, including the pale pink review unit, are understated rather than bold.

Build quality is excellent, as you would expect at this price. Like most modern phones, it is not designed for easy repair, although professionals can service it without too much trouble.

USB-C arrives

Apple has finally moved from Lightning to USB-C. This brings the iPhone into line with other devices and makes charging simpler.

You can now use the same cable across multiple gadgets, and it is easier to borrow a charger when needed. The standard models do not get faster data transfer speeds, but that is unlikely to matter for most users.

Dynamic Island and display

The iPhone 15 range now includes Dynamic Island, which replaces the old notch. It allows apps to surface information around the front camera area.

The display is bright and sharp, with Apple’s Super Retina XDR OLED technology. It remains fixed at 60Hz, which is lower than some rivals and Apple’s own Pro models.

In practice, the screen is easy to read in all conditions, including bright sunlight. If you are upgrading from an older iPhone, it will feel like a step forward.

Proven performance

Apple continues its strategy of moving last year’s Pro chip into this year’s standard models. The iPhone 15 uses the A16 Bionic processor from the iPhone 14 Pro.

Performance is strong. Everything feels fast and responsive, from everyday tasks to demanding apps and games.

In simple terms, there is more than enough power here for most users, and likely more than you will need for years to come.

Battery life holds up

Battery life is slightly better than the iPhone 14 generation. The improvement is modest, but noticeable.

In everyday use, the iPhone 15 Plus can last up to two days on a charge. Heavier use will bring that down, but it still comfortably lasts a full day.

Charging is quick enough. You can reach around 50 percent in half an hour, with a full charge taking roughly 90 minutes.

Camera improvements, not a revolution

The main camera moves to 48 megapixels, up from 12 megapixels on earlier models. In practice, most photos are captured at 24 megapixels.

Image quality is excellent, especially in good light. Low-light performance has improved, although not dramatically.

The extra resolution helps when cropping images. You can zoom in and reframe shots without losing as much detail.

Apple has also added a 2x optical zoom option. It is not as flexible as the zoom systems on some rivals, but it delivers clear results.

Video remains a strong point, and on-device editing tools are powerful and easy to use.

Verdict

The iPhone 15 Plus is a solid, incremental upgrade. It brings features that were once reserved for Pro models to a wider audience at a lower price.

If you are using an older iPhone, the improvements will feel substantial. If you are coming from last year’s model, the changes are less compelling.

For most buyers, the iPhone 15 Plus strikes a good balance between performance, features and price. If photography is your priority, the Pro models are worth considering. Otherwise, this is an easy phone to recommend.

From May 2023: They may look the same, but Apple’s new AirPods Pro have improved sound, noise cancelling and battery life.

Three years ago Apple’s first AirPods Pro hit the streets. The technology has moved on.

The AirPods Pro sound better and have more effective active noise cancelling. Writing about the improved sound quality and noise cancelling isn’t easy. It would be best to experience them for yourself. That said, it’s not a scientific test, but… …there are seven sets of active noise cancelling earbuds and headphones in our house. They are all effective. Each has been tested on Auckland bus routes and ferry trips across the harbour. They all reduce background noise to the point where you can hear musical nuances when playing digital audio. With five of those devices I can watch and listen to a streaming video sports match and tell when the lawn mowing contractor is cutting the grass. That’s not the case with the second generation AirPods Pro I can’t. The only other set that hits this practical benchmark are the JBL Live 660NC headphones. While the noise cancelling is effective, enough ambient sound leaks through to stop it from being scary and claustrophobic.

Sound quality The earlier AirPods Pro had surprisingly good sound quality given the size of the components.

There’s a clear step up with the second generation AirPods Pro. The new AirPods Pro push higher and lower than the old model, but not dramatically so. Clarity and definition are noticeably better. Apple has crafted a sound profile that works across a wide spectrum of music styles. That approach means you are never going to get the best sound quality in one department, but nor are there any obvious weaknesses. You can set a broad EQ preset, but can’t tinker with the finer details, which is a good thing. Instead, the AirPods Pro use microphones to analyse what you hear along with the ambient sound and adjust sounds accordingly. Spatial Audio allows producers to create music that sounds like it is coming from all around you. It’s strange at first and feels like a novelty until you use it when watching a movie and suddenly it all makes sense.

On the outside The new AirPods look almost identical to the first generation earbuds. The same white colour, the same stems and while there are the same user selectable ear-tips, Apple has added a fourth extra small option alongside the small, medium and large choices. An extra black sensor strip sits on the side of each earbud. This is to help the AirPods understand when they are in or out of your ears.

You’ll notice a metallic indentation on the right hand side of the case. That’s for a lanyard. There isn’t one packed with the AirPod Pros, it’s an NZ$23 extra from Apple. If that’s not for you, there is a thriving market for third party lanyards. The bottom of the case has holes for a speaker. You can use Apple’s Find My app to hunt down a lost case and it will play a loud sound to make your search easier. It’s loud, don’t try testing it with the case near your ears. Apple has stuck with the Lightning charge socket over USB-C. Lightning could be on the way out, if it does depart during the life of the AirPods Pro you can use wireless charging. It works with the Apple Watch charger and Qi.

Battery life The AirPods Pro work for longer on a single charge. Apple says there are six hours of listening with active noise cancelling this drops if you use spatial audio or make voice calls. With the case recharges, you now get up to 30 hours before you need an external recharge. That’s enough to fly anywhere in the world.

Verdict: Second generation AirPods Pro Apple has done a good job upgrading the AirPods Pro. This is an area where the company’s attention to detail pays off. The sound quality was good before, but is better now. You’ll get better sound from over-ear headphones but the best rival earbuds offer a different sound experience rather than something distinctly better.

At NZ$479, AirPods Pro are a pricey, but feature-packed and otherwise complete option. If you can use active noise cancelling then the NZ$130 premium over the price of third generation AirPods is money well spent. There are rival products chasing your money. You can buy earbuds with, arguably better sound or better active noise cancellation. Yet you can’t buy something that beats the AirPods Pro in both departments. Nor will any alternatives slip as smoothly into Apple’s seamless ecosystem. If you’re deep in the Apple camp they are your best bet.

From April 2023: What value do you place on your online privacy? For NZ$65 a year Norton AntiTrack aims to frustrate trackers. How did it do in testing?

Norton AntiTrack is pitched as a way to “take control of your online privacy”. It is not security software in the strict sense, but better privacy can reduce risk.

The idea is simple. Make it harder for companies to track what you do online. AntiTrack does that, although there are cheaper ways to get similar results.

Until recently it was a Windows-only product. This review looks at the Mac version.

Why tracking matters

Everything you do online can be tracked. At the benign end, that data is used to sell you more products. At the darker end, it can be used to influence behaviour, manipulate opinion or enable crime.

AntiTrack aims to make that harder. It won’t make you invisible, but it can stop you being an easy target.

Fingerprinting explained

The key technique is browser fingerprinting. When you visit a site, it can collect information about your device and browser.

This includes fonts, screen resolution, browser version, operating system and other details. Individually, these seem harmless. Taken together, they form a unique fingerprint.

That fingerprint can follow you from site to site. Over time, it builds a detailed picture of your online life.

Your online identity

Once a site links that fingerprint to your identity, say when you log in or sign up, the tracking becomes personal.

From there, companies can build extensive profiles. They can predict behaviour, target advertising and, in some cases, influence decisions.

This is why you might search for a product once, then see ads for it everywhere. It is also why privacy tools have become more important.

Does AntiTrack work?

The answer is mixed.

I tested AntiTrack using the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Cover Your Tracks tool on a MacBook Pro. Without AntiTrack, Safari already offered some protection. My browser fingerprint was unique, but not unusually exposed.

With AntiTrack enabled, the result barely changed. The fingerprint remained just as identifiable.

Tests on AmIUnique and Fingerprint.com told a similar story. In controlled conditions, AntiTrack did little to mask my identity.

In everyday use

Real-world use is more encouraging.

AntiTrack adds an icon to Safari that shows how many trackers it blocks on each page. The numbers can be high. News sites often run dozens of trackers, while even simple sites can have several.

Clicking the icon opens a report showing who is tracking you. The same names appear repeatedly, alongside occasional unknown players.

AntiTrack can also fix pages that break when trackers are blocked. This happens often. Blocking trackers can interfere with site functionality.

In some cases, you may need to allow tracking to get a site working again. AntiTrack then feeds those trackers false data to limit exposure.

Over time, this becomes part of the routine. You notice when something breaks, then decide whether to allow tracking.

The cost of privacy

AntiTrack works best as a compromise. It reduces tracking without completely disrupting your browsing.

There is a cost. The subscription is around NZ$65 a year. There is also the friction of dealing with broken sites.

For some users, that trade-off will be acceptable. For others, it may feel like too much effort for limited gain.

Alternatives

There are other options.

Privacy Badger from the Electronic Frontier Foundation is free, although it does not support Safari. Ghostery is another free tool and performs at a similar level.

Browser choice also matters. Safari offers strong privacy controls out of the box. Firefox goes further in some areas. Chrome and Edge lag behind.

Verdict

Norton AntiTrack does what it promises. It makes tracking harder and gives you more visibility into what is happening behind the scenes.

It does not provide complete protection, especially against fingerprinting. Even so, it raises the bar enough to matter.

Whether that is worth paying for depends on how much you value privacy, and how much inconvenience you are willing to tolerate.

Posted January 2023: Apple’s 10th-generation iPad updates almost every aspect of the company’s entry-level tablet. It is a better device in almost every way, but the improvements come with a higher price and a couple of awkward design choices.

10th-generation iPad at a glance

A fresh look with familiar cues

From the outside, the 10th-generation iPad resembles a modern iPad Air. The 10.9-inch display stretches closer to the edges, replacing the older 10.2-inch screen and thick bezels of the previous model.

It looks and feels good. The design is clean, solid and comfortable to hold. Apple has also added a splash of colour, with blue, pink and yellow options alongside silver. The earlier model came only in silver or space grey.

Despite the larger screen, the tablet remains light at around 480g. It slips easily into a bag and is barely noticeable when carried on its own.

More power where it counts

The move from the A13 to the A14 processor brings a useful performance lift. On paper, it is around 20 percent faster, although most users will only notice the difference in demanding tasks such as photo or video editing.

In everyday use, the iPad feels quick and responsive. It handles browsing, writing and media consumption without effort. Even heavier workloads run smoothly.

The A14 does not support Stage Manager, Apple’s advanced multitasking feature, nor does it include hardware acceleration for video encoding. That matters more to power users than to the typical iPad buyer.

A bigger screen that makes a difference

The jump from 10.2 to 10.9 inches may sound modest, but it delivers a noticeably larger viewing area. The extra space is welcome for reading, writing and watching video.

Apple has removed the home button, moving Touch ID to the power button. The front camera now sits on the long edge, which makes more sense for video calls in landscape mode.

Battery life is excellent. Expect more than ten hours on a charge with mixed use. That drops when using a keyboard, but it remains strong by tablet standards.

Keyboard: capable but clumsy

Apple offers a single keyboard option, the Magic Keyboard Folio. It connects via the Smart Connector and includes a trackpad and a row of function keys.

Typing feels good and the trackpad is responsive. This review was written on the device without issue.

The design is less convincing. It uses a two-piece layout with a kickstand, an idea borrowed from Microsoft’s Surface range. The kickstand works, but adds bulk. The keyboard itself is thick and heavy, weighing more than the iPad.

There are cheaper alternatives from Logitech, but the overall choice is limited.

Apple Pencil compromise

The iPad supports only the first-generation Apple Pencil. That is an odd decision given newer models use the second-generation version.

Charging is the problem. The Pencil uses a Lightning connector, while the iPad has USB-C. You need an adaptor to pair and charge, which feels like an inelegant workaround.

It is a rare misstep for Apple and undermines an otherwise polished product.

Price and positioning

The 10th-generation iPad starts at NZ$900 for 64GB. Moving to 256GB adds NZ$300. Cellular connectivity adds another NZ$300.

Accessories push the price much higher. Add a keyboard and Pencil, and the total climbs quickly. A fully equipped setup can exceed NZ$2200.

At that point, it overlaps with laptop pricing. A MacBook Air costs a similar amount, and for some buyers may be the better choice.

The older 9th-generation iPad remains on sale from NZ$650 and offers strong value for basic tasks. At the other end, the iPad Air adds more power, better display features and support for the newer Pencil.

Value depends on your needs

The 10th-generation iPad sits in an awkward middle ground. It is more capable than the 9th-generation model, but not as flexible as the Air.

For many users, it will be more than enough. It is fast, well built and supported by a deep app ecosystem. Apple’s long software support cycle also adds to its appeal.

The question is whether you need the extra features. If not, the cheaper model may make more sense. If you do, it may be worth stepping up to the Air.

Verdict

The 10th-generation iPad is a significant upgrade that modernises Apple’s entry-level tablet. It delivers better performance, a larger screen and improved everyday usability.

It is also more expensive and not without flaws. The keyboard design and Pencil support feel compromised.

Even so, it remains an easy device to recommend. For many buyers, it will be the right balance of performance, portability and longevity.

If you’re shopping for a mid-range phone, it’s hard to walk past Apple’s iPhone SE. You would need a strong preference for Android, or an aversion to Apple, to ignore it.

At NZ$800, it stands out as a sharp deal. In effect, you get the performance of an iPhone 11 wrapped in the body of an iPhone 8. That combination makes it one of the most compelling buys in its class.

It also arrived at the right moment. As budgets tightened, demand shifted away from premium handsets. People still needed capable phones, but fewer were willing to pay top dollar.

Flagship power at a mid-range price

The headline feature is Apple’s A13 Bionic processor, the same chip used in the iPhone 11 range. It is not scaled back. Performance is fast, fluid and well ahead of most rivals at this price.

In everyday use, apps launch quickly and run smoothly. More demanding tasks, including games and photo processing, are handled with ease. The chip also underpins Apple’s computational photography and machine learning features.

Elsewhere, the specification is solid. There is WiFi 6, gigabit LTE and dual SIM support via eSIM. There is no 5G, but that is unlikely to trouble most users given how little practical advantage it offers today.

Battery life is respectable rather than exceptional. The phone will comfortably last a full day, though heavy users will be reaching for a charger by evening. Apple includes a basic 5W charger in the box, which feels slow by modern standards. Faster charging is possible with a higher-powered adapter.

Wireless charging is included and works as expected.

A familiar design that still works

The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch display, large bezels and a physical home button with Touch ID.

By current standards it looks dated, yet there is a clear upside. The phone is compact, light at 148g, and easy to use one-handed. That alone will appeal to many buyers who have grown tired of oversized handsets.

The smaller display means less room for video and games, but it remains perfectly adequate for everyday tasks such as messaging, browsing and video calls.

For anyone upgrading from an older iPhone, the design will feel instantly familiar.

Camera performance punches above its weight

On paper, the camera appears modest. It is a single 12-megapixel lens, similar to the one used in the iPhone 8.

In practice, it performs well. Apple’s image processing, powered by the A13 chip, lifts results beyond what the hardware alone might suggest. In good light, photos show strong detail and accurate colour.

Low-light performance is less impressive, with more visible noise and weaker contrast than on higher-end models. Even so, it compares favourably with other phones in this price range.

Video is a highlight, with high-quality output and effective stabilisation.

Fewer extras, lower price

The iPhone SE does not attempt to match flagship phones feature for feature. There is no edge-to-edge display, no Face ID and no multi-lens camera array.

There is also no headphone jack. Apple includes Lightning earbuds, and Bluetooth remains the main alternative.

Rather than focusing on what is missing, it makes more sense to see the SE as a phone that delivers the essentials without the expensive extras.

A clear place in the market

The iPhone SE is likely to appeal to two main groups. First, Android users who have been priced out of the iPhone market. Second, existing iPhone owners holding on to older devices who want an affordable upgrade.

It may also disrupt the second-hand market. For many buyers, a new iPhone SE will be a more attractive option than an older refurbished flagship.

There is a possibility it will eat into sales of more expensive models, particularly among buyers who value iOS over cutting-edge hardware.

iPhone SE (2020) verdict

The iPhone SE (2020) is not designed to impress with headline features. Instead, it focuses on delivering speed, reliability and a solid camera at a competitive price.

For many people, that will be more than enough. At NZ$800, it remains one of the best-value phones available.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2020) brings a modest speed bump, a revamped camera system and full mouse and trackpad support.

Apple’s 2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is a refinement, not a revolution. The big leap came in 2018 when Apple rebooted the Pro line. That model pushed the iPad closer to being a genuine laptop replacement while keeping the strengths of a tablet.

For everyday tasks like browsing or writing, there’s little difference.

The 2020 update builds on that solid base. Most hardware changes are incremental, but iPadOS has matured into a more capable platform for mobile computing.

Everything that made the 2018 model great remains. The design is still one of Apple’s best, with minimal bezels, squared edges and rounded corners. It feels so right that it’s hard to imagine a better approach.

Performance

Bionic chip

The new iPad Pro uses Apple’s A12Z Bionic processor. On paper it improves on the earlier A12X, but in practice the gains are modest. There are still eight cores, split between performance and efficiency.

For browsing, writing or streaming, there’s little noticeable change.

Push it harder and the difference shows. Graphics-heavy tasks like photo editing run faster, audio apps feel smoother and demanding workloads are more responsive. Even so, the improvement is incremental.

By today’s standards it remains fast. It can outperform a 2019 MacBook Air (2019) with an Intel Core i3, although it doesn’t challenge Apple’s high-end laptops.

Battery life

Battery life is slightly down on the 2018 model, which could stretch to 10–12 hours depending on workload. The 2020 version manages a little over nine hours in regular use.

That’s still enough for a full working day, though no longer exceptional. Heavy apps can drain the battery in around six hours, while lighter use will comfortably last longer.

Cameras

Apple has focused more on cameras than raw performance this time. The rear now includes two lenses and a LiDAR sensor, following the same direction as recent phone upgrades.

The main 12-megapixel wide camera is unchanged. It’s good for a tablet, though not on the level of the iPhone 11. The new 10-megapixel ultra-wide lens is a first for iPad and proves useful, especially in tighter spaces or low light. It often works alongside the main camera to improve results.

Using a 12.9-inch tablet as a camera still feels awkward. Holding a device this size for photography is unnatural, and the controls are less intuitive than on a phone. For consistent quality, dedicated cameras remain the better option. For quick snaps or document scanning, the iPad does the job well.

Front camera

The front-facing 7-megapixel camera is designed for selfies and video calls. This is where the iPad Pro excels. Video quality is far better than on most laptops I’ve used, whether Mac or Windows. For remote work, it makes a noticeable difference.

Placement is less ideal. In portrait mode the camera sits at the top, but with a keyboard attached in landscape it shifts to the side. Software compensates, yet eye contact can feel off. To appear engaged, you need to look towards the edge of the screen.

LiDAR sensor

The standout addition is the LiDAR sensor. While it may eventually improve photography, its main purpose is augmented reality.

LiDAR, used in autonomous vehicles, measures distance by mapping the surrounding environment. On the iPad it can scan rooms with surprising accuracy. Apple’s measuring app works up to around five metres, which is ideal indoors but less useful outside.

It also opens the door for AR apps and games, letting you place virtual objects convincingly in real spaces. For now it feels like a bonus feature, but that could change as developers explore its potential.

Verdict: 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro

The 2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is an incremental update to an already excellent device. The design remains outstanding, performance is strong and iPadOS continues to improve.

New cameras and LiDAR add interest, but they are not compelling reasons to upgrade from the 2018 model. Battery life is slightly weaker, though still solid.

If you’re coming from an older iPad or want a tablet that can double as a serious work machine, this is an easy recommendation. If you already own the 2018 version, you can afford to wait.

Apple iPhone 11 is all about the camera. That’s not a new claim for modern phones, but here it’s truer than ever.

You can’t miss it. Two lenses and a prominent square bump dominate the rear. Not long ago, camera bumps were controversial, said to spoil the clean lines of glass-and-metal slabs. Apple’s earlier bumps were modest: on the iPhone 7 Plus a slim strip; on the iPhone XS Max slightly larger. On the iPhone 11, it’s a bold 30×30mm square.

That physical presence reflects importance. Apple calls it a “camera system”, a marketing term, perhaps, but an accurate one. Photography is the message.

It’s a camera—attached to a phone

Strip away the marketing and the iPhone 11 is, first and foremost, a camera in a phone body. An excellent camera, paired with a terrific phone and pocket computer. The non-camera features almost feel secondary.

By traditional camera standards it’s tiny, yet image quality suggests something more than optics alone. Software does much of the heavy lifting.

In practice: point, shoot, and be surprised

One night in December, walking back from dinner on a Coromandel beach, I noticed the moon emerging from clouds. I took out the phone, framed the scene, and tapped the shutter.

That was it.

The phone did the rest. My contribution was choosing the moment and holding steady between the flashes of harbour buoys. Despite the low light, it was too dark for my eyes to pick out foreground detail, the result was crisp, detailed, and, to my eye, close to professional quality.

Night mode

At the time, I didn’t realise the phone had enabled Night mode automatically. It simulates a long exposure, one to three seconds depending on conditions. while compensating for hand movement.

That matters. The buoys in my shot flash roughly once a second; a traditional long exposure would blur or miss the timing. The iPhone manages it without a tripod. You can turn Night mode off if you prefer, much like disabling automatic flash.

With a DSLR, I’d need a tripod for similar results. Here, handheld was enough.

It’s hard to take bad photos

Over time, a pattern emerged: the iPhone 11 makes it difficult to take bad photos. You still can, but casual, off-the-cuff shots often look far better than expected.

Take a simple example: three chilli bottles on a shelf. No thought to composition, just a quick reference shot so I’d remember what to buy later. It’s not art, but it has a certain accidental aesthetic quality.

Price and competition

After four weeks as my daily phone, replacing an iPhone XS Max, the iPhone 11 feels comparable in performance, slightly smaller, and significantly cheaper. At around NZ$1350 at launch, it undercut many flagship rivals.

Competitors from Samsung and Huawei also offer excellent cameras, each with distinct strengths. All are good. For my needs, the iPhone 11 delivers the best balance of features, usability, and results.

Final thoughts

It won’t replace a DSLR for everything, distant wildlife still pushes the limits, but it handles most of my photography needs, and then some. That’s remarkable for a device that fits in a pocket.

From September 2020: Apple's Scribble works better than you might dare to expect, it's fast and feels natural although it can get tiring over the long haul.

The first few paragraphs of this review were handwritten on an iPad Pro running iPadOS 14. Apple included a new feature in the operating system called Scribble.

It allows you handwrite in any iPad text field. Scribble then converts your handwriting into text.

Scribble works with the Apple Pencil. If you don’t own one, this a reason to buy the Pencil.

It doesn’t have to be the Apple Pencil, any powered iPad stylus will work. Scribble doesn’t work with fingertips or with passive styluses.

If you’re old enough and spent a lot of time with Apple hardware you may remember something similar was possible with the Newton MessagePad.

Impressive performance

Scribble works better than you might dare to expect.

It is fast enough to covert handwriting on the fly. Using it feels natural enough over the short haul. After a while writing with the Pencil can get more tiring than typing, although that may be unfamiliarity.

That could also be because I am a touch typist and have never been great at handwriting. In my case Scribble is an accurate description.

Either way, I gave up trying to write this entire post using Scribble at the sentence you are reading now. In other words, it’s good for a couple of hundred words.

Don’t plan on using it to write your magnum opus.

Scribble quick notes

To date I’ve found Scribble is excellent for making quick notes, filling in forms, compiling lists and the like. It excels if you need to pen a fast reply to an email.

While you can use Scribble in any text field, certain iPadOS apps have full support. The first paragraphs of this post were written directly into the Apple Pages word processor. If you own an iPad, Pages is free.

When you touch the screen with your Pencil while in a Pages document, the draw palette shows up. To choose scribble, you have to pick the leftmost pen tool, it has an A on it to make things clearer.

Reading my handwriting can be challenging at the best of times. Scribble got almost everything right for the first paragraphs. We’ll discusss the word almost in a moment. Where it doesn’t recognise your writing, you can quickly fix the text using one of four simple pen gestures. Newton owners might find them familiar.

Gestures

To delete a written word, you scribble over it. That’s straightforward enough and needs no training. You can select a word by drawing a line through it or by circling it. In practice the circles are easier and more accurate, although you may find otherwise. Inserting text works when you tap and hold the pen tip at the insertion point. A gap opens in the text and you can write in your extra text. Drawing a vertical line between text characters will either add a space to separate two connected words or open a space when two words are closed up.

It doesn’t take long to pick up these gestures, I was doing them all without a second thought before I stopped scribbling this post. There is one glaring omission. You can’t go to a word and, say, capitalise it. With the Newton you can turn a lower case character into a capital with an upward swipe. With Scribble you have to delete and write the word again remembering to use a capital initial letter.

You can’t Scribble everywhere yet

Scribble doesn’t work with all iPadOS apps. The software has to be enabled by the app developer. It doesn’t work with Microsoft Word or Google Docs. If history is anything to go by, third party app developers will embrace it over time. Other Apple iWorks apps can use it. I was pleased to find it works with iA Writer. And, as mentioned earlier, it does great service with the iPadOS Mail app.

Scribble is one of those features that you can overlook. Yet it has the potential to upend the way you work with an iPad. My favourite aspect of this is that Scribble makes it much easier to write on an iPad when you are standing. As a journalist this is something I need to do when on reporting jobs.

This story was written in December 2019.

They sound great and last for hours on a single charge. Apple AirPods Pro pack impressive noise cancelling into a tiny space. At NZ$450, the price is competitive if you’re looking at more traditional noise-cancelling headsets.

Apple’s original AirPods were a surprise hit. You see them everywhere and almost everyone who owns a pair loves them. At one point, reports suggested they accounted for six out of every ten wireless earbuds sold worldwide, which helps explain why rivals like Huawei pushed in with products such as FreeBuds.

My old AirPods are the second-generation model. They fit my ears and work better than you might expect.

AirPods Pro are a step up in every dimension. Apple added active noise cancellation to an already successful recipe, improved the fit and upgraded the functionality. They look like another hit.

AirPods Pro wake-up

My first AirPods Pro demo was in a noisy cafe with hard floors and background clatter. We connected them to an iPhone.

From the outset the earbuds blocked out most of the noise. I could hear music with unexpected clarity.

It got better fast.

There’s a built-in feature that checks how well the earbuds fit your ear. Unlike the original all-hard plastic AirPods, Apple uses removable soft tips. Three sizes come in the box. Mine needed changing. It’s a little fiddly, but only takes a minute.

After swapping, the new tips blocked even more background sound. The quality is astounding for something so small.

Later, I listened again on the bus ride home. The experience was even better than the cafe. I’m not sure I’ve heard such clear sound on public transport.

At home, I can be blissfully unaware when helicopters pass overhead or when the Royal New Zealand Air Force takes off from nearby Whenuapai.

Both types of music

AirPods Pro work well with all kinds of music, which matters because I listen to all kinds. One acid test I use for speakers or headphones is piano recordings. Both classical and jazz tracks came out close to perfect — on a bus. There’s no artificial bass boost, which may or may not suit your taste.

I’ve enjoyed noise cancelling for a few years. When I reviewed Sony’s MDR-1000X headphones, I liked them enough to buy a pair. They proved their worth on long-haul flights.

There is some colour to the MDR-1000X sound. That’s not necessarily bad. They sound fine with my favourite music. In comparison, AirPods Pro are flatter and more accurate.

In the past I thought over-ear designs like the MDR-1000X were more comfortable for long sessions, say on a trans-Pacific flight. I haven’t flown since getting the AirPods Pro, but I have used them for extended listening. They remain comfortable for hours and are far easier to slip into carry-on luggage. I expect them to replace my older noise-cancelling headphones.

On most measures, AirPods Pro match or beat the Sony headphones. The Sony controls may be easier, but that could be familiarity; I’ve only had the AirPods a few days.

The flat response is good enough that I can use them as a reference when mixing tracks on my iPad without waking the house.

During testing I never heard lag or had trouble connecting. If you pull an AirPod out to talk, the music pauses. That’s not always necessary, as we’ll see later. Apple Music behaves well, but some third-party apps can stop altogether and need restarting.

Controls

AirPods Pro have shorter stalks than the older AirPods and are fractionally heavier, though you won’t notice. They come in a slightly larger snap-top case.

You store them in the case when not in use. It charges the earbuds via a Lightning connector or wirelessly. The case holds its own reserve, so you can top up between sessions.

A single charge gives around four hours of listening. With the case, Apple says you can stretch that to 24 hours. That more or less matches my experience.

There’s a squeezable control surface. Squeeze once to pause, twice to skip tracks. Squeeze and hold to activate Siri or switch noise cancelling modes.

You can also say “Hey Siri” to read messages or use the microphones to pipe in outside sound. That’s handy if, say, a flight attendant wants your attention.

One of the more magical features is how AirPods Pro pair across Apple devices. Once connected to one, they’re available to all. Open the case near a device and a prompt shows the remaining charge.

Verdict

AirPods Pro show Apple at its best. They feel a little like magic. It’s rare for someone who has spent decades reviewing gadgets to break into even a modest smile, but these did it.

They are comfortable, sound excellent and have enough battery life for most situations short of a long-haul flight. The noise cancelling is on a par with far more expensive headphones. They also work with Android phones and Windows devices. Best of all, they slip into a pocket.

The price looks high, but you get value for money. Good noise cancelling is never cheap.

Their success also came at a time when iPhone sales were faltering — a reminder that Apple’s strength isn’t just in phones, but in the ecosystem built around them.

Bill Bennett writes: I nearly turned down the chance to review the Deebot Ozmo 900. At the time I was busy. Jo overheard the call and told me to ring back—she was keen. So keen she wrote the review.

Dennis, or, to use his proper name, Deebot Ozmo 900, has the wrong voice. It’s a woman’s voice. As a modern woman, I don’t believe vacuuming is a woman’s job.

The man of the house says he sounds like a female version of the toaster from Red Dwarf, the 1980s series about Dave Lister, the snack-machine repairman stranded three million years in the future.

Dennis does at least look futuristic: a smooth white disc (320mm across, 70mm high) rolling around on wheels, equipped with a laser distance sensor, bumper and anti-collision sensors.

He has a docking station for charging and, unlike Red Dwarf’s toaster, smarter software. He builds room maps and comes with an app, with support for voice assistants.

Lovable, if slightly needy

Like many people, I quickly grew fond of Dennis. He feels less like an appliance and more like a useful pet.

He tells you when he’s tired—his battery is low—then trundles off to recharge. He’s part of a long line of steadily improving robot cleaners. There’s still room for improvement, but for many homes he would be a genuine help.

His party trick is mopping as well as vacuuming. That alone makes a difference.

He runs for up to 90 minutes when vacuuming, less when mopping at the same time. He’s cordless and mostly gets on with the job, but he does need supervision. Think of him as a two-year-old: capable, but prone to getting stuck and calling for help.

Cables and our television sideboard proved a challenge. That said, it was easy to work nearby and listen out for trouble.

Death to dust bunnies

Where Dennis shines is under the bed.

Dust bunnies are normally a miserable chore, involving awkward angles and a vacuum wand. Dennis simply glides underneath and deals with them.

On the downside, his tendency to get stuck limits the usefulness of the app. There’s little point starting a clean remotely if he might strand himself in a corner.

The app is also fiddly to install. Online forums suggest this is a common complaint. Ecovacs appears more focused on robotics than software.

Mapping and other limitations

Dennis’ mapping has limits. In a split-level home, he can only handle one map, so he keeps starting again.

In practice this is more annoying than fatal, although it may explain why he gets stuck in familiar places. His dustbin is small and needs frequent emptying. The water reservoir is also modest, so mopping sessions are short.

That said, the mop pad works well, especially on laminate floors where too much water would cause damage.

He is best suited to hard floors. He coped with a low-pile rug, but deep carpet would be a stretch.

A cleaner home

After several runs in a week, the house felt fresher. Air quality improved noticeably, suggesting he was picking up dust, pollen and pet dander.

Because he is automated, he is more likely to be used often. That alone helps keep on top of cleaning.

No longer a luxury

At around NZ$800, Dennis sits in the affordable end of the robot vacuum market.

Not long ago, this category was a luxury. While he can’t replace a traditional vacuum for everything—curtains and furniture still need attention—he is effective at what he does.

Cordless stick vacuums, like those from Dyson, cost more and are better for quick clean-ups. But they still need someone to do the work.

A robot vacuum is closer to a washing machine: it gets on with the job by itself.

Pros and cons

Dennis is compact and low enough to reach under furniture, although the raised sensor disc can catch on some edges. Setup takes a little patience—the manual is brief.

Maintenance is higher than with a traditional vacuum. Hair tangles around the brushes and needs cutting away.

He does get stuck more often than ideal. Better multi-room mapping would help, especially in multi-level homes.

On the plus side, the mopping function is genuinely useful, especially in homes with pets.

And despite fears raised in some reviews, he has no trouble with stairs. His sensors detect edges and turn him away. No cushions required—although, as the man of the house noted, it’s reassuring to know a Dalek invasion could be stopped so easily.

Fortunately, Dennis is far more helpful than that.

Apple’s fifth-generation iPad mini (5th generation) packs much of the power of the iPad Air into a smaller case. That compact size is its defining feature.

At first glance, a 7.9-inch tablet might seem redundant when large phones exist. Devices like the iPhone XS Max blur the line between phone and tablet. Yet Apple says iPad mini sales have remained steady since launch. It is not for everyone, but those who prefer it tend to be loyal.

Price helps. At NZ$680 for the base model, it costs far less than a flagship phone. It is not the cheapest iPad, but it offers solid value.

The size advantage

The appeal goes beyond price. The 7.9-inch display sits neatly between a large phone and a full-sized tablet.

It is bigger than a phone screen, yet still light and portable at around 300 grams. It fits easily into a bag and can even squeeze into a large pocket. It is a device you can carry anywhere without thinking about it.

Screen size is measured diagonally, but the difference in usable space is more dramatic than it sounds. A 7.9-inch display offers roughly 50 percent more viewing area than a large phone screen. In practice, that is a significant step up.

Built for working on the move

The iPad mini suits people who work away from a desk: health workers, field staff or anyone moving between locations. It is small enough to hold in one hand, yet large enough to be productive.

Typing is easier than on a phone. The on-screen keyboard has more room, which makes a noticeable difference.

Thumb typing that works

The keyboard works best in portrait orientation, held in both hands and operated with thumbs.

This feels similar to typing on a phone, but with more space. It is a practical option when standing or travelling, such as on public transport or in tight spaces.

Better than a phone for reading

The extra screen space makes the iPad mini more comfortable for reading, browsing and viewing detailed content like maps or photos.

It is also close in size to an e-reader such as the Amazon Kindle, making it a good choice for long-form reading.

Performance matches the iPad Air

Internally, the iPad mini shares much with the iPad Air (2019), including Apple’s A12 processor—the same chip found in the iPhone XR.

That means there is plenty of performance on tap. It also includes a laminated display, True Tone for adjusting colour to ambient light and support for the first-generation Apple Pencil (1st generation).

Battery life is rated at around 10 hours, which holds up in typical use.

A few quirks

There are some signs of age.

The design dates back years, with larger bezels than newer iPads. It uses a Lightning port rather than USB-C and retains a headphone jack—features Apple is moving away from elsewhere.

While it supports Apple Pencil, it does not work with the newer second-generation model.

Price and options

The base model starts at NZ$680 with 64GB of storage. Upgrading to 256GB increases the price to NZ$929, while adding cellular connectivity adds another NZ$120.

The Apple Pencil is an additional NZ$160.

Verdict

The iPad mini is not a laptop replacement. For that, an iPad Air or iPad Pro makes more sense.

But as a highly portable tablet, it hits a sweet spot. It is ideal for reading, note-taking and working on the move. For owners of older iPad mini models, it is a worthwhile upgrade.

Small, capable and easy to carry, the iPad mini remains one of Apple’s most distinctive devices—and arguably one of its most practical.

Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018) is close to being all the mobile computer needed for working on the move.

It is light, always on and has battery life that stretches beyond a full working day. Add a SIM and it is permanently connected. It can shoot photos and video if needed, although holding up a device this size still looks faintly ridiculous. Audio recording, by contrast, works well and feels natural.

Writing and editing

This is where the iPad Pro earns its keep.

There is no shortage of good iOS writing tools and the 12.9-inch screen makes them comfortable to use. While Markdown remains a preferred workflow, most clients expect Word documents. On the iPad Pro it is easier to work directly in Microsoft Word than to convert files back and forth.

Oddly, Word often feels better on iOS than on macOS. For this kind of work, the iPad Pro can be a better experience than a MacBook.

Real work, real conditions

Used in the way it is intended, on the road, in hotel rooms and cafés, the iPad Pro handles everyday editorial tasks without fuss.

Writing a newsletter or feature story is straightforward. For anyone already used to working on iOS, there are few surprises. There are still moments when a Mac is needed, but they are infrequent.

Smaller in ways that matter

The screen is still 12.9 inches, but the reduced bezels make the device smaller and easier to live with.

On paper the difference is measured in millimetres. In practice it is easier to slip in and out of a bag, more usable on an airline tray table and less tiring to hold for long periods.

Performance without the noise

The A12X processor is significantly faster than the previous model.

For writing, that makes little difference. Words do not come any faster. Where the extra power shows is in more demanding tasks such as photo or video editingcand in the general responsiveness of the device.

Face ID is quick and reliable, which matters more day-to-day than any benchmark result.

Keyboard trade-offs

The Smart Keyboard Folio is an improvement on earlier versions. It offers a solid typing experience with decent key travel and a reassuring click.

It is not perfect. There is no backlight, which is a nuisance in low light. Some keys are harder to find by touch than on a laptop keyboard. Even so, it compares well with many portable computers.

The folio also does a better job of protecting the device than the earlier cover.

Apple Pencil gets it right

The Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is a clear step forward.

It feels better in the hand and fixes the awkward charging system of the earlier model. It snaps onto the side of the iPad to pair and charge, held in place by a strong magnet. It is simple and works as it should.

Sound that surprises

The speakers are better than expected.

They deliver clear, well-separated stereo sound with enough volume for watching video or sharing content with others. For a device this thin, the performance stands out.

Where it falls short

There are still frustrations.

WordPress is awkward to use on the iPad. The app is incomplete and the web interface is not designed for touch. Managing a site can feel harder than it should.

The move away from the home button takes some getting used to. Multitasking gestures are less obvious, particularly when dealing with misbehaving apps in the background.

Price and perspective

This is not a cheap device.

The entry-level model starts at NZ$1750 with 64GB of storage, which will not be enough for many users. The 256GB version is a more realistic option. Higher capacities quickly become expensive.

Cellular adds further cost. It is convenient, but less essential given how easily the iPad can tether to a phone.

The bigger picture

For the right kind of work, the iPad Pro can replace a laptop.

If it lets you work more easily on the move and makes better use of otherwise idle time, the price is easier to justify. Against laptops and devices like the Surface, it holds its own.

If that still feels like too much, the standard iPad remains a viable alternative. It does most of what this model can do at a fraction of the price.