Hey,

Welcome to this week’s Experiments in Progress (by Pete Matheson) issue!

With Christmas around the corner, I’ve been testing a ton of chargers, cases, cameras, bottles, bags — and narrowing down the tech gifts that people will actually love.

Not the trendy stuff that ends up in a drawer, but the gear that’s useful, reliable, and fun to unwrap.

In this issue, I’m breaking down:

Let’s dive in👇

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With Christmas coming up, tech gifts are an easy win.

So here’s a simple budget → luxury guide with the gadgets I’d actually recommend for friends and family this year.

Here are the picks worth unwrapping 👇

Simple, reliable, and genuinely one of the best low-cost upgrades you can give. It’s the kind of gift people end up using daily without thinking about it.

If you want a “wow” moment, go for a Qi2 charger. These support faster wireless charging speeds, and most 2025–2026 phones will support Qi2 natively.

It has a MagSafe-compatible cap, which means you can stick your phone to the top of your bottle at the gym — perfect for watching videos, running maps, or filming yourself without balancing your phone on a dumbbell.

It has Bluetooth, hydration tracking, a UV purification system, and a physical filter that removes microplastics and impurities. If Apple made a water bottle… it would look suspiciously like this.

You can find perfectly decent cases for £10–£20 — grippy, protective, and available in any color. A safe, practical gift for anyone who just wants something simple.

MagBak cases are incredibly premium — magnetic, durable, and surprisingly sleek. MOFT offers a more minimalist vibe with great stands and accessories.

One of the best value monitors I’ve ever tested. A huge ultrawide display, good color accuracy, and usually under £300.

Perfect for work-from-home setups or anyone who edits videos, plays games, or just loves extra screen space.

These are the “go big or go home” monitors.

Massive panels, incredible immersion, insanely smooth refresh rates — and thanks to this year’s discounts, they’re actually much more attainable right now.

A small, lightweight full-frame camera that delivers amazing image quality.
Great for vloggers, travellers, and anyone wanting to step up from phone footage.

Better dynamic range, better low-light performance, and a brilliant choice for creators who want a professional tool without going into cinema gear pricing.

Beautifully engineered, iconic design, and capable of producing some of the best-looking photos out of any camera system. A splurge — but an unforgettable one.

You can find incredibly functional bags at low prices — great for commuters or students who need something simple and durable.

Peak Design is the sweet spot: smart organization, premium materials, and layouts built specifically for creators who carry gear.

If you want something that feels designer, this is it. Beautiful leather, luxury finishes, and a bag that feels more like a fashion accessory than a tech product.

Shockingly good for the price. Strong ANC, good sound quality, and often priced far below the big brands.

Sony delivers some of the best noise-cancellation and sound in the game.
AirPods Pro are unbeatable for convenience, switching between Apple devices, and overall comfort. Both are fantastic gifts.

📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:

This week’s episode of Aspiring Creator pulls back the curtain on our Black Friday studio haul — the gear we upgraded, the shots we can now pull off, and the surprising purchases that are already reshaping how we film.

Inside this episode:

If you’re trying to figure out which upgrades actually matter — and which ones are just Black Friday temptations — this episode gives you the real, unpolished breakdown.

🎧 New episodes every Wednesday

📺 Watch on YouTube | 🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

After a year of testing, returning, breaking, and arguing with more gadgets than any reasonable person should… I’ve started to see where the industry is actually heading — and where it needs to go.

In the next issue, you’ll get:

🗓️ See you Saturday.