Hey,

After reviewing 100+ gadgets, you start to notice the things that actually matter — the real differences between devices, the features that quietly improve your day, and the trends shaping where tech is headed.

This issue is about those lessons.
The surprising insights, the small upgrades, and the future-facing ideas that stood out after testing so many gadgets.

Here’s what’s inside:

Let’s dive in👇

^{*Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to you.}

After testing well over a hundred phones, foldables, wearables, and random bits of tech, you start to notice patterns — the stuff that actually matters, the things people argue about that don’t matter, and the tiny upgrades that quietly change your day.

Here are the 5 biggest lessons reviewing all these gadgets has taught me.

The online world makes it seem like it’s Apple vs. Android in a never-ending cage match, but once you actually live with these devices, the truth is much simpler: both sides have strengths and weaknesses.

🍏 Apple nails the ecosystem — iMessage, AirDrop, continuity with the Mac — and the hardware is consistently great. But the software can be… hit-or-miss.

🤖 Android (and especially Google) gives you flexibility, better customization, and increasingly impressive AI tools. And Google is even rolling out features that bridge the gap, like iMessage-style interoperability and easier file sharing between Pixel and iPhone.

Smaller companies have room to experiment — and it shows. You get:

Meanwhile, big companies have to scale everything to tens of millions of units. They move slower because they have to — they need rock-solid reliability, stable supply chains, and huge component orders.

But those “impossible” specs we see from smaller brands?

They usually trickle down into mainstream devices a year or two later.

If there’s one category that feels genuinely exciting right now, it’s smart glasses.

Meta Ray-Bans are already surprisingly useful — the hands-free messaging, the voice-controlled replies, the “just tell me what’s happening without picking up my phone” experience. It’s genuinely freeing.

Imagine watching your favourite show and the glasses quietly read out a message to you… without pulling you away from what you’re doing.

That’s the kind of subtle, ambient tech that feels like the real future.

After reviewing so many gadgets, the irony is that the things that make the biggest impact… are usually the smallest.

Stuff like:

These aren’t flashy. They don’t make headlines. But they genuinely change how you use your tech every day.

The more tech you test, the more you realise how easy it is to get sucked into it.

Notifications, apps, screens — it all pulls you out of the moment. And reviewing gadgets forces you to confront this constantly. There’s a real skill in learning when to pick up your phone… and when to leave it in another room.

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

Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy Z TriFold, its first tri-fold smartphone that opens into a 10-inch display.

The device debuts in South Korea on December 12, with a US launch planned for early 2026.

The TriFold offers three modes — phone, tablet, and an ultra-wide workstation layout — all powered by a dual-hinge design. Early impressions highlight smoother hinges and a thinner build than expected for a device with three panels.

A new UN Development Programme (UNDP) report warns that rapid AI adoption may widen the global inequality gap, especially between countries with strong tech infrastructure and those without.

The report highlights concerns around unequal access to AI tools, job displacement in lower-income regions, and the growing influence of tech-rich nations in shaping global standards.

At the same time, the UN says AI could reduce inequality — but only if countries invest in education, regulation, and accessible digital infrastructure.

Holiday gifting season is here — and if you’ve ever tried buying something for a tech-obsessed friend (or, let’s be honest, yourself), you know how overwhelming it can get. Too many options, too much hype, and way too many “Top 100 Gadgets” lists that all say the same thing.

In the next issue, I’ll break down the gifts that actually land — from under-$25 wins to “wow, you really like this person” luxury picks. These are the items I’ve tested, gifted, and would happily receive myself.

Here’s what you’ll get:

And of course — the full list of gifts for every type of tech lover, with links, use-cases, and honest pros/cons so you know exactly what’s worth wrapping.

🎄 See you Thursday.