Hey,
It’s Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
I get this question from friends all the time.
The ones who buy a phone, a laptop, a pair of headphones… and then don't touch an upgrade for half a decade.
And here's the thing: the advice for them is completely different to the advice for someone like me.
🔁 Tech I'd Recommend to Friends Who Never Upgrade Anything
My rule is simple: buy the latest, premium, best-of-the-best version of everything.
It costs more today, but it's the only way it still feels good in year five.
So here's my honest list:
📱 Phone: buy the flagship, full stop
On the Apple side, it's the iPhone 17 Pro.
Although… if you can hold out a few months, the iPhone 18 generation is coming, and the folding iPhone looks like it's about to land.
On the Android side, you could play it safe with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. It's the flagship Samsung tier phone, and it'll be supported for years.
But honestly? The Chinese brands are starting to do really, really well. The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is just an incredible device, and if longevity is the goal, it makes a serious case:
7,050mAh silicon-carbon battery … one of the biggest in any flagship, so it'll still get you through a day even after years of degradation
Hasselblad cameras with dual 200MP sensors and 10x optical zoom
100W fast charging that gets you topped up in minutes
💻 Laptop: the Air vs Pro dilemma
For daily carrying, I'd personally go for a top-spec MacBook Air.
But if I genuinely knew I couldn't upgrade for 5 years… that pushes me into MacBook Pro territory, with the best configuration I could possibly get.
Because in this AI era, we don't know what's going to happen in the next year, let alone five.
👉 Carry it everywhere, lighter needs: top-spec MacBook Air
👉 Locked in for 5 years, want maximum headroom: maxed-out MacBook Pro
⌚ Watch: simple vs serious
(Full disclosure:
I'm in a bit of a quandary with watches at the moment. I'm wearing an Apple Watch, a Whoop, a Google tracker AND an Ultrahuman Ring… so part of me keeps wanting to go back to a classical watch.)
But if I'm recommending one to a friend:
Apple Watch Ultra 3 on the Apple side. It's super simple and it just works. Best battery life of any Apple Watch, satellite connectivity, and it'll get software updates for years.
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro on the Android side. Battery life measured in days, not hours, and the deepest training features out there. They're quite heavy though, that's the only problem.
🎧 Headphones: three picks depending on your world
Apple people: AirPods Pro 3 for in-ear, or AirPods Max if you want over-ears.
Android people: the Sony WH-1000XM6 is my over-ear pick. Class-leading noise cancellation, and Sony's stuff just lasts.
And for in-ears that don't cost flagship money: the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, which we just reviewed. They sound great, the noise cancellation is great, and the call clarity is incredible. You can literally take a phone call while someone's pointing a leaf blower at you.
😴 The 8 Sleep mattress: yes, really
I've said this a lot recently, but I'd recommend the Eight Sleep to anybody.
It's very expensive. But my God.
I'm travelling in China at the moment, staying in a genuinely luxurious hotel room… and I prefer my bed at home. A temperature-controlled mattress that goes cold or warm whenever you want, and adjusts overnight to keep you asleep longer — it just makes everything feel so much better.
If you're only buying tech once every 5 years, this is exactly the category to splurge on. You use it 8 hours a night, every night.
📊 Fitness trackers: where I've changed my mind
The Whoop is good for your data. But I've actually just cancelled my Whoop subscription.
Because with two of them (me and my wife), it was over £600 a year to renew. And when I compare £600 a year against a one-off purchase of around £100 for the new Google Fitbit Air… it just doesn't compare.
The Fitbit Air is screenless, tracks heart rate, sleep and SpO2 24/7, and gets up to a week of battery. There is an optional AI Health Coach subscription, but the core tracking works without it.
And then potentially the Oura Ring 5, which has just come out and seems to be the best smart ring out there: 40% smaller than the last one, 6–9 days of battery, even blood pressure monitoring.
🎯 The Buy-It-Once Shortlist
If you're keeping it 5 years… | Buy this |
|---|---|
iPhone person | iPhone 17 Pro (or wait for the 18 / the Fold) |
Android, playing it safe | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
Android, best hardware | |
Laptop, daily carry | Top-spec MacBook Air |
Laptop, maximum headroom | Maxed-out MacBook Pro |
Watch, simple | |
Watch, serious training | Garmin Fenix 8 Pro |
Headphones, best value in-ear | |
Better sleep | Eight Sleep |
Tracking without subscriptions | Google Fitbit Air |
📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:
I've finally built the desk setup I don't want to change anything about.
It's built around a huge 52" 6K 120Hz Dell Thunderbolt display that's genuinely changed how I work.
From the brand-new Secretlab ATLAS chair to KEF speakers and the gear I actually use every single day, this is the full tour.
Why a 52" 6K monitor isn't as ridiculous as it sounds
The new Secretlab ATLAS chair and whether it's worth it
Why I'm running an M4 MacBook Air instead of a Pro
The dock that holds the whole setup together
KEF LS50 Meta speakers + Shure SM7B — my audio setup explained
The Magnus Pro XL desk and how I've laid everything out
and more…
Disclaimer: 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.