Hey,
Welcome to a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
This week’s issue looks at two very different layers of tech:
What actually shows up in my Amazon cart. The boring, practical stuff I rebuy to remove friction and keep life running smoothly
What’s happening in tech right now, including Apple quietly testing foldable display tech and Samsung’s mixed Galaxy S26 pricing signals
Three very different products.
Let’s dive in👇
🛒 My Actual Amazon Cart (Unfiltered)
I get asked this a lot — “What do you actually buy?”
So here it is.
If you’re deciding which batteries to get, which power strip won’t annoy you, or which Pokémon sleeves actually hold up — feel free to steal from this list.
🔧 Maintenance & friction removal
The stuff that prevents small problems from becoming daily annoyances.
Power & charging
POWSAF extension leads / power strips
(multiple USB ports, long cables — boring, reliable, no drama)
Batteries
Duracell Optimum AA batteries
I don’t experiment here. These just work and last.
Small fixes
Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Strong, controlled, doesn’t run everywhere.Stainless steel door bolts / basic hardware kits
Bought once, solved the issue, moved on.
Storage & organization
Ultra Pro card sleeves (100-pack)
Vault X binders (side-loading)
More on these in the hobby section, but they live here for a reason: they prevent mess.
⚡ Health & energy top-ups
Protein
Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass (Chocolate)
Reordered more than once. Predictable. No surprises.FULFIL Vitamin & Protein Bars
Easy default. Grab-and-go.
Oral care
Cordless water flosser (USB-C, travel-friendly)
One of those “why didn’t I do this earlier” upgrades.
🛋️ Comfort upgrades (quiet but noticeable)
MYLEK electric heated mattress cover
Not flashy. Not aesthetic. Very effective.Small home items that make evenings easier rather than “better on paper.”
🎧 Hobbies that actually stuck
When a hobby lasts, it starts needing infrastructure.
Pokémon
Pokémon TCG booster bundles & premium collections
Ultra Pro sleeves
Vault X binders
This is where things stop being aspirational and start being practical.
If a hobby sticks, you end up buying storage, protection, and better tools.
Audio
iFi Go Link Max DAC
Small upgrade, noticeable improvement.Audiobooks via Audible
Same logic as above: used enough to justify staying.
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📰 News worth knowing
📰 Samsung Galaxy S26 pricing quietly reshuffles the lineup
Early reports suggest Samsung is adjusting prices across the Galaxy S26 range:
the base model may get more expensive, while the Ultra could become slightly cheaper — an unusual move for Samsung.
No official announcement yet, but the signals point to a strategic re-positioning rather than inflation across the board.
→ Why this matters:
Samsung seems to be nudging more people toward the Ultra, making the top-tier model feel like better value while pushing casual buyers upmarket. It’s less about specs — more about steering buying behavior.
Worth watching if you’re already considering an upgrade.
Not a reason to rush or wait yet.
Source: CNET
📰 Apple quietly acquires Israeli audio AI startup Q.ai
Apple has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup focused on advanced audio AI — without much fanfare and without a product announcement tied to it.
No big keynote. No flashy demo. Just another quiet acquisition added to Apple’s AI portfolio.
→ Why this matters:
This is classic Apple. Instead of pushing loud AI features, it’s improving core experiences behind the scenes — audio quality, voice processing, spatial sound, on-device intelligence. If this shows up later, it’ll feel “better,” not “new.”
Worth watching.
Source: Tea4Tech
🛒 Next Issue: How I Decide What to Buy (My 5-Step Filter)
We’re surrounded by recommendations.
Reviews, TikToks, “must-haves,” hot takes.
Most of them don’t help you decide anything.
In the next issue, I’m breaking down the exact 5-step filter I use before buying anything — tech, tools, subscriptions, or “this might change my life” products.
Here’s what I’ll cover:
The first question that eliminates ~70% of purchases instantly
How I separate genuine usefulness from clever marketing
Where specs and reviews actually matter — and where they don’t
The one step that saves me the most money (and regret)
How this filter scales from $30 buys to big upgrades
🗓️ See you Thursday.