Tech News Archives - Page 3 of 3

March 20, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Smart Speakers UK: HomePod vs Sonos vs Echo Compared

Last updated: 2 October 2026

A speaker is also the hub for everything else you add later, so it is worth reading it alongside my smart home guides.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Choosing the best smart speakers UK buyers can actually get their hands on in 2026 is oddly complicated. Apple wants you all-in on Siri and AirPlay. Sonos wants you to forget about voice assistants and just listen. Amazon wants you to talk to Alexa about literally everything, including your shopping list. Three very different philosophies, three very different ecosystems, and a surprisingly wide range of prices.

This guide cuts through the noise. I compare every current speaker worth considering from Apple, Sonos and Amazon. In particular, I cover sound quality, stereo pairing rules, multi-room setups, app quality, ecosystem lock-in, future-proofing and genuine value for money. Whether you want a single kitchen speaker or a whole-home audio system, I will help you pick the right one.

Published by Stiv in Audiophiles, Buying Guides, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: AirPlay, alexa, Amazon Echo, Dolby Atmos, Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, HomePod, HomePod Mini, multi-room audio, Siri, smart home, smart speakers, Sonos Era 100, Sonos Era 300

March 7, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Freetrade Review UK: Honest Pros, Cons and Verdict (2026)

Last updated: 7 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute financial advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5

This Freetrade review UK covers everything you need to know before opening an account: plans, fees, what you can invest in, what real users say on Trustpilot, and where the app falls short. Freetrade has grown into one of the UK's most popular investing apps since the company was founded in 2016. However, popularity and quality are not always the same thing. This review is based on my own experience using the app, and I have dug into the plans, fees and real user feedback so you don't have to.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Want a free share with Freetrade?

Freetrade's refer-a-friend deal gives a free share when you join, subject to qualifying conditions. The current offer and full terms are kept up to date on our referral page.

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews, Services, Tech News, UK Made

Tags: commission-free investing, Freetrade app, Freetrade pros cons, Freetrade review, Freetrade SIPP, Freetrade vs Trading 212, stocks and shares isa, UK investing apps

March 6, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best AI Assistant UK 2026: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Perplexity

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Choosing the best AI assistant UK users can trust in 2026 isn't as simple as picking the one with the catchiest name. Between Anthropic walking away from a $200 million Pentagon contract, a growing "Quit ChatGPT" movement, and genuine questions about where your data ends up, this is a decision that actually matters now. We've dug into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and others to compare everything from pricing and privacy to military contracts and water consumption — all with a UK lens.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Reviews, Services, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: AI chatbot comparison, AI comparison 2026, AI data storage GDPR, AI environmental impact, AI military use, AI privacy UK, best AI assistant UK, ChatGPT UK, Claude AI UK, Gemini AI UK, Perplexity UK, which AI to use UK

March 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 17e UK: What You Actually Get for £699

Last updated: 22 September 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The iPhone 17e UK launch landed on 11 March 2026 at £599, the same price Apple charged for the 16e the year before. Apple has since raised it to £699, from 9 September 2026. Either way, you're getting double the storage, MagSafe, and a faster chip. It's not a revolution. It was never meant to be. Here's our honest take on what Apple's cheapest iPhone actually delivers and where it quietly cuts corners.

Comparing the 17e with the rest of the range? My iPhone guides hub has every iPhone guide in one place, plus Apple's current UK prices.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A19 chip, apple, Apple UK, Back Market, budget iPhone, iPhone 16e vs 17e, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17e review, iPhone 17e UK, iPhone 2026, MagSafe, refurbished iPhone, smartphone

March 4, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

ChatGPT Gets a Fresh Upgrade: GPT-5.3 Instant Rolls Out

OpenAI has shipped a new version of its default “Instant” ChatGPT model: GPT-5.3 Instant. The headline changes are practical: a more natural tone, fewer unnecessary refusals, and stronger web-search synthesis, with OpenAI also claiming fewer hallucinations.

What’s new: better day-to-day answers, less “overly cautious” vibe, and improved results when ChatGPT searches the web.

Best for: quick research, decision help, writing, and “just answer the question” tasks without the extra theatre.

Published by Stiv in AI, AI Tools & Shortcuts, ChatGPT Guides, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: AI tools, AI updates, ChatGPT, GPT-5.3, OpenAI, Productivity, Tech news, Web search

March 3, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 17e Buyer’s Guide: Every Upgrade That Matters

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Looks like Apple’s “affordable iPhone” is now a yearly habit, and the iPhone 16e vs 17e decision is basically: do you want MagSafe and more storage, or do you want to save cash on a still-solid phone?

The iPhone 16e brought the modern basics (full-screen design, Face ID, USB-C, 48MP camera) into the budget lane. The new iPhone 17e keeps the same vibe, but upgrades the bits you’ll notice every day: charging, storage, durability, and silicon.

Quick take: If you use wireless charging (or want magnetic car mounts, wallets, and snap-on accessories), the 17e is the easy pick. If you’re buying outright and see a chunky discount on the 16e, that’s when the older model becomes tempting.

Looking at the wider iPhone range? My iPhone guides hub covers the iPhone 18 Pro, refurbished iPhones and SIM-only plans too.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Buying Guides, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A19, apple, buying guide, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, iPhone comparison, MagSafe, uk deals, wireless charging

February 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

New AirTag Review UK: AirTag 2 vs Gen 1 Compared

Last updated: 27 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5

If you're looking for a new AirTag review, here's the short version: Apple's 2nd generation AirTag is louder, tracks from further away, and costs the same as before. It's a genuinely useful upgrade, especially for travellers. However, for many people who mostly lose things around the house, a discounted Gen 1 pack still makes plenty of sense. So which one should you actually buy? Let's break it down.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Apple apps, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover, Travel lover

Tags: AirTag, AirTag 2, Amazon deals, apple, Apple Watch, Find My, gadgets, key finder, luggage tracker, UK tech

June 23, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Eufy Make E1 Review UK – Is This UV Printer Worth It?

Last updated: 12 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This Eufy Make E1 review is the result of a full month with one of the most talked-about creative gadgets to land in the UK. The eufyMake E1 is a compact UV printer that prints directly onto cups, wood, metal, fabric, glass and over 300 other materials, with 3D texture effects up to 5 mm deep. It raised over $46 million on Kickstarter and is now shipping to UK buyers. But is the hype justified? We put it through its paces to find out.

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Cool Factor: 4/5 – Stone cold

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My eufyMake referral link takes 8% off the E1 at eufyMake's UK store, and our discount code page has the steps to claim it.

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Published by Stiv in Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: ai printer, creative tech, curved surface printer, eufy make, eufy make e1 review, eufy printer, eufy printer uk, home uv printer, make e1 uk, personalised printing, print on cups, print on fabric, print on wood, resin printer, small business printer, uv printer review

August 24, 2024 — Comments are off for this post.

Sonos App Update: What Changed, What’s Fixed, and What’s Next

Last updated: 22 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The Sonos app update saga has been one of the most dramatic stories in consumer tech over the past two years. What started as a routine redesign in May 2024 spiralled into a full-blown crisis: broken features, a tanking share price, layoffs, and ultimately the departure of CEO Patrick Spence. Fast forward to 2026 and there's a new boss, new hardware, and yet another app overhaul on the horizon. Here's the full story of what went wrong, what's been fixed, and where things stand right now.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Audiophiles, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: audio gear, multi-room audio, smart home, smart speakers, Sonos, Sonos Ace Headphones, Sonos app, Sonos app changes, Sonos app review, Sonos app update, Sonos Era 100, Sonos Era speaker, Sonos features, Sonos music system, Sonos news, Sonos Play, tech updates, Tom Conrad