apple Archives - COOLCURATION

March 26, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

MacBook Neo Review UK 2026: Is Apple’s Budget Laptop Worth It?

Last updated: 26 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 — Stone cold

This MacBook Neo review UK is the one we never thought we'd write. Apple making a genuinely affordable laptop? At £599? It felt unlikely right up until the moment we unboxed our Citrus-coloured unit and realised it was actually real. After spending several weeks travelling, working, and bingeing shows on it, we can confidently say this is one of the most interesting Apple products in years. However, it's not without its quirks, and at least one cost-cutting decision that feels properly annoying.

Published by Stiv in Commuter, Reviews, Student, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A18 Pro, apple, Apple Intelligence, budget laptop, laptop review, MacBook 2026, MacBook Neo, MacBook Neo UK

March 24, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Apple Studio Display XDR Review: Is £2,999 Worth It?

Last updated: 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, financial, or purchasing 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 Apple Studio Display XDR review everybody has been waiting for. Seven years on from the Pro Display XDR, Apple has finally returned to the professional monitor space -- and this time, at a price that won't require a second mortgage. Sort of. At £2,999, the Studio Display XDR is still a serious investment, but for the first time in a long while, Apple's premium display actually makes sense for a wider audience of creatives and professionals. Whether it makes sense for you is a different question entirely.

Cool Factor

★★★★☆

4 out of 5 — Stone cold

Published by Stiv in Apple, Reviews, Technology lover

Tags: apple, creative tech, designers, HDR, Mac, mini-LED, monitor, review, studio display

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

iPhone 17 vs 17e: Which Should You Buy? (UK Buyer’s Guide)

Last updated: 29 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 iPhone 17 vs 17e decision is one most UK buyers are wrestling with right now. Apple's 17e landed on 11 March at £599, sitting a full £200 below the standard iPhone 17 at £799. Both run the same A19 chip and pack a 48MP main camera, so on paper they look remarkably similar. However, dig a little deeper and the differences start to matter. Whether you care about refresh rates, camera flexibility or simply getting the best value, this guide breaks down every key difference so you can decide with confidence.

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

Tags: apple, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone comparison, smartphones, tech, UK buyer's guide

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

iPhone 17e UK: What You Actually Get for £599

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 lands on 11 March 2026 at £599 — the same price Apple charged for the 16e last year — but this time 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.

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 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.

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

December 23, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.

ESG Investing With JPMorgan Personal Investing

Last updated: 10 June 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.

Cool Factor: 3/5

ESG investing with JPMorgan Personal Investing gives UK investors a managed, hands-off way to back companies with stronger environmental, social, and governance credentials. I hold several pots on the platform myself, all set to the socially responsible investing (SRI) style at the maximum risk level, so this is a view from real use. The portfolios are transparent and backed by MSCI analytics. But when the platform sits under JPMorgan Chase, named the world's largest financier of fossil fuels, the contradiction is hard to ignore. Here is my take.

This ESG investing JPMorgan review is based on my own pots in the SRI style, plus a close look at the methodology and the wider context, rather than on marketing copy.

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.

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.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Carbon conscious, Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Reviews, Services, Technology lover

December 15, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.

Airtime Rewards Review UK: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 10 June 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.

This Airtime Rewards review covers everything we think you need to know about one of the UK's most effortless cashback apps. Link a card, spend as normal, and watch credit build up towards your phone bill. It sounds almost too simple to be true, but after using it for years we can confirm: it actually works. We also have a referral code that gets you up to a £5 bonus when you join and spend £5 within 7 days.

Cool Factor: 4/5 — Stone cold

Want the Airtime Rewards bonus?

Our referral page has the current code and the steps to claim up to a £5 bonus when you join and spend £5 within 7 days.

Get the Airtime Rewards bonus

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Reviews, Saving, Student

Tags: airtime rewards, airtime rewards review, android, app, apple, apps, cashback, cashback app, discount, phone bill, referral, saving, savings