Cool stuff

So here we are – the end of the year is getting near.

It feels like the past 12 months have flown by, don’t you think?

But as we focus on Christmas and the move into 2023, it’s a great time to take a look at some of the very best cool products and ideas that have come out at the tail-end of 2022.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 McLaren Edition Headphones £699

Bowers & Wilkins is a much-trusted name in the audio industry, having created some of the best sound equipment for decades.

It’s just announced a collaboration with McLaren, too, on a new set of headphones that combine a great sound experience with go-faster looks. The snappily titled Px8 McLaren Edition features the same orange highlights as many of the firm’s road cars but incorporates Bowers & Wilkins’ clever Carbon Cone technology for a crystal-clear sound.

Callum Lounge Chair £8,500

Ian Callum may be known for his sleek vehicle designs – particularly during his time at Jaguar Land Rover – but more recently he’s turned his attention to something a little more comfort-orientated. At £8,500, the Callum Lounge Chair represents a hefty outlay, but it’s built with the same exacting specifications as you’d expect from a performance car.

It’s built around a carbon-fibre structure, for instance, which is then clad in a moulded plywood shell and a eucalyptus veneer. You can even choose from one of 10 leather options, giving it a really personal feel.

Bentley Momentum Unbreakable £69.50

Car manufacturers have a long history of producing perfumes and aftershaves – with varying degrees of success – and one of the latest is Bentley.

Its Momentum Unbreakable features a stone-plated bottle inspired by the stone veneer finish inside Bentley vehicles – it’s sustainable, too, being sourced from quarries in India.

Inside, the eau de parfum is said to feature a ‘rich, warm palette of woods’ with highlights of mandarin and lavender.

Apple Self-Service Repair from £54.90

Phones break – and anyone who’s had their smartphone land face-down after dropping it know the wincing pain that accompanies it. So being able to fix a smartphone yourself could be handy and take away some of the faff that comes with trying to find somewhere to replace components.

That’s why Apple is creating the Self-Service Repair Store. Customers will be able to complete their own phone repairs via the service, which gives access to more than 200 individual parts, as well as tools and repair manuals. Plus, if you’ve not got the right tools, Apple will rent them to you.