Gadgethead Magazine. Spring 2024

TOZO T20 Earbuds

Skullcandy Acid Snow

Camo Dime 3 True Wireless Earbuds

Skullcandy Acid Snow

Kilo Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

TOZO T12 Wireless Earbuds

Majority P300 Portable Bluetooth Party Speaker

Majority Studio 1 Over-Ear Headphone

Edifier CC200 Wireless Mono Headset

Edifier MG300 Multimedia Speaker

Hecate by Edifier GX05 Ultra-Low Latency Gaming Earbuds

iFi Audio GO Link

JOBY Beamo Studio Creator Kit

IPEVO TOTEM 360

Immersive Conference Camera and Speakerphone

Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light

QDOS PowerLink Combi

QDOS PowerCube Trio 45W Power Adapter

QDOS HYBRID Phone

Case for Samsung Galaxy S24+ 5G

STM Goods RELAX Phone Case

STM Goods REVEAL Phone Case

STM Goods REAWAKEN Phone Case

Epomaker RT100 Tri-Mode Mechanical Keyboard

Epomaker DynaTab 75X

Eco-Flow Solar Tap Adapter

Melitta amigo Coffee Grinder

Baerskin 3.0 Hoodie

Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L Bag

STM Goods BagPack

Build Your Own Unicorn Cardboard Kit

Build Your Own Puppy Cardboard Kit

HEALT & BEAUTY

Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap

Peak Design Micro Clutch (L-Plate)

MAGEASY MAGMOUNT Magnetic Wireless Car Charger

MAGEASY ODYSSEY M+

STRAP Rugged Utility Protective iPhone 15 Case with Lanyard

MAGEASY SNAP Stand Wallet

IPEVO Vocal AI

Beamforming Bluetooth Speakerphone

Triple-mode Gasketmounted Mechanical Keyboard with Dot-Matrix Display

Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 15

Peak Design Stand Wallet

Ekster Aluminium Cardholder Brushed Copper

Ekster Aluminium Cardholder Oil Slick

TOZO S3 Smart Watch

HumanCharger Bright Light Headset

PHOTOGRAPHY HOUSEHOLD AUDIO OUTDOOR GADGETS TOYS & GAMES CONTENTS

Ant & Dec Limitless Win Board Game

Photo Creator My First Instant Camera

HeyDoodle Tales Natural Wonders Erasable Silicone Story

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TOZO T20 EARBUDS

AFTER TRYING OUT SOME TOZO HEADPHONES PREVIOUSLY, I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET TO TRY OUT THE T20 EARBUDS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO DELIVER TOP-QUALITY SOUND ALL IN A COMFORTABLE ALL-DAY WEAR FIT. THE CURVED ERGONOMIC DESIGN ALLOWS YOU TO USE THE EARBUDS FOR HOURS ON END WITHOUT THAT UNCOMFORTABLE PAIN THAT YOU GET WITH MANY OTHER EARBUDS AT THE SAME PRICE POINT.

Upon opening the earbuds the case is much like you would expect from many others on the market in a smooth black finish with the little earbuds inside. However, what makes the charging case so special is that the front displays the charge left in the earbuds/case. From a single charge the earbuds can last 13 hours, and with the charging case, this is increased dramatically to 48.5 hours. This length of battery life is top quality – especially for the affordable price point. I found the smart LED display was super useful to quickly check how much charge was left before leaving the house, but with over 50 hours of combined charge between the case and buds, you are rarely going to be caught short! When you do have to charge the earbuds the case flashes from 1 to 100 so you can easily see when they’re ready to go. Additionally, the case supports wireless charging so they’re perfect for popping on your usual wireless charger for easy charging whenever you need. For the price, the sound quality of the TOZO T20 earbuds is exceptional. Each features a 10mm diameter speaker which has the latest dynamic horn loudspeaker and larger drivers. The T20s have been upgraded with a diaphragm area which is over 50% larger than the previous generation to bring better allaround sound quality. I tested out the earbuds whilst working and was thrilled with the sound quality which made every single one of my songs sound great. However, should you prefer a very specific EQ setting for your listening experience you can download the TOZO app which offers a selection of pre-set and personalised EQ settings to truly tailor your earbuds to you.

I even tried the T20 Earbuds for a call which I find is a true test of sound quality, and they performed very well. The earbuds

have a dual-mic ENC Noise Cancellation which makes calling so much clearer by suppressing ambient background noise whilst working to make your voice clearer. This would be a game change for calls whilst on the go, to help reduce background traffic and enhance your voice so the person on the other end can hear you clearly.

If you are thinking about getting some new earbuds but don’t know where to start the TOZO T20 Earbuds are a great choice. For the price, they deliver top-quality sound, and exceptional battery life which would suit the needs of just about anyone. These would make a great gift for any music lover in your life, and for the price, you might as well treat yourself to a pair too!

PROS:

- Premium sound quality at an affordable price

- Long battery life and smart screen to monitor charge

- EQ personalised via the TOZO App

- Supports wireless charging

CONS:

- To make the most out of your earbuds you need to download a further app

SKULLCANDY ACID SNOW CAMO DIME® 3 TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

SKULLCANDY IS CELEBRATING ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY, SO IT HAS RETURNED TO ITS SNOWBOARDING ROOTS TO BRING US ITS MOST COMPACT EARBUDS IN SOME FUN AND BRIGHT COLOURWAYS JUST LIKE THE BOARDS YOU MAY FIND ON THE SLOPES.

The Dime® 3 True Wireless Earbuds feature all the same great perks you would expect from some of their larger earbuds counterparts, but they are much more compact in size. The earbuds come in a funky little case which actually lets you see when the earbuds are in the case – this is great for ensuring you don’t leave the house with one missing! The case snaps closed around the buds and has a short lanyard perfect for clipping to your bag or keys to make sure you always have your earbuds with you.

The earbuds are designed, despite their size, to withstand the elements and provide next-level sound quality. With IPX4 water resistance, the integrated lanyard and the great Tile Finding technology built-in, you can listen to your music on the slopes, at the gym or just while commuting without the fear of losing or damaging your earbuds.

One of my favourite aspects of the Skullcandy range is the Stay-Aware mode, which, as the name suggests, allows you to stay aware of your surroundings without missing a beat. This was great getting the bus to work to allow me to lose myself in the music whilst still remaining aware of other people and traffic

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I loved the meta mauve colourway of the Acid Snow Camo Dime collection which is super funky with a two-tone purple tiger pattern that covers the case and earbuds. The lanyard and Skullcandy logo on each bud is in a bright acid green colour which adds a great contrast to the purple and is sure to grab people’s attention.

PROS:

Overall, if you are looking for some new earbuds which boast 20 hours of battery life and are designed for the wear and tear of every day, the Dime® 3 True Wireless Earbuds are perfect for you – and now in the fun and bright colourways to celebrate Skullcandy’s anniversary they’re even more fun!

- 20-hour battery life and fast charging

- Fun anniversary colourway

- Useful lanyard and case design for security

- Affordable price point

CONS:

- Charging cable is very short, so charging is a little inconvenient for safety.

SKULLCANDY ACID SNOW CAMO KILO™ WIRELESS BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

£44.99

https://www.skullcandy.co.uk/acid-snow- camo-kilo-bluetooth-speaker/

GET READY TO BRING THE MUSIC WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO WITH SKULLCANDY’S LATEST LAUNCH OF THE KILO™ WIRELESS BLUETOOTH SPEAKER NOW IN ITS 20TH-ANNIVERSARY ACID SNOW CAMO COLOURWAYS!

We got to test out the meta mauve colourway which features a purple two-tone tiger print pattern and acid green accents. The bright and fun colours remind us of the snowboarding roots which started the company all those years ago. Now celebrating two decades of supreme noise quality, Skullcandy give us the Kilo Bluetooth Speaker perfect for throwing in your bag to bring the tunes wherever you go!

Upon opening the box, I was impressed by its size because the unit is compact and portable, as well as super fun to look at in the purple and green colourway. Like many speakers from Skullcandy, all you need to do is turn it on, pair it with your device and you’re ready to go. Despite its compact size, the sound output of the speaker was impressive – but that’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from Skullcandy as the company’s first and foremost passion is providing a great audio experience.

A big perk of the Kilo is that it is designed to be clipped onto your bag with the attached lanyard to easily take with you on the go. I clipped the kilo on my rucksack and took it with me for a walk with some friends. Whilst the walk was actually quite cold with typical British weather, the Kilo kept our spirits up and had the tunes pumping at every mile. Even when we got stuck in a short

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rain shower, the Kilo was perfectly fine still on my bag thanks to its IPX7 waterproofing. In terms of battery life, I was very impressed. The Kilo boasts to have 24 hours of battery life, and, after using it for a few hours every day and on my long walk, I didn’t have to recharge it once. The speaker can also be connected to another Kilo to provide dual speaker playback from a single device. This is perfect for beach days and picnics to keep the music going with a surround sound listening experience. I think this would be perfect if you are looking for a punchy little speaker which you can take with you on the go, and, thanks to the anniversary collection’s colourway, your speaker will look great as well as sound great!

PROS:

- Portable Bluetooth speaker

- Easy to set up

- Great sound quality

- Can be paired with other speakers for all-round music listening

CONS:

- Front buttons are easy to hit by accident if they get pressed in your bag – I recommend attaching the speaker to the outside of your bag instead to avoid this

TOZO T12 WIRELESS EARBUDS

TOZO RETURN WITH THE T12 WIRELESS EARBUDS WHICH SUPPORT THE MOST ADVANCED BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE WITH A STRONG AND RELIABLE CONNECTION TO YOUR DEVICE FOR AN EVEN GREATER LISTENING EXPERIENCE.

Upon opening the TOZO T12s, I was impressed with how small and compact the case was. Inside the earbuds are small with a round circular earbud shape which is sleek and minimalist in design. Putting the earbuds in, I was thrilled to see how the in-ear design with silicone hooks help the earbuds to sit securely in your ears. I was a big fan of this, especially when compared to other earbuds I’ve tried on the market of a similar size which always seem to fall out of my ears super easily.

The case upon opening shows the battery percentage which is great for keeping track of when the case needs to be charged next. The charging case holds up to 48 hours of battery life, with 11 hours in the earbuds alone - perfect for keeping your music going all day. The charging case can even be charged with wireless charging, taking only 2 hours to fully recharge it. However, the T12s also come with a USB-C cable which can charge the case fully in 1.5 hours.

I tested out the earbuds while working for a few hours and was thrilled with their sound quality, functionality, and comfort. The earbuds were just small enough to not put pressure on my ears, whilst still providing a secure and comfortable fit. I found they connected to my phone quickly and easily, and the

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sound quality was excellent – just what I’d expect from TOZO. I even wore the T12s to work out and didn’t have to worry about sweat getting on them, as the earbuds have IPX8 waterproofing to ensure that you get great audio experiences no matter the activity.

Overall, if you are looking for a new set of earbuds which have great sound quality, top-notch connectivity and are designed for a comfortable fit then the TOZO T12s are a perfect choice – and at such an affordable price you really can’t go wrong!

PROS:

- Strong and reliable Bluetooth connection

- Comfortable fit in ears for all-day wear

- Long battery life and wireless charging

CONS:

- Short charging cable makes charging with the cable a little less convenient

www.amazon.co.uk/MAJORITY-Portable-Bluetooth-Speaker-Battery/dp/B0CD8XDZD7?maas=maas_

adg_7131A372A150BC49B2A101969E764D44_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

MAJORITY P300 PORTABLE BLUETOOTH PARTY SPEAKER

TAKE THE PARTY WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO WITH MAJORITY’S P300 PORTABLE BLUETOOTH PARTY SPEAKER WHICH IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER A POWERFUL SOUND AND AN ALL-ROUND FUN EXPERIENCE. PERFECT FOR THE BEACH, GARDEN PARTIES OR SMALL EVENTS; THE P300 WILL TURN EVERY GATHERING INTO A COLOURFUL AND KARAOKE-FILLED EXPERIENCE.

Straight out of the box, the speaker is quite large in its all-black casing. The top of the speaker has all your controls, including a volume dial. In addition, there is an orange easyto-grip handle on the top which makes it easy to move about. I was impressed that even with its large size and robust look, the speaker is actually rather lightweight which makes it easy to take with you for events or activities.

To use the speaker you simply turn it on, connect to your phone or device via Bluetooth and you’re ready to play your favourite tunes. I found the connection to be quick and it remained strong throughout the few hours that I tested it out. One of the great aspects of the speaker being completely Bluetooth, which you often don’t get with a speaker of this size, is that it can run completely wirelessly. Not only do you not need to plug your phone into the speaker to use it, but you don’t need to plug it into the mains to power it to use it because the speaker holds up to 8 hours of battery life from a single charge. Therefore, the P300 is perfect for taking with you to the beach, a park or camping where you may not have a power source. However, should you have a long event where you need it for more than 8 hours, you can choose to plug the speaker into the mains for hours and hours of seamless playback.

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In terms of sound for the price and size, you are being spoilt by Majority. The speaker boasts a 300w powerful speaker system which provides a good bass and clear quality no matter the song choice or volume. Have tested it out with a few different styles of music I have to say I’m impressed! The sound is great, and for group events or days out it will meet your needs perfectly. The speaker will be excellent as we start to move into spring, and we can begin garden parties/outdoor gatherings again without freezing!

The P300 even comes with a microphone turning the speaker into a karaoke machine in an instant. The microphone comes alongside the speaker remote, which allows you to pause the music at a distance and announcements on the mic. I imagine this would be especially great for parties to announce things such as food being ready and the cake’s arrival. As a great little bonus, the speaker has coloured LED light rings on the speaker face which you can make spin and change colour by syncing to the music via the remote - making every listening experience with the speaker just that little bit more fun.

Overall, I’m very impressed with the P300 speaker. Not only is it a great speaker, but it is designed to make every listening experience fun, easy and portable. If you are looking for a new speaker that will make garden parties, beach trips and birthdays a breeze, then the Majority P300 Bluetooth Party Speaker is the perfect choice for you.

PROS:

- Lightweight and portable design

- Colourful LED lights that sync to your music

- Includes a karaoke mic and remote

- Strong Bluetooth

connectivity

CONS:

- Sound quality does not rival more expensive speaker options on the market but it is great for the price point

MAJORITY STUDIO 1 OVER EAR HEADPHONES

DESIGNED TO DELIVER A COMFORTABLE LISTENING EXPERIENCE FROM YOUR HOME TO THE STUDIO, MAJORITY’S STUDIO 1 OVER-EAR HEADPHONES ENHANCE YOUR LISTENING EXPERIENCE WITHOUT ANY OF THE PRESSURE AND PAIN YOU MAY EXPECT FROM OTHER HEADPHONE MODELS.

I was super excited to get to test out the Studio 1 Headphones by Majority, and I was not disappointed. The headphones come in all black with grey details on the ear cuffs with the Majority logo. They look stylish and have a high-quality feel which you may not expect from a pair of headphones with at such an affordable price point.

A crucial aspect of the Studio 1 Headphones is that they have been made with comfort in mind. The ear cuffs and headband are cushioned to provide a supportive and comfortable all-day wear. I tested the headphones while getting some work done and was surprised by how comfortable they were. The cushioning didn’t put additional pressure on my head and the ear cuffs are designed to fit over your ears rather than to sit on them and provide extra cushioning. I much prefer headphones that sit over the ear as I find they deliver better sound and a more comfortable listening experience.

The sound quality of the Studio 1 Headphones is top-notch. The headphones have been designed with dynamic 50mm drivers to deliver crystal clear sound whether in the studio, DJing, casually listening to music or even streaming TV shows at home. Personally, I am no DJ and don’t frequent a studio, however, as

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a regular music and TV show streamer, I found the sound quality great for my needs.

As a wired headphone option, the Studio 1 Headphones deliver great sound quality without the typical tied-down feeling that many wired headphone models have. The cable is coiled to make dancing and moving around whilst connected to your device easier without an excessively long wire getting in the way. The wire has a 3.5 mm audio jack, but Majority have usefully included a 6.5mm audio jack extender in the box, alongside the travel bag, to allow the headphones to fit into a much wider variety of devices.

Overall, if you are looking for a pair of headphones that sound great, feel comparable to some of the more expensive headphones on the market and are designed for comfort, then the Majority Studio 1 Headphones are a great choice for you.

PROS:

- Cushioned earpads and headband

- Quality sound and design

- Affordable price point for the luxury feel

CONS:

- The Headphones only come in black/grey, so other colour options would be great - especially for DJing.

EDIFIER CC200 WIRELESS MONO HEADSET TOYS & GAMES

READY TO TAKE YOUR WORK-FROM-HOME SET-UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL? THEN THE EDIFIER CC200 WIRELESS MONO HEADSET IS JUST WHAT YOU NEED TO DELIVER GREAT AUDIO WHILST MAKING THE MOST OF THE ATTACHED MICROPHONE FOR CALLS.

The CC200 Headset is designed to make calls for both work and school a breeze providing a single-ear headphone and microphone attachment to allow you to hear and be heard better in meetings or classes. I was immediately impressed with just how lightweight and comfortable the headset felt. The ear pad provides just enough cushioning to not put too much pressure on the ear, whilst the stainless-steel headband can be fully adjusted to suit your head size.

Next to the single-ear headphone is the microphone boom arm which can be rotated 240° so you can wear the headset both on the left or right depending on your preference or office setup. I typically sit with my right side to the wall, so placed the headset on this side so I could still hear what was going on in the office with the other ear. This is one of the big perks of the headset, as you can still hear everything you need for calls, whilst allowing you to remain aware of your surroundings.

In terms of sound quality, the headphone contains a 30mm composite diaphragm driver to provide good sound quality for music and clear voices for calls. When used for calls, I did find that in a busy office it can be a little harder to hear as you only have one headphone on, so you can’t block out background noise

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as much as full headphones. However, generally, calls were pretty clear and a large part of this is due to the inbuilt dual DNN and microphone noise reduction technology.

After the initial charge, which usefully uses a USB-C cable, the headset holds an impressive 64 hours of battery for music play and up to 29 hours for calls. After the initial charge, I used the headset for a full week of work going between just listening to music and answering calls and the headset didn’t run out of charge once.

If you are frequently taking calls at work, need an efficient workfrom-home setup or are looking to upgrade your tech for teaching classes online, the Edifier CC200 Wireless Mono Headset is a perfect choice. With its lightweight and super functional design, the headset will level up your office set-up and allow you to take calls with much more freedom.

PROS:

- Lightweight and adjustable design for comfort

- Great wireless connectivity to both desktop and phone

- Super long battery life

CONS:

- The headphone ear pad is designed to sit on the ear, rather than over it, which after hours of wear can be a little uncomfortable

EDIFIER MG300 MULTIMEDIA SPEAKER

DESIGNED WITH FUNKY RGB LIGHTING, THE MG300 MULTIMEDIA SPEAKER BY EDIFIER IS SURE TO TRANSFORM YOUR DESK INTO THE SET-UP OF YOUR DREAMS.

The MG300 is a lightweight speaker which boasts to deliver top quality sounds all encased in a minimalist yet futuristic design. When you first open the speaker, the unit is all black with a top control panel and a mesh front speaker cover. However, when you plug in the speaker to your laptop or computer, it has lights around the edges of the mesh panel to add a fun colourful element to your desk blending a minimalist modern design with a fun futuristic look.

I attached the speaker via the USB cord to my computer and was impressed with how easy it is to use. On the top, there are silicone-covered buttons which let you control the speaker. I turned on the speaker and began playing some music from my desktop and was impressed with the sound quality. The speaker has 52mm drivers, which work to provide great sound whether you’re gaming or listening to music. These two modes come built into the speaker, and you can easily switch between them from the control panel. The music mode amplifies the singer’s voice, whilst the gaming mode enhances every single slight noise – perfect for a whole range of games where a slight noise could lose you the game.

Even if gaming isn’t for you, the speaker is great as an audio solution for your desktop which even has a built-in microphone under a silicone top, designed to isolate external vibrations and deliver a clear voice for calls. Whilst I wouldn’t say that the speaker provides the best sound quality for calls, it’s a great

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addition should you be left without your microphone for an urgent call. One of my favourite aspects of the MG300’s design is the slanted front panel which helps to reduce glare whilst at your computer. This shows the careful detail put into every aspect of the design, along with the thick anti-slip pads, to ensure a great and reliable user experience every time.

If you are on the hunt for a new desktop speaker, which will fit seamlessly into your gaming or work set-up, with a powerful sound and unique futuristic design, then the Edifier MG300 is a super easy choice – and at such an affordable price!

PROS:

- Futuristic RBG lights for a unique look to your speaker

- Easy to use and set up

- Delivers powerful sound at an affordable price

CONS:

- The built-in microphone is not the highest quality for calls, so I’d personally opt for my usual microphone in its place – but it’s still a nice addition to the speaker if needed

HECATE BY EDIFIER GX05 ULTRA-LOW LATENCY TWS GAMING EARBUD

WHEN GAMING WIRELESSLY, YOU REALLY START TO NOTICE THE DELAY IN SOUND COMPARED TO THE FRAME RATE. THIS DELAY IS SOMETHING THAT THE HECATE BY EDIFIER GX05 ULTRA-LOW LATENCY TWS GAMING EARBUDS ARE DESIGNED TO COMBAT TO HELP YOU TAKE YOUR GAMING EXPERIENCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

When I first opened the GX05 Gaming Earbuds I was thoroughly impressed with their design; the earbuds come in a sturdy case that looks like something from a sci-fi film used to hold some precious intergalactic cargo. Upon opening the case, the triangular device sits, made from zinc alloy, with a spinnable top piece, which once turned reveals the earbuds and an adapter. When turned the sides of the earbud holder light up in a rainbow of colours giving a cyberpunk feel to the device.

Aside from the impressive aesthetics of the GX05 Gaming Earbuds, they also pack a punch in terms of audio experience. The earbuds are designed to utilise both Bluetooth and the 2.4G adapter connection to provide superior audio quality with latency as low as 15 milliseconds between your device and earbuds. This is all thanks to the impressive 10mm dynamic drivers and decoding performance of up to 96Hz/24bit. These allow you to hear every footstep, enemy approach, and movement from other players in the game mode with crystal clear quality.

I tested out the earbuds using my switch, and whilst I wasn’t playing any tactical games, the sound quality and reduced latency were superb. These would definitely be a game changer for those

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who play more intense games when listening out for other teams or enemies is essential to succeed. Often, to get the same level of sound quality and minimal latency you need large wires headsets, however, the earbuds offer a less cumbersome option which also includes ENC dual microphone noise cancellation so you can talk to your friends while gaming. One of my favourite aspects of the dual connection of the GX05 is that you can connect your earbuds using both the adapter and Bluetooth, so should a call come in on your phone whilst you’re gaming you can answer without missing a second of gameplay.

In terms of wear, the earbuds are super comfortable and designed with an ergonomic fit perfect for hours of continuous gameplay. You simply have to tap the side of the earbuds to change volume and settings, which once you get the hang of are super easy to use while mid-game. The earbuds also have a combined 16 hours of battery life and support super-fast charging, so you can experience hours of gameplay without too much interruption.

Overall, the Hecate by Edifier GX05 Ultra-Low Latency TWS Gaming

Earbuds are a refreshing take on the gaming headset. Crafted to look like a futuristic device, the GX05 Gaming earbuds provide next-level sound quality, comfortable wear, and topquality latency specs making gameplay a breeze every time. If you have an avid gamer in your life, or are looking for some top-quality earbuds to make calls seamless, then the GX05 Gaming Earbuds are an easy choice,

PROS:

- Futuristic design with lights for added flare

- Top quality sound and ultra-low latency

- Adapter suited to most gaming consoles on the market

CONS:

- Each earbud singularly only has 4.5 hours of battery life which in long gaming sessions may not be ideal to pause to recharge

IFI AUDIO GO LINK

IF YOU LOVE LISTENING TO MUSIC BUT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE YOUR HEADPHONES AREN’T DELIVERING THE SAME HIGH-QUALITY SOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL STUDIO RECORDINGS DO, THEN IFI AUDIO MIGHT JUST HAVE THE PERFECT LITTLE LISTENING COMPANION FOR YOU. THE GO LINK IS DESIGNED TO TRANSFORM YOUR AUDIO QUALITY AND ENHANCE EVERY LISTENING EXPERIENCE.

The GO Link looks very unsuspecting when you get it out of the box as it is such a small unit. But don’t let its small size fool you! The GO Link features some top-quality audio specs so you can immerse yourself in a powerful, detailed, and dynamic sound with every track you play. The unit is similar to a small USB in size and on one end is a USB-C type input adapter which is connected by a spiralled cable to the main body of the GO Link which has a 3.5mm audio jack. The flexible cable is made with silver-plated copper conductors with polymer insulation to make it both flexible and reliable for high-quality sound performance.

The GO Link, as the name suggests, provides the missing link for sound quality between devices such as mobiles/laptops and headphones. It does this through the inbuilt ES9219 Sabre DAC chip with Quad DAC+ Technology, which uses 32-bit Hyper Stream III DAC architecture and Time Domain Jitter eliminator to provide seamless, undistorted and hiss-free audio. This powerful technology is what makes the GO Link so great at enhancing your listening experience.

However, GO Link goes one step further with its high-end features as it doesn’t rely on a software-based volume control which is connected to your digital device. Instead, the inbuilt technology adjusts the volume via the DAC itself to help deliver greater sound performance because device volume controls can often adversely affect audio resolution.

I tested out the GO Link for a few days, and whilst I am not a hyper-critical person when it comes to audio quality, I was thoroughly impressed with the sound quality difference. I simply just had to plug in one end of the GO Link to my phone and the other

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I plugged in some wired headphones, and I was ready to start listening. I was surprised by how much clearer the tracks sounded with the addition of this little link. The lightweight design and flexible wire between the two ends gave me greater movement with my headphones without worrying that I would lose connection or be weighed down.

After using it for a few weeks, I would say it really is ‘the missing link’ if you are looking to upgrade your listening experience. This is even better if you have a device model which no longer has the traditional 3.5 mm audio jack because included in the box are USB and MFI lightning adapters meeting the needs of most device models. Therefore, even if you don’t have a traditional headphone port, the GO link is an excellent option for delivering an upgraded sound experience that you may be missing when using wireless headphones.

Overall, if you are looking to significantly step up your sound quality without needing to dive straight into the more high-end price points, the GO Link will make the most of every listening experience. The Go Link delivers all manner of headphones and in-ear monitors with top-quality sound and the innovative cable design makes it flexible, seamless, and unrestricted.

PROS:

- Top quality technology built to deliver crystal clear sound

- Innovative spiral cable design for ease of movement and sturdy connectivity

- Suitable for USB, USB-C and MFI lightning inputs so will work with most devices

CONS:

- Only can be used with wired headphones to ensure the sound quality which many may find a little cumbersome as many people have switched to wireless headphones/earphones these days – but for the sound quality and purpose the necessity for wired headphones makes sense

JOBY BEAMO™ STUDIO CREATOR KIT

READY TO START YOUR OWN YOUTUBE CHANNEL BUT AREN’T SURE WHERE TO BEGIN WITH LIGHTING AND A TRIPOD SET-UP? JOBY HAS GOT YOUR BACK AGAIN WITH ITS BEAMO™ STUDIO CREATOR KIT PROVIDING YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU COULD NEED FOR YOUR FIRST HOME STUDIO SET-UP.

I will start by saying that no, I am no aspiring influencerHowever, as someone who consumes a lot of content on YouTube, I know what a good set-up should look like to deliver great video results. Therefore, I was excited to test out this kit by JOBY to see how easy it would really be for a beginner to set up and use.

Inside the box, you have the Beamo™ Studio Key Light which has built-in soft lens diffusion to help get perfectly lit shots every time. This light sits on the table stand, which at full height holds the light 95cm from the tabletop – an ideal height for shooting sit-down video content. Also in the box is the phone mount with a flexible Gorilla Pod® arm which allows you to move your phone into the perfect angle and framing every time.

The Wavo™ Mobile mic is also included in the box which you can attach to the Studio Key Light or the phone mount to improve the audio quality of your videos too! However, the kit goes one step further and has the Beamo™ Studio Background Light in the box, which allows you to flick through a range of 12 different colours and 10 different brightness settings to give the background of your shots a fun and colourful hue.

To set it up, all I had to do was attach my phone to the stand and the microphone, turn the light on and I was ready to go. I recorded some short clips both with the light on and without to see whether the quality was any different from my regular phone camera. After reviewing the footage, I have to say the image quality is much nicer with the soft almost blurring light, especially compared to the footage without the light on. The table

stand was also great for moving up and down to get the best shot. I stood the stand on my desk and moved back on my chair for that classic talking head shot, and found it was easy enough to achieve. I did like that I could adjust my phone slightly to make the framing perfect too.

In terms of the background light, it was fine. I wouldn’t say it is essential, but it adds a nice look if you have a particular aesthetic or background you are trying to achieve. For the audio, it was slightly improved compared to the sound quality usually recorded on my phone, however, I wouldn’t say it was groundbreaking. I think a microphone which you can keep closer to you for less of an echoey feel would be my personal preference – but hey I’m no influencer! Overall, if you are just getting into making video content for YouTube then the JOBY Studio Creator kit is perfect for you. It allows you to make the most out of using your phone as your primary camera without all the expensive price tags which ring lights, tripods, cameras and microphones usually come with. As a first home studio set up, or as one paired back set up that you can take with you on the go then the JOBY Studio Creator Kit is a great pick.

PROS:

- Great for first home studio set-up

- 10 settings on Key Light, with three brightnesses (can be controlled with the included remote)

- Easy to manoeuvre phone mount rig for perfect angling and framing

CONS:

- The microphone doesn’t have a giant impact on sound quality other than making it a little crisper –but for a beginner making the most of their phone to capture video content it works well enough

PEAK DESIGN SLIDE LITE CAMERA STRAP

WHEN CARRYING YOUR EXPENSIVE CAMERA YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT IT IS SAFELY STRAPPED TO YOU AND IS NOT GOING TO FALL OR GET DAMAGED WHILST YOU’RE OUT AND ABOUT SHOOTING. THEREFORE, HAVING A VERSATILE STRAP WHICH YOU CAN WEAR ON YOUR SHOULDER, AROUND YOUR NEXT OR EVEN AS A SLING IS ESSENTIAL FOR TAKING YOUR CAMERA WITH YOU ON THE GO.

Peak Design’s Slide Lite Camera Strap is a great choice that is designed to provide maximum security to your camera, whilst remaining subtle and low profile. I was thrilled when the Slide Lite came across my desk as I’ve been on the hunt for a new camera strap for a while, but none seem to have superior stability without being too bulky.

The Slide Lite has been optimized to suit mirrorless and light DSLR cameras with the seat-belt style material stap which is designed for smooth gliding across your body and helping you to manoeuvre your camera about with ease. I loved that the strap can be extended up to 57 inches perfect for carrying your camera using the strap as a sling across your body. Other camera straps I have used are rarely long enough to sit comfortably over you as a sling, but the dual quick adjusters on the strap mean you can extend it easily and slip it over you. However, should you want it to carry your camera around your neck or just over your shoulder then with the same quick adapters you can reduce the size down to 37 inches. The strap even has a grippy silicone side which is great for keeping the strap stable and secure on your shoulder. To attach the strap to your camera it just takes a few simple steps and you’re ready to use it. The box comes with anchor connectors which you just attach to your camera and

then attach to your strap. The box also comes with an anchor mount and hex wrench should you need it for an even more low-profile attachment, and a helpful microfibre pouch for storage. The strap is designed to hold up to 90kg of weight, so is suitable for just about any pro setup you may have and thanks to the low-profile attachment it will never get in the way of your shot.

Overall, the feel, stability, and security that the Slide Lite Camera Strap provides makes it the perfect addition to any camera. With universal anchor links, the Slide Lite is perfect for all photography enthusiasts’ cameracarrying needs, and its sleek and minimalist design adds a nice seamless look to your set-up. Also, with Peak Design you know you are supporting a sustainable company which is 1% for the Planet and uses recycled materials throughout its creation of great camera and device accessories.

PROS:

- Versatile and adjustable strap for shoulder, neck and across-body carrying

- Universal anchor links and 90kg weight design for easy application to most camera models

- Minimalist design that does not get in the way of shots

CONS:

- If you store your camera in a bag the strap may not fit as easily as the adjusters do add an extra bit of bulk to the strap

PEAK DESIGN MICRO CLUTCH (L-PLATE)

PEAK DESIGN HAS CREATED A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND STRAP THAT IS DESIGNED FOR SMALLER MIRRORLESS CAMERAS. THE STRAP SECURES AROUND THE EDGE OF YOUR CAMERA AND ALLOWS YOU TO HOOK YOUR FINGERS IN IT FOR A MORE SECURE HOLD OF YOUR CAMERA. THE DESIGN HAS ALL THE BENEFITS OF PEAK DESIGN’S REGULAR DSLR CLUTCH STRAP BUT HAS BEEN REINVENTED TO OFFER THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT TO SMALLER CAMERA MODELS.

I was excited to test out the Micro Clutch having never seen a strap like this designed for smaller camera models. We were sent the L-Plate version, which is designed, as the name suggests, for L-shaped cameras with a more pronounced hand grip. The Micro Clutch comes with everything you would need to attach the strap to your camera. The metal base screws into the bottom of your camera with the strap connecting at the top.

I will say it can be a little fiddly to attach but once it was on the clutch fit well. If you are looking to buy the Micro Clutch, be sure to check it is compatible with your model as the fit is quite tight so there is little wiggle room if it’s not designed for your specific camera. However, the Micro Clutch has been designed with a wide variety of camera makes in mind so should fit most people’s smaller mirrorless cameras. Additionally, should you want to attach your camera to a tripod, you simply just use the included tripod plate, which is compatible with Capture V3, PD Tripods and third-party Arca setups.

I took my camera with the Micro Clutch attached with me whilst getting some images for some work projects around

my town and I liked the extra secure feeling I had over my camera. Whilst it took me a little getting used to as my grip on the camera was a little different than what I’m used to, it allowed me to still have complete use of my camera and remained largely out of the way. A big part of this is the super low-profile design which uses the aluminium bar to conceal the attachment tool and ensures that you keep a sleek and seamless design to your camera for ease of use. If you are looking for more control and stability when holding and shooting with smaller cameras, then the Micro Clutch might be perfect for you. The small strap is minimal and helps give a little more security, without feeling as cumbersome as a larger neck or shoulder strap sometimes does. Therefore, if you take your smaller mirrorless camera with you on the go a lot and are looking to step up your set-up a little, then the Micro Clutch is a great choice for yourself or as a present for those photography enthusiasts in your life.

PROS:

- Sleek and minimalist design for easy use

- Secure strap with concealed mount

- Provides extra protection when using your camera

CONS:

- The Micro Clutch can be a little fiddly to attach and must be compatible with your camera to ensure a secure fit – be sure to check out the I-Plate Micro Clutch for different models

$44.99

https://mageasy.us/products/magmount- magnetic-wireless-car-charger

GADGETS

MAGEASY MAGMOUNT MAGNETIC WIRELESS CAR CHARGER

ON A LONG CAR JOURNEY, YOU NEED A GREAT PHONE MOUNT, WHETHER TO HOLD YOUR PHONE FOR DIRECTIONS OR FOR EASY VOICE CONTROL OF YOUR MUSIC. EITHER WAY, A STURDY AND EASYTO-USE CAR PHONE MOUNT IS A MUST-HAVE. THANKFULLY WITH THE MAGEASY MAGMOUNT, THE TRADITIONAL CLAW-LIKE CAR MOUNT HAS BEEN GIVEN AN UPGRADE USING MAGSAFE TECHNOLOGY TO NOT ONLY HOLD YOUR PHONE EXACTLY WHERE YOU NEED IT BUT TO ALSO CHARGE YOUR PHONE AT THE SAME TIME.

For years I’ve had a cheap car phone mount which uses a claw-style mechanism which seems to get looser with every use, risking my phone falling whilst giving me directions on a long drive – not ideal when you don’t know where you are! Therefore, I was very excited to try out the MAGMOUNT which uses your phone’s MagSafe magnetic connection to attach your phone securely onto your phone mount so you can be on your way in seconds knowing everything will stay just where you need it.

I tested out the MAGMOUNT when driving a few hours to visit some friends. I attached my phone to the MAGMOUNT before I set off and it worked perfectly – my phone stayed in place and charged away whilst I drove. I loved the wireless charging aspect of the MAGMOUNT - it seems so obvious now that when many of us are using a car mount for our phones it is to get directions, so this would be the worst time for your phone to run out of charge. Therefore, having wireless charging built-in is such a useful aspect of the MAGMOUNT, especially as it supports

GADGETS

fast charging to keep you powered up throughout your drive and for the rest of the day.

One of my favourite aspects of the MAGMOUNT is the built-in ring light which allows you to easily find your phone mount in the dark. This has been especially great on dark mornings when I’m usually fumbling about for 5 minutes trying to connect my phone to the phone mount and any charging cables. Instead, with the MAGMOUNT, you simply snap your phone on and can go. The MAGMOUNT also comes equipped with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable that is a great length for charging the MAGMOUNT without it getting in the way.

If you are looking for a new car phone mount that will seamlessly fit into your car and provide next-level performance with ease, then the MAGEASY MAGMOUNT is perfect for you. It is compatible with phones that use a magnetic connection like MagSafe and the mount can either be clipped to your air vent or adhered to your dashboard to deliver a useful 360-angle movement placement perfect for your phone on every drive.

PROS:

- 360° rotation design and optional clip or adhesive sticker to position the mount perfectly in your car and your phone at the perfect angle on the mount

- Ring light to easily find your phone mount in the dark

- Secure magnetic connection with MagSafe Compatible devices

CONS:

-The price of the MAGMOUNT is on the high end for a car phone mount but it is top quality and fits great into the MAGEASY ecosystem

- The phone mount is only compatible with devices that support the magnetic connection such as MagSafe

GADGETS

MAGEASY ODYSSEY M+ STRAP RUGGED UTILITY PROTECTIVE IPHONE 15 CASE WITH LANYARD

https://mageasy.us/products/odyssey-m-strap-rugged-utility- protective-case-with-lanyard-for-iphone-15-series

SO MUCH OF OUR LIVES TODAY REVOLVE AROUND OUR PHONES, WHETHER IT BE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, ONLINE SHOPPING, KEEPING UP WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS OR ONLINE BANKING – SO WHEN WE’RE WITHOUT OUR PHONES WE CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL A BIT LOST. THEREFORE, SURELY, WE SHOULD BE INVESTING MORE IN OUR PHONE CASES WHETHER TO HELP AVOID THE DREADED SCREEN SHATTERING, OR EVEN TO HELP KEEP YOUR PHONE FROM THE PRYING HANDS OF THIEVES OUT AND ABOUT.

This is where MAGEASY come in, as they have introduced the ODYSSEY M+ STRAP case which not only provides top-notch protection from bumps and falls but also includes a lanyard and attachment eyelets to give you peace of mind knowing your phone is always attached to you – even whilst handsfree. We got to test out the ODYSSEY M+ STRAP Rugged Utility Protective Case with Lanyard for an iPhone 15 Pro. Straight out of the box, I was so impressed with the extra layer of protection that I didn’t even realise my old case was lacking. I popped the case on my phone, which has a clear polycarbonate backplate with the usual MagSafe ring on the back which you find on most iPhone cases nowadays. The frame is made with a honeycomb shock-absorbing TPU design, which boasts an aviation-quality alloy that is engraved with a leather-like texture.

However, what we all care about is what kind of protection this provides our phones – well, the ODYSSEY M+ STRAP case has

a military MK-STD-810H certification which means it can withstand up to a 16ft drop. This is paired with the AIRSHIELD corners which enhance the drop protection thanks to the 2mm reinforced edges. Then at the base of your phone, you have the option to use the included reinforced corners, or the lanyard eyelet corners. Personally, the eyelets are a big plus to the case as you can easily install them from the inside, and then all you need to do is attach the lanyard and you can have a secure strap attached to the bottom of your phone case.

The lanyard feels sturdy and means that you can keep your phone with you even when you need your hands free. This is perfect for travelling to allow you to make the most of your environment without having a hand constantly holding or checking where your phone is. However, I think the safety aspects of the lanyard would be my main use of the case – as when you are commuting, travelling, or even on a night out the chances of accidentally misplacing your phone - or even worse, having it stolen - are immediately remedied. The lanyard means you can have your phone around your neck, always visible to you and protected from any sudden drops. The dual protection of your phone from drops or theft makes this a perfect choice of phone case for me. I’ll soon be heading off on a little weekend trip and this case will definitely be coming with me!

PROS:

- Military-grade drop protection

- Comes with option for lanyard loops or reinforced corner protection depending on your needs

- Included lanyard and eyelet corners for added protection whilst handsfree

CONS:

- The case has a more premium price point – but for the level of protection I think it is definitely worth it

$29.99

https://mageasy.us/products/snap-stand-wallet-with-built-in-magnets

GADGETS MAGEASY SNAP STAND WALLET

FOR TOO LONG I’VE CARRIED MY CARDS IN THE BACK OF MY PHONE CASE – I KNOW, NOT THE MOST SECURE OR CONVENIENT PLACE ESPECIALLY WHEN HOPPING ON AND OFF PUBLIC TRANSPORT! SO WHEN THE MAGEASY SNAP CROSSED MY DESK, I WAS MORE THAN PLEASED. THE SNAP STAND WALLET IS MAGEASY’S PALM-SIZED CONVENIENT LITTLE WALLET WHICH MAGNETISES TO THE BACK OF YOUR PHONE PROVIDING YOU WITH 2 CARD POCKETS, AND A FUNCTIONAL STAND.

The wallet is super thin and comes in 3 different colours including black, white, and grey – perfect to fit with the aesthetics of many iPhones. However, despite its thin size, the feel is topquality with the two leather look pockets sitting neatly on the back of your phone.

The wallet holds two card pockets, perfect for everyday use. I even love that MAGEASY has included some cutout circles to help push your cards out. This highlights how even the small details have been thoroughly thought out to make the wallet as convenient to use as possible. The first pocket is perfect for contactless payment without even having to remove your card from the wallet pocket. The second pocket is RFID-theft protection to help keep your confidential data protected whilst out and about. This is yet another way that MAGEASY has made the wallet convenient and functional for everyday use and safety.

In addition to this, the cardholder also doubles as a flexible stand which can be flicked out to allow you to prop your phone up - perfect for video calls or for watching videos. I even found myself using the stand as a handle to support the phone when I was using the phone whilst out and about.

After testing out the MAGEASY SNAP for a few weeks I

PROS:

- Secure card pockets with RFID shielding in 2nd pocket for added card info protection

can safely say this will be staying on my phone for a long while. The secure connection means I never worried about it getting disconnected and always knew that my cards would be right there on the back of my phone, so I only needed to remember my phone when quickly popping to the shops.

If you or a loved one is always fumbling in their bag for their purse or is left lagging at the barriers on the tube trying to get their card out of their phone case, then the MAGEASY SNAP is a perfect gift for them or you. The convenience of having your cards where you need them in a secure, reliable, and functional wallet/stand cannot be understated.

- Secure MagSafe magnetic connection to compatible devices and cases

- Stand function is great for video watching

CONS:

- The front contactless pocket does not have the same shielding as the back pocket so protection may be more limited

- Having your cards on the back of your phone means they are at a greater risk of being lost should they get pulled out by accident

https://www.qdossound.com/products/powerlink-combi-8-in-1-usb-c-hub

GADGETS

IPEVO VOCAL AI BEAMFORMING BLUETOOTH SPEAKERPHONE

CONFERENCE CALLS CAN SOMETIMES BE THE MOST STRESSFUL TIMES AT WORK AS YOU ARE OFTEN DESPERATELY TRYING TO COORDINATE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH VARYING LEVELS OF WI-FI CONNECTIVITY, IMAGE RESOLUTION AND SOUND QUALITY – ALL WHILST TRYING TO MAKE VITAL AND POTENTIALLY EXPENSIVE COMPANY DECISIONS! HOWEVER, WITH THE IPEVO VOCAL, THE SOUND QUALITY IS ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IN A MEETING AGAIN. THE IPEVO IS THE WORLD’S FIRST BLUETOOTH SPEAKERPHONE WHICH USES 2-WAY AI NOISE REDUCTION ON BOTH ENDS OF THE CALL TO DELIVER CRYSTAL CLEAN CONFERENCING WITHOUT THE USUAL HASSLE OF SEPARATE MICROPHONES AND SPEAKERS.

I was super excited to get to try out the IPEVO speakerphone in the office as our meeting room often causes an echo on calls which has led to both ends of the call hearing feedback and the dreaded delayed echo of our voices. Straight out of the box, the speakerphone is rather sleek in the black cone shape with a small speaker/microphone cylinder on the top. I found the speakerphone sat neatly in the middle of the desk and looked smart without any excessive wires getting in the way.

Included in the box is a USB-C charging cable to charge up the speakerphone, which usefully holds 40 hours of power perfect for many conference calls during the week. On the sides of the speakerphone are buttons which are intuitively colour-coded to help you quickly turn on and adjust the direction of the speaker/mic with ease. Much like many Bluetooth speakers, the IPEVO was easy to connect to my laptop and only took a few minutes to set up before I was ready for my meeting.

At first, I was worried that using a new speakerphone might prove more complicated and delay the call, but the plug-in-and-play aspect of the IPEVO made it super easy to set up and the sound quality was noticeably better. Our team on the other end of the call even noted that the sound was much better than normal. The IPEVO VOCAL offers 360° sound capture which is perfect for group meetings to ensure that all voices around the table can be heard on calls. To make all voices even clearer, the speakerphone then uses AI technology to remove excessive outside noise for much clearer audio.

However, as we were having a small meeting, we only needed the directional microphone which captures sound up to 120° and uses the same AI technology to cut down background noise. The received sound from our team on the other end of the call was also much clearer, as the speakerphone again utilises the same AI noise reduction technology to sharpen incoming audio too. Consequently, the IPEVO VOCAL is great for offices and will be a game changer for our team going forward, as not only does the speakerphone look great but its ability to produce great sound on both ends of the call adds an extra layer of professionalism which is great for big meetings with current and potential clients.

If you are frequently on calls for work or even for gaming, the IPEVO VOCAL speakerphone will make once complicated group/conference calls just that bit easier. Whilst it won’t change the dreaded camera quality (but IPEVO has other products to help with this!), it will deliver professional quality sound to at least allow you to communicate well with those on the other end of the call.

PROS:

- Multidirectional mic and speaker for 360° sound capture

- Lightweight design and Bluetooth connectivity for easy portability and wireless connection

- 40-hour reliable battery life

GADGETS

IPEVO TOTEM 360 IMMERSIVE CONFERENCE CAMERA AND SPEAKERPHONE

MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES CAN CAUSE ENOUGH STRESS WITHOUT THE DREADED TECHNICAL ISSUES OF TRYING TO SYNC CAMERAS, MICROPHONES, AND SPEAKERS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN BE SEEN AND HEARD. HOWEVER, WITH THE IPEVO TOTEM 360 IMMERSIVE CONFERENCE CAMERA AND SPEAKERPHONE, YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH ALL OF THESE SEPARATE COMPONENTS AND CAN INSTEAD OPT FOR THE IMMERSIVE AND ALL-IN-ONE UNIT THAT IPEVO HAS CREATED TO TRANSFORM YOUR MEETINGS.

The IPEVO TOTEM 360 provides 4 omnidirectional microphones, an all-around speaker and a 360° camera to make conference calls feel as though you are sitting in the same meeting room with the person at the other end of the call. To do this, the IPEVO TOTEM 360 uses AI-auto framing and tracking technology, as well as AI noise-reduction technology to ensure that whoever is speaking is clear in both sound and image quality. The camera can even zoom in on who is speaking so everyone across the conference meeting can see them.

Opening the box, you see the IPEVO TOEM 360 with an allblack cone-shaped design with a multi-point camera at the top. The unit has a red base and a range of different coloured buttons on the sides, designed to help you seamlessly flick through the different modes of the device. To get started you simply plug in the device to your laptop or computer, and it is ready to use as a microphone, camera, and speaker hybrid compatible with most video conferencing platforms.

I tested the conference camera and speakerphone out for a

big meeting with a client, which required 6 people from across my team to attend. We set up the IPEVO TOTEM 360 in the middle of a round desk and had a quick test out of the camera settings to see if we would all fit in. The 360° camera meant that half the team appeared in one image and the rest in another making everyone clear and not distorted. We’d had issues in the past where 360° cameras seemed to distort the image to present a complete view in a single frame, which reduced picture quality and made it much harder to see who was speaking. We were collectively very impressed, and the clients even noted just how great the sound and image quality were even with having so many people on the call. Whilst the camera cannot make up for poor WiFi quality, which sadly does play a role in disrupting calls, the IPEVO TOTEM 360 couldn’t be faulted for its camera, microphone, and speaker quality. I found the device was easily detected by Teams and made the whole process of conference calling so much easier. I think the IPEVO TOTEM 360 would also be great for online lectures, to allow for lecturers to move about whilst discussing topics and showing graphics. The variety of uses for the IPEVO TOTEM 360 across classes and conference calls is made possible with the 4 modes including conferencing, surround, hybrid learning and presentation modes – all of which are available using the buttons on the unit. Overall, the IPEVO TOTEM 360 is designed to make conference calls so much easier with its integrated microphone, camera, and speaker. This integration allows every person in the call or lesson to feel as though they are in the room with the speaker, thanks to the clarity of sound and image. Therefore, the IPEVO TOTEM 360 is a vital addition to any office

setup to transform any conference room into a hybrid conferencing space where everyone is involved.

PROS:

- All-in-one conferencing unit which seamlessly integrates a 360° camera, omnidirectional microphones, and a speaker to make conference calls a breeze

- Professional and sleek look for conference rooms

- AI technology and 4 modes to ensure every person is seen and heard well

CONS:

- Cannot accommodate for poor internet access/WiFi quality which could result in a lower quality image – but this is something no conference camera or speakerphone can combat when using WIFI

GLOCUSENT LED NECK READING LIGHT

FOR MANY OF US, READING IS A BIG PASTIME BEFORE BED TO HELP US PROPERLY WIND DOWN FOR THE EVENING. HOWEVER, WE ARE OFTEN THEN FACED WITH THE PROBLEM OF TURNING ON A LAMP AND SITTING AWKWARDLY UNDER IT TO SEE THE PAGE, OR PUTTING THE MAIN LIGHT ON WHICH DOES NOT HELP CREATE A COSY AND CALM ATMOSPHERE MANY OF US ARE SEEKING BEFORE BED. THEREFORE, HANDY READING LIGHTS ARE PERFECT FOR ALLOWING YOU TO STILL READ AND AVOID

EYE STRAIN WITHOUT HAVING TO THEN GET UP AND TURN LIGHTS OFF RUINING YOUR COSY AND POTENTIALLY SLEEPY VIBE

As an avid reader, I was super excited to test Glocusent’s LED Neck Reading Light as I’m always on the hunt for a reading accessory which makes the whole experience more comfortable. The Neck Reading Light it is designed to sit comfortably around your neck and illuminate your book leaving your hands free to turn the pages. Straight away the reading light was lightweight with a sturdy neckband to hold the lights in place without feeling uncomfortable after a few hours of use.

It comes with three light mode options: warm yellow, warm white and cool white. The warm yellow has been specifically designed for reading before bed as it boosts your melanin and cares for your eyes at a perfectly designed 1800k ambient mode. The other brighter white lights are better for more focused reading in a darkened room. On one arm there is a button to turn the lights on and set a 30-minute timer, whilst on the other you can adjust the light colour mode and the light intensity. This was great as I could customise the light to how dark my room was and make the light dimmer when my partner was sleeping beside me.

Having tested out the Glocusent LED Reading Light for a few weeks I am thoroughly impressed. Not only does it come with a 30-minute timer to auto-turn off (great for when I fall

asleep reading on occasion), but I haven’t had to charge the reading light once! The light is advertised to hold up to 80 hours of battery life, which is plenty even for avid readers like me who will read for a few hours every day before bed. However, should I have to charge it, it comes with a useful USB-C type cable which you just plug into the back of the reading light.

Overall, if you are a big reader then the Glocusent LED Reading light is perfect for you! With multiple light mode options, hands-free design, and easy intuitive buttons it’s hard to fault this reading light. I think the light would also be great for handheld hobbies such as knitting or crochet so you can see what you’re doing more easily without the need for another lamp. Ultimately, the functionality of the light is great, and I will definitely continue to reach for it every time I want to read in a dark room.

PROS:

- 3 light colour options, with 3 brightness settings for each one

- 80-hour battery life – up to 20 days of reading at 30 minutes a day even on the brightest setting

- 30-minute timer to autoturn off

CONS:

- The only small con I could see is the reading light does not come with a plug for the cable - however, most of us have a plug readily available so this isn’t much of an issue but is worth noting

QDOS POWERLINK COMBI

THE QDOS POWERLINK COMBI PROVIDES AN ALL-IN-ONE HUB SYSTEM FOR YOUR ALL CHARGING, DATA TRANSFER, AUDIO AND CARD READING NEEDS. DESIGNED TO CUT DOWN ON THE EXCESSIVE NEED FOR MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WIRES WITH DIFFERENT PORTS OR ADAPTERS TO MAKE THEM WORK, THE POWERLINK COMBI DOES IT ALL, ALL WHILST SEAMLESSLY CHARGING YOUR MACBOOK.

Straight out of the box, the PowerLink Combi is lightweight in a subtle space grey colourway to match your Apple MacBook set-up. The slim device features 3 USB 3.1 ports, a USB-C port, a HDMI port, an audio jack, an SD Card Reader, and a Micro SD card reader. The unit also has a 10 cm built-in cable for easy use and attachment to your laptop and charging wires. Therefore, the PowerLink Combi has been carefully built to charge your devices and laptop quickly, sync seamlessly and display images with ease.

I took the PowerLink Combi with me on a recent trip, and it has saved me so much time and hassle. Often when I’m travelling, I have to strategically choose which device is the most important to charge, as with limited ports on my laptop I cannot charge all of them at once. However, with the PowerLink Combi, I had plenty of port space for all my needs in just one single unit.

Whilst I did not require it on this trip, the SD and Micro SD card reader is a great addition to the PowerLink Combi. The SD and Micro SD card reader would be essential for those who

regularly take lots of pictures or videos whilst travelling. The reader lets you seamlessly transfer all of this media from the SD cards onto your laptop for safekeeping, so you no longer have to worry about losing valuable memories due to misplaced or full SD cards thanks to the PowerLink Combi.

I found the charging speed was pretty decent considering how many ports the PowerLink Combi can provide power. I did find the more cables you added the slower the charging was, but this is to be expected as you’re effectively splitting its power output between devices.

Overall, if you are someone who travels a lot for work or are in need of an all-in-one useful hub to make your laptop’s ports just a little bit more effective, then the PowerLink Combi is going to be a perfect choice for you. With QDOS you know you are getting quality for the price point, and the PowerLink Combi is no exception.

PROS:

- 8 ports for a range of USB, USB-C, audio jack, SD and Micro SD card readers and HDMI cables

- Seamless, stylish and lightweight unit perfect for travelling

- Great for those who work on the go a lot and need greater laptop port availability for things such as charging or data transfer

CONS:

- The charging speed is impacted the more cables you add to the PowerLink Combi unit, but this is to be expected when charging/ using multiple functions of the device simultaneously

QDOS POWERCUBE TRIO 45W POWER ADAPTER

£69.99

THE QDOS POWERCUBE TRIO 45W POWER ADAPTER HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO MAKE CHARGING TWO DEVICES AT THE SAME TIME SEAMLESS, FAST, AND EASY. NO LONGER WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR MULTIPLE PLUG SOCKETS, THE POWERCUBE TRIO ALLOWS YOU TO CHARGE TWO DEVICES IN A SINGLE CHARGING UNIT SUPPORTED BY FAST CHARGING

Upon opening the box, I was impressed with the size of the PowerCube, which comes in a sleek white unit and has two cables in the box. These cables are USB-C to USB-C, and a USB-C to lightning MFI cable designed to efficiently work with both iPhones and a range of other phone models and devices. I was pleased to see the cables were also 1.2m in length, as so often charging cubes deliver quick charging but have very short cables making them less than convenient to use.

The PowerCube Trio delivers 45w of power when just one device is connected. However, when two cables are attached to the adapter the power output is split into 20W and 25W output. This is plenty to charge two different devices at once.

I found I could quickly and easily charge both my phone and my headphones using the PowerCube without noticing a particular charging delay for either. This is thanks to the Power Delivery 3.0 technology which ensures a quick charge, whilst also having a 6-in-1 safety protection software to protect your devices whilst they charge too.

My only complaint is that the 45w Power Adapter is for EU plug sockets, which means you need to use a UK G-Type plug adapter to use UK plug sockets. This adds a little more to your

cost if you do not already have one, and for the price you might expect that an adapter may have been included to suit UK plug sockets too.

Overall, if you are looking for a great dual port charging adapter then the QDOS PowerCube Trio is perfect for you. It will deliver the regular fast charging you would expect from a normal charger, but now for two devices.

PROS:

- Dual charging port with fast charging

- Includes both USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to MFI cables in the box

- Lightweight and saves space when travelling as you only need the single adapter for two devices

CONS:

- PowerCube Trio 45W is catered towards EU plug sockets so you will need to buy or find a UK plug socket adapter to use in the UK

https://www.qdossound.com/collections/galaxy- s24/products/hybrid-clear-case-for-galaxy-s24

QDOS HYBRID PHONE CASE FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY S24+ 5G

QDOS PHONE CASES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR SUPERIOR QUALITY, GREAT DROP PROTECTION AND FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT THEIR DESIGNS AND PACKAGING. WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF QDOS’ NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 RANGE, THE FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE EVIDENT HAVING BOOSTED THE RECYCLED CONTENT WITHIN THE LINE AND TIED IT ALL UP IN COMPLETELY RECYCLABLE PACKAGING

On first impressions, you’d be forgiven for thinking the case was just a regular clear case that you could get anywhere. Instead, QDOS has taken this popular minimalist design and transformed it to pack a punch in terms of phone protection. The flexible TPU frame is designed with air cushions and a raised edge to absorb falls of up to 2 metres and protect the screen and cameras from damage. The backing of the case is made from a rigid polycarbonate which has a scratch-resistant and anti-yellowing coating so you know your phone and its case will always be protected and look pristine.

The case is made from 83% recycled materials, which shows the company’s commitment to producing great phone accessories that protect your device, whilst also protecting the planet. QDOS has committed to using a minimum of 50% certified recycled content in its product lines going forward, with all its cases already being Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified. Even with these sustainable aspects, the cases are still designed for convenience with easy-press button covers and wireless charging compatibility built in for ease of use.

Overall, the QDOS HYBRID for Samsung Galaxy S24+ 5G phone case looks great, is supported by great sustainable commitments, and ensures that your device is always kept protected. If you are on the hunt for a minimalist case which won’t turn yellow or end up covered in scratches in just a few weeks, then the QDOS HYBRID case is the one for you.

PROS:

- Scratch-resistant and anti-yellow agent for longlasting transparency

- 2-metre drop protection and raised edges to keep your screen and lenses safe

- Supports sustainable initiatives by QDOS

CONS:

- It is a very simple case – I’d like to see some more fun and interesting colourway options with the same levels of protection and sustainability soon!

STM GOODS RELAX PHONE CASE FOR IPHONE 15 PLUS

IN SUCH A FAST-PACED WORLD WHERE THE NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A BIG STRESSOR, STM GOODS HAS CREATED A RANGE OF PHONE CASES DESIGNED TO HELP US RE-CENTRE AND TAKE A MOMENT IN THE PRESENT MOMENT TO RELAX. THIS IS WHERE THE RELAX PHONE CASE COMES IN. BUILD WITH MESMERISING SAND WITHIN THE CASE, YOU CAN TAKE A BREATHER AND WATCH AS THE SAND FLOWS THROUGH THE CASE

Using FOCUSCAPE™ fluid technology the RELAX phone case has white particles which move throughout the lower half of the case. The case felt soft and smooth in a clear design with the white sand and white MagSafe design on the back. The case also comes in black with black sand to suit your preferred aesthetic and phone colour. I really liked the sand design as it does allow you to take a second to be in the present moment, something I think a lot of us struggle to do in a world that is very go! go! go!

The case uses clearshell plating which is a ‘self-healing’ technology to significantly cut down on the number of scratches and keep the case looking and functioning well. In terms of protection, the case is constructed from high-clarity polycarbonate and impact-absorbing TPU. These are designed to give your phone great protection, and along with the raised bezel edging will

protect your phone and cameras from impact.

If you are searching for a new case which is a little bit different, then this is a great choice for you. I love the anxiety-reducing and relaxing purpose behind the case, and it looked great on my phone. For the price, I wouldn’t say it is an essential but if you are willing to invest in a case that is both aesthetically pleasing, has decent protection claims and promotes a mindful relaxing quality then this might just be worth it for you.

PROS:

- Great protection for your phone

- Looks aesthetically pleasing in clear and white to match white or silver iPhone 15s

- Promotes mindfulness to take a restful break when the world gets a little too chaotic

CONS:

- Expensive price point for a phone case

STM GOODS REVEAL PHONE CASE IPHONE 15 PLUS

DESIGNED AS PART OF STM GOODS’ IPHONE 15 FOCUS COLLECTION, THE REVEAL CASE WILL GIVE YOU A PEEK INTO A SECRET WORLD ON THE BACK OF YOUR PHONE AS YOU GENTLY WARM THE REACTIVE FILM WITH YOUR HAND. THE PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION IS TO GIVE YOU A BREAK FROM THE STRESSFUL WORLD WE LIVE IN AND TAKE A MOMENT OF MINDFULNESS TO RECENTRE YOURSELF.

I was super excited to test out the reveal phone case as the reactive back sounded like a lot of fun. The case initially looks black with a shiny backing and only a tiny hit of a pattern however with heat the film reveals a glowing blue intricate pattern/world.

The case looks stylish and sleek with soft corners and a thin feel to easily store in your pocket. In addition, like the other cases in the range, it boasts the same high-clarity polycarbonate and impact-absorbing TPU. This is to make sure your phone has great protection, and along with the raised bezel edging, it will protect your phone and cameras from impact.

My only slight issue with the case is that I found it very difficult to make the reactive film work and show up on the case. Maybe I just had very cold hands or didn’t hold it for long enough, but I found the heat-reactive film took a lot longer than expected

to show the image.

Overall, the heat-reactive phone case makes a great change from the other cases I’ve seen on the market. You can be sure that by choosing a case by STM Goods you are getting great phone protection and shock absorption. Andas long as you have a particularly warm hands or keep your phone in a pocket close to you - the backing, once reacted, does look great!

PROS:

- Sturdy phone case with great protection

- The case looks sleek with and without activating the film backing

- Allows you to escape reality and focus your mind on the little world in your case

CONS:

- I personally didn’t find the reactive film on the back was quick to reveal the image to just the touch on a hand – I found it needed more warmth but maybe I just have very cold hands

GADGETS STM GOODS REAWAKEN PHONE CASE FOR IPHONE 15 PLUS

THE WORLD CAN BE SO CHAOTIC SOMETIMES THAT WE FORGET TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CENTRE OURSELVES AND JUST BREATHE. SO WHERE BETTER THAN ON YOUR PHONE CASE, WHICH IS ALMOST ALWAYS WITH YOU, TO HAVE A GROOVED PATTERN TO TRACE WITH YOUR FINGER TO FIND A MOMENT OF PEACE?

STM Goods’ FOCUS range brings a collection of phone cases which are designed to help us take a minute for ourselves and slow down for a moment of mindful meditation. The grooves in the REAWAKEN case are perfect for tracing your fingers across for immediate tactile feedback.

I personally loved the look and feel of this case. The clear shell has ‘self-healing’ technology to keep your case looking great by cutting down on scratches. The clear case means you can still see the back of your phone and is built to support your iPhone’s

MagSafe connection. The contours are satisfying to trace and remind me of the mindful activity of drawing patterns in the sand to refocus your mind.

Overall, the case is such a simple idea but is really quite effective in helping you take a moment to yourself to focus your mind. I can definitely see myself keeping this on my phone as it looks great, protects your phone well and also provides a mindful activity to do on your commute, your break or whenever you reach for your phone to bring moments of peace every day.

PROS:

- Great look and protection

- Carefully designed contours for mindfulness moments

- Supports MagSafe connections

CONS:

- For the price point it is on the higher end of the scale for a phone case

EPOMAKER RT100 TRI-MODE MECHANICAL KEYBOARD

BRING SOME RETRO CHARM TO YOUR WORK OR GAMING SET-UP WITH EPOMAKER’S MECHANICAL KEYBOARDS NOW IN A RETRO FINISH. WE GOT TO TRY OUT THE RT100 TRI-MODE MECHANICAL KEYBOARD IN THE RETRO WHITE COLOURWAY WHICH FEATURES A RANGE OF CREAM, GREY AND DARK PINK/PURPLE-HUED KEYS. HOWEVER, DESPITE ITS RETRO DESIGN, THERE IS NOTHING OLD SCHOOL ABOUT THE KEYBOARD IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY. THE KEYBOARD BRINGS YOU EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT FROM A MODERN KEYBOARD WITH 98 KEYS AND AN ADJUSTABLE MULTI-MEDIA KNOB DESIGNED FOR PLAYING, PAUSING, OR SKIPPING MUSIC OR VIDEO, AND CAN ALSO BE USED TO CREATE A PERSONALISED KEYBOARD. THE RT100 ALSO HAS THE OPTION TO ADD A MINI DISPLAY SO YOU CAN HAVE INFOGRAPHICS SUCH AS THE WEATHER, TIME, AND DATE DIRECTLY ON YOUR KEYBOARD VIA A LITTLE SCREEN.

Upon opening, I was super impressed with the retro design and the quality feel of every component. The gasket of the keyboard was sturdy and fairly heavy compared to the lighter but cheaper quality keyboard I have been used to. You just need to connect the keyboard via Bluetooth to your device (compatible with Android and IOS) and you are ready to get going. The entire keyboard is angled well to support easy typing, and after using it for a week or so, I didn’t find it put any additional strain on my wrists. However, should you need to raise the angle of your keyboard more, the RT100 has feet to raise this – this is especially great if you use your keyboard a lot to help reduce the wrist, shoulder and neck pain that is often associated with long periods of computer use. Even the design of the feet has been

thought out with silicone wrapping to keep your keyboard in place and further support your wrists while typing. One of my personal favourite aspects of the keyboard is its reduced size. The keyboard is a little shorter in length than a standard keyboard making it perfect for saving space on a smaller desk or in a busy gaming set-up. Then, for all your keyboard enthusiasts out there, each key can be easily changed as each one is hot-swappable. This is thanks to the Class-A Kailh Sockets which support 5-pin hot-swapping to modify your keyboard for all of your needs. This modification then works great with the multi-media knob to make a customisable keyboard thanks to the inbuilt software that allows you to create macros, remap keys and change the keyboard backlighting with quick shortcuts to make your keyboard completely personalised to your needs. As I personally do not need to make many modifications to my keyboards for my job, the feel and ease of use are my top priority. The keys have a double sound absorption design which means I never feel like I have to force down the keys and as such the sound is remarkably quieter. If anything the click and clack of the keys is quite satisfying compared to my current one! The quality typing feel, customizability, and reliable connectivity are why the

R100 has a slightly more luxe price point compared to the standard cheap keyboards you can get anywhere. However, having used the keyboard for a little while now I would say it is definitely worth the price.

If you are longing for the nostalgic days of early computers, but need the technology of today to support your modern lifestyle and computer’s needs then the EPOMAKER RT100 is a perfect choice for you. With upgrades and multi-media knobs to bring the retro design into 2024, the RT100 leads a new wave of retro-inspired tech which mashes the aesthetics of the past with the technology of the future.

PROS:

- Retro-inspired design

- Customizable key, multi-media knob and backlighting

- Heavy, compact, and highquality design

The RT100 is EPOMAKER available from the official EPOMAKER website, Amazon or AliExpress.

GADGETS

EPOMAKER DYNATAB 75X TRIPLE-MODE

GASKET-MOUNTED MECHANICAL KEYBOARD WITH DOTMATRIX DISPLAY

$139.99

WITH CAREFULLY THOUGHT-OUT ANGLED KEYS, UNIQUE FRONTFACING RGB LIGHTING, SATISFYING SOFT TOUCH MECHANICS AND, OF COURSE, THE LARGE CUSTOMIZABLE DOT-MATRIC LED SCREEN, THE EPOMAKER DYNATAB 75X HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY TYPING EXPERIENCE FEELS BOTH HIGH QUALITY AND COMPLETELY PERSONALISED.

We were super excited to receive the DynaTab 75X as it has only just launched following a successful Kickstarter campaign. When I first opened the box, I was incredibly impressed with the overall design of the keyboard. We got to review the black-grey colourway version which features a gradient of grey to black across the keys with all letters and symbols on the front side of the keysrather than on the top like with traditional keyboards. I personally loved the sleek and high-tech look this gave the keyboard and it’s something a little different to what I’ve seen before. Although my coworker did note that they found seeing which letters they were typing was a little harder than usual being on the front of each key, but I don’t think this is too much of an issue as I found after a while you get used to looking at the front of the key instead of the top.

The keyboard is designed with a compact layout with 84 keys which sit in the premium gasket structure supported by 8x IXPE switch padding and a latex shaft base foam to ensure that typing feels comfortable and smooth. As someone who types a lot for my job, I’m very particular about the feel of my keyboards and EPOMAKER makes some of my favourites. Every click with the

DynaTab 75X is smooth and comfortable and is accompanied by a satisfying click noise. To make typing even easier the keys are ergonomically designed so that the top and bottom keys are a little higher up than those in the middle. This allows your hands to sit comfortably in the middle of the keyboard to make typing without seeing the keys easier and reduce extra hand strain. However, as with all of EPOMAKER’s keyboards, if you aren’t super satisfied with the keys, they are completely hot-swappable to get the best typing feel fully customized to you. The most fun part of the DynaTab 75X is the Dot-Matrix LED display which allows you to fully customize your keyboard with a range of graphics and animations. Using EPOMAKER’s software you can create your own designs and graphics for the LED screen or download designs and animations from EPOMAKER’s wide library to add a little personal flare to your keyboard. In addition to the LED screen, each key has front-facing lighting so the keys glow as you type and can be customised for different effects when typing. This makes typing super fun, and in a dark gaming set-up, it adds a great colourful glow to your desk.

One of the main perks of the DynaTab 75X is that you can connect the keyboard to three devices through the 2.4GHz wireless receiver, a Type-C cable connection and Bluetooth. This means that with just a quick slide of the connection switch, you can seamlessly move between different devices and connections to make using the keyboard so much more integrated into your desk or gaming set-up. I especially love that the 2.4GHz wireless receiver is securely stored under the front panel on the top of

the keyboard which is super convenient so you can always connect to your devices even whilst on the go.

If you are on the hunt for a new keyboard, then the EPOMAKER DynaTab 75X Tripe-mode Gasket-mounted Mechanical Keyboard with Dot-Matric Display is a great choice. With premium features throughout from great aesthetics, to typing feel, digital customization and easy connectivity, the keyboard will level up any desk or gaming set-up.

PROS:

- Customizable keyboard with large LED screen

- Easy to switch between different device connections with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and USB-C cable connection

- Great compact keyboard layout with unique frontfacing key symbols design

CONS:

- The front-facing key letters/ symbols can be hard to see when typing as your hands get in the way a little

PEAK DESIGN EVERYDAY CASE FOR IPHONE 15

THE EVERYDAY CASE BY PEAK DESIGN HAS MANY CLAIMS TO FAME, WITH THE WIRECUTTER (NEW YORK TIMES’ PRODUCT REVIEW DEPARTMENT) NAMING IT AS ONE OF THE BEST MAGSAFE CASES ON THE MARKET. THEREFORE, I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO PUT THESE CLAIMS TO THE TEST MYSELF WHEN PEAK DESIGN SENT US OVER A CASE TO REVIEW.

We got to test out the Everyday Case in a charcoal colourway, and it was very minimalist in design and remarkably thin. I quickly popped the case on my iPhone and it looked great. The case is designed to be super slim at only a 2.4mmin in profile, however, it packs a punch in terms of protection and functionality. The edges feature a rubberized bumper which holds the nylon canvas shell. Aesthetically the case is great, especially if you like a minimalist and sleek-looking phone. However, one of the main perks of the Everyday Case is its magnetic lock which is built in through SlimLink™. This allows the case to instantly connect to all Peak Design mobile mounts, chargers, and accessories thanks to the built-in magnetic connection. The case is also compatible with a range of other Apple

MagSafe chargers and accessories. I liked that the case fits seamlessly into the Peak Design ecosystem, so you know that no matter what accessory you choose from Peak Design’s range it will be compatible with the case. I got to see this with the Stand Wallet which clipped straight onto the back of the case via its magnetic connection without any fuss.

Therefore, do I think the Everyday Case lives up to the hype? Yes, I do. The case looks great, has great protection and has been made extra functional with the SlimLink™ connection. If you are on the hunt for a new case which is designed to last and will work seamlessly with a range

of accessories and chargers, then the Everyday Case by Peak Design is an easy choice. (The case is also available for Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy Series models, or you can try a Universal Adapter option!)

PROS:

- Sleek, slim and minimalist design

- Works across the Peak Design ecosystem thanks to its built-in magnetic connection – and is compatible with a range of MagSafe products too

- Provides great protection for your phone

CONS:

- The Everyday Case does come in Sun (yellow), Redwood (red), Sage (green) and Midnight (blue)

– However, I’d personally like some more fun and funky colourway options to suit my more chaotic maximalist style!

PEAK DESIGN STAND WALLET

HAVING YOUR CARDS SAFELY STORED ON THE BACK OF YOUR DEVICE IS SUPER CONVENIENT - ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON’T HAVE APPLE OR GOOGLE PAY SET UP ON YOUR PHONE. THEREFORE, PEAK DESIGN’S STAND WALLET IS PERFECT FOR THOSE WHO ALWAYS WANT THEIR CARDS CLOSE TO THEIR PHONE IN A SECURE AND EASY-TO-ATTACH WALLET. HOWEVER, WHAT MAKES THE STAND WALLET SPECIAL IS THAT IT ALSO DOUBLES AS A PHONE STAND PERFECT FOR PROPPING YOUR PHONE UP TO SCROLL OR WATCH VIDEOS ON. .

We got sent over the Stand Wallet in a lovely dark green colour which looked good and felt durable made from 100% recycled nylon canvas. The complete unit is quite heavy as it has a large magnet in the back, however once on your phone, it doesn’t add too much weight. The wallet can fit up to 7 cards which is perfect for always keeping bank cards and loyalty cards on hand. The slim design ensured that even with the wallet securely magnetized to the back of my case it didn’t take up much space and could still easily fit into my pocket.

The Stand Wallet uses Peak Design’s SlimLink™ magnetic connection, which allows the stand to be compatible with the other products available in the Peak Design ecosystem. We were also sent the Everyday Case by Peak Design and the Stand Wallet seamlessly clicked onto the back of the case using the magnetic connection. This is great because even if you don’t have a phone which supports a magnetic or MagSafe connection yet, you can still experience the convenience of the Stand Wallet by purchasing

a case by Peak Design too. However, the Stand Wallet is compatible with most magnetic connections and MagSafe phone models.

My only concern is with the magnetic flap on the Stand Wallet which keeps the cards in and protected. I personally found it felt a little flimsy when closing. Whilst I don’t think this is a giant issue, for the price I would have expected it to be a little higher in quality. However, as a cardholder and stand which has the convenience of being on the back of your phone, it was still functional and made a great addition.

Overall, if you are looking for a minimalist solution to keep your phone and wallet all in one place, Peak Design’s Stand Wallet is a good accessory. It can work with a range of phone models, and, even if your device doesn’t have a magnetic connection built-in, the range of cases at Peak Design will always be compatible.

PROS:

- Minimalist and thin design

- Compatible with MagSafe devices and Peak Design cases

- Heavy but not bulky

CONS:

- Some aspects are not the highest in quality

GADGET

EKSTER ALUMINIUM CARDHOLDER (BRUSHED COPPER

NOTHING IS WORSE THAN WHEN I’M TRYING TO FIT MY TRADITIONAL FOLDABLE LEATHER WALLET INTO MY JEAN POCKET, BUT IT IS SIMPLY TOO WIDE AND LEAVES A LARGE DENT IN MY JEANS. THIS IS WHERE EKSTER’S INNOVATION COMES IN TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR UP TO 12 CARDS PLUS CASH, WHILST REMAINING REMARKABLY THIN IN YOUR POCKET YET DURABLE.

I was super excited to see the Ekster Aluminium Cardholder come across my desk as I’ve been on the lookout for a wallet which reduces space without sacrificing functionality or security. The cardholder is made of durable aluminium, and the one I tried had a lovely brushed copper design.

To use the cardholder you simply pop up to 12 cards in the main case which all sit seamlessly together inside the shell. To access the cards, you just press the side button, and your cards are pushed upwards whilst staggered to make picking your needed card super easy. For bills, or any extra cards such as loyalty cards, you can strap these to the side of the cardholder to sit under the aluminium back plate and elasticated band. I have a ton of loyalty cards and always like to carry a little bit of cash, but I worried this might add excessive bulk to the back plate, but the band around the cardholder keeps it all super compact and secured.

After using the cardholder for a few weeks, I’m super impressed with the compact and secure design. I loved the button mechanism to access my cards, and the RFID blocker ensured I didn’t have to worry about wireless theft whilst out and about with the cardholder in my pocket. Throughout the first few days, I did notice myself tapping my pocket a few times

to ensure that the cardholder was still there as it is remarkably thinner and more lightweight than my previous traditional foldable leather wallet. With each tap, I realised just how secure and minimalist the design was, whilst still delivering everything I needed from a wallet.

I will say, that if you want to carry coins the cardholder, as the name suggests, does not cater to this, so they might have to be thrown in your pocket or bag separately. However, I don’t know many people who use cash anymore, so even a coin or two in your pocket alongside the cardholder doesn’t seem to be too much of a hassle.

PROS:

- Space-grade sturdy aluminium design

Overall, this would make a perfect gift for the person in your life who is constantly lugging around a giant purse or wallet full of unnecessary things. With the Ekster Aluminium Cardholder, you can gift yourself or a loved one a streamlined premium feeling cardholder that cuts down on space whilst still delivering all you could need from your wallet.

- Quick and compact card access with button press

- Great security for cards with RFID-blocking technology built-in

CONS:

- Space-grade sturdy aluminium

https://www.ekster.com/en-gb/products/ aluminum-cardholder?variant=40370190549055

GADGET

EKSTER ALUMINIUM CARDHOLDER (OIL SLICK)

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW AND STYLISH CARDHOLDER, THAT IS DESIGNED TO MAKE ACCESSING YOUR CARDS SO MUCH EASIER? THEN THE EKSTER ALUMINIUM CARDHOLDER IS FOR YOU, AND NOW IN A SUPER FUN IRIDESCENT COLOURWAY!

Ekster Cardholders use space-grade aluminium to provide compact and lightweight storage for up to 12 cards and cash. All of your cards sit seamlessly in the main section of the cardholder, and to retrieve them you just push the side button, and all your cards are pushed out in a staggered format. The button mechanic makes accessing your cards super easy, and the staggered format means there’s no fiddly picking between cards. However, if like me, you have a ton of loyalty cards and like to carry a small amount of cash, you can slip these into the backplate. The back plate is securely strapped to the main section of the cardholder, so all your cards and notes are compactly stacked together.

Along with the great functional design, the oil-slick colourway adds a perfect iridescent sheen to the cardholder. The main body of the cardholder is black and the backplate is where the oil-slick iridescent design takes centre stage. I loved the design, which is super minimalist but with a little splash of colour. So many of my friends even commented on the fun colour of the cardholder when they saw me using it over the last few weeks.

In terms of security, the cardholder is designed with RFID anti-theft technology to ensure that your details cannot be stolen whilst out and about. If you are used to a chunky wallet which takes up plenty of space in your pocket, the Ekster cardholders £96.00

will be a nice change with the sleek design. However, you may spend the first few days frantically tapping your pockets like I did just to check it is still there - it’s just so sleek and minimalist that you almost forget it’s there!

The cardholder is not designed for carrying coins, which can be a little annoying when you buy things with cash and are left with some change. However, I found as the cardholder was so sleek putting coins in your pocket alongside it isn’t too much of a hassle - and let’s be honest, not many people carry cash these days anyway!

PROS:

-Great iridescent colourway

Having tested out the cardholder for a few weeks, I would definitely buy an Ekster Aluminium Cardholder for a friend or loved one. The cardholders are stylish and make a great compact wallet alternative to traditional foldable leather ones. If you are looking to buy a great gift for yourself or a loved one, an Ekster Aluminium Cardholder is always a great choice, and with such a variety of colour options, you’ll be sure to find one to suit anyone’s style.

- Compact, secure, and sturdy design

- Super functional card button release, and backplate for extra cards and cash

CONS:

- Doesn’t allow for carrying coins – but few people carry coins these days so not a giant issue

TOZO S3 SMARTWATCH

TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH IS SUPER IMPORTANT, AND OVER RECENT YEARS MANY OF US HAVE TURNED TO USING SMART GADGETS SUCH AS WATCHES AND RINGS TO MONITOR THIS. HOWEVER, KNOWING WHERE TO START AND NOT FACING PRICEY PAYWALLS OR HEFTY SUBSCRIPTION FEES TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR REAL-TIME HEALTH METRICS CAN BE DIFFICULT. THEREFORE, TOZO HAS INTRODUCED THEIR NEW S2 SMART WATCH, GIVING YOU THE BEST OF SMARTWATCH FUNCTIONALITY AT SUCH AN AFFORDABLE PRICE POINT.

The S3 comes in a sleek box that feels premium, and inside you have the 1.63-inch HD colour touchscreen watch face, a silicone strap, a user manual, and the smartwatch charging cable. Each part is carefully packaged, and after a quick assembly and charge, you can get started. I first had to download the TOZO Health app (which was free) and pair my smartwatch. This was a very simple process and works in a very similar way to other smartwatches I’ve tested. Once paired, I was then ready to test out the S3. On first impressions, the watch face is a little larger than other ones I’ve tried, which makes navigation and visibility whilst working out super easy. I’m not personally a big fan of the wide silicone strap, which is common with most smartwatches, but the TOZO one feels secure and is good for swimming or when particularly sweaty to remain both waterproof and easy to clean. The watch is designed to provide you with real-time data on a range of health metrics from sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen and stress levels, to help you better understand your health and focus on areas that you would like to improve. One of my favourite parts about the S3 is the sleep monitoring, which provides you with an in-depth analysis of your sleep stages, which can be viewed in the app. This is particularly helpful when you wake feeling tired and can see which areas of sleep you were lacking in and understand what contributes towards you feeling well rested during the day. The best way to monitor your fitness level is by getting some movement into your day and recording it with your watch by choosing one of over 100 exercise options available, including

anything from walking to swimming or biking. I set up the watch to track my walk on the beach with my dog and could see my steps, calories burnt, and distance travelled all on the watch screen without the need to take my phone out of my pocket – perfect for monitoring my fitness whilst on the move.

Another key perk of the S3, aside from its fitness and health metrics, is that it allows you to see your notifications and make, answer, and reject calls directly from your wrist. This is great for urgent calls whilst you’re working out, or for keeping up to date throughout the day without the need to open your phone. I loved the easy view of my notifications throughout the day and found it helped me to stay focused as I’d set the S3 up to only show notifications from certain apps, this allowed me to not get drawn into my phone and end up mindlessly scrolling instead of being productive!

Overall, I’m very impressed with the S3 which for such an affordable price, offers a great range of fitness and functional qualities suited to help you have more awareness of your own health. Having tried out a few different smartwatches in my life, the S3 is super comparable in functionality and looks to those at a higher price point. So, if you are looking into the smartwatch world to take control of your own health, then the TOZO S3 Smartwatch is an excellent place to start.

PROS:

- Over 100 pre-loaded workout options

- Easy to view health and fitness metrics

- Can view notifications and take calls all from your wrist

CONS:

- Battery life boasts to be 10 days with typical use and 7 days with heavy use – however, I found with typical use it needed charging a little more regularly

HUMAN CHARGER BRIGHT LIGHT HEADSET

IF YOU’VE EVER BEEN JET LAGGED, YOU KNOW THE DESPERATE FEELING OF TRYING TO STAY AWAKE WHILST COMBATTING THE COMPLETE FATIGUE AND EXHAUSTION THAT CAN COME WITH CHANGING TIME ZONES. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AWFUL WHEN IT DERAILS THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR HOLIDAY AS YOU TRY TO OVERCOME THE TIREDNESS AND BRAIN FOG. THEREFORE, IN FINDING AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO MAKE THE TRANSITION BETWEEN TIME ZONES EASIER, THE HUMANCHARGER MIGHT JUST BE THE SOLUTION FOR YOU!

The HumanCharger is a bright light device which is intended to help improve winter moods, especially those related to seasonal blues, and the effects of jet lag. So how does it work? The device looks like earphones which are connected to a firm but flexible neck bar. You just pop the earbuds into your ears and press the on button on the neck bar to turn it on. Each earbud emits light directly into your ears to give you all the positive effects of natural sunlight to refresh and recharge you when you need it most. Each light therapy session lasts 12 minutes and is designed to ‘charge’ you up.

The HumanCharger feel exactly like wearing earphones and the neck bar feels comfortable and lightweight. It does take a little getting used to as normally I’d expect music when I have earphones in, but after a while you forget they’re in – and the whole treatment only takes 12 minutes, so it is super quick, convenient, and easy to use.

With the dark winter days dragging here in the UK, there was no better time to test out the HumanCharger. I used the

HumanCharger every morning for a week and felt a little less tired, and a little more energized. Whilst I don’t know if I can attribute all of the positive effects to the HumanCharger or simply from sleeping a little better, I had a good week feeling less fatigued either way. However, there are thousands of reviews on the HumanCharger website which rave about its effectiveness, so I think it definitely has great technology behind it which has worked for many people across the globe. If you’ve found medication or other therapies are not effective for seasonal blues or to combat the effects of jet lag, then the HumanCharger just might be the solution for you!

PROS:

- Non-medication option to help combat seasonal blues and jet lag

- Rechargeable with 10 sessions per charge

- Small and easy to travel with (includes a travel bag)

CONS:

- I can’t say for certain whether the HumanCharger definitely has had significant effects on my energy levels or mood on winter days - However I don’t typically suffer with many affects from seasonal changes, but I will be sure to test it again the next time I go travelling!

CORE BALANCE FITNESS RUBBER ALIGNMENT YOGA MAT

IN A WORLD OF CHAOS, SOMETIMES THE ONLY TIME WE GET TO BE COMPLETELY ALONE WITHOUT THE INFLUENCE OF OUTSIDE NOISE IS THROUGH EXERCISE. A KEY CALMING EXERCISE IS YOGA WHICH HELPS TO MAKE MINDFUL MOVEMENTS AND HOLD PURPOSEFUL POSES TO HELP RECENTRE YOURSELF WHILST DEVELOPING YOUR FLEXIBILITY IN THE PROCESS. HOWEVER, I THINK WE’VE ALL FELT THE PAIN OF KNEELING ON A THIN FOAM MAT THAT HAS LITTLE GRIP AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IS STARTING TO WEAR AWAY. THIS IS WHERE CORE BALANCE FITNESS’ RANGE OF EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES COMES IN WITH THE RUBBER ALIGNMENT YOGA MAT DESIGNED TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR POSES AND SUPPORT YOUR YOGA DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROCESS.

We got to try the Rubber Alignment Yoga Mat in a lovely purple shade. Upon opening, I was impressed with the size of the mat which is roughly 7cm wider than the regular Yoga Mats you may have borrowed from your gym. Laying out the mat the weight ensures that you have no rolling corners, so you always have a smooth, flat, and secure surface for all your moves. The mat is made from natural rubber to give a solid grip on your floor and is covered in a PU coating using CoreGrip™ technology to provide exceptional grip for your hands and feet on the mat too. One of the main perks of the Alignment mat is that there are Asana Alignment lines on it which are designed to help you position your body correctly and perform your poses like a pro. The lines start from a centre core which is the main focus of your balancing, from here there are 45° lines, centre lines and reverse

points to help you correctly position your hands and feet throughout every single yoga pose. I took this with me to a beginner yoga class and everyone was impressed with the lines to help you find the correct alignment – it had me feeling like an expert! The extra-large size at 183cmX68cm ensures you have more space to practice your poses and extra space if you start to topple - which is something I did a lot during the class. Even if you are a seasoned yogi, the mat still makes a great choice thanks to the non-slip and wider size perfect for finding your peace and practicing your balance at home. The 4mm thick rubber matt provides excellent cushioning to not hurt your knees whilst remaining stable and safe for even the most adventurous of yoga poses. If you’re new to yoga and want to make sure your poses are well aligned or you’re just looking for a good, heavyduty but soft yoga mat then the Rubber Alignment Yoga Mat is an easy choice!

PROS:

- Non-slip weighty mat to help you to focus on the mindfulness of your activity instead of constantly fixing your mat

- Alignment lines help you to always be in the perfect position for each pose

- Thick and durable mat to protect your joints and avoid the mat from flaking

CONS:

- The mat is a little heavier than some cheaper yoga mats – but the weight and size ensure it stays flat and you have plenty of room app

CORE BALANCE FITNESS 2-IN-1 FOAM ROLLER

AFTER A LONG GYM SESSION, YOU’RE LIKELY NURSING SOME ACHING MUSCLES AND ARE IN NEED OF A THOROUGH MASSAGE TO HELP UNDO THOSE KNOTS AND RECOVER THEM READY FOR YOUR NEXT TRAINING DAY. FOR MANY OF US, WE TURN TO FOAM ROLLERS FOR THIS, HOWEVER, THEY ARE OFTEN ONLY DESIGNED FOR A SINGLE AREA OR ONLY FOCUS ON THE LARGER MUSCLE GROUPS. THIS MEANS SMALLER TIGHT MUSCLES ARE BEING MISSED OUT AND NOT GETTING THE SAME LEVEL OF RECOVERY BETWEEN SESSIONS.

This is where the 2-in-1 Foam Roller by Core Balance Fitness comes in. The roller has been designed to target a range of muscle sizes for greater recovery across your body. Upon opening the roller, I was impressed by its sturdiness whilst remaining lightweight. The main part of the black roller is 33cm long and 15 cm thick, which has been designed to target larger muscles such as your thighs after a particularly long leg day. Inside the main roller is a smaller inner one which is 33cm long but is only 6cm thick and is perfect for rolling your arms after some heavy lifting.

After a good gym session lifting some heavy weights, my legs and arms were feeling particularly achy, so what better time to test out the roller than now? I started rolling my arms using the inner roller and was impressed with the massage it provided. I then moved onto the larger roller to relieve the aches in my thighs. The roller’s high-density EPP foam was great for pressing deep into my muscles and relieved a lot of the pressure. Whilst it did not remove all the aches across my body, it definitely helped to remove some of the tightness I was experiencing.

Therefore, the dual roller is a perfect all-round choice to relieve a whole range of muscle aches across both big and small muscle groups. I love that you can pop the smaller roller inside the main one for easy portability – perfect for throwing in your gym bag for post-training relief. If you are on the hunt for a recovery roller which works well across many of the body’s muscle groups, then the 2-in-1 Foam Roller is the perfect all-around choice for you.

PROS:

- Lightweight foam for easy portability

- Dual roller design to target all areas of the body

- Thick high-density foam for deep massage

SPORT & FITNESS

CORE BALANCE FITNESS EXTRA LARGE EXERCISE MAT

EVER DOING YOUR WORKOUTS OR PRACTISING YOUR YOGA POSES AND KEEP STEPPING OFF YOUR MAT AS IT’S JUST NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR ANY DYNAMIC MOVES? THEN THE CORE BALANCE FITNESS’ EXTRA LARGE EXERCISE MAT IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR YOU.

We got to test out the Extra Large Exercise Mat which is 10cm longer and almost double the width of a standard exercise mat at roughly 183cmX116cm in size. I personally find standard exercise mats are great for smaller movements, but when I’m doing burpees or mountain climbers my feet are always coming off the end and I’m accidentally hitting the floor instead. Therefore, I was super excited to get to try out the Extra Large Exercise Mat.

Straight away I was impressed with just how lightweight the mat is. You might think the larger size would come with added weight; however, the mat only weighs 1.2kg making it perfect for taking with you to the gym or a class without feeling like you’ve got a big weight on your arm already. The mat is made from 6mm of thick TPE Foam to provide the perfect amount of cushioning whilst remaining firm and thin to support your movements.

Using the mat I could do all my favourite floor-based workouts without fearing I was going to move off the edge. This £31.99 https://www.corebalancefitness.co.uk/extra- large-exercise-mat.html#key-information

was great during a yoga class as not only does the larger mat automatically give you more space next to other mats, but I was able to do more of the wide stance positions without my feet touching the floor. The mat did not move once thanks to the non-slip pattern which helps provide greater grip to the floor as well as to your hands and feet.

If you are on the hunt for a new exercise mat which gives you way more space than a standard mat whilst maintaining a top-quality anti-slip design, then the Extra Large Exercise Mat is a perfect choice for you. The mat is lightweight, durable, and non-slip making every workout whether at home or in the gym just that little bit easier.

PROS:

- Lightweight design for easy carrying

- Non-slip design ensures your mat stays in place and you don’t fall

- Extra large size makes the mat perfect for wide stance or dynamic moves

CONS:

- The large size may reduce where you can put it in gyms as it does take up more space than a regular mat

SPORT & GYMPROLUXEFITNESS BAND AND BAR SET 2.0

https://www.gymproluxestore.com/products

gymproluxe-band-and-bar-set-2-0

IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME, ACTUALLY GETTING YOURSELF TO THE GYM CAN FEEL LIKE THE BIGGEST FEAT – ESPECIALLY AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK. I’M FOREVER WISHING I HAD MY OWN GYM SET UP AT HOME, BUT LIVING IN A FLAT I DON’T HAVE THE SPACE, AND THE EQUIPMENT CAN BE SUPER COSTLY. THEREFORE, WHEN THE GYMPROLUXE BAND AND BAR SET 2.0 CAME ACROSS MY DESK I WAS SUPER INTRIGUED – COULD MY DREAM OF A FULL-BODY WEIGHTED WORKOUT FROM HOME FINALLY BE A REALITY?

The Band and Bar Set 2.0 arrived quickly after dispatching and I was immediately shocked by just how lightweight and compact the set was. Upon opening the box, I was met with the detachable bar, a padded exercise belt, 6 adjustable belt tubes and a lovely little bag for storing it all in. The adjustable belts come ready attached to the exercise belt, and collectively provide up to 90kg (200lb) of resistance. The adjustable belts have 3 weight options – the white belts are 10kg, the green ones are 15kg, and the black ones are 20kg. This means you can get a full body workout using the same kind of weights you’d likely be choosing in the gym, but all from the comfort of your own home. Using the Band and Bar you can achieve a whole range of exercise options including bench press, hip thrusts, bicep curls, and chest flys – to name only a few! The set actually boasts to allow you to allow you to do more than 100 gym-quality exercises all from the comfort of your own home. I set it up to do a bench press to get a feel for the bands. Laying with the belt underneath me with only the 10kg belts attached to it, and the bar looped through the belt’s handles, I could push the bar up and slowly lower it to complete a rep. It was super simple to set up and I was impressed with how smooth each rep felt. I worried that the bands wouldn’t feel secure or that the bar would make movements hard to keep stable, but each one felt controlled

thanks to the high-quality design. One thing I will note is that as you are using resistance belts rather than traditional free weights you actually experience a constant tension on your muscles throughout the whole movement. This means that as your range of motion increases so does the tension on your muscles and so you can build more targeted gains. In doing this, the set targets each body part to build muscle and strength without overloading the joints. Therefore, the set is actually a lot safer for your joints and should lead to fewer injuries. After trying out the Band and Bar Set 2.0 for a week I’m impressed. Not only could I do a full body workout, but I could do it with the weights I’m familiar with and all from the comfort of my own home! The weighted bands are easy to interchange, and I personally felt they helped me focus on each muscle throughout each rep for more purposeful movements. I also found working out from home helped me to be more intentional about my exercises as I wasn’t getting distracted or avoiding certain machines that were full like usual. Therefore, I could do all the movements I wanted for my personal fitness goals without feeling rushed.

I loved that on the days I was struggling to decide on a workout plan, I could turn to the GYMPROLUXE app which has a whole range of easy-tofollow workout options available – this was especially great when I was first getting to grips with the set. In the app, there are also a range of workshops and challenges to help give you a boost of motivation when you need it most. I

liked that the app also lets you track your progress and even set goals to help make each one just that little bit more achievable.

Overall, if you’re looking to get a full-body workout, but rarely have time to go to the gym, the GYMPROLUXE Band and Bar Set 2.0 is the perfect choice. The set is portable, lightweight, and compact making it perfect for home storage or even taking with you on the go. With the one-off purchase of the set at an affordable price, you can get a full body workout and access to a library of pre-set workout plans – all without having to leave your house! That’s an easy win for me!

PROS:

- Portable and lightweight full-body workout set

- Up to 90kg of weight resistance possible all from the comfort of your home

- Access to the GYMPROLUXE app for a whole host of workouts and challenges

CONS:

- If you are a super advanced gym-goer the 90kg limit may not be enough for your regular workouts. However, more weighted adjustable belts can be purchased from the GYMPROLUXE Store

£125.00

https://chappiegolf.com/products/chappie-golf-full-kit

CHAPPIE GOLF SET

TRYING TO GET THAT PERFECT HIT CAN BE A CHALLENGING FEAT FOR MANY PLAYERS, ESPECIALLY AS THEY STEP ONTO THE GOLF GREEN FOR THE FIRST TIME. HOWEVER, THE SATISFACTION WHEN YOU DO GET THAT PERFECT SWING CAN’T BE MATCHED. THIS FEELING IS SOMETHING THAT JIM HACKENBERG, CREATOR OF CHAPPIE GOLF, WANTED TO BRING TO EVERY PLAYER WITH THE CREATION OF A UNIQUELY BALANCED PRACTICE CLUB. THE CLUB IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU LEARN HOW TO HIT PURE SHOTS EVERY TIME AND PROVIDES A GREAT CLUB FOR SHORT-DISTANCE GAMES WITH FRIENDS.

I was intrigued hearing about Chappie Golf, as, whilst I’m not an avid golfer, I’ve played a round or two here and there over the years and I’ll admit I’m not great at getting a perfect shot. When first unboxing the golf club I was surprised by the club end, which is bright blue and much larger than the club heads I’ve seen before. The club is inspired by the bird-filled island of Chappaquiddick, where Hackenberg taught golf on Martha’s Vinyard. The blue bird shaped club head is equally weighted making it perfect for both left and right-handed users.

The bird shaped club head is centre-shafted and has been designed so that the underbelly of the bird glides across the ground as you strike the ball. This ensures you can get the perfect placement on the ball to make fades, draws and more so much simpler. After having a little hit around with the club, I did notice that it took a little practice to get the hang of how to glide it with each hit. However, after a while, I found the design really did help to control my hits whilst forcing me to practise club placement.

Also included in the set with the club are a few ‘Yolks’ which are roughly the size of baseballs but are the same weight as a golf ball. The Yolks (fitting with the bird theme) are larger

than a regular golf ball and are made from compressed foam making them great for achieving easier and high-spin hits – perfect for practising a whole range of shot types.

PROS:

One of the main perks of the club and Yolks is that they are not designed for distance hitting, this means that you can practice your hits in a much smaller area with more control. The short-range also makes them ideal for playing games with your friends at a short distance.

If you are looking to practice your swing or want to introduce your family to your love of golf the Chappie Golf Set is the perfect place to start. The design and feel of the club are great for making short-distance hitting, putting and practising so much easier.

- Fun design which helps players practice shots

- Included Yolks are great for smaller games and practising spinning shots

- Comes in three different club heights perfect for all

CONS:

- Does take a little while to get used to the feel of the club – but should help with developing your golfing skills over time!

SPORT & FITNESS

SPLASH APPAREL COLOUR CHANGING SWIM SHORTS

https://www.splash-apparel.com/products/kids-colour-

changing-swim-shorts?variant=47150586331475

BEING ABLE TO SWIM IS SUCH A VITAL SKILL FOR KIDS TO HAVE TO HELP THEM (AND YOU AS A PARENT) FEEL MORE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL REMAIN SAFE WHEN IN WATER. THEREFORE, TO MAKE THE WHOLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE EXTRA FUN AND PROVIDE THAT MUCH-NEEDED CONFIDENCE, SPLASH APPAREL HAVE INTRODUCED THEIR COLOUR-CHANGING SWIM SHORTS TO ADD A COLOURFUL FLARE TO THE WHOLE SWIMMING EXPERIENCE.

The swim shorts are made of a soft yet durable material with a blue base colour and red waistband. The shorts are covered in a white lightning bolt pattern, however, when wet the lightning bolts are transformed into many different colours. Then, when the sun hits the shorts and they begin to dry, the white lightning bolts return ready to be transformed into a colourful pattern with water once again.

The colour-changing pattern of the swim shorts are sure to be a big hit with kids and are now available in a range of colourchanging patterns including a turtle and jungle pattern. The shorts would make a great gift for your kids, especially if they are big fans of swimming and going to pools both whilst at home and on holiday. I especially think these make a great choice for kids who are a little apprehensive about swimming as the lightning

bolt pattern is designed to give those who wear them a superhero feeling as they step into water and see the colourchanging powers of their shorts.

Overall, if you are looking for a unique gift for your child or grandchild, that will make swimming, beach days or water park visits just that little bit more fun, then these are a great choice for you.

PROS:

- Unique colour-changing design when in contact with water

- Range of pattern options to suit your child’s needs

- Soft yet durable material

HOUSEHOLD ECO-FLOW SOLAR TAP ADAPTER

ANYTHING THAT SAYS IT WILL MAKE KITCHEN CHORES A PLEASURE IS SOMETHING I HAVE TO PUT TO THE TEST! AS A BIG HATER OF THE POST-DINNER CLEAN-UP, HAVING A TAP WHICH CAN DO A LOT OF THE WORK FOR YOU IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A BIG WIN IN MY BOOK!

Eco-Flow is focused on reducing your water usage by creating a tap adapter solution to make every drop count. The brothers behind the company grew up surrounded by rivers and lakes in Stour and Avon so when they took over the family company, they were set on a mission to make the most of these precious resources and cut down on water usage in homes across the country – saving families money in the process too!

When the Solar Tap Adapter came across my desk, it already looked smart in its chrome finish with black accents. I can see from the website that there is also a chrome and white version available, so you are sure to find one that suits your kitchen décor. In setting up the adapter, I was impressed by how easy it was. Inside the box, there are clear step-by-step instructions to help you easily add the tap adapter to your mixer tap at home. Thankfully the adapters are designed to work with any UK tap and include all the pieces you need In the box to make assembly simple. You also don’t need plumbing experience to set it up, it requires no tools and in just a few minutes you are ready to use your new tap. I found it was easy to attach to our office kitchen tap and I began to play around with the functions.

The Solar Tap Adapter has two primary functions. The first turns your tap water into an aerated flow which is perfect for washing your hands, topping up your drink or filling up the sink. Then with just a quick toggle of the adapter head by moving £13.99 https://eco-flow.co.uk/product/solar-black-tap-adapter/

the collar you get a shower spray mode. This mode is perfect for rinsing leftover food from plates before handwashing or for gently rinsing produce ready for cooking. Having tested out the tap adapter in the office we were all impressed! You can easily flick between modes with one hand which is perfect for washing up post-lunch to rinse out your lunch box and then fill the sink for a proper clean. The aerated mode also makes filling up the kettle a breeze –something everyone in the office was thrilled by!

The 360° rotation is perfect for getting into the corners of tubs and ensuring a throughout clean. For a home kitchen, the shower setting would be great for rinsing salads and veggies thoroughly without damaging the delicate leaves. The two functions make the tap much more effective which in turn means you need to use a lot less water. According to Eco-Flow, the shower spray setting saves up to 18% of water, and the aerated flow setting saves up to 11.5% compared to a regular tap head. This means that

not only are you saving water, which is better for the environment, but you will also be saving money on your water bills – a win-win if you ask me!

You may not have even considered a tap adapter, as I hadn’t really thought it would make much change to my life previously either. However, having tested out Eco-Flow’s Solar Tap Adapter I’m definitely a convert. If you’re looking to make the dreaded job of washing up just that little bit easier, and you want to save water and save money in the long run you should definitely give one a try.

PROS:

- Dual settings for all your tap needs

- Chrome and black casing is stylish and clean-looking

- Easy to set up and does not require tools

- Saves you water and money in the long run

MELITTA AMIGO COFFEE GRINDER

NOTHING QUITE BEATS THAT FIRST CUP OF COFFEE BEFORE YOU START YOUR DAY, AND THERE’S NOTHING THAT TASTES BETTER THAN FRESHLY GROUND COFFEE FOR EVERY SINGLE CUP TOO. MELITTA NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION TO COFFEE LOVERS, THEY ARE HEAVY HITTERS IN THE COFFEE WORLD WHO KNOW WHAT A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE SHOULD TASTE LIKE, AND THE AMIGO COFFEE GRINDER IS NO EXCEPTION.

The amigo coffee grinder is a compact coffee unit standing only around 20cm in height, but it packs a powerful punch to grind your coffee to your exact preferences. The unit is sleek and small with an all-black base, clear lid, and silver accents. Inside the grinding chamber are two high-quality stainless-steel blades, ready to grind your coffee exactly to your preferences and needs.

To use the amigo coffee grinder, you simply pour your favourite coffee bean into the opening, place the lid on and push down the grinding button. The unit has a capacity of 60 grams – great for multiple cups from a single grinding session. I found the lid works perfectly to measure beans into, which makes it just a little bit easier to make your coffee every day. One of my favourite aspects of the grinder is that the blades will not turn without the lid on, so the unit has been made just that extra bit safer for the user.

I popped about 15 grams of my favourite coffee beans into the amigo coffee grinder to make a couple of cups for me and a friend in my French press. Melitta recommends about 10 seconds of grinding for use in a French press, and the resulting

grind size was perfect for my needs and taste. However, should you want a finer grind size you simply just grind for a little longer, and can monitor it through the clear lid until you reach your desired grind size. Once you’ve reached your desired grind size, and the coffee is busy brewing away, you simply clean the unit using the included brush and a damp cloth. Therefore, the use, effectiveness, and cleaning of the amigo coffee grinder couldn’t be easier! Overall, you really can’t fault the amigo coffee grinder for its ability to deliver quick and easy coffee grinding on demand. If you are looking for a great coffee grinder to add to your coffee set, or to buy as a gift for the coffee connoisseur in your life, then the Melitta amigo coffee grinder is a very easy choice.

PROS:

- 40,000 sonic pulses for a super clean feeling.

- 4 cleaning mode options to suit your needs.

- Great battery life

https://baerskinhoodie.com/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=direct

BAERSKIN 3.0 HOODIE

DESIGNED TO BRING HOME COMFORT ACROSS ANY ACTIVITY, THE BAERSKIN 3.0 HOODIE DELIVERS A SECOND SKIN FEELING AND NEXTLEVEL COMFORT WHETHER YOU’RE OUT HIKING OR CHILLING ON THE COUCH. MADE FROM A 100% DOUBLE-NAPPED AND BRUSHED FLEECE MATERIAL, IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT THE HOODIES BOAST BEING THE WORLD’S BEST OUTDOOR GEAR FOR ALL THAT LIFE THROWS AT YOU.

We were sent two hoodies by BAERSkin in a lovely dark blue and a nice green colour. Straight out of the box, you can feel how luxurious the fleece material is. Made from 330gsm BAERSkin Fleece™, the hoodies are made to keep you warm and remain resistant to wear and tear. The double-napped fleeces felt lightweight, but after putting one on you instantly understood the warmth they offer.

The fleeces are designed to keep wind out using its Windsulation™ design which uses rubber cuffs, a full-length zip storm flap, an elastic waist tie and an adjustable hood to make sure you can customise the fit to your body. I was surprised by how comfortable it felt as often fleece hoodies can be a little too heavy duty for daily wear. However, the BEARSkin hoodie is not only designed for outdoor hiking activities but it is made to be comfortable and lightweight enough to be great as a layer to wear around the house.

I loved the range of pockets the hoodie has to offer. Across the entire hoodie, there are 12 pockets – an unheard-of amount! On the outside, there are 6 high-quality zipped pockets, and then there are an additional 6 interior pockets – 3 of these are zipped and the others are drop pockets. The range of pockets allows you to take everything you need with you on the go. When on a hike you have space to securely keep your phone and wallet in an interior zipped pocket, and then use the exterior ones to hold snack bars, gloves, a hat and even a lightweight fold-up waterproof jacket. The pocket space is great, and essentially

removes the need for a super heavyduty rucksack so you can enjoy your time in a less restricted way.

The hoodies are reasonably waterproof, however in extremely rainy conditions they may need to be paired with a more waterproof top layer. This is only a slight complaint about the hoodies, as the level of comfort and functionality that the hoodie offers seem to make this worth it – and, thanks to the pockets, taking a waterproof jacket with you is a very easy task!

Overall, with every aspect of its design catered to make your experience when wearing it comfortable and functional, we can see why the BAERSkin Hoodies are so popular. If you have someone in your life that loves hiking, hunting, camping, fishing, or travelling then this lightweight, super comfortable and versatile hoodie is a perfect choice for them.

BAERSkin is also currently running an extended Black Friday sale with up to 60% off its hoodies perfect just in time for Christmas!

PROS:

- High quality and warm double-napped and brushed fleece material

- 12 pockets for all your needs and essentials

- Lightweight and super comfortable adjustable design to suit your needs

CONS:

- Not 100% waterproof but will keep you warm

OUTDOOR

PEAK DESIGN EVERYDAY SLING 3L BAG

WHEN OUT AND ABOUT GETTING GREAT CAMERA SHOTS YOU NEED A STURDY, RELIABLE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WATERPROOF BAG TO KEEP YOUR CAMERA AND ALL YOUR LENSES PROTECTED. PEAK DESIGN HAS CREATED THE EVERYDAY SLING FOR JUST THIS PURPOSE WITH A RANGE OF POCKETS AND ATTACHMENT OPTIONS TO ENSURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE CAPTURING CONTENT CONVENIENT.

The Everyday Sling is a fairly robust feeling bag which has been designed to be weatherproof. The bag is one of the lightest by Peak Design, but it has so many options for the everyday storage of your camera, lenses, and SD cards whilst on the go. On the front is a quick stash pocket perfect for throwing lastminute batteries or attachments into. I did find the zip was a little stiff to use, but this is due to the UltaZip design which helps to ensure no rain can get into the bag where it could cause havoc with your equipment.

Inside the main part of the bag is a FlexFold divider which can be moved or removed thanks to its Velcro attachment. This is useful in helping to organise the bag in a way that best suits your needs whether for camera equipment or everyday essentials. Additionally, there are a range of internal organisation pockets which are perfect for keeping small items together. On the outside of the bag, there is a range of attachment points perfect for keeping rigid gear with you - even when it does not fit in your bag. These allow you to attach a small tripod to the base of the bag and secure it in place whilst you’re on the move.

As the name suggests, the Everyday Sling is designed to fit across your body and can be worn tightly to keep all your

valuable camera equipment close to your person, or more loosely when used as a regular everyday essentials bag. The bag has quick adjustable straps, so you can adjust it to suit your needs whilst on the go with just a quick pull on the adjusters.

I used the Everyday Sling bag as my regular bag for a week or so and was impressed with its quality. I could easily fit my smaller camera and a few lenses in the bag, and still had plenty of space for essentials even though it is the smallest bag in the range. There is also a 6L and 10L version which can fit a DSLR camera, larger lenses and even have space for a tablet or laptop. For me, however, the 3L bag was perfect for my needs.

If you are on the hunt for a new camera bag, you can’t go wrong with Peak Design’s Everyday Sling Bag. However, even if you don’t need a bag specifically just for a camera, the topquality organisation and weatherproof nature of the Everyday Sling make it perfect for many people to take with them on a daily basis. It has plenty

of room for a whole range of items and anyone would be pleased to have a bag with this much space and organisation built in.

PROS:

- Multiple pockets and attachment points for all of your needs

- High-quality and waterproof shell design

- Fully adjustable strap for versatile use (can even be used as a waist bag)

CONS:

- Some zips are a little stiff due to the waterproof design – but I’m sure these will get more malleable over time

STM GOODS BAGPACK

I’M THE WORST FOR OVERPACKING AND LEAVING VERY LITTLE SPACE FOR SOME ESSENTIALS SUCH AS A BAG TO TAKE WITH ME ON THE GO EVERY DAY ONCE I GET TO MY DESTINATION. THEREFORE, I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT STM GOODS’ BAGPACK WHICH PROVIDES THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A TRADITIONAL RUCKSACK WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL BULK AND ADDED WEIGHT IN YOUR LUGGAGE.

When the STM Goods BagPack arrived across my desk I was very intrigued, as it’s not like anything I’ve seen before. The bag, which is in a light brown coffee colour, came compact in its collapsed form. By unzipping the side, a full-size rucksack is revealed. The rucksack, as you might expect, is not as sturdy as a traditional rucksack, however, this is thanks to the foldable quality of the bag which is designed when not in use to be stored in the rucksack’s own front pocket. The rucksack is surprisingly tough, despite its foldability, thanks to the nylon material which not only is designed to be durable but waterproof.

The design of the backpack is great, especially for those who love travelling, by providing a lightweight and compact rucksack which can be easily slipped into your luggage or carryon, and then unfolded and used to store your essentials and even your laptop whilst out and about. For your laptop, the rucksack comes with an inflatable laptop pocket. The pocket can be inflated to provide a protective sleeve for a laptop of up to 16 inches and deflated when not carrying a laptop for convenient and customizable protection.

I took the rucksack with me on a recent trip to the Peak District and found the lightweight design great for carrying some water and a small picnic for me and some friends to eat once we’d reached the halfway point of our hike. As you can expect being in the UK, the weather couldn’t possibly remain dry the entire way but thankfully the water-resistant material ensured that our sandwiches and snacks remained dry. Overall, I was very happy with the rucksack which delivered everything I needed for my trip and was lightweight on my shoulders the whole way.

I think the BagPack would be a great option if you are going travelling and will need a rucksack for some days as it is lightweight and easy to use but can easily be folded away into a compact pouch when not in use to save on luggage space. My only complaint is that currently there are not a ton of colour options, with only black or coffee colourways currently available. This is great for a minimalist look, but I’d love to see some more brightly coloured or patterned options to suit a whole range of styles.

If you are on the hunt for a new lightweight, easy-to-pack, and functional rucksack which can still protect a laptop, then the STM GOODs’ BagPack is a great choice for you.

PROS:

- Compact and lightweight rucksack

- Completely collapsable into the front pocket for easy storage

- Has an inflatable laptop section for added protection

CONS:

- Not a wide variety of colour options – I’d like to see some more fun and funky colours and patterns to suit everyone’s style

TOYS & GAMES

BUILD YOUR OWN UNICORN CARDBOARD KIT

LET YOUR LITTLE ONES EXPLORE THE WORLD OF THEIR IMAGINATIONS WITH THE BUILD YOUR OWN UNICORN KIT. WITH A RAINBOW MANE AND STARDUST MARKINGS, ANY JUNIOR BUILDER WOULD BE THRILLED TO PUT THIS KIT TOGETHER AND START DREAMING UP A MAGICAL WORLD WITH THE UNICORN AS THEIR COMPANION.

The box comes with 28 pieces which simply have to be popped out and slotted together. One of the main reasons the Build Your Own Kits are such big hits with parents is that they do not need glue, and so are a fun and creative project for their children without the fuss and mess of typical crafting projects. Also included in the kit is a trinket box, where the additional cardboard grooming accessories, colourful gems and the miniature toadstool friend included in the set can be kept. All of these accessories mean that your child can take their constructed figure beyond the craft project and into free-form play. The construction design of the Unicorn even means that its head moves adding to the immersive play experience. Kids can even search for the secret hidden heart to make a wish!

As already mentioned, the sets are a big hit with parents for the mess-free construction, however, the Unicorn set is also 100% sustainable, includes zero-plastic and is fully recyclable. Also, the box has a unicorn picture on the inside perfect for colouring, adding yet another activity to the kits and reducing packaging waste in the process.

Ultimately, the Build Your Own Kits are a perfect and cost-

effective play solutions for parents. Within each set, there are hours of freeform play potential which will keep your children entertained for hours. If you are looking for a new STEM-based activity to do with your little ones, then the Build Your Own Kits are a perfect choice.

PROS:

- STEM-Based activity

- Hours of free-form play once construction is completed

- Mess and glue-free construction

- Affordable price point

- 100% sustainably made and recyclable

TOYS & GAMES BUILD YOUR OWN PUPPY CARDBOARD KIT

NOTHING IS CUTER THAN A LITTLE PUPPY, AND NOW JUNIOR BUILDERS CAN CREATE THEIR OWN PUPPY COMPANION WITH BUILD YOUR OWN DESIGN KITS. DESIGNED FOR MESS-FREE CONSTRUCTION AND HOURS OF PLAYTIME, THE CARDBOARD KITS ARE A PERFECT CHOICE FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES.

The adorable Build Your Own Cardboard Kit has 28 popout cardboard pieces that perfectly slot together to make a little puppy friend. Once constructed the head of the puppy can move up and down for immersive play.

In addition to the puppy, the set includes a range of popout accessories including grooming accessories, dog toys, dog treats, a miniature duck friend and little puppy poops! All of these can be kept in the little trinket box that you can also build from the set. As a great little bonus, the puppy comes with a secret hidden heart which kids can search for and make a wish!

A big perk of Build Your Own Kit is that it is 100% sustainably made, is recyclable and is a mess-free project for your children. Each kit does not require glue so parents can feel confident giving their child this Puppy Cardboard kit without the dreaded mess of glue everywhere. I loved that even the box includes a colouring page of the puppy kids can make artwork out of the box so there is less waste.

If you are looking for an affordable STEM-based activity for your children, then the Build Your Own Cardboard kits are a perfect choice. As a mess-free activity that provides hours of free-form play, the kits are a big hit with parents and kids alike. £9.99

PROS:

- Hours of imaginative play

- STEM-based construction activity

- Mess-free construction

www.gingerfox.co.uk/products/ant-decs-limitless-win-board-game

TOYS & GAMES ANT & DEC’S LIMITLESS WIN BOARD GAME

THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN BIG IN THE POPULAR ANT & DEC’S LIMITLESS WIN GAMESHOW? THEN YOU’LL LOVE THE NEW BOARD GAME VERSION FROM GINGER FOX WHICH BRINGS ALL THE TRIVIA YOU LOVE ABOUT THE ORIGINAL SHOW BUT NOW IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME.

The whole premise of Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win is to move up the money ladder and bank money by answering a range of number-related trivia questions correctly. These are on a whole range of topics, but each player must give their numerical answer in the hopes of getting each question correct and continuing to move up the ladder. However, what keeps it interesting is that if your answer is below, you lose lives, and if it is over the correct answer, you immediately lose the game. Therefore, you must make every single question count. Whichever team banks the highest amount of cash before cashing out or giving an incorrect answer and losing it all is the winner.

The first stage of the game decides how many lives each team has throughout the later stages of the game. To get started each player of the team is asked questions and cannot confer. With each correct answer, the team gains a life for later in the game, and the next question is given to the next player in the team. However, should the player get a question wrong a new question is given and this repeats until a correct answer is given. Each team are therefore given 60 seconds to answer as many questions correctly as possible before the next team takes their turn.

In the second stage of the game, a question is asked to both teams. Each team may now discuss and decide on their answer by sliding their answer dial to the number they believe to be correct. Once both teams have chosen their answers the correct answer is given. If the correct answer was guessed the team banks that £24.99

amount of money, if below the team loses the difference between their answer and the correct answer from their number of lives, and if the team guesses a number higher than the correct answer, they immediately lose the game allowing the other team to continue playing and win the game.

As players move up the ladder the questions change in difficulty with a new deck of cards for each section of the board. Should a question be too difficult, the team have the option to cash out and save all banked cash by tapping the golden cash out button. Another way to help with a particularly tricky question is using lifeline cards which you can collect as you move up the ladder. These cards can be used to give the team a helpful nudge towards the right answer, with hints including things such as giving a range that the correct answer is within or identifying if the correct answer is odd or even. Therefore, these cards are great for helping you make a more informed decision when you are stuck between two answers as a team.

I brought this game out at a recent games night with some friends who were familiar with the TV show, and they were very excited. The need to get each question as close to the correct answer

PROS:

- Get to play the popular TV show game in the comfort of your own home

- Great variety of questions suitable for all the family/ wide range of ages

- Over 600 questions so every game is different

CONS:

- Has quite a lot of rules surrounding each stage which can get a little confusing with a large group as possible without going over even by 1 number adds a lot of tension and ends in each team having intense debates over which number to choose and where to strategically use the lifeline cards so they don’t suddenly lose everything! I think this game would make a great addition to any family gatherings or game nights with friends, especially if they’re fans of the TV show version, as it’s a competitive and tense game but has such a great spread of trivia questions that it is great for the whole family.

If you are on the hunt for a new game that can liven up a gathering, and have everyone carefully counting up the number of albums by an early 2000s artist, or arguing about just how many gold medals one country took home at the 2004 Olympics, then this is the game for you!

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TOYS & GAMES PHOTO CREATOR MY FIRST INSTANT CAMERA

THE PHOTO CREATOR MY FIRST INSTANT CAMERA ALLOWS YOU TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF YOUR CHILD, AS THEY CAPTURE, ADD EFFECTS, PRINT, AND CUSTOMIZE THEIR SHOTS JUST AS THEY IMAGINED THEM. WITH OVER 90 STICKERS AND AN EASY INTERFACE, THE INSTANT CAMERA IS A GREAT WAY OF LETTING YOUR KIDS EXPERIMENT WITH PHOTOGRAPHY IN A FUN AND ACCESSIBLE WAY. The entire set is designed to make taking pictures and making them your own super easy. The box contains the blue instant camera, 4 paper printing rolls, a 90+ sticker sheet, 4 markers, a USB charging cable, and a wrist strap. To set up the camera, a young child would likely need the help of an adult to charge and input both an SD card and the printing paper roll. However, once set up the interface is super easy to flick through, allowing you to choose from frames, effects, video, and image quality. Then your child can print out their favourite images and use the markers and stickers to customize them.

The camera does not use ink to save on the need to replace cartridges, but this does mean that all images are in black and white through inkless printing. I personally loved the look of the black and white images, and I think they provide a great blank canvas for kids to explore their creativity with the stickers and markers. The 4 paper printing rolls allow for 250 photos to be printed, which is plenty for young creative minds. Also, the images

can be transferred from the camera to a computer using the provided USB cord meaning your kids’ view of the world can be safely stored for them. I think this would be great for taking on trips with your kids so they can keep their own record of the day.

Overall, I really liked the design of the camera which has intuitive buttons and comes with a wrist strap to avoid drops. If you are looking for a new and fun toy for your kids, especially for those who are starting to show an interest in taking pictures, the Photo Creator My First Camera is a great choice!

PROS:

- Quick and easy printing on demand

- Allows young minds to explore their creativity

- Frames, 90+ stickers, and markers for customization

CONS:

- Does not come with an SD card to extend the camera memory

- Once the paper rolls run out, more will need to be purchased from Photo Creator – however, this is the same for most instant print cameras

TOYS & GAMES HEYDOODLE TALES NATURAL WONDERS ERASABLE SILICONE STORY BOOK

£24.99 heydoodle.uk/products/copy-of-tales-natural-wonders

LET YOUR KIDS EXPLORE THE NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD, WITH HEYDOODLE’S RANGE OF WIPEABLE, REUSABLE, AND EDUCATION-FOCUSED COLOURING SHEETS. THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF AN INTERACTIVE STORYBOOK, HEYDOODLE’S COLOURING PAGES ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER CREATIVITY AND CONCENTRATION IN KIDS, WHILST PROVIDING GREAT EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

HeyDoodle Tales includes 8 reusable colouring pages which focus on an education theme including counting, days of the week, farm animals or numbers. This focus on education harnesses the creativity of children and encourages learning surrounding a range of topics. The Natural Wonders set focuses on helping children learn about the 7 natural wonders of the world through the story separated into days of the week.

The HeyDoodle Tales sets are made from a completely foldable silicone sheet, which can be unfolded to show each of the days all in one go or can be flicked through for individual page learning. The pages are made from 100% premium-grade silicone which is FDA-approved and taste safe for kids. Also included in the box are 12 non-toxic markers, which are perfect for children to colour in each scene and trace the days of the week to practice their motor skills and concentration. The markers easily draw onto the silicone pages, and once dried they are completely smudgeproof so are great for left-handed children or those who are a little more free-hand with their colouring. The mats can then be easily folded back up and placed into the keepsake box, perfect for

taking with you on the go for a portable creative activity.

However, one of the main perks of the HeyDoodle silicone mats is they are completely wipeable and so completely reusable. All the pages need is a quick wipe over with a damp cloth or wet wipe and your child is ready to reimagine the scene again. The reusability adds a great sustainable aspect to the set which makes buying them as a gift a great eco-friendly option. The eco-friendly aspects of the Tales set greatly reduce the use of paper, whilst providing an activity for all of the family. Therefore, parents or loved ones can feel confident buying the Tales set from HeyDoodle knowing they are giving an educational, fun, and creative activity all whilst protecting the planet from unnecessary waste. In addition to the Natural Wonders set, HeyDoodle also has ‘Habitats Above and Below’, and ‘Old MacDonalds Had a Farm’ silicone colouring books which provide even more colouring and educational opportunities for kids. Overall, the sets are a great choice for a unique and reusable creative activity which can be shared across a range of age groups.

PROS:

- Wipeable silicone mat for repeated use

- Child-safe silicone and non-toxic markers for parents peace of mind

- Educational and developmental skillsfocused

CONS:

- After a few uses your child may get bored of the story – however, thanks to the reusable aspect the set can be passed down to siblings or friends for continued use of Tales silicone colouring books as a sustainable creative activity

TOYS & HEYDOODLEGAMES DINOROAR SILICONE ACTIVITY MINI MAT

HEYDOODLE HAVE ADAPTED THEIR WIDELY POPULAR REUSABLE SILICONE COLOURING MATS INTO A4 MINI MATS PERFECT FOR TAKING WITH YOU ON THE GO TO KEEP LITTLE ONES ENTERTAINED. THE MINI MATS FEATURE EVERYTHING LOVED ABOUT THE LARGER VERSION, WITH A FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL AND MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT, WHILST REMAINING A FUN AND SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITY FOR KIDS.

We got sent the DinoRoar activity mat to review, which includes an A4 silicone sheet featuring a range of dinosaurs and numbers 1-5 for kids to trace. The sheet matches up the numbers with the number of each dinosaur on the sheet to help kids practice counting and writing numbers whilst identifying different dinosaurs. This triple-layered educational activity makes the sheet a great choice for parents as it pairs this learning task with the fun creativity of colouring. By pairing these skills together, kids are getting a great creative outlet which parents can feel happy about knowing it is contributing towards their over development.

One of the key perks of the HeyDoodle ranges is that each mat, including the Mini Mats, are made entirely from silicone so provides a reusable colouring and learning activity that reduces excessive waste. Each mat is made from 100% premium-grade silicone which is both FDA-approved and taste-safe. The set also comes with three markers which are non-toxic and safe for children’s hands and mouths, so parents do not worry about their kids using the sets. The smudge-free dry down of the markers ensures that your children’s creations can be taken with you on the go. All you have to do is simply roll up the mat, pop it back in the carrying tube along with the markers, and then they can £14.99 https://heydoodle.uk/products/dinoroar-mm

be thrown in a bag for creativity on the go. These make a great option for travelling to give your child a quick and easy creative task wherever you are.

Overall, the HeyDoodle Silicone Mini Mats are a great choice for kids who love to colour and for parents who want a sustainable and educational option which is designed to develop skills creatively.

PROS:

- The reusable silicone mats provide less waste

- Great for education to help kids identify dinosaurs, count, and draw numbers

- Travel-friendly option for creativity and learning on the go

CONS:

- Only comes with three markers so not loads of colourful options –but a larger selection of the markers can be purchased from HeyDoodle

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GIVI’S most popular top case, totally redesigned. Stylish as never before, versatile and as strong as ever.

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• Capacity: 56 lt