I’ve had my M1 MacBook Air for around 10 months and wanted to report back on how it’s going.
I’m pleased to report that I’m still loving this base 8GB model that I have. It’s still as fast as the day I got it, has mega battery and has been reliable (knock on wood).
Since getting the iPad Mini it’s taken a bit of a backseat now I’m in employment again but it comes back out when I need to do something creative or have zoom calls.
For the £800 you can pick these up at it’s one of the best buys in computing. It’ll do everything you throw at it (as long as you’re not expecting a gaming machine) and it’s small enough to go anywhere with you.
It’s definitely up there with some of my favourite Mac’s of all time.
If I remember (a big ask these days) I like to share the gear that I’ve been enjoying using over the last year. This isn’t necessarily stuff that came out this year but the items that have brought me enjoyment or served a good purpose for the task it was purchased for or I feel is great value for money.
(Please note that there may be affiliate links to help support the site).
MacBook Air (M1): This laptop has been my most used bit of tech since I picked one up six months ago. I bought the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage and it’s been such a good machine for me. I’ve used it for writing, my job searching, music production with my guitar, some video editing and it’s replaced my iPad as my daily machine. The M1 is revolutionary in my eyes and at the £800 that mine was it’s a bargain for a machine that will last a long time with system updates and (hopefully) carry on for years like my previous 12″ MacBook did.
XBOX Series X: I’ve got a PS4 Pro so I was deciding to get a PS5 or an XBOX for a change and I’m so glad I went for the XBOX. There were several reasons but the main one was GAMEPASS. I knew going in that I could pay £10 a month a get all of the games and more that I wanted, in fact I haven’t bought a single game since picking up the console in June. I was also more excited about the games on XBOX (Spider-man Miles Morales being the exception but I could play this on my PS4 Pro) with being able to revisit one of my favourite game franchises in Halo, the ability to play Microsoft Flight Simulator without investing in a high end PC and playing Forza Horizon. I’ve discovered so many great games via game pass including a load of Indie titles. It’s also whisper quiet and whilst big does look pretty cool in my opinion, I have no regrets about buying a series x.
iPhone 13 Mini: This is a more recent purchase but I’m already sold on it being one of my favourite bits of gear I’ve picked up this year. I love the form factor, the battery is actually great, the cameras amazing and it fits in my pocket so much better than my previous iPhone 11. I initially made the switch due to RSI and strain issues with the larger phone but I’ve discovered a lot about the Mini, including that it helps me use my phone less. This isn’t a knock on it at all, it’s just if I want to do something more involved I’ll grab the MacBook Air – I just tend to use the phone less for mindlessly scrolling social media or reading the news (something that I shouldn’t be doing so much of anyway these days).
SONY MDR-EX15AP: Gotta love the way Sony names their headphones…. but that aside these are the best value product I have picked up for a while. I got them for my work calls and at £7.99 I wasn’t expecting much but surprisingly I am using them for listening to music too. They are comfortable, seal well, have a good quality MIC (good enough for all of your team calls) have good bass and an inline control to pause. The only thing that I’m wondering is durability as the cable is pretty thin.
COMPLY memory foam earphone tips for AirPods Pro: These have transformed how much I can wear my AirPods. I never really liked the silicone tips that came with them so as an experiment I picked these up. They are so amazing if you want a snug comfortable fitting in ear headphone, I forget I’m wearing them.
JETech Screen Protector for iPhone 13 Mini: I discovered JETTech a couple of years ago and after using one on my Nintendo Switch I tried it on the iPhone 11 and then the iPhone 13 Mini. They are cheap and seem to hold up well, I have a few small scratches on it but I think for £6.99 you can’t go wrong with them.
What’s some of your favourite gear you’ve used lately?
I’ve been checking out Portal for the last couple of weeks, integrating it into my day and I have to say that it’s been helping me with with distractions and focussing in work.
The app is an interesting combination of features that are focussed on your wellbeing and letting you escape to different surroundings using an immersive soundscape.
What I’ve found is using the Focus mode, picking a portal (like Japan above) and listening to the environment lets me cut out background sounds and get to my task rather than being distracted by music. As much as I do love music, sometimes it’s just nice to sit in a calming environment when the pressure is on. It is also a good way to unwind after a rough or busy day, just close your eyes and relax. In total there are 44 portals in total so you should be able to find something that fits with your current mood.
The app is a breeze to use once you get used to each of the controls on screen and you can see that the UI is well laid out and a lot of thought has gone into the design. This also applies to the screen once you enter one of the portals, like in my screenshot above. You can choose to display the background with a time but I just like to have the beautiful wallpaper on my iPhone whilst I chill out. If I’m focussing I just ignore it and treat it like I’m listening to some background music.
Where this app really shines though is in its spatial audio support.
There are quite a few portals that have been created with spatial audio in mind and if you are using headphones capable of hearing it, it’s really an amazing experience. I found that after getting used to spatial audio soundscapes I didn’t want to go back to a static stereo one, they are that good.
The other area of that app that I have been using is the breathing exercises that are simple (non-guided) that for me as someone that hasn’t been able to stick to a daily practise are great when I just want to take a few minutes to calm down.
One area that I haven’t been able to test out however is the integration with smart lighting systems such as Hue, HomeKit and Nanoleaf. This looks a really good addition to the app and I imagine would go a long way to making you feel like you are there. If you have smart lighting then download and give it a go, I imagine it would be a great way to unwind (and let me know how you get on).
Portal is a wellbeing app with a difference in the way that it combines several methods of relaxing in one place, it’s created by a team that obviously cares about good app design, the environment around us and the wellbeing of its users.
The app is free with in app purchases ($9.99 a month or $49.99 a year).
I’m getting to the opinion that the iPhone 13 Mini is best with no case, it’s so comfy and small… But as with anything new I picked up a case at the same time as the phone to give it a try, it was the official Apple Silicone one in Blue Jay.
In the past I’ve had a love hate relationship with these cases, I like how they stop the phone slipping off things but hated the way that they feel after they have worn in a little but I went in anyway and thought I’d give it another try.
Personally I’m quite attached to the red iPhone along with this blue, gives off a kind of Spiderman vibe to my eyes and I immediately liked this combination.
As you can see above the case covers all sides of the phone, adds a lip to the front and the back camera portion. There’s very little of the phone left showing to damage when using this case. The buttons are silicone and are easy to use, the case is also tight fitting – not something you see on cheap cases.
It’s got a nice grip, which sometimes grips a little too much to your pockets and picks up every little bit of lint around. I’d love something that doesn’t pick up lint like this but in all the years Apple have sold these they haven’t managed it yet so I’m thinking there isn’t a nice middle ground of grip and not being a lint magnet.
The good
Official Apple quality and warranty
Covers all of the phone nicely, you might just want to add a screen protector and you’ll be good
Easy to press buttons and good access to the charging port
The blue jay is a nice blue this time around, I’ve either found the blue too dark or light in the past
The cutout around the camera has a nice hard plastic lip that will protect the lenses when on it’s back
The bad
At £49 it’s on the expensive side but as I stated in ‘The good’ it is Apple so at least has a good warranty and return window
It’s a lint magnet, as with all Apple silicone cases. I don’t think you can make a case that has this grip that doesn’t grab all of the lint from your pocket every time you get it out
The 13 Mini is begging to be used case-less like we did with the iPhone 5, right??? (get Apple Care+)
So, I’d recommend spending a little more on this case or looking around for a deal rather than get a cheap one. In my testing it really does compliment the iPhone 13 well, I wish (as always) there were some cool yellow or orange colours but the blue with the red phone is a really looker (in my opinion of course…).
What case are you using on your iPhone 12 or 13 Mini or are you case-less?
It’s about time I shared a longer term review of the iPhone 11 and what it’s like to use one in 2021. As a reminder this came out in 2019 and only just over 2 years old. There are some great deals to be had too so if you’re thinking about going for the iPhone 11 I might have some useful information for you.
First off when it comes to software updates you’re going to be sorted for a while if Apple continue to support older devices on their latest iOS release. This shouldn’t even be a consideration, it’ll be supported just fine. On iOS 15 I’m not really seeing any difference in day to day use than I did when I was testing an iPhone 13 Pro. The only place I’ve seen it slow down is when I’ve used apps like Lumafusion to do some video stuff.
It’s not OLED, no but it’s a great looking LCD that is flicker free and at 6.1” it’s a nice size. If you’re ok with a slightly larger device or don’t have an iPad then it’ll be a great device. Don’t be a display snob just go and try one and I think you’ll be surprised at how good this screen is.
The camera continues to keep up with the best out there. Aside from the current flagships from Apple and Google it’ll keep up with anything. In bright conditions there isn’t a lot of difference from the iPhone 13 and indoors it’s no slouch either. The only thing I regret is having no optical zoom as you do in the Pro models but I’ve learned to live without it.
Lastly if you’re looking at getting something with a good battery then the iPhone 11 won’t disappoint. I can get through two days on a single charge pretty regularly. The XR it replaced was also a battery monster and if you get an iPhone 11 you will be fine getting through a day even with taking a load of pictures. When I did day trips out (remember those) I was never reaching for a charging cable and didn’t even think about it.
In my opinion the iPhone 11 is the Best Buy out there if you’re looking for a modern smartphone that’s a great all rounder and it even comes in more than three colours.
I’ve been using my M1 MacBook Air since June and wanted to share some thoughts on how it is with some more miles on the clock. The model I’m using is the base 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage, mines in silver.
I use my MacBook Air pretty much every day. It’ll be used as a music player whilst I’m in the office working, for writing on my blog or freelance, emails and all the other productivity apps and finally making the odd video and recording guitar.
As with my impressions early on I’m still impressed with the general overall speed of the M1 chip. It fires up apps almost instantly, even on heavier apps like Logic Pro it’s been great. The only place I’ve seen it beachball is when I’ve done some video, it was on import that I saw this when selecting the clip from a large photo library.
The screen and keyboard is first class and the battery was amazing. I say was because I’m monitoring it at the moment. I’ve noticed that since the latest macOS update it’s been significantly less, maybe 30% less than normal. I’m still within warranty and have Apple Care so I’m not worried but want to make sure I haven’t got a rogue process running or anything.
In terms of wear and tear in daily use, I’ve got a couple of scratches here and there but nothing of note.
Overall I love this machine and would still recommend the base spec to anyone looking for a great laptop with plenty of performance (but don’t get if you’re looking to play graphically intensive games).
As I write this my iPhone 13 Pro is winging it’s way back to Apple, I needed to think long and hard hard about whether this new iPhone was worth the £1000 upgrade cost and for me at least it wasn’t.
I’m now back on my trusty iPhone 11 and quite happy to be back with it. I’ve come to realise over the last year where I didn’t upgrade to the iPhone 12 that I don’t necessarily need to be on the latest and greatest to have a device that works well for me.
I’m writing this review a little differently as I already shared my thoughts via my post here. Instead I’m asking myself a series of questions based on the major updates on the iPhone 13 Pro model.
What about that high refresh rate screen?
I did initially notice that animations were slower on my iPhone 11 but after a day I’m not really missing it. It’s definitely a nice to have, not a must have. I also don’t read text as I’m scrolling through content, I stop intermittently and read.
I’ve also noticed that coming back to the iPhone 11 feels easier on my eyes. I’m not sure if I’m just not comfortable with an OLED display that has flicker (PWM) or it’s the brighter LCD on the 11 but either way I’m totally happy on this “older” screen technology. I just feel like I have less eye strain with this LCD, it’s hard to describe but when I first discovered the iPhone 11 coming from the iPhone 11 Pro I had a similar feeling.
The OLED on the iPhone 13 Pro was also darker than what I was used to. Indoors it seemed to make it too dim and I was always knocking up the brightness manually. This didn’t happen on my iPhone 11 Pro so I don’t know if it’s a new implementation of True Tone but all I know is that the display to my eyes indoors isn’t as good as my iPhone 11 (for me).
Will I miss the new camera system on the iPhone 13 Pro?
A little but in my testing over the last couple of days, both indoors and outdoors I’m not seeing a £1000 worth of difference. I was surprised when I really pixel peeped that even indoors I’m not always seeing a difference between these two devices. The 13 Pro definitely has some richer colour outdoors but I found with a little editing I got 80% of the way there with the 11.
The macro is great to have but I can live without it. It only really does a good job outdoors in great lighting. Indoors it suffers in low light and I found that it’s actually pretty difficult to stop the phone itself becoming a light blocker. It’s not a gimmick at all but I just don’t think that now I’m past a week with messing around that I need it in general going forward.
I’ll miss the 3X zoom the most but I take my DSLR on day trips so I’ll be ok. I’ve been without it for a while now so I’ll just continue. What I’m trying to say is that with the 11 I trained myself to go a little closer to my subject or use digital zoom a little.
What about that improved battery life?
It’s good on the 13 Pro but not massively different to what I see on my 11. In fact in my testing over the last few days I was maybe 10% more left on the 11 than the 13 Pro. Even turning off 5G on the 13 Pro, my 11 was beating it in my testing.
Didn’t you prefer the design of the 13 Pro?
I did initially but going back to the iPhone 11 for a couple of days and I think I actually prefer the rounder sides and grippier back glass on the iPhone 11. Using the iPhone 13 Pro, it’s got flat sides and it’s a little heavier. I experienced some RSI pain in my hands using it over this last week as I found that the harder edges and stainless steel dug into the middle of the hand. Now I’m back on the iPhone 11 it’s settled down. Visually I prefer the look of the 13 Pro but in use I prefer the 11.
I have to admit I also love the Product(RED) colour on my iPhone 11, the 13 Pro ones need to be a little brighter – let’s get some orange and red in the line up. Certainly not a reason to return, just pointing out that I want some colour in my technology. The colours on the iPhone 13 look great mind you, not sure why it can only be fun on the non Pro models.
Overall thoughts on the 13 Pro
The 13 Pro is a great phone if you’re coming from a 4 year or older phone or want the best camera on an iPhone. I really feel that in at least my day to day the £1000 upgrade wasn’t worth it for me, especially when the downsides for my RSI are also taken into account. If you don’t have a 13 Pro, really don’t feel like you’re missing out and it’s great you’re keeping an older device going.
I do have to admit that I’m looking over at the 13 Mini with some envy though…
I’ve been using the new iPad Mini since launch day and I have enough of a feel to share my thoughts on the new device. For me the iPad Mini is my main and only iPad. I don’t have the luxury of owning multiple iPads and I pick the one that fits me best. For years this has been the Mini; it can go everywhere with me, is great for reading, acts as a digital notebook and is good for editing photos.
Electric Orange and Space Grey is a great combo
The Mini has always been my most used and reliable iPad, we still use a 2nd generation at home almost daily.
I picked up the 256GB Wi-Fi model in Space Grey along with the Electric Orange smart folio. The iPad was £619 and the folio was £59. Pretty pricey for a small device but worth it for me, especially at a time that I could do with some tech distractions to take my mind off other things.
Unboxing and initial impressions
Out of the box I loved the form factor immediately. Smaller and lighter than my previous Mini but with a larger 8.3” screen (2266×1488, 326 PPI). I also loved how the smart folio looked and made it even more like a digital notebook.
Setup was easy and setting up TouchID reminded me how much quicker FaceID is to set up. The fingerprint setup took a little longer than expected but worked fine in use. Took a little adjustment as I previously used FaceID on the iPad Pro but all in all I like using TouchID built into the top button.
Good ole TouchID
The screen
Seeing a slightly larger screen with smaller bezels was something I looked forward to. It’s pretty much a perfect size for reading and note taking. It’s not OLED but is a high quality LCD and whilst a little dimmer than the previous iPad I’d used was good quality.
Bezels are a little bigger than I expected but still great
My issues with the display weren’t around the display itself but the user interface. On the Home Screen there is a lot of white space to the left and right of the icons in portrait and the icons on the dock are tiny. Neither were massive issues for me but you might want to test it out especially if you need to bump up your system font. I do on my iPhone but on the iPad I’m still at the default normally but on the Mini I bumped it up a step.
Whats with the extra space?
Now, this is where for me at least it’s flawed. Don’t read this bit if you haven’t heard about “jelly scrolling”.
Here’s a good post with the latest update, for me it’s a deal breaker unfortunately. I’m pretty sensitive to screen technology and the way that the new iPad Mini renders bothers me. I can see it in pretty much everything I do, from looking at my photos to reading the web. For 80% of what I do on this iPad I’ll be subject to it. This means for me that I’ll be returning it within my return window but it doesn’t mean it’s flawed for everyone. If you’re not sensitive to it or even notice it then move on and enjoy it, don’t go looking for it. For others it’ll be a return, if you see it like me then return it and go back to your other iPad or what I’ll be doing for now, my iPhone.
This isn’t something to jump and scream about, it’s what a lot screens do but Apple has chosen an implementation that is at the detriment of the Mini’s main orientation (portrait). I don’t want to tarnish my review with this issue as most won’t notice it but if you do, don’t buy this device. I certainly didn’t see it on any of my other iPads so I’m at a bit at a loss at how Apple implemented this but it is what it is.
Performance
Performance for me on an iPad has never been an issue. The iPad Mini has the same A15 that is in the latest iPhone 13 and I’ve noticed nothing of concern, it flies. I’ve tried video editing and my usual day to day and no issues. It’ll last you for years too, at least 6 or 7 for iOS updates.
Centre stage
This is a feature I hadn’t experienced before and one that I’ll miss. It works amazingly well and makes a big difference to FaceTime calls, it really is a game changer if you do a lot of video calls. There’s a video showing this feature here.
Photography
Now the camera on the Mini isn’t going to blow you away but for quick shots around the house it’s a nice step up from the last generation. Now with a 12 megapixel camera (as seen in the iPhone 11) it really is a leap in terms of those indoor shots. Where it shines for photography for me though is in importing and processing. Having something of this size that can be used to import your images from a DSLR when you are out and about is such a time saver and when you get some time on the go just working through edits. It runs all of your favourite apps well and with the pencil for editing it’s a great little mobile photography device.
It’s got a bump!
USB-C!
Having USB-C on this device is amazing, between my MacBook Air and my Nintendo Switch I have more USB-C chargers in the house now so it’s great to be able to charge the iPad Mini on these too.
Accessories
I’ve been using two accessories that in my view are a must have. First is the smart folio cover that really makes your iPad Mini feel like a little digital book. The colours are great and it folds up really well to allow you to use it as a stand or to raise it at an angle when colouring.
With the pencil, the iPad Mini becomes the best digital field notebook
The second accessory I spent a lot of time with was the Apple Pencil. The second generation version attaches magnetically to the side of the Mini and it works really well. I used it for colouring, sketching and as a day to day notebook.
I’ll miss the Mini
So, I’ll be packing mine up and sending it back to Apple and I will really miss having this device around. I’ve tried to use it several times and that scrolling issue is just too big for me to deal with on a daily basis, remember this is what I’ll use as my main iPad. At this point I’m not going to be buying another iPad to replace it and I’ll go between my MacBook Air and iPhone, it’s a shame I can’t take advantage of this new form factor but it’s just how things have worked out.
If you are ok with this screen technology and want a smaller capable iPad, the Mini is the choice for you. I see it being used for anyone wanting a lean back iPad to consume content, do some productivity, use as a digital notepad and enjoy their photography. It’s better than using an iPhone at home, it’ll be better for you ergonomically and give you more real estate to deal with.
So I’m disappointed that I can’t continue with the Mini (like really disappointed) but even with that I can’t recommend this device highly enough if you know you are in the market for a smaller tablet or want to use your phone less at home.
I’ve now had a weekend using the new iPad Mini (version 6 of this device) and I’ve got some initial impressions I’d like to share.
I’m a huge iPad Mini fan and used every generation, this latest is the best and if you’re a fan it’s a must upgrade.
Here are the key differences in use vs the previous generations.
Using the Apple Pencil is a lot better with the latest iPad Mini. I have more space, feel less cramped and can write to the edges. It doesn’t feel awkward and it’s become my digital notebook. You can also charge and attach to the side like on the bigger Pro.
The screen quality isn’t a big step up from the previous generation but the new size is a massive step. It’s perfect for this size device and you get a bigger screen in a smaller device.
It’s more comfortable to use than previous generations. The squared off sides and slightly narrower form factor make it easier to hold onto and hasn’t given me any RSI issues.
I wish it had FaceID isn’t something I thought I’d be saying but it’s true. I find TouchID weird on the power button when I then also need to swipe up. The iPad doesn’t go to the Home Screen when unlocked but stays on the Lock Screen, you need to manually swipe up.
I wish the iPhone had USB-C now that the mini has it. It’s great to have and now my iPhone and AirPods case are the only things left on lightning.
Battery life isn’t a step up, seems the same as the last generation. Not a problem in my use case, charge maybe every couple of days.
I really like the space grey and orange case combo.
I’ll start my little review by saying I’m not a huge fan of cases, this isn’t biasing my view but just showing my preference on using my devices. I also always get Apple Care +, this is to protect me from myself as I’m pretty tough on my devices (I’m also clumsy).
If I’m getting a case I’ll pretty much always get the Apple ones. They are made to measure and usually top quality. I hate the feel of the silicone cases so I always pick up the leather ones. The colours aren’t great this year (where’s red or a bright orange?) so I picked up the one that’s different – dark cherry. I quite like it although I’d like it a little brighter.
It fits perfectly and as you can see above lets the stainless steel frame shine through.
Yup, that’s some big cameras but the case protects them when it’s on its back. It also wobbles when typing, not flush like previous leather cases.
You can see some of the cherry colour here, needs some nice sunshine.
As you can see the bottom of the phone gets more protection as it’s covered with good access to charging.
Overall this is a nice feeling case and it’s top quality. It’s also top price at £59, which I feel is £20 too expensive but you all know about the Apple tax. If you want a case to just get and forget then this is the one. I’ve used it for a couple of days and I’m back to no case, the 13 Pro feels great with no case.
It fits perfectly and as you can see above lets the stainless steel frame shine through.
LJPUK 