This Week at Mark Ellis Reviews

👋 Hello all! I’m back in the UK and can’t stop thinking about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. It has genuinely changed the foldable game and I now have a full review of it, which you can find below. I also thought it would be a fun idea this week to rate your Mac mini setups and see if I’m missing anything from mine. You might find some inspiration for your work setup, too!

Before we start, I’d like to welcome all the new readers who have signed up recently. It’s great to have you with us! I launched my back-to-school giveaway this week in partnership with Back Market, so make sure you enter by clicking here. You could win an M2 MacBook Air, AirPods Max or an M2 iPad Air!

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Searching for the best Mac mini setup!

I am an unadulterated, unashamed and outspoken M4 Mac mini fan. I have regularly told you, my readers and viewers, about how good the Mac mini is. In fact, it’s probably got very boring to listen to, but how can you not love one of the most powerful consumer PCs ever made that costs under $600/£600?

Ok, that’s enough!

This week, I’m not talking to you about the Mac mini…but I am talking to you about Mac mini setups. Specifically, those sent to me by you. Because that’s the great thing about buying a Mac mini instead of an iMac, you can customise it with the accessories that you actually like. Each person’s is different and that’s why they become very personal things.

I’ve spent a good number of hours looking at photos of lots of dual-monitor arrangements, questionable cable management, and enough mechanical keyboards to kit out a 90s newsroom.

Some of your setups are the very definition of ‘clean’. Others…less so. A few even left me jealous with some items I’ve added to my shopping list. I’ve pulled together a few of my favourites in this week’s Tech Diary video for you to take a look at. Have a watch, you might find something you never knew you needed!

BYTE-SIZED NEWS

This Week’s Top Tech Headlines

🖍️ iPhone 17 Pro Could Launch with a ‘Liquid Glass’ Colour
Liquid Glass might be jumping from software to hardware…

3️⃣ Huawei Mate XT 2 Is On The Way Before Any Competitor Launches
Huawei seem to be much further ahead than anyone else when it comes to foldables.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Last week, I asked you for your opinions on the Nothing Phone (3), and it’s fair to say it was a mixed response:

This week, I have a simple one for you, and it comes from my recent time living with the Samsung Galaxy Fold7 and Flip7:

ICYMI

Samsung Z Fold 7 review 1 week later: The Truth!

I gave you some brief thoughts about the Samsung Z Fold7 in last week’s newsletter, but now I have my full review together! I’ve already said how much I admire this phone for the way it has genuinely changed how I view foldables. The Z Fold7 feels like I could genuinely use it as my main phone…but will I? Watch to find out!

Why did Garmin do this? Venu X1 review

Garmin is known for making rugged, durable, ultra-fitness-focused smartwatches with weeks, sometimes months worth, of battery life. That is, until the Venu X1 was released. It is quite clearly a shot at capturing more of the Apple Watch market with its square design and massive display. But has it lost what makes Garmin watches so good?

TOP FINDS

What I Watched On YouTube This Week

There’s been loads of content this week in general after a load of product releases but here are my picks!

😳 Nothing CEO reacts to Phone (3) reviews (Nothing) - Carl Pei back at it again with the trendy marketing gambit. These are always an entertaining watch!

🪫 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Z Fold 6 vs Z Fold 5 EXTREME Battery Drain Test - 4G/5G Data (Lover Of Tech) - Ben is an expert in these sorts of tests, and it is a very interesting case with the Galaxy Fold series, where Samsung hasn’t significantly increased the battery size this year.

🦮 Olive and Mabel - Life Lessons (mrandrewcotter) - Do you love dogs? Then watch this video! It’s brilliant and may have brought a tear to my eye.

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter. Good luck to those entering the giveaway and next week, something exciting makes its return, so make sure to check back!

~ Mark