THIS WEEK’S UPDATE

An update on my switch to the iPhone 17 Pro Max

The dust has settled among the Internet People who were incredibly disgruntled with my decision to switch from the iPhone Air to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It is, therefore, I think, safe for me to emerge from my nuclear bunker and tell you how I’ve been getting on with Apple’s massive Cosmic Orange monster.

It’s great. The camera is giving me everything the iPhone Air couldn’t, and the battery life is back to its Pro Max best. And, yes, I still love the Cosmic Orange colour.

I did the right thing, basically. And as much as people have told me off for “doing it for the viewz and clickz” (imagine doing stuff for views and clicks when you run a YouTube business), I can confirm that there’s a fair chunk of me that misses the iPhone Air. I get it out of the drawer occasionally just to marvel at its form factor and the way it feels in my hand, naked (the phone - stop laughing at the back). Will I ever switch back? Maybe.

However, I’m a lucky so-and-so because I get to use all of the latest smartphones, and there’s one category in particular that has got me thinking about the future of the iPhone and why, as much as I’m enjoying the 17 Pro Max, it just isn’t quite enough.

SEVEN DAYS OF DEALS

Grab 5% Off At Back Market!

If you’ve still got some Christmas shopping to do, or just want to treat yourself, then our partners at Back Market have you covered. From the 10th-16th December, every day will see an extra 5% taken off prices - already up to 50% less vs. new - for select product categories.

Today, it’s smartwatches, then it moves to smartphones on the 14th, AirPods on the 15th and finally all categories on Tuesday 16th. If it were me, I’d be on the lookout for some AirPods Pro 2, which are such great value these days. Happy shopping!

MUST-WATCH

The iPad mini 2026 Leak That Changes EVERYTHING!

I’m not usually one to comment on leaks, mainly because they either turn out to be entirely made up or underwhelming. I prefer to just, you know, wait for the product to actually appear. But this time I couldn’t ignore the temptation…

Bose QC Ultra 2 Review – Did They Get It Right?

Product refreshes are getting less and less significant by the month. And that seems to be the case with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, at least on the surface. But is there more here than meets the eye? Or are the first generation now just an absolute bargain?

YES, THERE’S MORE…

The Rest Of This Week

Apple Needs To Do 5 Things To Make 2026 A Success

As the year is coming to a close, I thought there was no better time to look forward and see what Apple needs to regain a bit of its edge in 2026. →

Huawei FreeBuds 7i Review: Feature-filled budget buds

The world of budget earbuds is often fraught with danger; you don’t know if what you’re going to get is even worth the low cost. So, can the latest sub-£80 offering from Huawei impress? →

iPads in 2026: What The Latest Rumours Are Telling Us

I’m not one for rumours, to be honest, because often they disappoint. But I am very interested in one in particular that’s circulating at the moment… →

TIP OF THE WEEK

macOS Tahoe Tip: Search within an app via Spotlight 👉
Use the Tab key to search inside specific apps. For example, type Photos, press Tab, enter your search term, then hit Return to search within Photos. You can also type Safari, press Tab, and then enter a term to look through your bookmarks and browsing history.

TOP FINDS

What I Watched On YouTube This Week

🎸 The Flea Interview: Red Hot Chili Peppers Bass Icon (Rick Beato) - You don’t need to be a music or Chilli Peppers fan to enjoy this video. The way Flea speaks about modern life is so endearing. What a guy.

🚔 I BOUGHT A STOLEN BMW M3 (Mat Armstrong MK2) - I don’t think I’ve shared any of Mat’s stuff for a while, but this one is absolutely worth watching. The lengths people go to these days is mind-blowing…

👉 Why the Taycan Turbo S Is the Only EV With a Soul (The Next Drive) - SHAMELESS PLUG. And the first time I’ve undertaken a launch control.

ON THE ‘GRAM

Trying A Macro Keyboard!

The Framer Creator Micro is an incredible piece of tech. I don’t think I’ll go back to just using a regular keyboard after this...

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter. If you haven’t yet, make sure to enter my iPhone 17 giveaway; it closes next week!

~ Mark