Jabra Evolve3 is business on the inside, leisure on the outside

Typically, the Jabra Evolve headphones are specifically for work use. Their main claim to fame is sporting a microphone that’s clear enough to use for work calls. With the new Jabra Evolve3 headphones, the line between home and work headphones hasn’t just been blurred: it’s been fully erased.

Unlike previous Evolve headphones, the third-gen range — consisting of the on-ear 75, and over-ear 85 models — doesn’t have an extendable boom mic. Instead, the microphone is built into the headphones, using various algorithms to separate a caller’s voice from the background noise of an office.

Both sets of Jabra Evolve3 headphones include active noise cancellation as a standard feature. Form factor is one of the main points of difference: the on-ear design of the Evolve3 75 is easier to lift off the ear, so you can quickly check in with a colleague. Meanwhile, the Evolve3 85 has a more traditional over-ear design that blocks out more sound.

These don’t look like work headphones. Image: Jabra.

An added benefit of the 85’s slightly larger size is more connectivity options. Both models support Bluetooth and USB-C connections, but the Evolve3 85 is also compatible with a classic 3.5mm audio jack.

Jabra rates the Evolve3 75 as having a 110-hour battery life when listening to music without ANC, or 22 hours of call time. Lasting a bit longer, the Evolve3 85 gets up to 120 and 25 hours, respectively.

It’s the lack of a boom arm that adds another layer to these headphones. Without it, they look more like a regular pair of headphones, suitable for home listening or blocking out a noisy commute. In terms of design, the streamlined aesthetic looks reminiscent of the Sonos Ace. As a result, Jabra’s headphones don’t scream ‘corporate’ when worn out of the office.

Jabra Evolve3 release date and price

Both sets of headphones launch in Australia this March. As is common with a lot of work-centric gear, the price is higher than that of many consumer-level headphones. For the Evolve3 75, you’re looking at $719, while the 85 model costs $979. If you use them mainly for work, it’s worth keeping a record come tax time.

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Tough Redmi Note 15 phone brings 200MP camera to mid-range

Australia’s mid-range phone market is only getting hotter, as three Redmi Note 15 phones launch locally today, with toughness and sharp cameras touted as highlights.

Xiaomi, one of the biggest smartphone brands in the world, officially launched in Australia last year with the 15T series. Now, it’s bringing more of its affordable handsets through the Redmi sub-brand, including the Redmi Note 15 5G, Note 15 Pro 5G, and Note 15 Pro+ 5G.

Considered the top model of this launch, the $799 Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G looks to offer reasonable value for its price. Underneath its 6.83-inch AMOLED display is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, supported by up to 12GB of physical memory and 512GB of storage.

A 6,500mAh battery comes with the 15 Pro+, along with up to 100W wired charging speeds via its included charger. It’s considered fairly durable, too, with IP68 dust and water resistance, and a screen made of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 material.

Although it looks like the back of the phone houses a quad-camera array, it’s actually two: a 200MP main sensor, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Xiaomi advertises the main sensor as capable of 2x and 4x “optical-level telephoto” zoom, although it’s an in-sensor zoom, as opposed to a mechanical zoom. On the front is a 32MP selfie camera.

What’s the difference between Redmi Note 15 models?

Alongside the Pro+ model, the $699 Redmi Note 15 Pro and $599 Note 15 (discounted to $499 at launch) pare back the internals. Both phones max out at 8GB of memory and 256GB of internal storage. As for the processor, the Note 15 Pro uses the MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra, while the baseline Note 15 has the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset.

Only a few other variations separate the Note 15 Pro from its ‘Plus’ cousin, which shares the same-sized AMOLED screen. Its battery is listed as an ever-so-slightly bigger 6,580mAh, but the charging speed is a slower (but still quick) 45W. A 200MP main camera still comes included, but the front camera is 20MP.

Redmi’s cheapest new phone is down to $499 for a limited time. Image: Xiaomi.

The differences increase when looking at the cheapest Note 15 model. Unlike the other two models, it doesn’t support eSIM technology, which is an odd omission. Elsewhere, it has a marginally smaller 6.77-inch AMOLED screen, and a more compact 5,520mAh battery capacity. There’s no 200MP main camera here, either, replaced with a 108MP sensor instead. The other main difference is an IP65 rating, meaning it’s less resistant to water.

As reported by WhistleOut Australia, each new Redmi Note 15 model includes four years of operating system updates, plus six years of security updates.

Redmi’s latest range is available now in Australia, along with a launch promotion: anyone who buys the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ or the Note 15 Pro by 11 February gets a bonus Redmi Pad 2 tablet, valued at $349.

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Siri to become an AI chatbot, as Apple pivots its smart assistant

Fresh after inking a multi-year AI deal with Google, Apple is gearing up for a major change to its Siri smart assistant, transforming it into a fully-fledged chatbot.

It’s set to be a bigger revamp than the expected Apple Intelligence update to Siri, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. When Apple first released its set of generative AI features in 2024, a more intelligent and context-aware Siri was touted as a major part of its platform. However, delays pushed the AI-centric Siri update into 2026.

Based on Gurman’s reporting, that update is still coming as part of the iOS 26.4 update early this year. It will enable Siri to better respond to user queries based on data stored on users’ devices and on-screen content.

Later in the year, Apple will reportedly use WWDC to announce a chatbot interface that will replace the existing Siri format. Codenamed “Campos”, Apple plans to roll it out across iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.

Intended to launch as part of iOS 27 and accompanying devices’ updates, the chatbot will respond to voice and text-based queries, much like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini platforms. Similar to those tools, Apple’s Siri chatbot can reportedly retrieve web results, summarise files and documents, and generate images on request.

Apple is relying on Google’s technology to power these features, using an AI model said to be similar to Gemini 3 in complexity. Gurman elaborated further, reporting that Campos isn’t solely reliant on Google’s AI models; Apple can swap it out if and when its in-house models matches the capabilities of its competitors.

Once released to the public, Apple is hoping that its chatbot efforts elevates its AI efforts in the eyes of investors and critics who believe the company has lagged behind others during the current AI hype cycle.

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New Wi-Fi 8 router demoed by Asus, but is it too soon?

Wi-Fi 7 is barely out the door, yet tech companies are already touting the benefits of Wi-Fi 8. Most recently, Asus demoed its concept ROG Wi-Fi 8 router at CES 2026, claiming the technology will solve many common connectivity issues.

Networking companies have been working on Wi-Fi 8 tests for a while now, with TP-Link announcing a successful test of the technology in late 2025. Asus claims that its concept router, the ROG NeoCore, showcased the first “real-world” throughput test, demonstrating what to expect from Wi-Fi 8.

In its current form, Wi-Fi 8 isn’t expected to introduce major speed increases, a sentiment expressed by Tenlong Deng, Asus’ Corporate VP & General Manager of Wireless and Networking.

“Wi-Fi 8 is not just about chasing peak speed — it’s about making every connection smarter and more reliable,” Deng said.

Wi-Fi 7, which received official certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2024, introduced several improvements, including faster data transfers via the wider 6GHz network band. Conversely, Wi-Fi 8 is aimed at improving network reliability.

Reliable connections for mixed reality devices and IoT systems are a major focus, as is reducing network congestion. According to Asus, its Wi-Fi 8 testing focused on reducing speed degradation over distance, and in environments prone to signal interference, like from neighbours’ routers.

Although the ROG NeoCore is a concept router, Asus plans to launch a series of Wi-Fi 8 routers throughout 2026. However, Wi-Fi 8 is yet to receive official certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance. It’s not until 2028 that the IEEE 802.11bn (colloquially known as Wi-Fi 8) working group is expected to complete the wireless standard, after which official certification will follow.

Wi-Fi 7 is still in its early stages, too. Plenty of Wi-Fi 7 routers are available, but compatible phones, computers, and IoT devices are yet to follow. As such, don’t expect Wi-Fi 8 to be ubiquitous any time soon.

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Award-winning Aiper robot pool cleaners are even smarter

After seeing Aiper’s new robotic pool cleaners and irrigation devices at CES 2026, we now have some more details, including how much all of it will likely cost when the range arrives in Australia.

Included in Aiper’s upcoming outdoor appliances are the Scuba V3 robotic pool cleaners, the IrriSense 2 smart irrigation system, and the EcoSurfer Senti pool skimmer. The brand also did well on the awards front, with both the Scuba V3 Ultra and EcoSurfer Senti crowned as CES Innovation Awards Honorees.

For the Scuba V3 Ultra, the recognition stemmed from its AI technology that adapts to local conditions. Without any user input, it recognises weather patterns, pool shape, and how people use the pool, to automatically schedule its cleaning runs. Aiper’s appliance combines pool cleaning and skimming in one device, including cordless operation.

As for the EcoSurfer Senti, it was recognised for its sheer versatility. In addition to automatically skimming pools, it runs on solar power, and analyses pool water in real-time while administering treatment as needed. Equipped with a 5.5L debris basket, the Senti received plaudits for picking up large amounts of pool debris before it hits the bottom of the water.

Although Aiper hasn’t confirmed Australian release dates or prices yet, we do have some overseas details to go on. According to the international press release, the flagship Scuba V3 Ultra robotic pool cleaner will cost US$2,299.99 (roughly AU$3,400), while the base Scuba V3 model will retail for US$1,099.99 (AU$1,600).

Looking at the rest of the range, the Aiper IrriSense 2 will cost US$499 (AU$740), with the EcoSurfer Senti skimmer priced at US$799 (AU$1,180). Some appliances, like the Scuba V3 Pro, don’t have confirmed pricing, so that be announced at a later date.

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Why TCL is taking over control of iconic Sony Bravia TV brand

For decades, high-quality TVs were synonymous with the Sony brand. While they may no longer top the best-seller lists anymore, Sony handing over a majority stake of its TV business to TCL feels like a major industry shift to anyone who grew up watching its displays.

Overnight, Sony announced that it will partner with TCL on a joint venture that will see the latter assume 51 per cent of Sony’s flagging home entertainment business, which includes the iconic Bravia TV brand. Both companies intend to sign a binding agreement by the end of March, before starting operations in April 2027.

According to the official announcement, both companies will share responsibilities, spanning product development, logistics, and customer service.

With such a storied history behind its TV brand, why did Sony sell a majority stake of its home entertainment business to TCL? Despite all the quality and goodwill in the world, Bravia hasn’t been a top-selling product for years.

As of late 2024, Samsung is the top TV brand in terms of shipments, followed by TCL, Hisense, and then LG, according to research from Counterpoint. Sony doesn’t even appear as a footnote.

Sony’s TV business, referred to as “Displays” in its financial reporting, accounted for roughly four per cent of its overall sales during the company’s second quarter of 2025. Much more lucrative for Sony are its music, film, video game, and camera segments.

Meanwhile, TCL’s “Large-Sized Display” segment, which consists of the brand’s TVs, accounted for nearly 52 per cent of its overall revenue during the first half of 2025. In other words, TVs are far more important to TCL’s fortunes than they are to Sony’s.

Even though it means Sony’s TV legacy will live on, albeit in a different form, it’s a big change for the TV industry at large.

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Oppo Find X9 Pro camera sets new benchmark for Android phones

It’s been a while since the Android ecosystem has had a big shake-up, but Oppo might have thrown a figurative cat among the pigeons when it debuted the Find X9 Pro late last year.

Oppo’s flagship phone is one of our favourites, largely off the back of its stellar camera display. I’ve toyed with the X9 Pro’s cameras before, but spending some more time with it has only deepened my appreciation for how good it actually is. More than any Android phone I can think of, the Find X9 Pro takes crisp and detailed telephoto photos, without blur or visible distortion.

And the Hasselblad camera system isn’t just a gimmicky marketing point. Aside from powering the phone’s impressive 200MP telephoto lens, its ‘Master’ shooting mode gives you an incredible level of manual control — perfect for camera enthusiasts like me.

You can see Oppo’s premium handset, and the photos it takes, on the GadgetGuy YouTube channel.

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