It’s often said that two main factors determine which phone people buy: battery life and camera quality. With the Nothing Phone (4a), the boffins over in the UK have leant into photography as a main selling point.
As you’d expect from Nothing, its latest phone is quite the looker. A transparent back offers a glimpse into what its internals look like, an aesthetic that’s quickly become the brand’s signature. That shade of blue is rather slick. Also adorning the rear is a newly designed Glyph Bar, a rectangular array of Mini LEDs that lights up for notifications and other actions, including a red light during video recording.
But the main point Nothing stressed about the Phone (4a) was how good its cameras are. Of the three rear cameras — already quite the feat for a sub-$700 phone — the telephoto sensor has received the biggest upgrade. It now punches in 3.5 times optically, and up to seven times to produce quality Nothing refers to as “lossless”.
Both the main and telephoto cameras include both optical and electronic image stabilisation, helping reduce shaking and the resulting blur. Meanwhile, the entire camera array benefits from more software smarts, including more natural separation of subjects and backgrounds in portrait mode.
There’s also a generously sized 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen to enjoy your photos and videos on, which Nothing says is brighter and sharper than the 3a’s display. Rounding out the package is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 5,080mAh battery.
Nothing promises three years of Android updates, which is a little lean compared to some similarly priced competitors. Fortunately, the six years of security updates are more in line with some of the best mid-range phones.
Doubling down on noise cancellation while boosting sound quality, the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are the ones to beat when it comes to quality audio on the move.
Sony has always been a heavy hitter when it comes to high-quality audio and active noise cancellation, so it’s no surprise that its 2023 Sony WF-1000XM5 true wireless earbuds are still considered some of the best in the business.
Sony only updates the WF-1000MX earbuds range every two or three years, but it’s worth the wait when the new WF-1000XM6 deliver a range of improvements for the same (admittedly high) $499.95 price tag.
It has to be said that the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds don’t look overly fashionable, especially the ‘Platinum Silver’, which could be less generously described as beige.
The bulky, squarish charge case with a matte finish doesn’t help in the fashion stakes. The case lacks the rounded edges of its predecessor, but in return, it’s less likely to slip out of your pocket than the slick but notoriously losable AirPods case.
Of course, beauty is only skin deep when it comes to personal audio. The somewhat chunky design ensures the earbuds hold an eight-hour charge, with another 16-hours in the charge case. Along with a USB-C port, the case also supports Qi wireless charging.
Although chunky, Sony has actually tweaked the earbuds to make them a bit slimmer, while also helping them fit more firmly and comfortably in your ears. Of course, it comes down to the shape of your ears and personal preference, but they should stay in place for all but the most vigorous exercise.
They’re also a bit easier to keep a grip on when getting out of the charge case than some slender earbuds.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are large and in charge. Image: Adam Turner.
Set-up on iOS or Android is very straightforward using the Sony Sound Connect app, which carries over a few useful options from the old Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds.
Sony still supplies a choice of four hybrid, soft-foam silicone ear tips, from XS to L. Along with running an audio test to check the fit in each ear, the app also lets you compare the results from different-sized tips – which is handy if you’re uncertain or perhaps require different sizes for each ear.
As part of the setup, the app also requests GPS location access, so it can anticipate when you’re at home, work, the gym or on the move.
Along with the ability to automatically adjust the AI-powered Ambient Sound settings based on your location, you’ve also got ‘Wear to Play’, which automatically launches into your favourite playlist for that location. Just slip them in your ears and music starts, which is handy at the gym when you just want to get down to business.
Alternatively, the earbuds’ touch controls include Quick Access to launch your preferred music app. You can also use built-in voice control for noise cancellation, volume and playback, plus the earbuds support head gestures.
A choice of four eartip sized, with M fitted by default, makes it easier to get the perfect fit. Image: Adam Turner.
Many key improvements with the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds rely on the new QN3e HD Noise Cancelling processor, accompanied by the V2 processor and improved DAC to support 32-bit audio.
The earbuds’ bulk also allows Sony to squeeze in extra smarts, such as a fourth microphone contributing to a 25 per cent improvement in noise cancellation, as well as enhanced call quality. Call quality also benefits from AI beamforming, bone conduction sensors and improved wind noise reduction.
Cramming even more into the earbuds, their Bluetooth antenna is also larger to allow for a more stable and solid connection with multi-point support. You can switch between prioritising sound quality or the stability of the connection, but it sticks with Bluetooth 5.3 rather than stepping up to Bluetooth 6.
When it comes to audio codecs, you’ve got access to standard SBC, Apple-friendly AAC, LC3 for Low Energy audio and Auracast. Plus, Sony naturally includes its high-resolution LDAC codec for connecting to Bluetooth devices. LDAC is supported by most mid-to-high-end Android handsets (but not iGadgets), but in return, you miss out on Qualcomm’s aptX family.
Be warned, you need to prioritise Bluetooth sound quality over stability in order to take advantage of LDAC. You also need music sources that can make the most of LDAC’s bandwidth, which might require signing up for a hi-res music service like Tidal or Amazon Music HD. While Spotify also offers hi-res music, it doesn’t take advantage of LDAC.
Finally, you’ve also got Sony’s DSEE Extreme processing for upscaling low-quality music files.
When you’re out and about, a single tap on the left earbud lets you switch from noise cancellation to Ambient Sound mode. You can set it to auto or manually adjust the amount of sound it lets through. Plus, there’s an optional voice pass-through, which makes it easier to hear people in noisy environments.
Tap, voice and gesture controls mean you can reach for your smartphone less often. Image: Sony.
Similar to Apple’s Conversation Awareness, Sony’s Speak-to-Chat automatically engages Ambient Sound mode and turns down your music when you start talking, so you can hear the other person. You can change the sensitivity and the length of time before noise cancelling resumes.
Speak-to-Chat might be useful if you regularly need to interact with people, such as in a shared office. Yet it’s perhaps best avoided if, like me, you tend to talk to yourself a lot – a side effect of working from home for 20 years – which means you continually interrupt the music.
Listening mode seems like a strange feature, but it could be useful if you’re trying to get in the zone, such as working from home and looking to replicate the ambient soundscape of working in a busy environment. Sort of the opposite of noise cancellation.
In the pursuit of more immersive listening experiences, the Sony WF-1000XM6 features head tracking, 360 Reality Audio and 360 Spatial Sound, now supporting augmented reality games like Niantic’s Ingress.
While they’re a bit on the chonky side, the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds don’t stick out too far from your ears. Image: Adam Turner.
Quality
To give them a chance to shine, I tested Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds with an Oppo Reno 15 Pro running Android 16, taking advantage of LDAC Bluetooth connectivity and hi-res audio on Tidal. I also threw my iPhone 17 daily driver and Spotify into the mix, which doesn’t support LDAC and falls back on AAC.
Side note, I tried LDAC on the Google Pixel 10a and Pixel 9a, but I encountered what seems to be a known issue where LDAC stutters when you enable the maximum 990 kbps in developer mode.
The WF-1000XM6 earbuds offer a warm and impressively full-bodied sound, while remaining balanced, detailed and clean. Even listening to AAC Spotify on the iPhone, the earbuds revealed tiny nuances in music that you may not have noticed before.
Switching across to hi-res Tidal on the Oppo Android handset really opens things up. Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me is a favourite of audiophiles, and the WF-1000XM6 earbuds make the most of LDAC to handle the extra bandwidth and detail. On Spotify, the same track sounds a bit murky and overblown in comparison, plus it loses some of the richness in the bass lines.
Checking in with the usual suspects, the WF-1000XM6 earbuds also do justice to the nuances, depth and wide soundstage of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and Miles Davis’ “So What”.
Pick up the tempo with Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life, or crank up the bass with Macy Gray’s “Why Didn’t You Call Me”, and every instrument still gets its due respect without distortion. There’s certainly no shortage of low-end, even before you reach for the Sony Sound Connect app’s 10-band graphic equaliser.
Noise cancellation
As for noise cancelling, the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds stand tall – dulling a roaring kitchen exhaust fan to the whisper of rushing air, while still letting through the fine details of the chicken sizzling in the pan.
They also do an excellent job when it comes to less predictable background sounds, such as stripping away a lot of the low end, so ambient music also sounds a lot thinner and softer.
When it comes to Ambient Sound mode, which lets you hear the world around you, the WF-1000XM6 still fall short of Apple’s AirPod Pros.
AirPods Pros offer a choice of Activity Noise Cancellation, which blocks everything out, and Transparency mode, which lets everything through. Plus, there’s Adaptive, which blends ANC and Transparency, automatically adjusting noise control based on your environment.
Sony’s Ambient Sound mode is set to Auto by default, similar to Apple’s Adaptive mode. To get the equivalent of full Transparency mode on the WF-1000XM6 earbuds, you have to disable Auto and manually dial up the ambient sound, which is frustrating.
Unfortunately, Sony’s Auto mode can be a bit hit-and-miss, as can voice pass-through. If you want to use Sony’s Ambient Sound like Apple’s Transparency mode, so you can easily talk to people, it’s best to leave Auto disabled and the ambient sound setting dialled up. This is where the ability to customise Ambient Sound for different locations comes in handy.
Even then, Ambient mode on the WF-1000XM6 sounds like the world around you is being slightly amplified by microphones, including your own voice at times, just as reviewer Alice Clarke also noted when reviewing the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Meanwhile, Apple’s Transparent mode is literally that, sounding like you’ve removed the earbuds from your ears.
Who are the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds for?
Android lovers who aren’t deterred by the hefty $499.95 price tag can’t go wrong with the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds. Some of the best Active Noise Cancellation in the business, combined with exceptional sound quality, ensures an absolute premium listening experience.
Unfortunately, Ambient mode still falls short of what you’ll get from Apple’s AirPods Pro, but of course, AirPods aren’t an option for Android fans who want to make the most of LDAC (or aptX HD for that matter). If you’re an Android lover with an ear for the finer things, you’ll be impressed with the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds.
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Sony WF-1000XM6
With impressive noise cancellation and exceptional sound quality, the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are great for Android audiophiles.
Apple announced a lot of devices this week. Most of them are iterative upgrades on previous models, but there was also a debut device to cap off what has been a busy week for the folks at Cupertino.
In the space of just a few days, we saw an updated iPhone, refreshed MacBooks, upgraded professional displays, a faster iPad, and an entirely new product category. Between the devices, prices range from reasonably affordable to downright eye-wateringly expensive. Apple has the range, it would seem.
To quickly get you up to speed with Apple’s activities, here’s everything the big tech company announced this week.
Along with that same price is double the starting storage, now 256GB, and MagSafe technology. Magnetic wireless charging wasn’t included with the 16e, so it’s a welcome addition that makes the 17e compatible with more accessories, while increasing wireless charging speeds.
If you want the 512GB model, though, it costs an extra $400, which is a pretty big gulf. Elsewhere, the phone is largely the same, beyond faster internals. It looks similar to the 16e and still only has a single rear camera. Apple refers to this as a ‘Fusion Camera’, along with claims of 2x ‘optical-quality’ zoom. But it’s still one camera, albeit one that takes advantage of software and post-processing smarts.
Low-cost MacBook Neo is cheaper than an iPhone
Image: Apple.
Even cheaper than the iPhone 17e is the MacBook Neo, Apple’s brand-new $899 laptop. Running on the A18 Pro chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro range, the 13-inch Neo also keeps costs down by sticking with 8GB of RAM and slower USB-C ports than other MacBooks.
It’s quite flashy compared to the sleek, muted tones of most Apple devices, with Blush and Citrus among the brighter colours. Apple clearly intends to take the fight to Chromebooks and cheaper Windows laptops, claiming the MacBook Neo outperforms similar PCs running on Intel’s Core Ultra 5 chipset.
But for those wanting faster performance from a tablet, without shelling out for an iPad Pro, there are some nice gains to be had. 2026’s iPad Air comes with 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB, which also benefits from faster memory bandwidth.
Improved networking and modem chips also mean better wireless connectivity, including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. The latest iPad Air’s cellular modem is also more energy-efficient, so those relying on mobile data should get more battery life than previous tablets.
MacBook Air also gets more storage, but a $100 increase
Image: Apple.
Like the iPhone 17e, the new MacBook Air — now with the M5 chipset — starts with double the onboard storage. 512GB is the default storage option, up from previous models’ 256GB. However, the starting price has also increased, now sitting at $1,799, up from $1,699.
Like many of Apple’s announcements this week, the new MacBook Air is functionally identical to its predecessors. Improvement largely stems from the faster chip and upgraded internals.
With an eye on the current AI boom, Apple claimed the M5 MacBook Air runs local AI models up to four times faster than last year’s M4 model. Like the iPad Air, the MacBook Air also benefits from Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity, resulting from the included N1 networking chip.
Apple debuts Mini LED, HDR-compatible Studio Display XDR
Image: Apple.
Several years after Apple’s last update to its Studio Display range of 27-inch professional monitors, there are now two distinct models to choose from. One is the standard Studio Display, costing $2,599, which now supports faster Thunderbolt 4 connectivity and a better speaker system, among other tweaks.
But the main addition is the new Studio Display XDR, a $5,499 premium screen that uses brighter Mini LED technology and supports HDR content. Suitability for professional creatives is Apple’s biggest selling point, with the Studio Display XDR covering more colour ranges, including the print and photography-based Adobe RGB, and more than 80 per cent of the Rec. 2020 range used in HDR filmmaking.
M5 Pro and M5 Max chips boost performance further
Image: Apple.
On the internal side of things, Apple announced the M5 Pro and M5 Max, its latest high-end Mac chipsets. As part of the announcement, Apple claimed the chips wield “the world’s fastest” CPU cores, which is quite the statement.
For end users, the main benefits are Thunderbolt 5 support, up to 30 per cent faster CPU performance, and 35 per cent better ray tracing performance from the GPU compared to the corresponding M4 chips.
A lot of those gains are because of Apple’s new “Fusion Architecture”, which connects two dies to one system-on-a-chip. Theoretically, it reduces latency and increases bandwidth across the chip, equating to better computing performance.
MacBook Pro is faster than ever, also pricier than ever
Image: Apple.
The first beneficiaries of Apple’s latest chips are the new MacBook Pro laptops. Unsurprisingly, they’re stated to be faster than ever, improving on the laptop range geared towards power users, like 3D modellers, VFX artists, and data scientists working with large models.
But, in one of the first signs that Apple is feeling the pinch of the global memory shortage, the MacBook Pros are noticeably more expensive than last year’s models. For the M5 Pro model, the starting price is $3,499, which is $200 pricier than the M4 Pro equivalent. It’s an even higher leap for the M5 Max; $5,799 is the starting price, a sizable $800 increase, equal to roughly 16 per cent.
Long expected and now finally official, Apple has announced the MacBook Neo, the brand’s first entirely new laptop in years.
Notably, it’s also Apple’s cheapest laptop by far. The starting configuration with 256GB of internal storage costs $899 in Australia (or $749 for students accessing education pricing). For comparison, the new M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,799.
But in keeping the costs down, the MacBook Neo includes a non-upgradeable 8GB of RAM, and a maximum of 512GB built-in storage. Only the 512GB model, priced at $1,099, includes a Touch ID input on its keyboard, leaving the base model without fingerprint-enabled unlocking.
Apple’s new laptop also comes in one size: 13 inches, with a 2408 x 1506 display that covers the sRGB colour range. Advertised as lasting up to 16 hours of video streaming on a single charge, the Neo has a pared-back array of ports, too. On the left is one USB-C 3.0 port, supporting one external 4K display, joined by a slower USB-C 2.0 port.
As widely tipped beforehand, the Neo runs on an A18 Pro chipset, the same hardware used in the iPhone 16 Pro range, instead of Apple’s M-series of laptop and iPad processors. According to Apple, the result is up to 50 per cent faster everyday performance than a comparable laptop running on an Intel Core Ultra 5.
MacBook Neo pre-orders are live now, with the laptops arriving in Australia on 11 March. It comes in four colours: Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus.
The Neo’s announcement comes hot off the heels of a week of Apple announcements, including the aforementioned MacBook Air, upgraded MacBook Pros, new Studio Displays, and the iPhone 17e. Along with the company’s high-end devices, Apple now appears ready and willing to compete with Chromebooks and affordable Windows-based machines.
Apple typically releases its laptops in stages; the MacBook Pro with the base M5 chipset arrived in October last year. Then, it follows up with a more powerful model aimed at users with a higher demand for power than the average person. Lo and behold, the MacBook Pro with the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips is here.
It’s not the heavily rumoured touchscreen MacBook Pro — that’s tipped to arrive by the end of the year. Instead, it’s a new high-end laptop equipped with more powerful internals, taking advantage of Apple’s new “Fusion Architecture” that connects two dies to one chip.
But for Australians keen to upgrade to Apple’s latest hardware, there’s a decent price difference compared to the previous-gen laptops. A $200 increase applies to the base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip, bringing it up to $3,499.
So, what do you get for all that money? An extremely fast laptop, according to Apple’s claims. Off the back of the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chipsets, the new MacBook Pro range produces up to 30 per cent faster CPU performance, four times faster local AI prompt processing, and a 50 per cent graphical boost compared to last year’s models.
Factoring in the power and price, these laptops aren’t just for general use. Apple targets its high-end MacBook Pro lineup at power users. 3D modelling, complex visual effects, and processing large data sets are generally some of the more common use cases for the pro laptops.
Pre-orders for the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro range start on 5 March, ahead of an 11 March launch in Australia.
Apple announced its latest MacBook Air M5 overnight, doubling the slim laptop’s base storage capacity, along with a slight price increase.
Equipped with Apple’s M5 system-on-a-chip, the new MacBook Air now starts with 512GB as the default internal storage configuration. Low starting storage has long been a point of contention, with some seeing it as a strategy to encourage buyers to spend more for more capacity. At the end of 2024, Apple increased the starting memory allocation from 8GB to 16GB, which remains in place for this release.
Unlike the recently announced iPhone 17e, which received a storage upgrade with no change to its $999 pricing, the MacBook Air’s storage increase comes with a higher base price. In Australia, the 13-inch Air now starts at $1,799, up from the $1,699 price tag of last year’s model.
Inside the M5 MacBook Air is a 10-core CPU, up to 10 GPU cores, and a 16-core Neural Engine. According to Apple, the new laptop is capable of up to four times faster AI performance than last year’s Air. Reading the fine print, that claim is based on how efficiently the laptop works through local AI prompts in LM Studio.
Joining the MacBook Air’s improved internals is Apple’s N1 networking chip. This means the laptop now supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity for faster wireless speeds and better reliability.
Aside from the $1,799 starting price for the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, the 15-inch model starts at $2,199 in Australia for the 512GB model. Pre-orders begin on 5 March, ready for an 11 March launch.
Keen to find a better deal on your home internet? We’ve compared the cheapest NBN plans from many of the biggest telcos to find the best deals for you in each speed category.
One of the best ways to save money on your internet bill is to shop around frequently. Many internet service providers (ISPs) offer introductory deals, including generous discounts for the first six months. Afterwards, it’s always worth comparing providers so you’re not left paying more than you should. Most ISPs don’t use lock-in contracts, making it relatively easy to swap to a better-value plan.
After the big NBN speed upgrade, it’s now easier than ever to enjoy fast internet at decent prices. Some older NBN plans got five times faster for the same price. Not a bad deal for those eligible.
With that in mind, here are the current cheapest NBN plans in Australia from a wide range of telcos. We also have some affordable tips and tricks on how to maximise your current internet speeds. Looking for a new phone plan, too? Compare the cheapest SIM plans to save even more money.
SpinTel currently sells the cheapest NBN home internet plan in Australia, with a discounted rate of $39 per month for the first six months on its NBN 25 plan. Compared to the telco’s standard pricing, that’s an overall discount of $155.70.
Take a look at the widget below for more of the cheapest NBN plans. We update this article monthly, but the widget updates automatically, giving you up-to-date and accurate information.
Many of the retailers display promotional prices aimed at new and returning customers. These offers generally involve paying a discounted rate for six months before reverting to a standard price. To view the details of promotional offers, click on the green text labelled ‘deal’, which will also show the standard price.
Each plan featured here includes unlimited data. Some providers let you save a few dollars every month by choosing a plan with a data cap. If you know you don’t need much data, use this search tool to find plans with monthly data allowances.
NBN 12 plans
Aimed at people who only need the internet for browsing online and checking emails, an NBN 12 plan isn’t blazingly fast but saves money.
TPG currently sells the cheapest NBN 12 plan at $54.99 per month for the first six months. Its subsequent full price of $74.99 costs more than many NBN 25 plans, however.
For the most part, you’d be better off scrolling down and looking at faster speeds available for the same price or less. Not many telcos sell NBN 12 plans these days, so there’s little competition for lower prices.
NBN 25 plans
Suited for streaming videos in HD and basic online tasks, an NBN 25 plan gives you a bit more flexibility and much more value for money.
As mentioned above, SpinTel’s NBN 25 plan is the cheapest, priced at $39 per month for the first six months. Once the discounted period ends, the plan costs $64.95 per month ongoing.
You can also get discounted NBN 25 plans for $40 per month from Amaysim and Dodo. Flip sells a cheap plan worth considering; its regular monthly price of $59.90 is one of the cheapest non-discounted plans, providing long-term savings.
After the glow of discounts ends, the cheapest NBN 25 plans cost between $65 and $70 per month, so it’s a relatively cost-effective speed tier.
NBN 50 plans
Traditionally Australia’s most popular internet plan, NBN 50 balances value with performance. These plans support 4K video streaming and can sustain multiple simultaneous users.
At the time of writing, Origin sells the cheapest NBN 50 plan, at $51.50 per month. It’s an interesting one, with Origin using Superloop’s wholesale broadband network, while going direct with Superloop is also cost-effective, with its discounted $55 monthly plan.
However, Origin is quite expensive once the six-month discount ends. Its full price is $103 per month, which can be discounted to $93 per month ongoing by bundling your internet and energy plans together.
Most full-priced NBN 50 plans can be found for around $85 per month, though, so it’s worth shopping around. Other discounted highlights in this tier include Dodo and Amaysim, which cost $54 and $55 per month, respectively.
NBN 100 and NBN 500 plans
This is where the NBN speed upgrade starts to kick in. For customers with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections, the NBN 100 tier becomes NBN 500 plans at no extra cost.
Both sets of speeds are ideal for streaming multiple 4K videos and downloading files quickly. If you get 500Mbps speeds, those downloads will be five times quicker. Only slightly more expensive than the 50Mbps tier, NBN 100 plans are still good value for most people; NBN 500 is even better value, given the small gap in pricing.
To start with, let’s look at the cheapest NBN 100 plans — these speeds apply to those with Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Building (FTTB), and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) connections:
Origin sells the current cheapest NBN 100 plan, with a discounted monthly rate of $53.60 for the first six months, down from $107 per month. Like the NBN 50 tier, Origin’s full price is more expensive than many of its competitors.
The next cheapest offer comes from Dodo, with a $61 plan for the first six months. Multiple telcos sell NBN 100 plans for $65 or less per month for the first six months, including Moose NBN, Tangerine, TPG, iiNet, Belong, and Superloop.
Once the discounts end, NBN 100 plans start from around $85 per month, with Flip one of the cheapest options.
If you have a direct fibre connection, here are the cheapest NBN 500 plans:
As you can see, the prices are more or less the same as NBN 100, which makes it pretty good value for those who can get NBN 500 plans.
Origin tops the list again, joined by Dodo, Moose NBN, SpinTel, Tangerine, iiNet, TPG, Superloop, and Belong for $65 or less per month for the first six months. As long as you have the technology to support faster speeds, the prices for NBN 500 plans are no more expensive than the slower NBN 100 tier.
NBN 750 plans
500Mbps download speeds aren’t fast enough for you? For even faster speeds, you could try NBN 750, which was NBN 250 before the wholesale speed upgrade. This is the tier you consider when you want to download the latest video game or save a whole bunch of media for offline viewing.
Origin has the current cheapest NBN 750 deal, charging $64.50 per month for the first six months. Just make sure you assess your options before the monthly price reverts to $129 once the discount ends.
Elsewhere, Dodo has a $68 deal, followed by iiNet ($69.99), and Amaysim ($70). Without factoring in discounts, expect to pay between $100 and $110 per month for most NBN 750 plans.
NBN 1000 plans
NBN 1000 plans now come with 100Mbps upload speeds, giving you fast downloads and a strong upload rate. Consider these plans if you regularly work with large files, like content creators, and don’t want to waste time waiting for downloads or uploads to finish.
You’ll notice that not every telco promises 1,000Mbps download speeds during peak times. That’s because the NBN speed upgrade is still relatively new, so the industry is still collecting real-world performance data. Rest assured, though, that these plans are fast.
For now, the cheapest NBN 1000 plan comes from Origin, which costs $69.50 per month for the first six months ($139 afterwards). Elsewhere, Dodo, Superloop, iiNet, Belong, and Amaysim cost $80 or less per month during the discounted period, so there are a few options to choose from.
Aside from SpinTel and a few others, like Southern Phone and Amaysim, most NBN 1000 plans cost upwards of $110 per month.
NBN 2000 plans
One of the new additions following the speed upgrade, NBN 2000 plans, also known as ‘Hyperfast’, is for absolute power users. Capable of handling multiple 8K video streams and downloading large files in the blink of an eye, it’s much faster than anything previously available to the wider Australian public.
Because it’s new and a bit on the pricier side, not many ISPs sell NBN 2000 plans just yet. Still, there are some discounts available, with prices already varying between telcos.
Superloop currently has the cheapest NBN 2000 plan at $145 per month. That price lasts for six months before increasing to $165 per month.
With not as much competition as other speed tiers, some NBN 2000 plans are as expensive as $189 per month.
What you need to know
If you want broadband internet in Australia, your main and most reliable choice is via the National Broadband Network (NBN). Although the NBN provides the internet backbone, it does not sell plans directly to the public. Instead, telecommunication vendors package up retail and business plans, which include different features and levels of customer support.
NBN availability
The NBN is available to all Australians, but the way you access the NBN may be different. This might include a fixed cable into your home, wireless access via an antenna on your roof or a satellite dish.
To see what technology is available to you, start by visiting the NBN getting connected page. After entering your address, you will be shown the technology available at your address. You will also see which providers or NBN retailers sell access in your area. In Sydney alone, we were presented with 123 different retailers.
Speed and reliability
It is important to understand that the speed and reliability of your NBN plan can differ by retailer. Each buys internet capacity from the NBN. This capacity is then shared with a certain number of the retailers’ customers. This means that a retailer may have faster speeds in one suburb versus another based on how many customers are accessing the overall capacity. It’s always good to ask your neighbours who they are with and their experience with a particular NBN retailer.
It’s also worth checking the ACCC website regularly. They publish quarterly broadband performance results, measuring how well telcos deliver on advertised internet speeds. You want to be certain that you’ll get the speeds you pay for, so this is a good starting point.
Having good internet speed is more than just a fast broadband connection. For more, be sure to check out GadgetGuy’s guide to improving your internet for more information.
Which NBN plan?
When evaluating an NBN plan, consider the following criteria:
Data Limits – Is there a monthly download limit of data, or is the plan unlimited?
Download Speed – Best measured at its busiest in megabits per second (Mbps) typical evening speed. Is it enough to watch Netflix? (Netflix requires 10-25Mbps depending on resolution quality.) Larger households with members using the internet simultaneously will require higher download speeds.
Cost – How much do you pay each month, and is there a connection fee?
Contract – Are you locking yourself to a retailer for a period, or is it month-to-month?
Telephone – Is a fixed-line telephone service bundled into the plan?
Customer service – What hours are supported, and is it an Australian-located call centre?
Upload speed – Important for people who save large files online, like photos and videos.
Changing providers
If you wish to change internet providers, the process involves signing up with the new retailer in-store or online. You may receive a new Wi-Fi router, and you may have to return your old router to your previous retailer. The retailer-provided router is generally low quality but provides a fixed-line telephone connection if selected.
Your retailer might offer you an email address. Still, we recommend using a non-telco-specific email address, such as Gmail or Hotmail, allowing you to easily change NBN retailers.
The NBN changeover process can take less than an hour, but depending on the location and NBN technology, it could take a few days. To take advantage of introductory offers, you could swap your provider every six months.
Suppose you do not wish to leave your existing provider. In that case, you may be able to negotiate a better rate by comparing it to cheaper offerings.
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