HP is the latest computer maker to launch its Intel Core Ultra Series 3 range of PCs in Australia, predominantly focusing on faster processing speeds and better overall performance.
Design-wise, HP’s new range doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Its laptops continue with the tried-and-true clamshell form factor, without adding any new bells and whistles. Most of this year’s changes are on the inside, with the PCs sporting faster chipsets and the latest graphics cards.
On the laptop front, a new HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is the flagship device. With a 3K OLED display on the outside, the inside houses up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor with integrated graphics, 64GB of LPDDR5X memory, and a 2TB SSD. HP claims that the laptop’s 70Wh battery lasts up to 30 hours on a single charge.
In Australia, the 2026 HP OmniBook Ultra 14 starts at $4,499 for the base configuration. Alongside it is the HP OmniStudio X 27, a 27-inch all-in-one desktop PC that comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse, making it a ready-to-go PC out of the box.
HP’s OmniStation includes ports aplenty. Image: HP.
Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, Intel Arc Graphics, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD, the desktop PC costs $2,999 locally. You can even spec it out with an Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU if you want a bit more graphical grunt. Its 27-inch IPS display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, with a 2560 x 1440 resolution. You also get a fair selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4, four USB-A, one HDMI 2.0, one audio jack, and an RJ-45 port.
Also joining the 2026 HP range are the work-focused ZBook X G2i and Flip models, as well as various HyperX Omen gaming PCs. HP’s latest PCs are starting to arrive in Australia now.
With ‘pet’ in the name, there’s little surprise as to what the new Tineco Pure One Station A70s Pet vacuum is made for. It’s one of three new stick vacuums recently launched by Tineco in Australia, with powerful suction and long-lasting batteries a common theme throughout.
Tineco is usually known for its wet-dry vacuums — the S9 Artist Steam is a particular favourite — so the recent launch serves as a reminder that its appliances clean carpets as well as hard floors. Alongside the $1,299 Pure One Station A70s Pet, are the $1,099 P50 Pro and $699 P30 Pro models, all three of which feature 200 airwatts of suction power.
Another common thread between the vacuums is the use of Tineco’s “ZeroTangle Brush with Clogless System”, which is designed to untangle hair as it gets vacuumed, straightening it out to avoid getting stuck in the brush.
The P50 Pro can fold to reach under tables. Image: Tineco.
Both the P50 Pro and P30 Pro vacuums include a 180-degree foldable tube design. Instead of needing to bend down to reach under furniture, it’s designed to help you get into tough-to-reach spots. The P50 Pro has an estimated battery life of up to 95 minutes while using ‘Eco Mode’, while the P30 Pro lasts up to 65 minutes on a single charge.
Positioned as the top model of the new range, the Pure One Station A70s Pet lasts up to 100 minutes. It doesn’t have the same 180-degree foldable design as the P50 or P30 models, but it does have a fully automated self-cleaning system. Included with the vacuum is an auto-empty docking station that empties the vacuum’s dustbin and cleans the appliance’s internals.
Each model is available in Australia now via Tineco’s online storefront and various vacuum cleaning retailers throughout the country.
How long has it been since you’ve upgraded your printer? Many older printers rely on cartridge refills, regardless of whether they’re of the inkjet or laser variety. Over time, they add up in cost, plus there’s the environmental element associated with disposing of used cartridges. In recent years, Epson has moved towards a format it calls ‘EcoTank’, and now it has a new range of printers out in Australia.
A bit different to your printer of 10-plus years, Epson’s EcoTank printers don’t rely on disposable cartridges to top up ink levels. Instead, you buy a bottle of ink and use it to fill up a printer compartment. Epson claims that this is cheaper, and you also get more ink per refill.
To use Officeworks as an example, a $28 black ink cartridge for the Epson WorkForce range is good for roughly 350 sheets. Conversely, a $17 EcoTank ink bottle should last up to 4,500 pages. These estimates vary depending on various factors, like printing frequency, but that’s still a big difference.
Three new Epson EcoTank models are out now in Australia: the ET-1910, plus the ET-2910 and ET-2911 — the only difference between the latter two is either a white or black printer colour. The $299 ET-1910 is solely for printing, while the $399 ET-2910 and ET-2911 let you copy and scan too.
Aimed at home offices and small businesses, all three printers support Wi-Fi connectivity, so it doesn’t matter where you put them. Plus, you can also print directly from your phone using Apple AirPrint.
These printers might cost a bit more upfront than budget inkjet alternatives, but if you do lots of printing, you’ll likely save on ink over time. It’s an appealing proposition; no unnecessary subscriptions or fiddling around, just a bunch of printers designed to be economical.
As the cooler months approach, you’ll usually set the air conditioner to react to dropping temperatures, keeping you warm when it’s cold outside. Traditionally, air conditioners have been pretty limited in how proactive they respond to changing weather conditions. Midea wants to change that with its AI-powered Athena split system that takes more than indoor conditions into account.
Via its ‘AI Ecomaster’ technology, the Midea Athena air conditioner proactively adjusts its operation based on indoor data, what’s happening outside, and also the weather forecast. In practice, this means a more consistent indoor temperature that requires less power. Midea claims it results in upwards of 30 per cent energy savings, which is definitely on everyone’s minds at the moment.
You can also view real-time energy consumption via the Midea app to see exactly how much power the air conditioner uses. Between energy savings, and technology that claims to help you sleep better, there’s a lot happening in the world of air conditioning right now.
When SteelSeries brought the Arctis Nova Pro gaming headset to market, it was immediately lauded as being one of the best. It oozed premium quality at all levels, and still holds up remarkably well today. Now, SteelSeries is back with a sequel, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni, a headset that expands the audio quality and device compatibility.
A premium bit of kit at $879, it’s clearly aimed at the most hardcore multiplatform gamers. Via its DAC, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni can connect up to four audio sources simultaneously, letting you quickly switch between devices — similar to other gaming headsets, like the Logitech G Astro A20 X. This control unit houses three USB-C ports, and line-in and line-out jacks, plus you can connect mobile devices via Bluetooth.
SteelSeries’ DAC then connects to the Arctis Nova Pro Omni wirelessly using 2.4GHz technology. The Hi-Res Wireless Certified headset can transmit 96kHz, 24-bit audio, with 40mm Neodymium Magnetic drivers powering the sound. SteelSeries also describes the retractable omnidirectional microphone as “broadcast-quality”, something not many gaming headsets can lay claim to.
The DAC can adjust audio while connecting to multiple devices simultaneously. Image: SteelSeries.
For gaming on the go, the high-end headset includes active noise cancellation (ANC). SteelSeries claims the ANC blocks out “up to 40 per cent more background noise” than headsets from competing brands, which is a lofty claim. It goes even further, saying the mic gets rid of up to 96 per cent of surrounding noise. If that turns out to be true, it means noisy housemates or public transport commutes won’t interfere with your gaming sessions or phone calls.
SteelSeries also includes two batteries, so you can always keep one on charge, which is a nice touch.
More headsets and gaming mice
Not everyone is in the market for a near-$900 gaming headset — SteelSeries seems to be aware of that fact. Alongside the Pro Omni, the peripherals brand also recently launched the $429 Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 headset in Australia.
It’s still pricier than the more budget-friendly Arctis Nova 5, but the second-gen Nova 7 adds a midpoint before you start spending top-of-the-range money. Compared to the first-gen headset, the new model sports up to 40 per cent more battery life, totalling up to 54 hours of use.
Fancy a fun colour? The updated Nova 7 comes in a nice shade of pink. Image: SteelSeries.
The Nova 7 Gen 2 also supports concurrent 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, letting you chat on the phone while playing on PC or console. While not Hi-Res like the Pro Omni, the Nova 7 uses similar Neodymium Magnetic Speaker driver technology to produce a spatial audio effect.
Rounding out the recent SteelSeries announcements is the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 mouse. At 68g, it’s extremely light, while still including gamer flourishes like customisable RGB lighting. It supports both 2.4GHz, via an included USB-C dongle, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 4K polling rate, 1.2ms click response time, and a 26K optical sensor.
It wouldn’t be a gaming mouse without some RGB lighting. Image: SteelSeries.
SteelSeries estimates the mouse’s battery life as lasting up to 200 hours when used with Bluetooth, or 120 hours with 2.4GHz. Fortunately, you don’t need to replace batteries; the new Aerox 3 plugs in to recharge. It costs $229 in Australia, aimed at those who take their gaming seriously.
It’s something of a novelty when a renowned camera brand announces a new camera that isn’t video-focused. While the new Sony Alpha 7R VI DSLR can shoot video, it’s still being billed as a photography camera.
Considered a step up from the $4,699 Alpha 7 V that launched last year, the $6,999 Alpha 7R VI specialises in high-res photography. Equipped with a 66.8MP full-frame, fully-stacked Exmor RS sensor, Sony’s new mirrorless camera is big on clarity.
With a new BIONZ XR2 engine in tow, Sony claims the camera produces a 5.6-times faster sensor readout than the Alpha 7 V model. Because of this, the Alpha 7R VI can shoot more still frames continuously, up to 30fps.
Supporting this faster shooting is what Sony calls “Real-time Recognition AF+”, an autofocus that tracks subjects via “skeletal-based human pose estimation”. That doesn’t mean your photos will show people’s skeletons, sadly, but it does potentially mean fast focusing on moving subjects, especially during sports.
To help keep things steady when shooting fast-moving subjects, the Sony Alpha 7R VI includes five-axis optical image stabilisation. At the centre, it produces as much as 8.5 stops of stabilisation, while it reaches up to seven stops on the sides.
When shooting video, the Alpha 7R VI can record in up to 8K at 30p. Dial down the resolution, and you can shoot in 4K at either 60p or 120p.
Joining Sony’s latest camera is a whopper of a new lens: the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS. Compatible with E-Mount Alpha cameras, including the 7R VI, this new lens can hold a constant f/4.5 aperture at all focal lengths. It also includes built-in stabilisation, as well as tapping into any in-body stabilisation.
Unsurprisingly, considering the technology it uses, the lens comes in at a pricey $7,399 in Australia. It’s the sort of glass that you’d use for sports photography, snapping photos of wildlife, and anything that requires zooming in from a distance.
Both the new Sony camera and lens launch in Australia this month.
After months of speculation, rumours, and industry whispers, DJI has lifted the lid on the Osmo Pocket 4P, a dual-lens version of its popular portable gimbal camera.
DJI didn’t specify much in the way of specifications or exact technology. Being at Cannes, the focus was more on the type of filmmaking the brand hopes to augment. More natural-looking skin tones and “cinematic depth” were some of the selling points, alongside “improved zoom functionality”.
DJI described the Pocket 4P as wielding a “next-generation imaging system”, without getting into much detail. Both the Pocket 3 and Pocket 4 use a large one-inch sensor, which looks to be consistent with the 4P.
Much of the appeal of the Osmo Pocket series is its built-in gimbal technology contained within a small form factor. Using three-axis mechanical stabilisation, it helps keep shots steady while locked onto a subject.
Before DJI officially confirmed the Osmo Pocket 4P, its rival, Insta360, shared its Leica-powered Luna gimbal cameras, including a dual-lens model. Insta360 teased optical zoom as being a major drawcard for the premium model, although it didn’t specify how far the zoom goes. Based on this, it’s likely that DJI’s dual-lens model will also include some form of optical zoom.
