Quad Lock has a backpack now, aims to keep your gadgets dry

We love Quad Lock here at GadgetGuy. It’s always good to get behind Australian-founded companies that make good gear. Quad Lock’s phone accessories and mounts are among the best out there. So, when it recently announced a backpack, it warranted a closer look.

Quad Lock teamed up with Swedish company Thule for the backpack, an accessory with a 26L capacity and all the straps, pockets and pouches you’d expect. In Australia, the backpack retails for $199.99, which isn’t cheap by any stretch.

So, what does that nearly $200 get you? According to Quad Lock, a backpack that’s breathable, rugged, and weather-resistant. It’s designed for everyday commuters, with most of the promotional imagery showing bike riders wearing the accessory. Makes sense, given the brand’s big focus on cyclists and outdoor activities.

Considering that outdoors-y positioning, the weather-resistant claim is the most interesting. Quad Lock advertises the backpack as using “rugged 900D materials”. This refers to a dense polyester fabric that’s commonly used in outdoor gear, largely because of its water-resistant properties.

Alongside the reference to 900D materials, Quad Lock’s press release also mentions a “DWR finish”. An acronym that stands for durable water repellent, the finish is designed to make water bead down the material, instead of getting absorbed. It’s not waterproof, as such, but it should defend against a drizzle or a light shower.

Within the backpack, there’s a dedicated laptop sleeve that can fit up to a 17-inch PC. Quad Lock says the sleeve is padded, made to protect your tech. Perhaps this sleeve, combined with the water-resistant materials, could’ve helped me avoid a waterlogged MacBook last year. Oh well, it’s too late to know now.

There doesn’t appear to be anything on the backpack that latches onto Quad Lock’s accessories, so it’s mainly for keeping your gadgets protected and dry. It’s available to order now via the brand’s website.

The post Quad Lock has a backpack now, aims to keep your gadgets dry appeared first on GadgetGuy.

Read More

Save $50 on Boost Mobile’s annual plan and get full Telstra coverage

Telstra might have the most comprehensive network coverage in Australia, but you certainly have to pay for the privilege. Fortunately, a current deal from Boost Mobile makes it a heck of a lot more affordable to get Telstra-level phone coverage.

Until 9 February, you can get a 365-day prepaid Boost Mobile SIM plan for $250, down from its usual $300 price. It’s still a bit pricier than some of Australia’s cheapest long-expiry SIM plans, but it’s the most affordable way to access the full Telstra network by far.

Boost Mobile is what’s called a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), meaning it sells phone plans by using another company’s network. It’s the only MVNO that includes access to the full Telstra network, which is measured by the percentage of the population reached. Boost Mobile’s plans are eSIM-compatible, too, meaning you don’t need to visit a store to get started.

See Also

02/02/2026Angus Jones Guides

Cheapest SIM plans in Australia: Save by comparing the big telcos

Both Telstra and Boost Mobile reach 99.7 per cent of Australians via 4G, and 95 per cent via 5G. Meanwhile, other MVNOs that use Telstra’s ‘wholesale’ network reach 98.8 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively.

How much do you save with Boost Mobile’s deal?

For some people, that extra coverage is more than just a luxury. Rural Australians need that access, while many other plans are better suited to metro areas. However, that access comes at a price.

Telstra’s cheapest 28-day prepaid plan costs $39, while the discounted Boost Mobile plan costs the equivalent of just under $21 per month. Boost includes 290GB (roughly 24GB/month) with the first recharge, and then 240GB (roughly 20GB/month) with each subsequent recharge.

To do some quick back-of-the-napkin maths, Telstra’s cheapest prepaid plan costs at least $468 over 12 months. So, Boost’s deal saves $218 in the first year. Even at the plan’s full $300 price, that’s $168 cheaper than going with Telstra directly.

For a more like-for-like comparison, Telstra’s 365-day SIM plan normally costs $350. During the first year, you get a fairly generous 300GB of data, but each year thereafter only includes 165GB.

Either way you slice it, Boost is comfortably cheaper. It’s also a good example of how much you can save by choosing a long-expiry plan versus those with shorter billing cycles.

You can also see how the Boost Mobile deal compares to long-expiry SIM plans from other telcos via the widget below.

GadgetGuy occasionally uses affiliate links and may receive a small commission from purchased products.

The post Save $50 on Boost Mobile’s annual plan and get full Telstra coverage appeared first on GadgetGuy.

Read More

Apple could have a flip phone on the way, like the Galaxy Z Flip

It’s all but confirmed that Apple has its first foldable phone on the way this year. Even though the foldable hasn’t been officially announced, a new report suggests that the company that just hit record iPhone sales already has plans to follow it up with a flip phone.

In the coming months, Apple is widely tipped to announce its debut foldable, similar in design to the well-regarded Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is currently looking at making a square-shaped foldable phone, like the Galaxy Z Flip range or the Motorola Razr handsets.

Gurman suggests that the follow-up phone is “far from guaranteed to reach the market”, but the fact that it’s on the table indicates some level of confidence from Apple in the form factor.

That confidence likely stems from the growing demand for foldable phones across regions like China and South Korea. Samsung has done well in its home nation of South Korea with its flip phones, while the Chinese brand Honor has its own suite of foldables.

Last week, Apple announced a record-breaking quarter, totalling US$143.8 billion, much of which was driven by record iPhone sales. Services, which consist of App Store commissions, subscriptions, and advertising, also reached record highs.

Aside from iPhones, Gurman also reported that Apple is nearing its first Mac launch of 2026. Based on current stock shortages, it’s expected that a new MacBook Pro is just around the corner, likely between now and March.

The new MacBook Pro isn’t expected to radically change the form factor. Instead, it’ll mainly focus on faster internals and processing power. Apple’s heavily rumoured touchscreen variant is tipped to arrive by either the end of this year or in early 2027.

The post Apple could have a flip phone on the way, like the Galaxy Z Flip appeared first on GadgetGuy.

Read More

Everyday Mobile stops old long-expiry plans, offers pricier option

Everyday Mobile, the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) run by the Woolworths Group, will stop supporting some legacy long-expiry prepaid SIM plans still used by customers.

The move impacts plans no longer sold to new customers, including a $170 annual plan and a $75 180-day plan. In a series of emails sent to affected customers, recharges for legacy plans will stop on 2 March.

In a statement to GadgetGuy, a Woolworths spokesperson explained that its telco arm of the business aims to provide “a flexible range of plans to suit different needs and budgets”.

“Just like other providers, we periodically refresh our plan range to offer greater consistency across plans,” the spokesperson said.

See Also

19/01/2026Angus Jones Guides

Cheapest SIM plans compared: Pay just $12.40 for 5G access

Everyday Mobile offers a long-expiry alternative

As an alternative, Everyday Mobile has offered these customers an exclusive plan while their auto-recharge remains active. This plan costs $20 per 30-day recharge, which includes 15GB of data and a 10 per cent discount that can be used once a month in Woolworths stores.

Over 12 months, the new plan roughly works out to be $240, a $70 increase compared to the legacy 365-day plan, and $90 more expensive than the annual equivalent of the 180-day plan. In the email received by affected customers, Everyday Mobile described the change as “a small price adjustment”.

“This recent change offers existing customers a special alternative plan designed to minimise any cost impacts,” the Woolworths spokesperson said. “Customers are also encouraged to consider our other plans, which all offer simple pricing, strong data inclusions and Everyday Rewards benefits.”

Everyday Mobile’s transition offer is cheaper than its standard base plan, which costs $25 per 30-day recharge and includes 22GB of data.

In September 2024, Everyday Mobile increased the prices of its long-expiry plans by as much as $100. Simultaneously, it removed the 10 per cent monthly Woolworths discount previously available with its long-expiry plans. Now, the discount is only included with the telco’s 30-day or monthly SIM plans.

Affected customers can also compare the cheapest SIM plans to find the most cost-effective option.

The post Everyday Mobile stops old long-expiry plans, offers pricier option appeared first on GadgetGuy.

Read More

Insta360’s 4K webcam can follow you around the room

You know Insta360, the brand that makes all those whizz-bang action cameras? It’s also in the webcam business, and recently launched two 4K models that might help your video calls look nicer.

Included in the latest Insta360 webcam range are the Link 2 Pro and Link 2C Pro, both of which are aimed at business types and content creators alike. They’re definitely on the higher end of the scale, with the Link 2 Pro costing $439.99, and the 2C Pro priced at $349.99 in Australia.

According to Insta360, what makes these peripherals stand out is that they’re “AI webcams”. In real terms, they use various AI technologies to improve picture quality, automatically track your face, and intelligently focus on in-person visuals, like whiteboards. Four different audio modes also help block out, or let in, background sound, including a “Focus” setting that isolates a single speaker’s voice.

Insta360 also advertised the webcams as integrating with “InSight”, the brand’s AI software that acts as a meeting assistant. It records meetings, and then transcribes and summarises conversations for future reference.

Teachers might find the Link 2 Pro helpful for showing diagrams. Image: Insta360.

But software isn’t the only thing these cameras have going for them. Both have a large 1/1.3-inch sensor, helping to capture more light, even in dim rooms. They each support HDR and 4K recording at up to 30fps. A magnetic mount ships with both cameras to place them on top of monitors or anything metallic.

Gimbal functionality is the main separator between the two models. Of the webcams, the Insta360 Link 2 Pro has a two-axis gimbal, capable of physically tracking your movements. While the 2C doesn’t have a gimbal, it can still track subjects to an extent via digital zoom.

Both webcams are available in Australia from the Insta360 website. A gimbal webcam may seem niche, but it could be handy for teachers and presenters. Or for folks who just can’t sit still.

The post Insta360’s 4K webcam can follow you around the room appeared first on GadgetGuy.

Read More

Smoother DJI RS 5 gimbal tracks more than just people now

DJI has upgraded its DSLR camera gimbal, releasing the RS 5 overnight, aimed at making it easier to record smoother video.

Made to help DSLR cameras record steady footage, it’s an upgraded version of last year’s DJI RS 4 gimbal, which the company says has improved tracking, along with more stability than the previous model.

Based on DJI’s figures, the gimbal’s improved stabilisation algorithm boosts the peak motor torque by 50 per cent. That doesn’t mean it moves 50 per cent faster, as such, but it should help keep the camera steadier while moving. For example, if you need to run or quickly change direction with the camera in hand, the resulting footage shouldn’t include jerky motion.

With the RS 5, DJI has added an “Enhanced” version of its tracking module, as an optional add-on, which supports subject tracking via the gimbal’s 1.8-inch OLED touchscreen. It now supports pet and vehicle tracking, in addition to the existing person tracking functionality. DJI’s tracking technology is designed to lock focus on subjects up to 10 metres away, including automatically reframing them if they leave and re-enter the shot.

Faster charging also comes to the DJI RS 5, reaching full battery capacity in under an hour with a 65W charger. According to DJI, that’s 60 per cent faster charging than the RS 4.

The DJI RS 5 is available in Australia now via DJI’s online store and various tech retailers. It costs $839 for the gimbal, which comes with a battery grip, or $999 for a bundle that includes the tracking module and a new electronic briefcase handle. The handle includes buttons and a joystick for one-handed use.

DJI also still sells the previous-gen RS 4 gimbal, now at a cheaper $679 price than the $799 RRP it launched with.

The post Smoother DJI RS 5 gimbal tracks more than just people now appeared first on GadgetGuy.

Read More

Oppo steps up its selfie game with the new Reno 15 range

Oppo skipped a generation of its mid-range devices in Australia, but is now back with the Reno 15, a series of phones aimed at the photo- and video-taking masses.

Last year, Oppo brought three Reno 13 phones to Australia, skipped the Reno 14 locally, and is now launching two Reno 15 variants: the Reno 15 F 5G and the Reno 15 Pro 5G. The ‘F’ model costs $679 in Australia, while the Pro costs $1,399, spanning the full scale between mid-range and the same price as a standard iPhone 17.

The cameras on Oppo’s Reno range typically punch above their weight, with this year’s main upgrade coming in the form of a new 50MP ultra-wide (100-degree field of view) front camera. Both phones get the new and improved camera — including 4K front video support on the Reno 15 F — while it’s the Pro that benefits from a 200MP main rear sensor, plus a 50MP telephoto camera.

Even the label on the back of the phone calls it an ‘AI camera’. Image: Oppo.

More than just the hardware, Oppo is leaning heavily on AI software to help boost photo quality. In addition to post-processing to help adjust under- or overexposed images, the phones’ rear lights are designed to flash more softly for better lighting. There’s also a front flash to help with selfies, too.

Reversing a common market trend of more powerful phones taking up more space, the Reno 15 Pro sports a 6.32-inch AMOLED screen, while the larger 6.57-inch glass goes to the cheaper Reno 15 F.

On the inside, the Pro model uses the MediaTek Dimensity 8450 chipset, with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That’s a bit beefier than what the Reno 15 F gets, which is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, plus 8GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage.

However, the Reno 15 F takes a slight battery advantage: 6,500mAh capacity, compared to the Pro’s 6,200mAh battery.

Oppo Reno 15 price and availability in Australia

Both of the Oppo Reno 15 phones coming to Australia will be available on 5 February from various retailers. Each one comes with a case and an 80W charger in the box.

The Pro model comes in either Aurora Blue or Dusk Black colours from JB Hi-Fi and Oppo’s online store. Meanwhile, the Reno 15 F also comes in Aurora Blue and a slightly different Twilight Black finish. On top of JB and Oppo, it will also be sold at Officeworks, Big W, Harvey Norman, and The Good Guys.

The post Oppo steps up its selfie game with the new Reno 15 range appeared first on GadgetGuy.

Read More