After using high-end $300-plus noise-cancelling earbuds for the last 10 years, I felt I needed a comparison to a budget pair. For the last month, I have switched to the Soundpeats Air6 HS, which, although it incorporates many of the latest innovations, lacks some of the features I have come to rely on.
The Air6 HS costs less than $60 in Australia, which means I could afford to lose six pairs compared to my regular drive. Now I have never lost a pair, but I have spent many hours looking for buds I have dropped in the garden. I do note there is a ‘Find My Earbuds’ setting that uses your phone’s GPS to indicate their last known location. This, unfortunately, does not help in a pile of leaves.
Soundpeats Air6 HS audio quality
On first impressions, the sound quality was great. Soundpeats indicates that a 13mm triple-magnet driver with Hi-Res LDAC is responsible for this, allowing Android users (like me) to hear three times more detail. I am no audiophile, but to my ear, these sounded great.
Box contents. Image: Angus Jones.
In the Soundpeats app, you can further customise the sound with an equaliser to control bass, treble, and everything in between. If you have access to media or streaming platforms with Hi-Res audio, you can enjoy higher-resolution files with better audio. Similarly, LDAC is a Bluetooth transmission protocol that enables higher-quality audio to be transferred to earbuds.
Two features I did miss — but for the price, I understand why they are not there — audio does not stop when you take a bud out, and there is no noise cancellation. So, your only option in busy environments is to turn the volume up, rather than cutting background noise out. There is one exception: when on a call, the microphone helps cut background noise so the person on the other end can hear you more clearly.
Design, app controls, and Bluetooth 6
Each earbud only weighs four grams, and I found them comfortable to wear all day while doing weekend chores. I also used them on my morning bicycle rides, where I never use noise cancellation, and found them to be a good balance between hearing traffic, my podcast, and wind noise.
Soundpeats’ earbuds support standard gesture controls: a single tap to adjust volume, a double tap to pause/play content, a triple tap to open an assistant, and a long press to skip forward or back. I found this intermittent to begin with, but in the end, I decided it was a change in sequence from what I was used to, and also getting the finger placement right, which turns out to be on the Soundpeats logo.
The app has all the controls you would expect, but after the initial setup and software update, I have not really touched it again. The battery status is listed within the app for each earbud and the case, but I find myself monitoring this on the case itself. The case flashes a colour when closed, indicating the case battery life, and also flashes a colour when the case is open, indicating the buds’ charge.
The buds support Bluetooth 6, which offers lower power consumption and longer, more stable transmission (i.e. a greater range between your phone and the buds). In the box is a USB-C cable, which I have a whole drawer full of them now, but means standardised charging, which will take up to 1.5 hours for the case and 45 mins for the buds. A 10-minute charge of the buds will, however, give you three hours of listening time. The total listening time between a charged case and buds is up to 45 hours.
These buds are IPX5 water-resistant, so they will survive a rain shower, but do not immerse them in water. Within the app is a ‘Drainage Function’, which plays a loud noise that supposedly helps remove any water that has entered the buds. Make sure you don’t activate this when you are wearing them.
What did I think of the Soundpeats Air6 HS?
The Soundpeats Air6 HS was a surprise package for me. For $60, I was expecting rubbish that I would never use. Instead, I now have a set of earbuds that I am not worried about losing. They produce great sound, and I will continue to use them in environments where I don’t want noise cancellation.
Video doorbells are great at keeping an eye on visitors, deliveries, and any happenings outside of your home. Unfortunately, many apartment dwellers miss out, because it’s just not feasible to stick a doorbell next to an existing intercom system. Amazon has an answer, though: the Ring Intercom, which provides the benefits of a video doorbell to apartment residents.
Ring’s $189 gadget connects with compatible intercom systems to give live updates on who’s visiting the building. Via the Ring app, you can also remotely let visitors and delivery people into the building. According to Amazon, the Ring Intercom suits renters, with no need to make any drastic changes to a home.
This new addition to Ring’s smart home range aims to address what Amazon’s research found about Aussies’ delivery habits. According to the research, 79 per cent of apartment residents get stressed waiting for deliveries without a way of letting people into the building. 89 per cent reportedly said that letting delivery drivers in remotely via their phone would be helpful.
Like Ring’s existing video doorbells, the Ring Intercom supports two-way audio communication and a live camera feed of who’s at the door. You can access the live feed through either the Ring app or an Echo Show device.
Image: Amazon.
These core features don’t require a paid subscription, but more functionality comes with a Ring Protect subscription, which starts at $4.95 in Australia. Paid features include access to 180 days of video history and a snapshot of every time someone buzzes the intercom. You can also send a preset quick reply to visitors when you can’t talk.
Are you looking to save on your phone bill? We’ve rounded up the cheapest SIM plans from a range of different carriers to help you find the best price. If you’re unsure about whether a SIM-only mobile plan is what you need, our quick guide to SIM only mobile plans will get you up to speed.
Generally speaking, if you don’t want a new phone or a lock-in contract, a SIM plan is the way to go. It’s easy to get what you need without paying for excess features. Unlimited phone calls and text messages usually come standard, with data and international roaming the main points of difference. If you do want a phone, however, check out the current deals on phone plans, including discounted handsets.
We update this article monthly, so bookmark this page to keep up to date with the cheapest SIM plans. Prices update in real-time, meaning you get the latest deals available in Australia right now. You can also use a custom search to choose a plan that suits your exact needs.
All of the plans featured in this article include an expiry period of at least 28 days. You can purchase a SIM plan with a shorter recharge window, ideal for travellers who only need a bit of data while visiting Australia.
You’ve got options aplenty for postpaid SIM plans; at the time of writing, there are four plans priced at $15 per month or less. Swoop is currently the cheapest, costing $12.40 per month for the first six months, with 30GB of data included and access to Vodafone’s 5G network. Afterwards, it costs $24.90 per month.
Close behind Swoop is Pivotel, which provides Vodafone 4G access for $12.50 per month for the first six months, or $25 per month at a non-discounted rate. SpinTel is another cheap postpaid option, at $14 per month for the first six months, including 25GB of data to use on Optus’ 5G network. Its regular $22 monthly price is also one of the most cost-effective postpaid SIM plans.
Also providing 5G Optus access is Dodo, selling its 40GB plan at a discounted rate of $15 per month for the first six months. At this tier, Dodo’s full price then reverts to $30 per month. On the Telstra network, the current cheapest postpaid SIM plan comes from Tangerine. At $25 per month, it connects to Telstra’s wholesale 4G network, while providing 14GB of rolling data each month.
Prepaid
iiNet and TPG — both using the Vodafone 4G network — currently sell the cheapest prepaid SIM plans, alongside OnePass Mobile, which uses the Optus 5G network. All three plans cost $12.50 per recharge for the first six recharges. Keep in mind that iiNet and TPG operate on a monthly recharge cycle, while OnePass Mobile uses a 28-day cycle.
Another point of difference (however slight) is data. iiNet and TPG include 25GB of data per recharge, and the OnePass Mobile plan in question comes with 22GB. After the discounted period ends, all three plans jump up to $25 per recharge. Kmart and Target shoppers also get a OnePass membership with the associated phone plan, which grants 5x Flybuys points and free delivery across multiple retailers.
On the Telstra network, the cheapest current prepaid SIM plan is $23 from Aldi Mobile on a 30-day renewal. Aldi uses Telstra’s wholesale 4G network while bundling 12GB of data.
Cheapest 5G SIM plans
5G coverage reaches more of Australia than ever, bringing with it faster download speeds. Phones compatible with 5G are also increasingly affordable, making it easier to access high-speed networks.
In some cases, 5G plans can cost more, but as you’ll see below, they can also be among the cheapest.
Postpaid
Continuing the trend of the cheapest overall postpaid SIM plans from earlier, the 5G plans look fairly similar. Like above, Swoop, SpinTel, and Dodo sell discounted 5G postpaid plans at a monthly rate of $15 or less.
Outside of discounts, postpaid 5G plans start from $22 per month, so it’s a reasonably affordable tier.
Prepaid
OnePass Mobile currently sells the cheapest 5G prepaid SIM plans, starting at $12.50 per 28-day renewal. Close behind it are TPG and iiNet’s 5G plans, which cost $17.50 per month with a 50GB data allocation.
Boost Mobile is the cheapest Telstra-based prepaid SIM plan with 5G access, priced at $28 per 28-day renewal. It includes a relatively small 8GB allocation, albeit with a 21GB introductory offer the first time you activate a new plan. Boost is also the only MVNO with access to the full Telstra network, reaching further than most other telcos.
For a bit more data on the Telstra network, Aldi Mobile and Ezee Mobile include 29GB per recharge for $29. Both rely on Telstra’s wholesale network, so check the coverage map to be sure if your area is covered.
Depending on your data needs, you can generally pick up a 5G prepaid plan for $25 or less per recharge.
Cheapest 365-day SIM plans
If you know what you need over a longer period and want to save money in the process, a 365-day SIM plan might do the trick. Simply pay once per year, and get a bank of data to use with unlimited calls and texts. It’s a cost-effective way of paying your phone bill for basic internet users who aren’t big downloaders.
Kogan Mobile and OnePass Mobile currently top the list of cheapest 365-day SIM plans. Both 4G plans cost $149 for the first recharge; Kogan includes 220GB at first (140GB for subsequent recharges), while OnePass includes a static 200GB per recharge. After discounts, Kogan’s long-expiry plan costs $179, and OnePass costs $200, which works out to be a neat dollar per gigabyte of data.
365-day SIM plans on the Telstra network cost more, consistent with most other phone plan categories. Boost Mobile currently has a deal, bringing its $300 plan down to $250, with full access to Telstra’s 5G network and 295GB. Future recharges come with 240GB, which is still a decent allocation.
It costs the same as Woolworths’ $250 Everyday Mobile plan, which bundles in 215GB of data to use on Telstra’s wholesale 4G network.
What you need to know about SIM only plans
It’s fairly easy to change your SIM plan provider. Even more so with the rise of embedded SIM (eSIM) technology, letting you change plans almost instantly with a compatible device. Instead of requiring a physical card, eSIM stores network information directly in your phone.
Irrespective of which service provider you go with, the actual network used will be either Optus, Telstra or Vodafone. Many of the cheapest SIM plan providers are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). This refers to carriers that use the network infrastructure of another company.
Boost Mobile is a popular MVNO that has full access to Telstra’s network, reaching 99.5% of Australians. Not every MVNO includes a network’s full coverage, so it’s worth checking a company’s website to ensure your area is serviced.
In terms of how much data you should choose, data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that Australians generally pay for more than what they need. On average, Aussies use 10.2GB of phone data per month, so it’s likely you could get away with a smaller allowance that costs less.
It also depends on how much you stream and download content using your phone. If you mainly use home or office Wi-Fi and don’t stream much, stick with a cheaper plan.
Postpaid versus prepaid
There are a couple of slightly different SIM plan options to choose from. Postpaid refers to plans that operate on a monthly billing cycle, where you pay at the end of each cycle. Postpaid SIM plans generally don’t involve a lock-in contract, so you can freely swap if your needs change or a better deal comes along. If you hit your data cap for a month, your telco might limit speeds until the next cycle or charge extra costs, so check the fine print beforehand.
Prepaid, on the other hand, sees you pay at the start of each cycle for a fixed number of days. Most prepaid SIM plans have a 28-day expiry cycle instead of a full month. Shorter expiries are also available if you need a SIM while travelling, making it a flexible option. The upside is that if you go over your data limit, you won’t incur extra costs. A lot of prepaid plans don’t automatically recharge by default but you can set up auto-recharge manually, with some telcos offering discounts or bonuses if you do so.
Phone number portability
The SIM changeover process takes about 10 minutes of your time or even less if you choose an eSIM. You will receive instructions to visit a website, provide your details, prove your identity (online) and then insert your new SIM.
Note you will have a choice to migrate your existing mobile number or choose a new one. About 15 minutes later, you should be up and running. However, the documentation will indicate it may take up to 24 hours and be affected by working hours.
Best network coverage
Network coverage is one of the most important factors to consider when buying any phone plan. Low prices and all the data in the world don’t mean much if you can’t get a signal. Fortunately, Australia’s mobile phone network coverage is more competitive than ever because of the TPG Telecom and Optus partnership.
Telstra still boasts the broadest network coverage, reaching 99.7% of the Australian population. Optus and Vodafone aren’t far behind, covering 98.5% and 98.4% respectively. Optus expects to rapidly expand its 5G network, so expect plenty of competition in the next couple of years.
Telco
Overall network coverage
5G network coverage
Telstra
99.7%
95%
Telstra wholesale
98.8%
75%
Optus
98.5%
80.5%
Vodafone
98.5%
Not advertised
More important than percentages is whether your location has coverage. The best way to find out is to check each telco’s coverage map:
However, recent rule changes to mobile coverage maps mean that they’ll look a bit different in the coming months. As determined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, telcos will need to display coverage maps based on standardised data, which is meant to make comparisons easier.
The best way to find out if a plan suits you is to try one for a month. Lock-in contracts are largely a thing of the past, so it’s easier than ever to try one provider and swap if it doesn’t work out.
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We’ve all benefitted from the convenience of ordering food from our phones. I can’t recall the last party I attended where someone didn’t order something from Uber Eats. Guzman y Gomez is taking things a step further by launching an Apple CarPlay app, letting you order your usual Mexican dish without looking at your phone.
It claims to be the first fast food CarPlay app of its kind in Australia, available in cars with an infotainment system that pairs with Apple’s ecosystem. With the latest version of the Guzman y Gomez app downloaded on an iPhone and connected via CarPlay, the integration lets you look up the nearest restaurant, place an order, and pay, all from the car’s screen.
The whole process also saves your loyalty points, with the restaurant’s ‘GOMEX’ rewards system now available to store in Apple Wallet. It feels like a convergence of ordering technologies; tapping your car’s screen a few times, rolling up to the drive-thru, and getting your food — phone still in your pocket — sounds pretty neat.
“Our guests are loyal,” said Bryce Maybury, Chief Technology Officer, Guzman y Gomez. “They know their order, they trust the food, and they just want it fast. CarPlay means they can get their GYG fix without even picking up their phone.”
Although there was no word of Android Auto compatibility, here’s hoping it paves the way for broader platform support. Likewise, with Guzman y Gomez kicking down the door, maybe other fast food chains will join in, too?
My car’s a bit old for CarPlay, but I know my brother — who’s a bit of a GYG fiend — will definitely be giving this a spin.
If you still haven’t come down from the high of Nestory Irankunda’s blistering goal to get the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign off to a flyer, you’re not the only one. Everywhere you look, the global soccer (or football, depending on who you ask) tournament is on a screen of some kind. And after Australia’s effort against Türkiye, I think a few more people will be paying attention.
Motorola is also on the FIFA World Cup 2026 bandwagon, launching a series of limited-edition phones as part of its status as the tournament’s official smartphone partner. One is a slick version of the Motorola Razr flip phone, featuring a nice array of green hues, plus a gold-coloured tournament logo on the back.
Image: Motorola.
It also comes with a collection of exclusive phone wallpapers and the tournament’s jingle as the ringtone. Depending on your team’s fortunes at the World Cup, that ringtone could either lift your spirits or be a haunting reminder of another defeat.
Unfortunately, Australia isn’t one of the countries to get the FIFA edition Razr. I guess it makes sense, considering the tournament is in North America. So, if you’re really keen on your World Cup merch, getting someone to grab one from overseas is your best bet.
Still, it’s a fun design, and one that happens to include some of my favourite colours. That counts for something, right?
While wandering the vast halls of Computex, it’s easy for all the PCs on show to blur into one big homogenous entity. How much more can you change the look and feel of a laptop, considering it’s already a pretty good form factor? Asus made a strong play with its stylish and colourful Zenbook 14 range, something that Acer has matched with its equally sleek Swift Air 14 laptops.
Like most computer brands exhibiting in Taipei, Acer had a lot of laptops on display. There were the brand’s 2-in-1 Swift Spin tablet-laptop hybrids, TravelMate business laptops, and a whole bunch of gaming gear across its Nitro and Predator range. Acer’s latest handheld gaming PC, the Predator Atlas 8, caught my eye among those using Intel’s new dedicated gaming chipset.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 is one of the first devices to use Intel’s new Arc G3 gaming chips. Image: Chris Button.
But the Swift Air 14 stuck in my mind, largely thanks to its combination of design, style, and affordability. Nearly every conversation I had at Computex was accompanied by some mention of how Windows PC manufacturers are responding to Apple’s foray into budget laptops with the MacBook Neo. As a result, people want better build quality, more power, and more colourful designs from affordable laptops.
Acer Swift Air 14 takes it up to the MacBook Neo
With a starting price of $1,399 in Australia, Acer’s Swift Air 14 laptops are a bit pricier than Apple’s base-level PC, but the philosophy is similar. It’s reasonably light at a bit over a kilogram, sports an all-metal build, and comes in a range of hues that deviate from typical laptop black or grey.
It runs on Intel’s more cost-effective ‘Wildcat Lake’ Core Series 3 chips (not the Ultra, which the Swift Spin uses), with up to 12GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Acer claims the 70Wh battery lasts up to 19 hours of continuous video playback, which you’d be watching on its 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS screen.
Image: Chris Button.
Crucially, the Swift Air 14 has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. As positive as the MacBook Neo’s reception has been, its two slower USB-C ports are one of its drawbacks.
Seeing the laptops up close, the colours look smart, with just enough saturation to show some personality without looking cheap. I liked the pink and lilac finishes a lot, and hope that both colours come to Australia.
Acer’s latest affordable laptop, set to launch in Australia in the coming months, will likely go head-to-head with Dell’s revitalised budget XPS 13. Both laptops promise a high-quality and affordable alternative to Apple’s sub-$1,000 laptop, setting the stage for an era of better budget-conscious PCs.
Chris attended Computex 2026 in Taipei as a guest of Intel.
Battery life might be one of the most important factors across nearly all categories of consumer technology. What good is a device that doesn’t last as long as you need it to? It’s something the smart home security sector is contending with, providing options between wired, battery-powered, and solar-powered gadgets. Reolink reckons it has cracked the code with its new ‘Power-Efficient’ range, lasting up to nine months just using battery power.
This technology was shown earlier in the year at CES 2026, using low-powered Wi-Fi technology to reduce battery drain. Several new Reolink devices, including various security cameras and video doorbells, use a Qualcomm QCC730 chip with a technology called ‘Micro-Power Wi-Fi’. As the name suggests, it’s designed to use less power than other wireless technologies.
Among Reolink’s devices to use this technology are the following models:
Argus MagiCam
Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)
Video Doorbell SE
E1 Swift
Remarkably, the Argus MagiCam runs on AA lithium batteries for up to nine months at a time. Taking the form of a small, square-like camera, the $99.99 MagiCam records 1080p footage using a 2MP lens. It comes with a magnetic mount that the camera snaps to, or you could attach it to any metallic surface, indoors or outdoors.
At the higher end of the scale, Reolink also recently launched its triple-lens OMVI security cameras in Australia. Including the $439.99 OMVI 3i Wi-Fi and $429.99 OMVI 3 PoE models, the series can surveil 360 degrees in 4K via a 10MP dual-lens panoramic system and an 8MP pan-tilt lens.
Image: Reolink.
Both cameras also featured at CES this year, including the flagship OMVI X16 PoE model. This one doesn’t have a confirmed Australian release date yet, beyond a Q3 window. Another step above the rest of the OMVI cameras, the X16 also benefits from 16x optical zoom, letting you take a closer look at any action.
It’s good to see more variety coming to home security and smart home gadgets. Not everyone can afford the absolute top-tier gear, so providing a lower-cost option that still lasts a long time could strike a chord with budget-conscious shoppers.
