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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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