Not everyone needs the latest phone with all the bells and whistles. Several-year-old phones still do the trick just nicely for most of the population. That’s why it’s worth popping into Coles this week and checking out some of the cheap iPhones available as part of the latest catalogue.
Starting today, you can grab an iPhone 8 for just $199, an iPhone XR for $299, or an iPhone SE (2nd Generation) for $259 from your local supermarket. For the overwhelming majority of people, these phones are more than adequate, and they’re at a great price to boot.
One thing that’s important to know is that these aren’t brand-new devices: they’re refurbished as part of an arrangement with Australian MVNO Boost Mobile. According to the company’s website, refurbished refers to “a gently used, authentic device that has undergone intensive testing and inspection to ensure it is in great working condition.” You may notice some minor cosmetic blemishes, but they work fine all the same. We’ve got some tips on buying refurbished phones so you know what to expect.
Refurbs are a good way to get cheap iPhones
Boost Mobile is big on the circular economy, which is keeping technology in use for as long as possible and avoiding products unnecessarily going to waste. Last year, the company launched a trade-in app to make it even easier to recycle unused phones, with a cash bonus sweetening the deal. This process involves a stringent quality process, ensuring only devices in good working order get resold.
As for the cheap iPhones available at Coles, you’ve got some reasonable options. First is the 4.7-inch iPhone 8, which is wireless charging compatible, and includes a 12MP rear camera in addition to a 7MP selfie camera.
On the more powerful side, there’s also the iPhone XR, which sports a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display (1792 x 828 resolution). Powered by the A12 Bionic chip, it can take both 4K and Full HD videos, and unlock using Face ID.
Meanwhile, the 2nd gen iPhone SE is something of a sleeper hit. Housed in the body of an iPhone 8, it actually runs on the A13 Bionic chip, making it the fastest of the lot. Its smaller form factor makes it ideal for younger users or those of you with smaller hands. You can browse a direct comparison of the three available phones via Apple’s website.
As part of the current Coles promotion, each phone comes unlocked and includes a Boost Mobile starter SIM. Boost operates using the full Telstra network, so you get decent coverage across the country. If you want more data, you can get a Boost Mobile $30 SIM for only $10, which comes with 45GB of mobile data.
As far as cheap iPhones go, this is a pretty good deal on some refurb tech. If you haven’t upgraded in a while, or want something affordable for your child’s first smartphone, this is an option well worth considering.
You’ve spent your hard-earned cash on the latest and greatest phone: now what? There are plenty of accessories you can use to get the most out of your new device. Some make charging a breeze, while others let you listen to music wherever you go. One of the biggest brands we turn to for our accessory needs is Belkin, thanks to the brand’s wide range and good-quality products.
To help you enjoy your phone to the fullest, we’ve teamed up with Belkin to give away two fantastic mobile accessory packs worth up to $580. It doesn’t matter if you’re team Apple or Team Android, because we’ve got you covered.
To enter the competition, all you need to do is read the article and follow the prompts below. It’s super easy, plus you can earn additional entries by completing as many of the listed actions, giving you an even better chance of winning.
Without further ado, here are the great prize packs up for grabs.
Belkin Apple MagSafe prize pack
If you’re an Apple user, you’ll want this prize pack which includes several must-have accessories. First up is a Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe, making it easy to charge multiple Apple devices at once. Music lovers will also benefit from the Belkin SoundForm Immerse Earbuds to listen without being tethered by cables. Finally, there’s also the Belkin iPhone mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks, a great way to use your phone’s impressive camera as a webcam for meetings and calling your friends.
Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger, SOUNDFORM Immerse Earbuds, iPhone Mount
Belkin Android prize pack
In the Android corner are several essential accessories that ensure you’ll never be left in the lurch when it comes to battery power. Included in this prize pack is a BoostCharge Power Bank to keep your phone topped up without needing a wall outlet. Plus, a BoostCharge Pro Dual USB-C Wall Charger lets you quickly recharge two devices at once. Meanwhile, the BoostCharge Wireless Charging Pad makes for an ideal desk accessory to charge Qi-compatible devices. To cap things off, the Belkin SoundForm Immerse Earbuds are also included for your entertainment needs on the go.
BoostCharge Dual Wireless Charging Pad, SOUNDFORM Immerse Earbuds, BoostCharge Power Bank, BoostCharge Pro Dual USB-C Wall Charger
Win a Belkin accessory prize pack
Enter now for a chance to win one of these must-have prize packs and make the most of your phone. Complete as many of the actions as you can below to give yourself multiple entries and boost your chances of winning.
Remember, make sure to get in quickly, as entries close in just a couple of weeks, on Tuesday 11 April 2023. You can also read more about Belkin’s range of mobile accessories via its official website. Best of luck!
iPhone’s latest software update, iOS 16.4, is ready to download, bringing with it several fun and practical features, alongside important fixes.
As with all software updates, some aspects are more exciting than others, like the 21 new emoji available to play with. Included in the added emoji options are new hand gestures, animals, and symbols. One that will undoubtedly become a go-to response across chats and memes alike is a shocked-looking shaking head. A versatile emoji, you could use it to express horror, strong disagreement, or that you’ve just fallen out of a plane without a parachute.
Outside of the fun and games, iOS 16.4 also contains a lot of security fixes. Make sure you download and install the update to secure your device from vulnerabilities.
Aside from emoji and security, there are several things worth checking out in iOS 16.4. Voice Isolation now helps block out background noise when calling via cellular, not just internet-based calls like FaceTime. Plus, there are even more optimisations for Crash Detection, a feature that has had some growing pains along the way. Additionally, gamers can now connect Sony’s premium DualSense Edge controller via Bluetooth.
These are just tip-of-the-iceberg things, with Apple’s full update notes listing plenty more additions and revisions.
21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures and objects are now available in the emoji keyboard
Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen
Voice Isolation for phone calls prioritises your voice and blocks out ambient noise around you
Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
Visual Look Up is now available in New Zealand
Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent’s device
Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home
Crash Detection optimisations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models
To get the new update on your iPhone, open Settings>General>Software Update, and then follow the prompts to install the new software. Here are the compatible devices:
iPhone 14 (base, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max)
iPhone 13 (base, Pro, Pro Max)
iPhone 12 (base, mini, Pro, Pro Max)
iPhone 11 (base, Pro, Pro Max)
iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max
iPhone X and iPhone XR
iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen)
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
If it’s been a while since you’ve updated, brush up on what’s included in previous major updates like iOS 16.1, iOS 16.2, and iOS 16.3.
There’s not much worse than trying to concentrate on a virtual meeting, only to contend with noisy office colleagues or home distractions interrupting you at every step. To combat this, audio and video brand Epos has made the Impact 1000, an on-ear set of Bluetooth headphones designed to make listening easier.
Between a mix of adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and AI technology, the headset works to minimise disruptions. Whether you work in an open-plan building or from the home office, Epos claims that the Impact 1000 helps to reduce brain fatigue. It’s not just for you as the wearer, either. Part of the included AI technology is for picking up your voice while reducing background noise, making it easier for other meeting participants as well.
At nearly $500 (with pricing starting at $485), it’s an expensive device. However, if it lives up to its claims, the investment could be worth it for people who spend lots of time in meetings or work in call centres.
How does the Epos Impact 1000 combat brain fatigue?
As mentioned before, one of the big features is noise reduction. The Impact 1000 adopts machine learning technology to identify which sounds to block, and which sounds to amplify (preferably your voice). If you have notoriously chatty office neighbours, the headset theoretically makes sure that any unwanted chatter doesn’t make it through to your call. Epos claims that this technology scans your surroundings 32,000 times per second, which seems like a lot.
For you, the wearer, adaptive hybrid ANC prevents you from hearing excessive noise, too. To make it clear you’re on a call, there’s a light that lets others know not to interrupt. If you do need to chat with co-workers, the headset’s TalkThrough feature lets you hear them without needing to remove the device. All the while, Bluetooth connectivity lets you pair with up to three devices simultaneously so you can easily swap between devices as needed.
Available in several different configurations, you can get the Epos Impact 1000 series in a single-ear model, double-ear, and with or without ANC. You can also charge the headset using a contactless stand to keep the battery topped up.
Expect to see Epos’ new work headset available from the company’s official website and authorised resellers starting in June 2023.
After announcing this year’s gaming range at CES 2023, Asus has launched its powerful ROG Strix Scar laptops, alongside several other portable machines for playing games on the go. Looking at the spec sheets, there’s a lot under the hood for gaming, visually-intensive tasks, and dozens of browser tabs.
With the flagship Strix lineup out now, we also have pricing details for how much each laptop will set you back. As is normally the case with gaming laptops, they don’t come cheap. We’re talking close to $5K sort of money. Oh, but the power within is mighty impressive.
As detailed in the initial announcement, you can get the top-of-the-range Strix Scar with up to an Nvidia RTX 4090 laptop GPU, which is obscenely powerful. That, and the 13th Gen Intel Core i9 13980HX processor should tackle just about anything you throw at it.
Of course, having strong internals doesn’t mean much if the display output doesn’t pull its weight. Here, Asus proudly boasts about its new Nebula HDR mini-LED screen technology capable of 240Hz refresh rates, at a QHD+ resolution of 2560 x 1600. Games, and everything else, should look very nice on that.
Also out now is the slightly less out-there ROG Strix G laptop, followed by the Zephyrus M16, the latter of which is also targeted at content creators who game. If you want something a little more affordable, that’s where the TUF Advantage Edition A16 comes in. An AMD-powered laptop, it wields up to a Radeon RX 7700S GPU that’s said to be faster than the Nvidia RTX 3060 desktop GPUs, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Although not out yet, the 2023 hybrid ROG Flow X13 gaming tablet shouldn’t be far away. We’d expect the XG Mobile portable external graphics dock to launch alongside or within close proximity to the tablet.
Asus ROG Strix release date and price
Without further ado, here are the recommended prices for the Asus ROG range. Perhaps don’t take a sip of your drink before reading on, as some of the figures are big. Really big. However, that is the nature of gaming laptops; you’re paying more for the high-quality displays and portable grunt combined.
These days, most music is mixed in stereo and sounds best when you have two speakers or a pair of headphones to give you the full effect. With the Era 100, Sonos has somehow made one speaker sound like two speakers, with is both very impressive, and convenient for those with smaller spaces or budgets. But, is it good?
Taking it out of the box, it has roughly the same footprint as the Sonos One speaker (its predecessor), but it’s a bit more squished at the front, and a bit taller.
The biggest difference noticeable in the design is the new indented channel at the top for volume control. Before you just kinda swiped your finger across the top of the Sonos speaker and hope it knew you wanted to change the volume rather than the song. Now the sections for changing the song and the volume are separate, which is a much better experience.
The setup is really easy: you just take it out of the box, plug it into the wall, open the Sonos app and take roughly two minutes to add it to an existing Sonos system or set up a new one.
Overall, my first impression is that it’s a great speaker that lives up to the Sonos name.
Stereo separation
Incidentally, it’s also my second impression that this speaker is good. I have never heard a speaker this small get such a clear stereo separation. If I close my eyes and listen, I genuinely think it sounds like two separate speakers. The effect holds up whether you’re close or further away, and it also sustains surprisingly well when you approach it from an angle.
The way the effect works is that the speaker has two waveforms at the top where the two tweeters are to direct music out the sides in different angles to give you a sense of having left and right speakers.
The indent along the top of the speaker makes using the on-device controls easier. Image: Alice Clarke
Most stereo mixing tries to sound like the music is balanced and coming from the middle of the room/your head. But stereo separation is most obvious in songs that use stereo effects for disorientation, or to separate out the instruments in the room.
On a song like “Wilderness” by Sleater-Kinney, the disorienting effect isn’t anywhere near as strong as it is on headphones, or my usual office speaker set-up (two Sonos Ones as a stereo pair with a Sonos Sub Mini for bass). But, it is noticeable and distinct in a way that makes a real difference to the listening experience compared to a single mono speaker.
On a song with regular stereo mixing, like “Full Heart Fancy” by Lucky Chops, it’s easy to hear that the instruments have a little more room to breathe, so you can hear more details than you normally would on a mono speaker. The higher the volume, the more pronounced the effect.
But is there bass?
My first instinct with smaller speakers is usually that they would sound better with a subwoofer taking the bass load off the speaker. That’s not the case with the Sonos Era 100. Obviously, it would sound better in a stereo pair with a Sub or Sub Mini, but most people will be thrilled with the sound from this one speaker without accoutrements.
Going back to “Full Heart Fancy” by Lucky Chops, it is slightly more bass-heavy than I would normally like, which grounds the song a touch more than it should be. This is a song where the instruments need to soar, and in systems where there is a separate subwoofer, the higher notes aren’t as pulled down into the woofer, so the melody shines a little better. But, I’m impressed that the bass isn’t muddy, and the jangling of the hi-hats is clear in the background of the bass drum and sousaphone. While it’s not as noticeable as usual, I can still hear the little sizzle on the snare, even though the bass threatens to overwhelm it a little.
My usual headphone and speaker testing song is “Chasing Twisters” by Delta Rae, and there is a little vocal fry before the second chorus that tends to separate the good and great speakers and headphones. Alas, the Sonos Era 100 is only in the ‘good’ category. I get the ghost of the growl, but it lacks the venom I normally hear on truly great (and more expensive) speakers.
Also available in white, the Sonos Era 100 accessorises nicely with your decor.
Listening to the intro, the piano notes can’t ring as clearly as I would generally like, while the deep floor toms have a gorgeous resonance. But in the pre-chorus, the rolls on the toms melt into the background and the vocals shine clearly.
The speaker truly shines when playing “Maybe You Saved Me” by Bad Suns. Every part sounds as I would expect: deep, rich and smooth. Same with “Everything At Your Feet” by Odesza, the bass is appropriately deep and commanding, but the jangly effect throughout holds the appropriate space.
Songs like “Night After Sidewalk” by Kaki King are another big test for speakers, because it’s such a beautiful single instrumental track and the magic lies in the details. The sound of the fingers touching the fretboard, fingers moving on the strings, each pluck of each string. It’s still a little heavier on the bass than I would like, and the higher notes sound a little muted. But it still sounds so beautiful that I kept getting lost in it while writing, and ended up with a little tear in my eye.
So, while the Sonos Era 100 isn’t going to compete with $1,000 speakers any time now, it still punches well above its weight and is probably the best speaker under $500 I’ve ever heard, particularly one this small.
Smart features
If you’re not familiar with Sonos systems, these speakers connect via Wi-Fi to provide multi-room audio, all controllable through an app. So, better quality than Bluetooth (though, this has Bluetooth as an option as well), and can play all the major streaming services and podcast platforms, as well as a tonne of radio stations.
The big changes to the connectivity to the Era 100 over the Sonos One are that it has USB-C input, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility, and Amazon Alexa. It basically does everything the Sonos One does, but without an ethernet port or Google Assistant built-in, and the addition of USB-C and Bluetooth. Both the Era 100 and Era 300 mark the first time USB-C and Bluetooth have come to non-portable Sonos speakers.
One of the things I really like is that if you don’t want to risk the smart assistant listening to you, there is a hardware toggle that completely turns off the microphone. This also disables Fast True Play (which is the shortcut to tune Sonos speakers to your room) but means it is physically impossible for the speaker to listen to you at all, which is important for people who are concerned about privacy.
On the flip side, if you do like having Amazon Alexa on at home, it’s handy to have that and a good speaker in one small package.
Would I buy it?
Yes. Absolutely. Without hesitation. Sonos speakers are built to last, and the Era 100 is certainly no exception. It sounds unbelievably fantastic for a speaker this size, (unlike most other smart devices) you’ll almost certainly still be using it a decade from now, and I am in awe of how well this small, single speaker achieves stereo separation. If you want a small speaker, and your budget stretches this far, the Sonos Era 100 is your best choice.
Forget the wired sound system for your home entertainment setup, wireless is where it’s at. One of the latest examples of the technology comes in the form of the new JBL Bar Series of soundbars. Led by the flagship JBL Bar 1300 model, the cinema-like audio gear brings Dolby Atmos, DTS:X 3D Surround Sound, and detachable wireless speakers to kit out your living room.
Alongside the JBL Bar 1300, the company has four other models aimed at different budgets. These include the JBL Bar 1000, 800, 500, and 300 soundbars, each with different feature sets that correspond with the different price points.
Clear dialogue is a must-have feature in any modern soundbar. JBL’s answer to this is a technology called “Harman’s PureVoice”, which uses an algorithm to make it easier to hear voices. The idea is that you should still be able to hear dialogue even amidst competing loud sounds – looking at you, Tenet. All of the newly launched soundbars include PureVoice, so you’ll benefit from the feature regardless of how much you spend.
An additional feature across every JBL Bar model is wireless integration with the JBL One app. With the app and a Wi-Fi connection, you can seamlessly connect the soundbars to your preferred music streaming service, all while tweaking EQ settings to your liking. Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant all come supported, too. And, if you want to cast audio without using the JBL One app, the soundbars also support AirPlay 2, Alexa multi-room playback, and Chromecast.
What makes the JBL Bar 1300 stand out from the range?
At $1,999.95, the 1300 model is the most expensive of the new soundbars, which makes sense when you look at its internals. To start with, it has a 1170W output, making it the most powerful. It also has the best capacity for generating true Dolby Atmos due to housing six up-firing drivers, which makes it feel like the audio is coming from all directions.
Plus, the JBL Bar 1300 has two detachable wireless surround speakers you can place around your living room. In the olden days, running a surround sound system required delicate cable management. Now, you can coordinate speakers much more easily, thanks to the battery-powered wireless units. That, and a 10-inch wireless subwoofer ensures you get plenty of strong bass sounds.
From now until July, the JBL Bar 1300 is a Harvey Norman exclusive, but the other new soundbar models are available at other home entertainment retailers.
Specifications
Here’s a rundown of each new soundbar’s internals and what the different models offer.
JBL Bar 1300
JBL Bar 1000
JBL Bar 800
JBL Bar 500
JBL Bar300
Channels
11.1.4
7.1.4
5.1.2
5.1
5.0 All-in-one
Total speaker power output
1170W
880W
720W
590W
260W
Detachable rear channels
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
True Dolby Atmos
Yes
Yes
Yes
Virtual
Virtual
DTS:X 3D surround sound
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
MultiBeam
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
HDMI eARC with 4K Dolby Vision pass-through
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Upfiring drivers
6
4
2
0
0
Subwoofer
10” Wireless
10” Wireless
10” Wireless
10” Wireless
Built-in
HARMAN PureVoice
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
JBL One App
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Price
$1,999.95
$1,499.95
$999.95
$749.95
$529.95
As you can see, you get increasingly more in return for how much you spend. Even though the cheaper models may not get true Dolby Atmos or detachable wireless parts, you still benefit from PureVoice and app integration. JBL speakers have a good reputation, so we’re keen to listen to the new soundbars when we get the chance.
