CRKD has released the Neo S Frost Edition controller, an Apple Store exclusive controller for mostly mobile gaming. It might be a little tricky to get your hands on, in terms of finding it to buy, but more than capable for gaming on the go thanks to great battery, compatibility and form factor.
Design
The stand-out feature on the CRKD Neo S Frost Edition isn’t one that will affect your gaming. It’s the look of it. Blizzard-style snow blending up into a transparent body give this controller a stunning look.
But let’s glide towards the actual gaming chops of this controller. I always reluctantly lean towards calling this form-factor of controller, “retro”. Sure, it’s fairly retro in its style and feel, but there’s a lot more here than your old SNES controller had. Functionality I’ll get into later.
My take on this particular form factor is two-fold. For simple mobile gaming or ROM emulation of retro games, this is a perfect design. But if I’m cloud gaming modern games, the shoulder buttons just feel a little too tight for me.
A bit of GTA on the go on a flight.
Which is why CRKD included reprogrammable buttons on the rear that feel slightly more comfortable to me. But what I would say is that generally, gaming with this form-factor isn’t the same as gaming with a console controller. It takes a little adjusting, but is very doable.
The importance of this form-factor is portability. It is significantly easier to slot this style of controller into a backpack over a full-sized console controller, or even the likes of the GameSir G8 Galileo.
If you’re gaming, like me, on an iPad most of the time, you’ll probably just leave the tablet on a flat surface while holding the controller. But if you’re a mobile gamer, you might need the CRKD mount which is unfortunately sold separately, despite being nearly essential for mobile gamers.
Functionality
Despite the “retro” vibes the CRKD Neo S Frost Edition gives off, it is ram-packed with features. I’ll address the elephant in the room first. While this is an Apple Store exclusive, it will work with Apple devices, Android devices, smart TVs, PCs and the likes. It connects via Bluetooth, so it’s pretty universal.
The controller bears what has become a modern standard. You get Hall effect thumb sticks, the usual console-style button layout but with tighter shoulder buttons. As I mentioned, you can remap these to two additional buttons, S1 and S2 on the rear, two buttons in a surprisingly natural position.
Setting those buttons up is pretty easy too, all configured through the CRKD app. Here is where you can change mappings but also customise vibration feedback. As someone who was disappointed with how customisation worked on the 8Bitdo Ultimate 2C recently, CRKD’s approach is excellent. It’s user-friendly and inviting, making me want to engage with it and make my own gaming experience as perfect as possible for me.
The CRKD app offers a wealth of customisation options.
Another nice feature with this controller is the charging dock that it comes with. Might seem odd for a mobile gaming controller to have a dock, but remember, this is a mostly mobile gaming controller. You can have this controller sitting on your desk, ready to be grabbed for a game at any moment. It’s also a clever idea because when you get home from your day of mobile gaming, your controller has a home where it can easily be recharged. You just have to make a habit of doing it.
That’s not to say the battery life isn’t impressive. The controller manages its power cleverly, offering up over 6 hours in gaming battery life. Plenty for the average flight and more than enough for even the longest commutes.
Finally, the base of the controller features a 3.5mm headphone socket for wired accessories.
Who is CRKD?
Before I wrap up and give the final verdict on this controller, I was interested to know a little more about CRKD (which, fun fact, is pronounced “cracked”). The controller says “Designed in California, Made in China”, but I couldn’t find out much more about them.
However, I did find out they are owned by the Swedish Embracer Group, specifically Freemode. They are basically an investment company or video game holding company that owns and operates a vast number of game developers and publishers.
In today’s world, I like to know there’s a European ownership angle here.
CRKD have a really cool aspect to them. When you buy a CRKD controller, you can add it to the CRKD app by tapping the rear of the device against your phone. This is you “collecting” it, and “collecting” is a big element of what CRKD do. Once you “collect” the controller, you get details, including which number in the limited batch you received.
Each CRKD controller has a somewhat limited availability, which is an extra bit of “neat” to add into the mix.
The Verdict: CRKD Neo S Frost Edition
While it looks great, the feel of the CRKD Neo S Frost, off the bat, isn’t my cup of tea. But the customisation is worth its weight in gold here. It let me make the controller suit my personal style.
I like the flexibility of this type of controller over the likes of the Backbone, but it’s a pity that the mount is a separate accessory, given how essential it is.
Another frustrating element is just how hard this specific controller might be to get. It’s only available in Apple Stores, but even at the time of writing, this couldn’t be bought on Apple’s online store or ordered for pickup in the Belfast Apple Store.
There are plenty over in the UK for pickup if you really want one, but this controller leaves me with only one recommendation.
I can highly recommend the CRKD NEO S controller, but just don’t bother waiting around to find the Frost Edition. It’s pretty and all, but functionally, it’s the same as the rest of CRKD’s NEO S range. Generally this controller will set you back anything from €40 to €75, but right now there’s a version of it available for sale Amazon. Nice and simple.
Virgin Media today announced it would be launching 5Gb broadband in Q2 of 2025. This adds to the company’s home broadband offerings of 500Mb, 1Gb and 2Gb. This falls under the company’s ongoing €200 million network upgrade to full fibre.
Speaking at the launch event today in Dublin, Virgin Media’s Vice President of Consumer, Paul Higgins, said Virgin Media is responding to consumer trends, increasing data consumption and what our customers have told us in terms of their broadband services”.
But there are some key questions which remains to be answered ahead of Virgin Media’s 5Gb launch in Ireland.
How much will Virgin Media 5Gb Broadband Cost?
Unfortunately, the launch event was a little light on the details of how much 5Gb broadband would cost consumers. Looking at Virgin’s offering today, every incremental increase in your connection speed typically adds €10 to your monthly bill.
Today, 2Gb broadband costs €90 per month after discounts. Logically, that would leave me to believe 5Gb broadband could be the first internet-only connection in Ireland to break through the €100 per month barrier.
Naturally, you can expect to see some discounts for new customers, but I don’t expect existing customers to be given a financial incentive to upgrade to 5Gb broadband.
So is there any incentive for them, or in general, to have 5Gb broadband?
Do you need 5Gb Broadband?
At a potential cost of €100 per month, you would have to start asking just how much do you need 5Gb broadband. In fact, you should be asking if you need faster broadband at all if you don’t generally feel the need on a day-to-day basis.
As you might imagine, I live in a pretty tech-heavy household. There are regularly multiple devices streaming to different devices, games downloading and games being streamed live, all while someone could be having a video call with family or work.
This typically happens concurrently on my 500Mb Virgin Media connection, in a mix of Wi-Fi devices and some hardwired into my network. Could I make an argument for 1Gb? Maybe, but I’d be reluctant to pay anything extra for it.
A large part of today’s launch event focused on “beating the buffer” as being a perk of 5Gb broadband. But given I do all of this, in a highly connected home, on 500Mb broadband, I fail to see why many consumers would be champing at the bit to spend anywhere near €100 per month on broadband.
Will 5Gb Broadband Need New Hardware?
Whether or not your existing Virgin Media router will need upgrading to access 5Gb speeds depends on what you have today. My 500Mb (white) router is not capable of handling anything beyond current speeds. Even if I wanted 1Gb broadband, I would need a new (black) router – also known as the Hub 2.
If you want access to Virgin Media’s 5Gb offering, or indeed its 2Gb offering, you will need their fibre-enabled hub. If you don’t have this, then you will need a hardware upgrade. This will also reduce the number of properties compatible with 5Gb broadband, as the address will need to be fibre-powered.
Another setback for consumers is that the existing routers Virgin Media use only support, at best, Wi-Fi 6. This means there’s no access to Wi-Fi 7, which is arguably essential to make the most out of a 5Gb connection. It’s easily overcome back plugging a Wi-Fi 7 mesh system into the router, but still, far from ideal.
It’s exciting to see Ireland’s broadband infrastructure push new speed limits, but we may have reached the point of diminishing returns. If you are experiencing buffering in your home, I’d look at checking your Wi-Fi strength away from your modem and potentially running LAN cables to key devices before taking the leap with 5Gb broadband.
Bad news for PlayStation gamers if you were settling in for a late night of gaming. The PlayStation Network (PSN) is down. Sony’s PSN is experiencing a major outage as of Friday evening, with widespread reports of issues affecting account management, gaming and social features, the PlayStation Store, and even PlayStation Video.
According to Downdetector, user reports of problems began spiking around 11PM GMT Irish time, with Sony officially acknowledging the issues at 12PM.
Gamers are struggling to launch digital games, access online features, or even see their friends and trophies on PS5 and PS4. Some users report being unable to sign in entirely.
Sony has stated that they are working to resolve the problem “as soon as possible”, but as of now, there is no clear ETA for when services will be restored. This marks yet another PSN outage, following a similar incident in October that lasted around eight hours, as well as a partial outage in May.
If you were hoping for a weekend gaming session, you might have to wait it out or turn to other platforms for now. As of this writing, Xbox Live and Nintendo Online do not appear to be experiencing similar problems, but the wider cause for PSN’s issue are unknown.
We’ll keep you updated as soon as services resume. Stay tuned, and fingers crossed for a quick fix!
Sometimes it hurts to see others living your dream. But when it’s someone like Tadhg Furlong flying an Airbus A320, I can live with it.
n a unique crossover between sport and aviation, Irish rugby players Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier, and Robbie Henshaw stepped into the cockpit to see if they could fly an Airbus A320. With guidance from Aer Lingus instructors Captain Daragh Gunning and Captain Caolan Flanagan, the players took on the challenge in a full-motion flight simulator at Simtech Aviation in Dublin.
Used to making split-second decisions under pressure on the pitch, the players now had to apply that mindset to the skies. The challenge? Take off from Dublin Airport, fly over Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium, and then land safely—all with minimal training.
The results were a mix of nerves, steady hands, and plenty of laughs. Some players showed a surprising level of control, while others got a taste of just how tricky landing a commercial airliner can be.
The highlights for me come early, with Furlong channelling his inner rally navigator and quotes from my favourite movie, Airplane, aplenty.
It’s a fun watch for rugby and aviation fans alike, offering a glimpse at how professional athletes handle pressure in a completely different environment. Safe to say, nobody will be swapping jerseys for pilot uniforms just yet, but they might have a future in flight sims if the Six Nations doesn’t work out this year.
I’ll hold my hand up and admit something that not all tech reviewers will. Smartphones are absolutely boring. I bought a new iPhone 16 Pro with my own money and have felt absolutely no desire to write about it. I watched the Samsung Galaxy S25 launch and didn’t have any emotional response whatsoever.
What does excite me is something new, offering customers in Ireland another choice. I’m reluctant to mention Huawei in this article, but that’s what Huawei used to be in the Irish market. A genuine alternative to Apple and Samsung smartphones. Now, we are getting both new Xiaomi and HONOR phones launching in the Irish market. And this excites me. I’ve been testing out the HONOR Magic 7 Pro for a few weeks since launch, and here’s what I think so far.
Disclaimer: HONOR hosted a launch event for the Magic 7 Pro in Slovenia and brought me to this event. Of course, I don’t let this influence my opinion, however it only feels right I disclose it.
HONOR Puts Artificial Intelligence at the Centre of the Magic 7 Pro
HONOR went through great lengths to promote AI at the centre of the Magic 7 Pro’s key offerings during the phone’s launch presentation. The key focus of AI’s power focused on what it could do for the camera. Personally, I think this was the wrong tactic. The Magic 7 Pro has an excellent camera without any of the AI-powered editing you get to add in. In fact, some of the AI-editing and AI-supported zoom features, create images which aren’t great.
But the Magic 7 Pro gives you access to some additional AI features which went completely undersold in my opinion. Take the HONOR Notes app for example. It’s absolutely incredible. I sat in a meeting last week and turned on the Notes app. I asked the app to transcribe the meeting for me, which it did with incredible accuracy. I then told the app what kind of meeting I was in, and it perfectly summarised the key talking points that were discussed that I should take away from the meeting.
This is AI at it’s very best in my opinion, and buying a phone like the Magic 7 Pro is (spoiler alert) not only giving you an excellent smartphone full of great rounded features and specs, but also giving you access to a wide suite of AI productivity tools that require no additional subscription.
I hear nearly every phone maker going on about AI changing your life. But honestly, this is the first time I’ve had a smartphone in my hand that’s capable of incredible AI-powered productivity.
Beyond the note-taking, the Magic 7 Pro offers the most impressive translation service I’ve ever seen in a smartphone. As someone with a German other half and years of failing to learn German, I have vast amounts of experience in trying translation apps. They all fail in one relatively simple area; real-time translation. Google Translate, DeepL and the rest all have specialist areas they succeed, but real-time translation is always the most useful thing they fail at. The HONOR Magic 7 Pro is incredible at this. I’ve used it to watch German TV shows with one headphone in as the phone takes in what’s on the TV and relays to me in English, with a slight delay. It’s not perfect, but it’s powerful.
If you were in the proper scenario of someone speaking to you who knows to take a small pause from time to time, there is no beating this phone for translation.
I’m completely aware that I’ve picked out two use-cases of the Magic 7 Pro being really strong which won’t apply to everyone. But these two features in particular were so strong that if they are scenarios you find yourself in on a semi-regular basis, it makes the Magic 7 Pro a very strong smartphone for your money.
But let’s look at the other, more broadly applicable, features that people are usually interested in.
The Magic 7 Pro Has an Excellent Camera – Sans AI
I fully understand that companies have to plaster AI all over their smartphones these days. It’s what investors want, but I refuse to believe that customers really care all that much about it. Fundamentally, I don’t believe customers really know why AI in a smartphone is going to do anything for them at all.
However, beyond the use cases above that I loved, HONOR as used AI in the Magic 7 Pro’s camera too. Which means I need to review two aspects of the camera system on this phone for you. First, the base camera itself and secondly what pictures look like after AI has had it’s machine learning way with them.
Foundationally and from a hardware point of view, the Magic 7 Pro has a remarkable camera system capable of providing excellent photography options for point and shoot holidaymakers, or more spec-interested mobile photographers.
I’ll admit it and say I’m more the former, non-nerdy spec-heavy point and shoot type. Here, the Magic 7 Pro was absolutely incredible. I loved the colours it captured for me and overall the sharp details it captured across the range of lenses. My iPhone’s hardware does tend to let it down on taking the most simple shots, while the Magic 7 Pro let me capture more of the “wow” I was seeing in person around Lake Bled in Slovenia.
But it was impossible not to get interested by what else the hardware was capable of doing. The Magic 7 Pro features a variable aperture system on the phone’s 50 MP wide camera allowing for a physical aperture of f/1.4–f/2. You can physically see a mechanical cover moving on the rear camera as the setting changes.
Mobile variable aperture in motion. Image Marty Meany.
As smartphone photographers reach for phones in a range of lighting conditions, this is a key feature. Behind able to open or close the lens enhances your ability to dynamically adapt to different lighting conditions, particularly when paired with its large 1/1.3″ sensor. A wider f/1.4 aperture allows more light in, significantly improving low-light performance and creating a natural bokeh effect thanks to the sensor’s 1.2µm pixel size.
Low light photography is incredible thanks to the Magic 7 Pro’s hardware and sensors. Image Marty Meany.
In brighter conditions, switching to f/2.0 reduces light intake, helping to prevent overexposure and ensuring sharper details and better dynamic range. This flexibility is especially useful for landscape shots and group photos, where a deeper depth of field is preferred.
You can let the phone control the best settings, if you are like me, or head into “Pro Mode” and take complete control of the settings on the Magic 7 Pro if you really know what you’re at.
Ultimately, unlike smartphones that rely on AI-based software processing to simulate these effects, the hardware-based aperture control delivers more natural and optically superior results.
The selfie camera also delivers satisfying shots. I accidently wore some amazingly contrasting colours while testing out the camera in Slovenia with the Magic 7 Pro’s selfie camera rig showing great depth of field and detail.
A selfie using the Magic 7 Pro front facing camera. Image Marty Meany.
Overall, I loved the shots I was taking with the Magic 7 Pro’s fundamental hardware, but what are all these AI features HONOR is keen to sell?
Hit and Miss AI-Photography From The Magic 7 Pro
As I’ve mentioned, HONOR went through pains to sell the idea of it’s AI-powered photography abilities. I was initially extremely impressed with the “in-house” demos of the Magic 7 Pro’s AI-supported up-to-100x zoom.
This option kicks in once you zoom past the 30x threshold on the phones camera. Here, I was at the far side of the room taking a picture of a plant. The Magic 7 Pro took both a simple shot using the phone’s hardware, but also an AI-supported shot.
A stronger example of HONOR’s AI Zoom. Image Marty Meany.
The AI-shot recognised what the phone was capturing, compared it to millions of other plants in the AI’s models and amended the image to create the much sharper image you see on the top. This example wow’d me if I’m honest. And the feature would continue to have moments of “wow” in the wild. However, it was interlaced with moments where the zoom just appeared artificial and looking overly AI-generated.
On our travels up the snowy mountains of Bled, Slovenia, we met a cat that demonstrates what I mean. I’m almost certain you’ll see this cat in countless other reviews and YouTube videos.
A cat we met on our adventures show AI benefits and limitations. Image Marty Meany.
At a glance, the AI-supported shot seems ok. But closer inspection shows lots of artefacts, unnatural lines and the general vibe that AI-generated images give off.
Another extreme test of the phones 100x zoom was from a vantage point in Bled looking down upon the famous Lake Bled itself featuring the Church of the Assumption on Bled Island.
First of all, I have to put this shot into context with the distance I’m shooting from and I’m sure, for many, this demonstrates that the Magic 7 Pro is capable of usable shots from great distances, whether that is AI-supported or not.
The view across Lake Bled, Slovenia.Image Marty Meany.
This is where I stood when I took the following photo of a church. Yep, that church on that tiny little island. So I could argue that on the one hand, it’s incredible that a smartphone could take a usable image at all.
AI zoom with mixed results. Image Marty Meany.
Without any AI, the original bottom image is respectable. But at a glance, the AI-supported image is sharper with better colour and definition. However, when you closely inspect the image you see the windows completely change and even the cross goes missing from the church steeple.
Overall, the AI features left me asking myself when does the photo you shot stop being the photo you shot, and start being a new creation altogether thanks to AI. But it also left me asking myself if this image is simply more usable because of AI.
Right now, I tend to see all of these huge zoom, AI-supported features as things you’re unlikely to use. If you’re a casual photographer, you’ll most likely just point and shoot things in regular range. If you like proper photography, the AI-support makes an unnatural image.
The good news is that you get to choose whether you want an AI-supported image, or just the image you took. As you can see above, I’m seeing both versions of the shots I took. So if the AI goes too wild, you can stick with your natural shot or vice versa if the AI nailed it.
The bottom line is that the HONOR Magic 7 Pro has a fantastic camera in terms of hardware, and it provides a great camera for most scenarios. The old adage of “the best camera is the one you have when you need it” rings true. But I wouldn’t recommend the camera on AI-features alone. Far from it. I would, however, recommend the camera as simply being a fantastic smartphone camera.
Magic 7 Pro is Great for Gaming
I’ve been getting into mobile gaming a lot lately. I bought myself a Gamesir G8, primarily to use with my iPad Pro 11-inch, which took some modding. But it fits the Magic 7 Pro perfectly, which meant I had to take it gaming with the likes of Genshin Impact and Real Racing 3.
Gaming on the HONOR Magic 7 Pro is great. Image Marty Meany.
HONOR is one of the first phones to launch in Ireland with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It makes sense as Qualcomm has positioned this as an AI-powerhouse with on-device AI features at the core. But the consensus in the tech world is that this chip also brings slight, but incremental gains, in the gaming department. I lean on the community here, given I simply haven’t had the chance to test enough phones in the space.
I found the Magic 7 Pro smooth for gaming, with a fantastic AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and HDR Vivid support offering up sharp immersive gaming. One slight negative is the floating island which houses the phone’s two cameras. An unavoidable design choice, perhaps, but a bitter black pill to swallow in some games with lighter colour pallets. But let’s be honest, you’d have this on iPhone and several other phones, while also knowing your brain will eventually train it out.
Another nice gaming feature is the inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 support for those of you lucky enough to have this. A great feature for remote playing your PlayStation 5 or Xbox titles at home.
It’s difficult to test a phone in a relatively short period of time for a wide range of games when there are so many options out there. But from my experience, the Magic 7 Pro didn’t fall down anywhere, with excellent connectivity, processing power and battery power on hand to give a great mobile gaming experience.
I’m sure there are gamers out there who would look for more, but like the camera features, I consider myself to be somewhat of an average mobile gamer and the Magic 7 Pro ticked all boxes I could ask of it.
Design of the HONOR Magic 7 Pro
Out of habit, I tend to move the design of phones down in my reviews because there’s rarely anything of note here. I didn’t test the HONOR Magic 6 Pro, but from speaking with other reviewers at the launch, designwise, the Magic 7 Pro, visibly, isn’t a massive departure from last year’s phone.
This means my first impressions of the HONOR Magic 7 Pro, were my first impressions of an HONOR flagship device; full-stop. This was my second time testing an HONOR device after the HONOR 70 Lite.
The design is premium. That will mean everything to some people, and nothing to others. But for me, it’s crucial. When I pick up a flagship premium-priced phone, I expect to feel a solid but comfortably weighted and balanced smartphone. The Magic 7 Pro is a larger than average phone and I would say not for those of you with smaller hands.
But the rounded edges make it comfortable in the hand and most importantly, enjoyable to reach into your pocket and pull out at a moments notice to use, whether that be Googling something or taking a quick snap.
The round camera housing on the rear is, well, massive. Instead of trying to hide it all, HONOR has leaned into the housing and made it a feature of the phone. The sizable round casing of the camera gives the phone nice balance on a tabletop, hacking design much like Google did with the Pixel’s long camera bar design.
The phone’s robustness is a game of two halves. Most importantly, HONOR has built a device here that’s designed to survive more than a gentle hop off the ground. At the launch, HONOR’s team gave us various heights the phone would survive a drop from. I’ll admit, I don’t like hopping loaner phones off the ground. However, they did drive a quad over the Magic 7 Pro on a rocky road before my eyes, and it survived without a scratch.
The HONOR Magic 7 Pro survived a trip under a quad. Image Marty Meany.
There was no trickery, and I do believe HONOR has built a phone here that, with the aid of a case, you don’t have to worry about it slipping out of your pocket onto a timber floor or the likes.
But you do have to get a case. I scratched up my Magic 7 Pro pretty badly. I think it may have been a case I had on my iPhone that was in the same pocket as the Magic 7 Pro. The case has a little steel nubbin (one of my fave technical terms) on it for fitting lenses. I appreciate this is a niche scenario to find yourself in, but the same scratches could easily be caused by the rivets on a pair of jeans. So I do have to recommend a case if you pick this phone up.
My HONOR Magic 7 Pro did take some scratches fairly easily. Image Marty Meany.
Alongside otherwise sturdy design, the Magic 7 Pro is IP69 rated and I’ve dumped it in the snow enough to say it’s not afraid of liquid. So beyond that little scratchy blip, the design of the Magic 7 Pro is top-notch.
There was no fears dumping the Magic 7 Pro into the snow for a bit. Image Marty Meany.
And the Battery?
Well this is a big talking point that has vexed some people, but in my opinion, for all the wrong reasons. You see, HONOR launched the Magic 7 Pro in other markets, like China, ages ago. You have no idea how weird it is going to a launch you’re not allowed talk about for a phone that’s already on the market.
But I guess one of the reasons for this was the phone’s battery. It launched in China with a bigger battery than it did here in Europe. Now, am I bothered by that? No. Not in the slightest. But plenty of people online went to war over this.
The reason I’m left baffled by this is simply that the battery was great for me. I charged the device and easily got a full day, to day and a half out of it. This was testing it with a SIM in it, regular connections to either cellular or WiFi and using it to check emails, take photos and do the usual Googling. It even included some gaming and AI usage which would really dial up the on-board processor usage.
Overall, I have no qualms about the battery. But if you have read closely you’ll know I daily drive an iPhone 16 Pro, so this battery was always going to satisfy me!
It is worth noting that, at least in the box I got, there was no charging brick; just a cable. HONOR does promise some impressive charging specs but you’ll need to make sure you get a charger to match, ideally from HONOR itself.
The Goosed Verdict: HONOR Magic 7 Pro
I had hoped that the HONOR Magic 7 Pro could enter the Irish market and finally provide a massive competitor to Apple and Samsung. A few days after getting my hands on the Magic 7 Pro, I started to receive news of the new Samsung phones. I couldn’t really explain why, but I was much more excited about what the Magic 7 Pro had to offer.
I’ve always backed the underdogs because they provide much needed competition in the market. I also laughed to myself when the AI features that genuinely impressed me the most on the Magic 7 Pro were the ones I heard the least about in all the briefings. But it makes sense. Buying a smartphone is a personal decision, and after reading this I hope you have enough info to know whether or not the HONOR Magic 7 Pro makes sense for you.
The final piece in the puzzle could be the price, and the HONOR Magic 7 Pro is a considered purchase at €1299 SIM free from the likes of Harvey Norman from February 3rd. You will also be able to grab this phone on contract from Three later in February, with that up-front pricing TBC
Realistically, on paper and price tag, the Magic 7 Pro is up against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, priced at €1489 and €1469 respectively.
Suddenly, that €1299 helps HONOR emerge as a real alternative to both Apple and Samsung, exactly as I had hoped it would. You need to leave some of the AI stuff to the side as being just OK, but I’m comfortable recommending as a fantastic phone with enough genuine foundational quality and x-factor bells and whistles to impress down the local.
In 2008, a team started working on what many today still consider to be one of the best wearables of all time; the Pebble e-Ink smartwatch. The company, unfortunately, failed and the guts of it all was bought by FitBit, and ultimately Google. Today, the original founders have announced that Google has open-sourced the operating system behind the watches; PebbleOS. And now, there’s a new Pebble e-Ink smartwatch coming, apparently.
Isn’t this exciting.
What is the Pebble e-Ink Smartwatch?
My first smart wearable was a Pebble e-Ink smartwatch. I loved it. It was the OG conversation starter. I worked in a phone shop and had countless people asking about this nigh-on impossible to buy in Ireland piece of tech.
My founder’s edition Pebble
In fact, I’m sure I still have it somewhere, buried in a box of old tech. I could never bring myself to throw it out because it was a Kickstart Founders Edition. Full transparency, I bought it second hand and wasn’t actually a backer myself.
My founder’s edition Pebble
The watch was amazing. The battery life, thanks to the e-Ink technology, was incredible. None of your “charge every night” Apple nonsense.
This shaped my expectation for wearables for years to come. Huawei wearables, with week-long batteries, or my wearable of choice now, Garmin which uses a similar approach to watch faces, cut the mustard.
The Pebble was as simple as it was genius. But it failed, despite millions of units being sold and the founder, Eric Migicovsky, stating he still knows people with functioning Pebbles today (I think my cable broke).
Pebble to Make a New Smartwatch
Owing to the simple fact that to this day no-one has made the perfect smartwatch in his eyes, Migicovsky has said he is bringing back Pebble, which you can learn about at rePebble.com. He plans to make a watch which is almost identical, “in almost every way”, to the original Pebble.
That means an e-ink screen, really long battery life, simple user experience and physical buttons. He promises that the new Pebble will also be “hackable”, allowing users to create their own watch faces, taking aim at several features expensive Apple Watch’s omit today.
One massive change I expect to see after reading his blog post on this, is that the new Pebble won’t use proprietary charging ports. Leading me to believe this will simply be a smartwatch that charges via USB-C. However, smartwatches are typically exempt from EU law requiring USB-C, so that remains to be seen.
Regardless, I’m really excited to see one of the OG gadgets that I was playing with right back at the start of my Goosed journey, is coming back for seconds.
Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S25 series, introducing a range of features aimed at advancing smartphone technology. With the debut of One UI 7 and hardware designed for AI integration, this latest lineup aims to enhance usability while maintaining a focus on privacy and sustainability. Here’s what we learned from Samsung’s 2025 Unpacked Event.
The Samsung Galaxy S25. Image: Samsung
One UI 7: A New AI-Driven Interface
Unsurprisingly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) made up a massive portion of Samsung’s launch event. And, so to did Samsung’s own operating system skin, One UI 7. While Apple has gone the route of Chat-GPT, fairly understandably, Android-based Samsung is going the route of Google Gemini, with this platform taking front an centre of the Unpacked event.
Phones have become incredibly boring in recent years, with sales slowing dramatically for long timetable toppers Apple and Samsung. People are keeping their phones longer than ever too. But AI is proving to be the one feature people want and it conveniently needs newer hardware to run.
Image: Samsung
“Now Updates” will bring the smarts of what AI can do in the background to the fore. For example, checking your calendar and knowing when to notify to to leave for an event. This isn’t a new idea, but the hope is that AI can make it more reliable.
But it’s also far from being limited to Samsung. But I’m hopeful that Samsung integrating AI into ONE UI 7 means the best of Android, Samsung and AI come together to make incredible user experience.
Design and Sustainability
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series may not introduce a groundbreaking new design, but it refines the familiar with meaningful improvements. In an era where most smartphones are iterations of their predecessors, the S25 Ultra stands out by becoming more compact, lighter, and slimmer than before. Despite this, it manages to keep the screen size to at 6.9 inches, offering users a more immersive viewing experience while maintaining improved portability and grip. Subtle design tweaks, such as thinner bezels and a rounded frame, enhance usability without overhauling the established Galaxy aesthetic.
Samsung has also made notable advancements in sustainability with this release. The S25 series reflects the company’s growing commitment to a circular parts economy, incorporating recycled materials such as cobalt, plastics, aluminium, and glass into its construction. Even the packaging has been redesigned to use 100% recycled paper, marking a shift toward environmentally conscious manufacturing and distribution. These efforts demonstrate Samsung’s attempt to balance technological innovation with ecological responsibility.
Another key highlight is Samsung’s promise of seven years of OS and security updates, far surpassing the industry standard. This commitment ensures the S25 series remains secure and functional for an extended period, reducing electronic waste by prolonging the lifecycle of each device. Combined with its durable materials and refined design, the Galaxy S25 series is built not only to perform but also to last—both in the hands of users and in its impact on the environment.
Camera
As you would expect from an annual phone release, there is an upgraded camera system. But really it’s the usual stuff. Better night photography and some hardware bumps.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings a 200MP main sensor paired with 50MP ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. For video makers, enhanced video features 10-bit HDR and AI noise reduction for audio.
For the more technical photographers, Samsung’s introduces a virtual aperture control and advanced editing options.
For the average smartphone purchaser who just takes a few photos on the weekend or of kids at key moments in their lives, it would appear that any of the Galaxy S25 Series will do the job. So I wouldn’t be diving straight in for the Ultra model!
Processing and Gaming
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series debuts with its most powerful chipset yet, developed in collaboration with Qualcomm. The chipset is designed to deliver significant advancements in mobile AI, that enable more efficient on-device AI processing. This translates into faster, more intuitive user experiences, where tasks like photo searches or real-time recommendations are handled directly on the device, without relying on external servers. The improved architecture also supports seamless multitasking and better energy efficiency, key factors in modern smartphone usage.
Beyond performance, the new chipset significantly enhances the Galaxy S25’s camera capabilities. With features like a spatial temporal filter, the device excels in low-light conditions, producing sharper images and smoother video recordings. These upgrades, paired with Samsung’s advanced camera hardware, aim to set a new benchmark for mobile photography, particularly in challenging environments.
Gamers will also notice substantial improvements, thanks to enhanced ray tracing and optimizations with the Vulcan engine. These updates ensure more realistic visuals and smoother gameplay, even in graphics-intensive titles. The chipset’s improved thermal management system, including a larger vapour chamber and custom thermal interface materials, helps maintain peak performance during extended gaming sessions, keeping the device cool under pressure. This blend of power, efficiency, and versatility highlights the Galaxy S25 series as a strong contender for performance-driven users.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series introduces Samsung’s most AI-focused smartphone to date with some incremental hardware improvements. I’m intrigued to get my hands on the device and see just how life-changing the AI-tools are in day to day life. Apple is obviously falling behind in Europe with this, leaving the door wide open for genuinely helpful AI-tools.
I don’t expect anything massively exciting elsewhere from smartphones these days. But AI-advancement could improve quality of digital life dramatically.
Xiaomi has been steadily expanding its global footprint, and its latest move into the Irish market is a clear sign of the tech giant’s ambition. For Irish consumers, that means more device options, competitive pricing, and innovative features that Xiaomi is known for in other markets. Leading the charge is the much-anticipated Redmi Note 14 Pro+, a smartphone that aims to strike the perfect balance between affordability and flagship-like performance. Here’s an in-depth look at the phone’s specifications, potential Irish pricing, and the impact of Xiaomi’s arrival on the local market.
Design and Display
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ keeps with Xiaomi’s sleek, modern design style, not gonna lie their new range of handsets look the part. Sporting a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, this phone ensures vibrant colours and fluid scrolling—ideal for everything from casual web browsing to mobile gaming sessions. The edge-to-edge screen design and slim bezels give the device a premium look that’s more in line with higher-priced flagships.
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ features a glass front and back (Gorilla Glass protection, depending on region) with an aluminum or sturdy polycarbonate frame. This design gives it a sleek, modern appearance—far removed from what you’d expect in a mid-range handset. At roughly 8.0 mm thick and weighing around 190–200 g, it’s comfortable to hold despite its large screen size.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ packs a Snapdragon 7+ Gen processor (or a powerful MediaTek Dimensity variant, depending on the region), paired with 6GB to 12GB of RAM to handle multitasking and demanding apps with ease. The phone also includes 5G connectivity, making it future-proof for Ireland’s expanding 5G network. Whether you’re streaming high-quality video, gaming, or juggling work apps, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is designed to keep up without breaking a sweat.
Camera Capabilities
Xiaomi has built a reputation for offering impressive camera systems at competitive price points, and the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is no exception. The 200MP main camera (paired with ultra-wide and macro lenses) delivers sharp, detailed photos in various lighting conditions and it uses pixel-binning technology to produce sharp, vibrant images. This allows for excellent detail capture in both daylight and low-light conditions. While in the “selfie” cam we get a 16MP to 32MP front-facing shooter (depending on the model) supports portrait mode and various AI enhancements—great for selfie enthusiasts.
The AI-powered features help with scene detection and colour optimization, ensuring your snaps look vibrant and social-media ready. On the front, a high-resolution selfie camera provides crisp selfies and supports features like portrait mode for that perfect bokeh effect.
Battery Life and Charging
One of the standout features of the Redmi series has always been robust battery life. The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ comes equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which should comfortably see most users through a full day of intensive use. When you do need a top-up, 120W fast charging means you can go from near-empty to fully charged in a matter of minutes, 20–25 minutes is the claim and to be honest from my hands on perspective its about right.—perfect for people always on the go.
Software Experience
Running on MIUI, Xiaomi’s customized Android skin, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ will provide a range of personalization options. MIUI has evolved significantly, offering a clean interface, handy shortcuts, and features like app cloning and dual space. While occasional pre-installed apps also formerly known as bloatware appear, Xiaomi has been making an effort to reduce this issue, ensuring a smoother overall user experience. Because let’s be honest those apps that take up space that we don’t want or need are very very annoying.
Xiaomi in the Irish Market
The arrival of Xiaomi in Ireland shakes up a landscape previously dominated by familiar brands like Samsung and Apple. Competitive pricing has always been a Xiaomi hallmark, and with the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, Irish consumers can expect flagship-level features at a mid-range cost. Availability through local carriers and online retailers is likely to make this device a compelling choice for those wanting a high-spec phone without the flagship price tag.
Based on Xiaomi’s pricing strategy, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is priced about €500 through They will be available through authorised retailers like Tesco, Vodafone, Harvey Norman, and Eir. Meaning you can get a handset from your network or open to all sims via an electronic retailers.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to upgrade your smartphone without dishing out flagship prices, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ should be on your radar. It offers a premium style design, powerful performance at the price point, and advanced camera features. With Xiaomi’s growing presence, you can expect better local support, official accessories, and a broader ecosystem of products over time, Xiaomi have actually been selling e-scooters here for a while now but they are coming in now with the phones, wearables and even kitchen gadgets over the course of 2025.
For those who have yet to experience Xiaomi devices, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ could be the perfect introduction. Keep an eye out for local deals and promotions as Xiaomi attempts to establishes itself in the Irish market.
As someone who’s hobbies include sport, tech and social media (yes I need more hobbies), I couldn’t help but be intrigued when I first heard about Striver. Co-founded by Tim Chase, Gilberto Silva and Roberto Carlos, two names any football fan will instantly recognize, Striver is setting out to become the world’s first abuse-free social media app. At Goosed.ie, we’re all about uncovering the latest and greatest in tech, so I had to find out more so naturally we had to get Tim on the Goosed Podcast
A Social Media Platform with a Difference
In an era where online negativity can overshadow genuine community-building, Striver takes a refreshingly positive approach. The platform is designed to give users a space to connect and share without the toxic comments and abuse we’ve come to expect from traditional social media, just look up any sports thread on Elon’s platform or TikTok, or simply type in the name Harry Maguire and see how vile some supposed fans can be online. So yeah for me a network where you can interact with friends, fellow fans, and even football legends in an environment that encourages respect and zero tolerance for hate speech.
Football Icons Leading the Charge
The involvement of Gilberto Silva and Roberto Carlos immediately sets Striver apart. These two legends have experienced the highs and lows of professional football, been there, done that and won it all, and they understand better than anyone how fans can be both incredibly supportive and, at times, harshly critical. Leveraging their global profile, they’re on a mission to give fans a safe space to share their passion for the beautiful game—free from abuse and toxicity. Then of course there is Tim, CEO and Mental Health Campaigner, on the pod he touched on some of his story, more of which you will find on the Striver Aid documentary on their Youtube. But he is passionate about creating a social media platform that inspires and rewards activity, and removes hate allowing users to interact with footballers, celebrities, and influencers, and participate in challenges that promote physical and mental wellbeing, social responsibility, and fun.
Their combined insight into the football world has also helped shape Striver’s approach to community building. They aim to foster real connections among fans, athletes, and influencers by emphasizing shared interests and respectful interaction.
The Tech Behind Striver
While details are still emerging, what we do know is that Striver.co.uk has engineered robust safety features to keep abuse at bay. By integrating AI-driven moderation tools and clear community guidelines, they strive to detect and remove offensive content before it even becomes an issue.
Of course, building the world’s first abuse-free social media environment is no small feat. However, Striver’s leadership team, is committed to constant innovation—ensuring the platform remains a welcoming space, even as it scales and new features roll out.
A Wider Movement in Sports and Beyond
For those still on the fence about how game-changing Striver could be, it’s worth checking out Sky Sports’ coverage. It paints a vivid picture of why there’s a growing call for positive-focused social media spaces, especially within sports fandoms. When athletes, celebrities, and everyday users unite on a platform that prioritizes positivity, it can dramatically shift the online culture—for the better.
Final Thoughts
From my perspective at Goosed.ie, Striver couldn’t have come at a better time. With so many of us craving genuine, uplifting online interactions (especially in sports communities), an abuse-free social media app is more than just a novelty—it’s an essential evolution.
If you’re curious to learn more, make sure to watch our recent podcast on YouTube or Spotify, where we delve into the vision behind Striver and discuss how this platform is poised to make waves in social media. I, for one, am excited to see how Tim and the team continue to shape this innovative space.
Keep an eye on Striver.co.uk—and if you decide to give it a go, let us know your thoughts. Is it truly abuse-free? Or is this just the start of a bigger movement in online community-building? Either way, it’s definitely one to watch.
For an ever growing list of reasons, subreddits globally are asking whether or not they should no longer allow links to be shared from X formerly Twitter.
At the time of writing, one such example is the Ireland subreddit which is hosting a poll on the matter. A poll which is strongly suggesting links from the problematic social media platform will be banned. Included for some subreddits is also screenshots from X/Twitter too.
There are countless reasons why. Since being bought by Elon Musk, Twitter has slipped in quality with usage down 25%. The knock on impact has been never ending accusations that Twitter, rebranded to X under Musk’s leadership, has been overrun with fake accounts spreading right propaganda.
While somewhat surprising it took this much for this conversation to happen, it would appear that this is the straw to break the camels back, leading to subreddits posing the question as to whether or not X/Twitter links should be allowed.
Alongside the Ireland subreddit, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Formula 1, Scotland, Cyberpunk and countless other communities with massive memberships are posing the same questions.
Impact of Subreddits Banning X
Reddit provides the internet with a massive amount of traffic. Given the nature of sports journalism, sporting subreddits over-index in this space too. I’m a Liverpool fan and it’s typical to see X links being shared with fitness updates, squads for games or transfer rumours.
Interestingly, the Formula 1 subreddit which is also considering a ban of X links, already encourages the use of Bluesky instead. Which means this could, and hopefully should, mean further growth for Bluesky which seems to be the most likely alternative to the Twitter most of us used to enjoy.
More will become apparent in the coming days as I would wager most subreddit mods are waiting to see what others do before making a move. Polls might be problematic too given they can become overrun with troll accounts etc.
