I’ve been setting up a lot of security cameras over the past year. I’ve installed local storage systems, cloud systems and lately more systems depending on a micro SD card. Many believe you can just lash any auld micro SD card into a security camera and away you go.
But the reality is that not all microSD cards are created equal, and choosing the wrong one can mean lost footage when you need it most.
Understanding Your Storage Needs
Before you even think about card specifications, you need to answer one fundamental question: how much footage do you actually need to keep?
Most security cameras support rolling recording, where the oldest footage gets overwritten once the card fills up. This works brilliantly if you’re checking your footage regularly or if you’ve got motion alerts set up to notify you immediately when something happens. But if you’re away for a week and need to review what happened on day one, that footage might already be gone.
Think about your specific situation. Are you monitoring a holiday home you visit monthly? You’ll need substantially more storage than someone checking their front door camera daily. For continuous recording, you’re looking at roughly 50GB per day depending on resolution and compression. Motion-only recording dramatically reduces this, but the actual amount varies wildly based on how busy your camera’s view is.
Also ask how much cloud support you’ll have. If you are opting for a Google Nest camera, you will almost certainly need Google’s Cloud package and there’s no local storage option. But lately, I’ve installed TAPO and Eufy cameras that support microSD cards, leaving me wondering which card I should buy.
The Importance of High Endurance Cards
Here’s where many people go wrong: they buy a standard microSD card designed for cameras or phones and wonder why it fails after a few months. Security cameras write data constantly, overwriting the same sections repeatedly. Standard cards aren’t built for this punishment.
I learned this setting up my own NAS at home. Not all drives are created equal with some being specifically rated for lots of data turnover.
You need high endurance cards specifically designed for surveillance or dashcams. Look for those exact keywords on the packaging. These cards use different memory types and wear-levelling algorithms that handle the constant write cycles security cameras demand. I’m currently using Samsung Pro Endurance cards across several cameras, and they’ve been solid for years of continuous use.
When in doubt about quality, stick to established brands: SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar, PNY, Kioxia, Kingston, Transcend, or Sony. These aren’t just names that sound familiar; they’re manufacturers with proven track records in endurance applications. SanDisk particularly springs to mind when someone mentions microSD cards, and that brand recognition exists for good reason.
Decoding the Specifications
The markings on microSD cards look like alphabet soup, but they’re actually telling you crucial information about performance. For security cameras, you want cards marked with A2/U3/V30 at minimum. V60 or V70 ratings indicate even better performance. Anything less than V30 isn’t suitable for modern security footage.
The “V” rating refers to video speed class and indicates minimum sustained write speeds. V30 guarantees at least 30MB/s, which handles 1080p and even some 4K recording comfortably. The sustained write speed is the critical specification here, not the maximum burst speed that manufacturers often highlight in large print. Security cameras need consistent performance, not occasional peaks.
Capacity Considerations and Device Limits
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to capacity. First, check your camera’s maximum supported card size. Exceeding this causes compatibility issues, and you might find the camera simply won’t recognise the card at all.
Most modern cameras support at least 128GB, with many now accepting 256GB or even 512GB cards. But larger capacities cost significantly more per gigabyte, and you need to balance that against your actual needs. A 128GB card gives you roughly two to three days of continuous 1080p recording, which is plenty for most home security scenarios where you’re reviewing footage regularly.
One technical note worth understanding: microSD is the physical standard describing how cards are manufactured, whilst SDXC is an extension that allows capacities beyond 32GB. All modern security cameras support SDXC, so you’ll be fine with any capacity that fits your camera’s specifications.
Where to Buy and What to Avoid
I tend to buy mine on Amazon because the returns process is straightforward if something goes wrong. That said, counterfeit cards are a genuine problem on online marketplaces, particularly for popular brands at suspiciously low prices.
Physical retailers offer more peace of mind. Look for Harvey Norman, Currys, or specialist electronics shops like Electro City. The packaging usually features a camera icon to indicate suitability for video recording, though not always.
Real-World Examples
A SanDisk High Endurance will be perfectly adequate for most applications, offering excellent write speeds and reliability. The Samsung Pro Endurance is also an amazing range.
Remember, these cards are not just for security. They are also some of the best cards you could pick if you run a dashcam. They face the same challenge of high volume footage turnover.
A few weeks back, the team from HONOR jetted into Dublin to run us through the latest range of phones coming to the Irish market in January and February. I’ve already run you through the stunning, spec-laded HONOR Magic8 Lite, and now it’s flagship time.
I’ve been daily driving HONOR for a few months since swapping over to the HONOR Magic V5 from my iPhone 16 Pro and have been generally very impressed – impressed enough to not go back. But how does the latest flagship from HONOR weigh up?
HONOR positions the Magic8 Pro as their primary flagship for 2026 (aside from their folding Magic V5), succeeding last year’s Magic7 Pro (which I reviewed previously). At €1,299.99, it competes directly with Samsung, Apple, and Google’s flagships both on price and spec.
Design: Premium Feel Without Premium Materials
At 219g, the Magic8 Pro isn’t light, but it feels nicely balanced despite the substantial camera system HONOR has packed into the rear. That’s some achievement given the hardware involved.
The overall design is interesting for several reasons, not least of which is HONOR achieving a premium feel with a fibre-plastic hybrid casing rather than glass or metal throughout. In hand, you wouldn’t immediately identify the material difference, particlarly impressive in my hands which haven’t forgotten the premium vibes of an iPhone 16 Pro.
The 6.71-inch quad micro-curved screen offers the comfortable hand-feel of curved edges whilst maintaining the clear viewing area of a flat display. It’s a sensible middle ground that addresses complaints from both camps. During extended one-handed use, the weight becomes noticeable, but it’s not prohibitive unless you have particularly small hands. The curved edges have become nearly a must have in flagships. Whether trend or functionally required, it makes for a nice phone in hand experience.
Throughout December’s testing, including several accidental drops onto hard surfaces, the phone has survived without damage. The water resistance handles Irish weather without concern, though I haven’t deliberately tested the high-pressure jet resistance the IP69K rating promises.
There is one thing I’m disappointed in, not least because I made this prediction amongst other tech media last year. This is the first flagship of 2026 and it launches without any MagSafe like feature. Google broke the walls on this with the Pixel 10 and Pixel Snap. I’ve retro fitted a MagSafe accessory thing to my Magic V5 because I can’t live without this after being an iPhone user for so long. Given this is now available for Android, it’s a pity 2026’s first flagship launches without. All eyes on Samsung now to see if this becomes main stream.
But this is a somewhat niche interest in a feature I personally believe should be widespread.
Functionality: Where Capability Meets Daily Use
Camera Performance That Justifies the Hardware
The camera system deserves proper attention because it’s genuinely excellent. HONOR has equipped the Magic8 Pro with a 50MP main camera, 200MP periscope telephoto with 3.7x optical zoom, and 50MP ultrawide. Given the, admittidly, laughable bulk this camera array adds to the rear of the phone, it has to deliver.
The primary shooter is incredible, as I’ve come to expect from HONOR. Since moving from my iPhone 16 Pro to the HONOR Magic V5 earlier this year, I’ve been consistently shocked at the difference in photo quality. The Magic8 Pro captures the feeling of a moment, not just a vague representation of what happened. If you understand that distinction, you’ll know how important it is.
I tend to shoot at 1x as much as possible, preferring to move physically rather than zoom digitally. However, the stabilisation improvements make zooming actually usable. All the zoom capability in the world means nothing without stabilisation. In practical terms, shooting handheld at 10x zoom produces surprisingly sharp results where previous phones would deliver blurry disappointments.
Low-light performance excels, particularly for night portraits. The combination of large sensor, wide aperture, and AI processing ensures subjects remain well-lit and natural against complex night backdrops. I’ve captured clear shots during Dublin’s early winter evenings (when darkness arrives by 4pm) that would have been impossible with previous devices.
AI Features: Genuinely Useful and Experimentally Interesting
HONOR is particularly proud of their AI capabilities, and some features genuinely warrant that pride. AI Colour lets you save the tone and colouring of a photo you like and apply it to future shots. “Colour” is not spelled the American way, which is a nice touch. In practice, this means capturing a sunset’s warm tones and applying that aesthetic to subsequent photos, maintaining visual consistency across a series.
There’s a raft of AI editing tools included. AI Outpainting allows expanding photos beyond their original framing, which is fantastic for creatives who need different aspect ratios after capturing the shot. It’s hit and miss, as all AI remains, but when it works, results are impressive. I’ve successfully extended landscape shots to fill ultrawide displays without obvious artificiality, though you’ll generate outputs multiple times before achieving satisfactory results.
AI Eraser removes unwanted elements from photos, AI Cutout extracts subjects from backgrounds, and AI Upscale improves resolution. These tools exist across various platforms now, but HONOR’s implementations work reliably enough for regular use rather than remaining novelties you try once and forget.
The AI Button deserves mention. It’s a dedicated physical key separate from the power button, defaulting to camera launch with a double press. You can customise different gestures: short press, double press, and long press can trigger different functions. Having instant camera access without fumbling through lock screens genuinely improves your ability to catch spontaneous moments. I’ve missed too many shots over years of waiting for camera apps to launch. The execution of this button on the Magic8 Pro is far more impressive than Apple’s take on the iPhone 16 Pro – which left me utterly frustrated with a confusion button that did too much but never what I wanted.
Battery Life That Matches Reality
As I’ve already alluded to, the HONOR Magic8 Lite has stolen the headlines for me with it’s battery, but the Magic 8 Pro is not to be sniffed at.
The 6,270mAh silicon-carbon battery is genuinely impressive. Through December’s testing, I’ve consistently achieved full-day usage without anxiety, and I mean proper usage: photography, navigation, streaming during commutes, messaging throughout the day. By evening, I’m typically sitting at 30-40% remaining, which is comfortable territory.
Charging speed is where HONOR continues excelling. The included 100W wired charger delivers 41% in 15 minutes and fully charges in under 50 minutes. For context, a quick charge whilst showering and getting ready provides enough power for the entire day. Wireless charging at 80W is similarly rapid. During the briefing, HONOR confirmed that those fast speeds don’t need HONOR’s own chargers either. You just need a plug capable of 100w – something which is increasingly common in my house (though I’m not much of a sample size I guess).
Display Quality With Practical Benefits
The 6.71-inch LTPO OLED panel supports up to 6,000 nits peak brightness. In direct sunlight, text and maps remain clearly legible without squinting or finding shade. The 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate adjusts smoothly based on content: scrolling feels fluid, but static pages don’t waste battery maintaining unnecessary frame rates.
What genuinely impressed me were the eye comfort features, though explaining why requires context. HONOR has implemented dimming, which reduces flicker at low brightness levels. If you’ve experienced eye strain from using phones in dark environments, this addresses that issue. Additionally, the Chip-Level AI Defocus Display mimics myopia-control lenses, subtly adjusting content to reduce eye fatigue during extended use.
These aren’t features you consciously notice moment to moment, but after several hours of reading or working on the device, the reduced strain becomes apparent. I’ve been using the Magic8 Pro as my primary device for several weeks, including late evenings, and haven’t experienced the usual eye tiredness I’d expect.
Don’t fly passed these features and dismiss them. Because the HONOR Magic8 Pro is the type of phone that benefits from you sitting down and learning about it. I didn’t realise I suffer from motion sickness quite a bit (not really copping what it was). HONOR has integrated motion sickness dots on the screen which is easily activated. I was shook at how much of an impact that had on me traveling in the back seat of a car over the Christmas.
Performance Without Drama
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 handles everything thrown at it without complaint. Gaming performance is excellent, though I’m not the target audience for mobile gaming now that I’ve grabbed my Switch 2! What matters more for my usage is that demanding tasks (photo editing, running multiple apps simultaneously, processing AI features) occur without lag or thermal throttling.
HONOR’s graphic technology upscales games from lower resolutions to higher frame rates, but honestly, if you’re not gaming extensively, this specific feature won’t impact your experience. It’s impressive technically, but practical benefit depends entirely on your usage patterns.
Cross-Platform Connectivity
Here’s where things get interesting for someone using multiple ecosystems. HONOR Share now supports bidirectional file transfers between Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. For those of us working across platforms, this removes previous friction points (not something new to HONOR but may be new to other Android users). Indeed, Google isn’t alone in trying to break down these cross-platform file transfers.
I’ve successfully transferred photos between the Magic8 Pro and my MacBook, and the process works smoothly once everything’s set up. The setup itself requires installing HONOR Super Workstation on your computer and ensuring devices share the same network, which isn’t complicated but does require initial configuration.
The device cloning feature deserves mention: if you’re switching from an iPhone, HONOR Magic8 Pro can migrate contacts, photos, notes, reminders, and more. Having watched friends struggle with platform switches, this comprehensive approach addresses real pain points.
Coolness: Features Worth Discussing
Overall the coolness features of the Magic8 Pro centre in on the camera quality, and the AI-powered editing features. But if you but this phone and just use it like you have every other phone you’ve ever owned, you’re not going to be overly impressed. You need to learn how to make the most of this phone.
This is an important note because not everyone will be bothered in doing that.
For example, when editing photos, Magic Colour, the AI-powered colour engine I mentioned earlier, intelligently extracts 16.77 million colours and applies them across photos. You can save this and use the same colours later. Through device-cloud collaborative technology, it achieves efficient colour tracking for both global tonality and local fine-tuning. Currently, three built-in presets exist (Romantic Blue, Golden Autumn, Warm Sunset), but you can upload sample images and apply their colour characteristics to new shots. This simplifies professional-level colour grading significantly.
The comprehensive AI toolkit positions HONOR ahead of competitors in practical AI implementation. I’ve seen some other companies ream off AI-laden presentations (and don’t get me wrong, this one has plenty too) without really delivering anything to encourage me to play with the same features.
HONOR has built tools that genuinely improve photography and editing workflows. AI Moving Photo creates slow-motion effects, motion trails, and motion clones from standard captures, adding creative possibilities without requiring specialised shooting modes.
HONOR’s translation, by the way, is still the best translation experience I’ve ever had – again, confirmed after another Christmas in Germany!
Value for Money: Justified Investment or Overpriced?
At €1,299.99, the Magic8 Pro sits firmly in flagship territory. Whether it represents value depends on which features matter to you.
The HONOR Magic8 Pro targets users who prioritise photography and don’t mind learning features to maximise capability. If you’re someone who shoots in automatic mode exclusively, you’ll benefit from hardware quality but won’t leverage many differentiating features.
For creators working across multiple devices and platforms, the combination of excellent camera hardware, comprehensive AI tools, and cross-platform connectivity creates genuine workflow advantages. The battery life and charging speed support full working days without compromise.
If you’re platform-agnostic and work across multiple devices like I do, the cross-platform features alone warrant serious consideration. Being able to seamlessly move files between Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows removes friction that compounds over time.
Over the past few years, ther Magic6 Pro wasn’t miles off the Magic7 Pro and of course the Magic8 Pro isn’t miles off the Magic 7 Pro either. But if you are dailying something like a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – I genuinely think you will enjoy this phone more. Bold statement, eh?
The HONOR Magic8 Pro, priced at €1299.99, will be available from Harvey Norman in mid-January, and Three from February 2026. The HONOR Magic8 Pro is available in Ireland in Black.
I’ve spent the past few weeks with the HONOR Magic8 Lite after HONOR introduced it to me in Dublin, and I need to address something upfront: this phone fundamentally challenges what we expect from devices carrying the “Lite” designation. After years of working with phones where “Lite” meant compromises and cutbacks, this feels different. Flagship specs have crept into the mid-tier, and the Magic8 Lite demonstrates this shift better than most devices I’ve tested recently.
Design
The Magic8 Lite weighs 193g, which sounds substantial on paper but doesn’t feel that way in practice. The balance is genuinely impressive, creating a phone that feels lighter and more manageable than the specs suggest.
One detail that caught my attention immediately: the camera array sits nearly flush with the body. We’re talking about just half a millimetre of protrusion, meaning this phone actually rests flat on tables without wobbling. If you’ve dealt with modern phones that rock back and forth during use, you’ll appreciate this more than you might expect.
The frame and back are polished plastic, with glass protecting the front. Before you dismiss this as cheap, consider the execution. The materials feel considerably more premium in hand than they look, and the build quality is genuinely robust. It’s not flagship-tier aluminium and glass, but its nowhere near the tinny, cheap plastic of budget devices either. There’s a noticeable middle ground here that HONOR has landed in successfully.
Available in Forest Green, Midnight Black, and Reddish Brown, there’s enough variety to suit different tastes without overwhelming choice.
That build quality extends to genuine durability credentials, and this is where things get properly interesting. The Magic8 Lite is certified to withstand drops from 2.5 metres. HONOR achieves this through what they call Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Technology, which incorporates a Non-Newtonian fluid alongside ultra-deep tempered glass. The physics here is clever: the fluid hardens on impact, distributing shock more effectively. Away from the science, the demo was impressive.
When HONOR demonstrated the phone to me, they handed over my review unit straight from a jug of water where it had sat for over 20 minutes. They’d also just hopped it off the ground beforehand. I was the only member of the Irish media who got this particular demonstration of a soggy phone, and it’s still working just fine. The phone’s Three-layer Water Resistance Structure handles extreme water environments, including hot water for up to 10 seconds – for you tea-pot droppers? It’s tested to function after 30 minutes submerged at 1.5 metres depth, achieving IP68/IP69K ratings. That’s legitimately impressive protection at this price point.
Practical touches extend to AI Heavy Rain Touch and AI Glove Touch features, meaning the display responds properly whatever the weather. These aren’t gimmicks if you’re actually using your phone outdoors in Irish winters, particularly after our recent cold snap!
Functionality
The standout specification is the 7,500 mAh Silicon-Carbon battery. This isn’t marketing hyperbole, the battery life genuinely delivers. HONOR claims three days for average users, and my experience supports this. I’ve personally pushed beyond that figure. The test data shows 52.5 hours of music streaming, 23.8 hours of online video playback, 16.8 hours of gaming, or 12.3 hours of video chat on a single charge. Impressively, HONOR quotes battery capacity retention of over 80% after six years of use, suggesting genuine longevity.
The battery performs across extreme temperatures, from -30°C to 55°C. There’s also an ultra-power saving mode that maintains calls for 60 minutes even when battery drops to 2%. Reverse charging capability at 7.5W means you can use the phone as a portable power bank in emergencies.
When you do need to charge, the phone supports up to 66W with HONOR’s SuperCharge technology. Importantly, HONOR confirmed this works with any high-wattage charger, not just their branded units. That matters because whilst you get a cable in the box, there’s no charging brick included.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset delivers solid performance, with 29% improved GPU performance and 11% better CPU performance versus the previous generation. HONOR’s RAM Turbo Technology provides a 16GB equivalent experience through 8GB physical RAM plus 8GB virtual. Combined with 512GB internal storage, there’s ample space for apps, photos, and videos without compromise.
The camera system centres around a 108MP ultra-sensing camera with a 1/1.67″ sensor. Out of the box, your phone shoots in 12MP mode, which produces excellent results for most situations. You can force 108MP shooting if you want slightly crisper detail, though you’ll deal with significantly larger file sizes. The main camera features both OIS and EIS, effectively reducing blur and shake for clearer images. For this tier of device, the primary camera genuinely impresses, offering what HONOR calls “daylight precision and low-light refinement.”
AI photography features include AI Eraser, AI Cutout, and AI Outpainting for editing flexibility. Outpainting, as a creator, is amazing. You take a picture and then regret not having framed it better, and simply let AI look after giving you more space around your subject. Die hard photographers are crying right now, I know.
The 4K HD moving photo collage function adds creative options, whilst HONOR Connection allows photo transfers between iOS devices – yes, it’s not just Google Pixel working on making this kind of things easier.
The 5MP ultrawide exists, but I’ve generally fallen out of love with ultrawide lenses on mid-tier phones, and this one doesn’t reverse that trend. It’s functional but unremarkable.
One genuine annoyance: the native camera doesn’t automatically recognise QR codes. You need to load HONOR’s separate Lens app instead. This likely stems from HONOR’s Chinese background, where most QR scanning happens through WeChat and similar platforms. But when you’re used to cameras handling this natively, it’s a small but real inconvenience. Arguably larger is the phone’s bloatware. I got introduced to this and the HONOR Magic8 Pro on the same day, with the pro flagship being almost bloatware free. Now, the Magic8 Lite, to be fair, doesn’t have all of the unwanted apps installed, but they are sitting there and need to be dealt with. I guest thats a small price to pay for the bottom line you pay – which I’ll mention later.
The 6.79-inch OLED display deserves mention. Supporting 1.07 billion colours at 1.5K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate, it delivers smooth motion and vibrant imagery. The 1.3mm ultra-narrow bezels achieve a 94.6% screen-to-body ratio, maximising viewing area. Peak HDR brightness reaches 6000nits, ensuring visibility even in bright sunlight. Eye-comfort features including 3840Hz PWM Risk-free Dimming, Circadian Night Display, and Hardware Level Low Blue Light make extended viewing more comfortable.
Coolness
Beyond the obvious party trick of the water resistance demonstration, the Silicon-Carbon battery technology represents genuinely interesting engineering. We’re seeing real innovation in battery chemistry filtering down from flagship devices, and the practical benefits are immediately tangible.
The industry-first certifications aren’t just marketing speak. SGS testing is rigorous, and achieving these ratings at this price point signals HONOR’s confidence in the hardware. The Non-Newtonian fluid implementation is particularly clever engineering that trickles down from flagship protection technology.
The 7,500 mAh capacity itself turns heads when you mention it. People understand what multi-day battery life means, even if they don’t follow the technical details of how it’s achieved. Similarly, 66W fast charging sounds impressive and delivers on that promise when you’re caught short.
The flush camera design might seem minor, but it’s the kind of thoughtful detail that improves daily use without drawing attention to itself. It’s the opposite of flashy features that impress initially but irritate over time.
Value for Money
Here’s where things get properly remarkable: HONOR has priced the Magic8 Lite at €399.99.
Read that again. For a phone with 7,500 mAh battery, 108MP camera with OIS/EIS, IP69K water resistance, 2.5-metre drop certification, 512GB storage, 6.79-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh, and genuinely premium build quality, you’re paying under four hundred euros.
That’s not just competitive. That’s genuinely disruptive pricing in the current market. HONOR positioned this for bill pay contracts where value matters, and they’ve delivered spectacularly. This represents the kind of specification package that previously required flagship investment, now accessible at upper-mid tier pricing.
I’m comfortable making a bold statement: this will likely be the best pound-for-pound value phone available for considerable time in 2026. The “Lite” designation feels almost misleading, which confirms something I’ve suspected: flagship devices have become mega-flagships, and what constitutes upper-mid tier has shifted dramatically upward.
Available through Tesco Mobile and Harvey Norman, in Black and a lovely Reddish Brown colour, accessibility shouldn’t be an issue, regardless of whether you’re shopping for a contract or buying outright (be sure to check your value options with our bill pay versus prepay calculator).
At €399.99, HONOR has created something genuinely competitive that undercuts rivals significantly whilst matching or exceeding their specifications.
The Magic8 Lite isn’t perfect (yeah, I’m really hung up on the QR code annoyance), and the ultrawide camera is forgettable. But these are minor quibbles against a device that fundamentally delivers where it matters: battery life, durability, primary camera performance, and display quality. For the price, it’s genuinely difficult to find fault. I was shown two phones on the same day by HONOR: the Magic8 Lite and Magic8 Pro, and it’s this phone, the “Lite” version that blew me away.
I can’t recall when I quit Twitter. It was still Twitter at the time. It had descended into being quite the cesspit. So it comes as no surprise that image editing features has led to pressure on Irish authorities to take action. Grok AI was used to create sexually exploitative images, including of children.
Pressure Mounts Over Grok’s Image Editing Feature
Irish authorities are facing growing calls to intervene after reports that X’s AI assistant, Grok, has been used to generate and share sexually explicit images of women and children.
The concern centres on a recently introduced “edit image” feature within Grok, rolled out to users in late 2025. The tool allows people to request alterations to existing images. While image editing is not new, campaigners and academics say Grok is being actively used to remove clothing from real people, including minors, raising serious legal and ethical red flags.
Because X’s European, Middle East and Africa headquarters is based in Dublin, critics argue Ireland has both the authority and responsibility to act quickly.
Irish Law And Regulatory Oversight
Under legislation governing child sexual abuse material, any representation depicting or implying the sexual exploitation of a person under 18 is illegal. This includes computer generated images, simulated content and manipulated images, regardless of whether the original photo was innocent.
So if Grok is being prompted to generate sexualised images of minors, even through image manipulation, those images can be prosecuted under Ireland’s criminal justice system.
Ireland also introduced a binding Online Safety Code requiring video sharing platforms headquartered in the State to ban harmful content, including child sexual abuse material. Enforcement falls to Coimisiún na Meán, which has the power to investigate and sanction platforms that fail to meet their obligations.
Political And EU Level Reaction
The controversy has now reached the highest levels of Irish politics. Speaking while on a visit to China, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the use of AI to undress women and minors was unacceptable and potentially illegal.
He confirmed the issue would be raised with Coimisiún na Meán and said authorities must examine whether existing laws are already being breached. Protecting children and innocent people, he said, must remain the priority.
At European level, the reaction has been equally strong. European Commission spokesman for digital affairs Thomas Regnier described the content as illegal and appalling, stating clearly that it has no place in Europe.
This places additional pressure on Ireland, which plays a central role in regulating major tech platforms under EU digital law.
X Responds As Scrutiny Intensifies
In response, X said it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, by removing it, suspending accounts and cooperating with law enforcement where necessary. The platform said that prompting Grok to create illegal content carries the same consequences as uploading such material directly.
Coimisiún na Meán confirmed it is engaging with the European Commission regarding Grok and its compliance with obligations placed on very large online platforms. These obligations include assessing and mitigating risks linked to illegal content and protecting fundamental rights, particularly those of minors.
The regulator also urged members of the public to report concerning images to An Garda Síochána, to Hotline.ie, to the platform involved and to Coimisiún na Meán itself.
Ireland already has some of the strongest protections in Europe. The issue is now about whether those protections are applied decisively to emerging AI tools.
The Grok controversy highlights how quickly AI tools can be repurposed for harm, often faster than regulation can keep pace. With other countries moving towards outright bans on nudification technology, the next steps taken by Irish authorities will be closely watched across Europe.
Whether this leads to enforcement action, fines or new restrictions on AI image tools, one thing is clear. The tolerance for platforms shrugging off responsibility for how their technology is used is rapidly disappearing.
The latest batch of PlayStation Plus monthly games has landed, and it is a surprisingly varied mix. January’s offering combines a big-budget arcade racer, a reimagined Disney platformer classic, and a cult-favourite indie survival game. Altogether, Sony says the line-up is worth more than €159.97, and once claimed, the games are yours to keep for as long as your PlayStation Plus membership stays active.
As ever, all three titles are available to download now for PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Premium members across Ireland. Add them to your library before the end of the month and they will be there whenever you want to dive in.
Need for Speed Unbound
Need for Speed Unbound is the headline act this month, and easily the biggest budget release in the line-up. Developed by Criterion Games, Unbound takes the long-running racing series in a bold visual direction, mixing realistic cars with stylised graffiti-style effects and animated character details.
On the road, it is fast, flashy and deliberately over the top. The handling leans towards arcade rather than simulation, making it ideal for quick sessions or long nights chasing upgrades and outrunning the police. For PlayStation Plus members who skipped it at launch, this is a great chance to experience one of the more distinctive Need for Speed entries in years without paying full price.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed brings a cult Wii-era classic back into the spotlight. This reworked version updates the visuals and controls while keeping the heart of the original intact, a darker, more playful take on the Disney universe starring Mickey Mouse.
The game blends platforming with light puzzle-solving, built around the idea of creation and destruction using paint and thinner. It is family-friendly but not simplistic, and its imaginative world design still stands out. For Irish players looking for something to enjoy with younger gamers, or just a nostalgic break from shooters and sports games, Epic Mickey is a welcome inclusion.
Core Keeper
Rounding out the month is Core Keeper, a top-down sandbox survival game that has quietly built a strong following. Often described as a mix of Minecraft and Terraria, Core Keeper drops you into a vast underground world filled with resources, monsters and secrets.
It is easy to pick up but deceptively deep, especially when played with friends online. Base-building, exploration and progression are all tightly woven together, making it a great long-term game to dip in and out of. Its inclusion adds some genuine genre variety to January’s PlayStation Plus line-up.
A Bonus For Premium Members
Beyond the monthly games, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers also get access to a new Game Trial this month. You can now try Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an acclaimed turn-based RPG set in a striking fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque-era France.
The trial lets you experience the opening hours of the game, introducing its unusual premise and painterly visual style before you decide whether it is worth a full purchase. It is a smart way to sample something a little more niche without commitment, and exactly the kind of extra that helps justify the Premium tier.
Held every January in Las Vegas, CES 2026 is the world’s biggest consumer technology showcase and the first major chance for manufacturers to set the tone for the year ahead. If a product category is about to shift, or a new idea is being quietly pushed into the mainstream, it usually shows up here first.
For European readers, the easiest comparison is IFA in Berlin, the sprawling late-summer show I attend regularly. CES plays a similar role, but with a sharper focus on what’s coming next rather than what’s about to hit shelves. It’s where TVs get bigger, laptops get thinner, cars get smarter and startups try to convince the world they’re not just another concept demo.
Over the course of CES 2026, we’ve seen everything from practical upgrades to genuinely strange ideas that may or may not ever leave the show floor. This roundup pulls together the announcements that actually matter, the trends worth watching, and the noise you can safely ignore once the lights in Vegas go dim.
Belkin Shows Off Smart Charging Gear for Nintendo Switch 2
Belkin has form when it comes to accessories that quietly make everyday tech better, and its latest Nintendo-focused gear looks set to continue that trend. With Nintendo Switch 2 already here, the company used its latest showcase to debut a refreshed charging case designed specifically for the new console, alongside a pair of new power banks aimed at travellers and commuters.
Rather than going flashy for the sake of it, Belkin’s approach is reassuringly practical. This is about keeping your console alive on long journeys, hotel stays, or just stretched-out evenings on the sofa when the nearest socket is already spoken for.
The headline product is a new charging case for the Nintendo Switch 2, and it is far more than a bit of padded protection. Built into the case is a 10,000mAh power bank capable of delivering up to 30W of fast charging, enough to meaningfully top up the console rather than just slow the drain.
One of the nicest touches is the LCD display on the outside of the case. Instead of guessing how much power is left, you can see the remaining charge at a glance, which is exactly the kind of small quality-of-life feature that makes sense for portable gaming. There is also an integrated kickstand, letting you prop the console up for tabletop play while it charges.
Belkin has priced the Switch 2 charging case at $100 with EU pricing TBC.
UltraCharge Pro Targets Multi-Device Users
Alongside the Switch-specific gear, Belkin also showed off the new UltraCharge Pro Power Bank. This one is less about gaming and more about everyday carry for people juggling multiple devices.
Priced at $100, the UltraCharge Pro can charge two devices simultaneously, making it useful for topping up a phone and tablet, or a phone and headphones, at the same time. Belkin has confirmed it will launch next month, though European pricing has not yet been locked in. Expect something in the €90 to €100 range once it lands in Ireland.
For anyone who regularly travels with both work and personal devices, this is the sort of accessory that earns its place in a bag quickly.
LEGO’s CES Debut Shows A Push Toward Smarter Toys
At its first ever appearance at CES, LEGO signalled a clear desire to look more modern. The big reveal was the Smart Brick, a standard-sized LEGO brick packed with sensors, wireless tech and a tiny speaker, all designed to react dynamically to how it is built and played with.
The idea is simple and appealing. Build a LEGO car, push it along the floor and it makes appropriate driving noises. Tilt a spaceship and it responds with sound effects. It feels like a natural evolution in a world where interactive tech is everywhere, but it also raises an important question: is this something LEGO actually needs?
What Makes A Smart Brick Smart
Inside each Smart Brick is a 4.1mm ASIC chip, copper coils and a miniature speaker. LEGO says the brick runs on its Play Engine, allowing it to sense motion, orientation, magnetic fields and its position relative to other Smart Bricks.
These bricks do not work alone. Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures provide context, letting the system know what kind of build it is part of. Everything connects locally through BrickNet, a wireless layer that helps bricks understand how they are arranged within a model.
Technically, it is impressive. LEGO has managed to hide a lot of clever engineering inside something that still looks and feels like a normal brick, without relying on a phone or tablet. I do like the idea of building a car and this one brick adds to the immersion of the experience – a brick that knows it’s supposed to make engine noises.
But it leaves me wondering.
Cool Idea, Questionable Necessity
Where things get murkier is long-term appeal. A brick that knows it is in a car and makes car noises is fun at first, but it risks becoming a novelty. LEGO’s strength has always been open-ended play, and there is a danger that predefined sounds nudge kids toward more scripted experiences.
For adult LEGO fans, the appeal may be even more limited. Many value LEGO precisely because it is tactile, simple and screen-free. Adding electronics could feel like unnecessary complexity, especially if it pushes prices higher.
Irish pricing has not been confirmed, but these sets are likely to arrive at a premium through retailers like Smyths Toys and LEGO’s own store. Whether parents see enough value in the added tech remains to be seen.
Smart Bricks are a bold experiment, but for now, they feel more like LEGO testing the waters than redefining play.
Samsung at CES 2026
Samsung had plenty to show at CES, but the tri-fold phone is easily the most eye-catching. Having spent time using a folding handset like the Honor Magic V5, it is clear how compelling the form factor already is. Adding a second fold into the mix feels like a natural, if ambitious, evolution, and it is hard not to be intrigued by where Samsung plans to take it.
Away from phones, Samsung also showed off the S95H OLED. It is impressively thin and features a zero-gap wall mount, allowing the TV to sit completely flush against the wall. It is a small detail, but one that makes a big difference to how premium the set looks in a modern living space.
As expected, much of Samsung’s First Look presentation focused on the home. The company outlined updates to its smart fridges, including improved recipe suggestions, AI-powered cooling, and Google Gemini-driven AI Vision. This system can recognise more food items and help you track what needs topping up without manually checking your shelves. FoodNote adds a weekly summary showing what has gone in and out of the fridge.
Samsung also highlighted its Bespoke AI Laundry Combo with a new AI wash cycle, alongside an updated Air Dresser featuring Auto Wrinkle Care, with the ambitious goal of making ironing a thing of the past. Rounding things out was the Bespoke AI smart vacuum and mop, which can even keep an eye on your pets while you are out.
L’Oreal’s CES Beauty Tech Shows How Fast This Space Is Moving
You would not think it to look at me, but I find beauty tech genuinely fascinating. It probably started with my love of the Dyson Supersonic, but once you fall down that rabbit hole, it is hard not to notice how quickly this space is evolving. L’Oréal is a big part of that, and once again at CES, it showed up with ideas that feel equal parts clever and slightly futuristic.
The most immediate of the trio is an LED Eye Mask that uses red light and near-infrared light to target puffiness, discolouration and fine lines. LED masks are nothing new, but focusing specifically on the eye area makes a lot of sense, especially for people who do not want to commit to a full face setup every night.
There is also a full LED Face Mask, though this one is still very much a prototype. It is designed to be more flexible and wearable than the rigid masks we have seen from brands like Dr. Dennis Gross or Omnilux in recent years. Do not expect to buy it anytime soon though, as L’Oreal says it will not land until next year at the earliest.
The most ambitious device is the Light Straight Plus Multi-styler. It uses infrared light to dry and style hair, with sensors and machine learning designed to adapt to how you move it. L’Oreal claims it can straighten hair effectively without ever exceeding 320°F, well below the temperatures that can cause real damage. That one is still a long way off, with a 2027 launch pencilled in, but it shows just how seriously the company is taking hair health through technology.
Taken together, these gadgets are a good reminder that beauty tech is no longer a gimmick side show. It is becoming smarter, more targeted, and in some cases, genuinely useful.
Speediance Shows Early Fitness Tech Concepts at CES 2026
Speediance used its CES 2026 presence to look beyond finished consumer products, showcasing two early-stage prototypes alongside its existing fitness ecosystem. Rather than major launch announcements, the emphasis this year was on direction of travel and how connected fitness hardware might evolve over the next few years.
The company has already found its footing in the smart home gym category, and CES was positioned as a space to test ideas publicly rather than push polished devices. That approach felt deliberate, and refreshing, in a hall often dominated by over-promised concepts.
Gym Nano Explores Portability Without Abandoning Resistance Training
One of the more grounded prototypes on show was the Gym Nano. It is a compact, motor-driven cable system designed for strength training in smaller or more flexible spaces. Unlike full-frame smart gyms, the Nano appears to prioritise portability and adaptability, hinting at use cases beyond the spare room setup that dominates current smart gym thinking.
Details on resistance limits, power requirements, or pricing were not confirmed, but the intent is clear. Speediance is testing whether its digitally controlled resistance model can be scaled down without losing the consistency and safety that motor-driven systems offer over traditional weights.
If brought to market, this could appeal to apartment dwellers, frequent movers, or anyone who wants structured strength training without committing to a permanent installation.
Speediance Strap Looks at Fitness Data Beyond the Workout
More speculative is the Speediance Strap, a wearable prototype exploring how continuous physiological and behavioural data might feed into training and recovery recommendations. Unlike fitness trackers focused on steps or heart rate snapshots, the Strap is positioned as an always-on input layer for broader health insights.
At this stage, it is firmly a concept rather than a product. There was no confirmation of sensors, battery life, or consumer timelines. What it signals instead is Speediance’s interest in linking workouts with the rest of the day, including recovery, sleep, and general activity, rather than treating training sessions as isolated events.
Aqara’s Smart Home Ecosystem Keeps Expanding
Aqara has quietly become one of the most reliable smart home ecosystems around, especially for households that value flexibility, local control, and strong Apple Home integration. In my own home, and in supporting my Mum, Aqara gear has steadily taken over everything from lighting and heating to security and automation, largely because it just works and keeps getting better.
At CES 2026, Aqara used that momentum to unveil its latest vision for what it calls intelligent space technology. Rather than focusing on individual gadgets, the company showed how sensors, hubs, cameras, and locks can work together to understand how people actually move through and use a space. The promise is simple: smarter security, better comfort, and less friction in daily life.
This is not about futuristic gimmicks. It is about practical automation that responds to human presence, behaviour, and real-world conditions, whether that is a family home, a small business, or assisted living scenarios.
The Hub Becomes the Brain of the Home
One of the headline announcements is the Thermostat Hub W200. This is more than just a heating controller. It acts as a central brain, pulling in environmental data and adjusting heating intelligently. The standout feature here is Adaptive Temperature combined with Clean Energy Guidance from Apple, which aims to optimise comfort while nudging users towards more energy-efficient behaviour.
For Irish homes facing rising energy costs, this kind of guidance could be genuinely useful, especially if it integrates cleanly with existing radiators or underfloor heating setups. Irish compatibility, supported systems, and pricing are still to be confirmed, but the direction is encouraging.
Alongside it, Aqara showed its first Matter-enabled Camera Hub G350. This is significant because Matter support means better cross-platform compatibility, not just within Apple Home but also across broader smart home ecosystems. Acting as both a camera and a hub, the G350 analyses environmental data locally and can trigger automations without relying entirely on the cloud.
Sensors That Understand People, Not Just Motion
Where Aqara really leans into the idea of spatial intelligence is with its new sensors. The Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and the Multi-State Sensor P100 are designed to detect more than basic movement. They can interpret presence, posture, and environmental conditions to create automations that feel natural rather than abrupt.
Instead of lights snapping on because something moved, systems can respond to someone entering a room, sitting down, or even lingering in a space. This has obvious benefits for accessibility and elder care, where automation needs to be helpful without being intrusive.
In practical terms, this could mean heating only rooms that are actually in use, lights adjusting gradually based on time of day, or safety alerts that trigger if unusual inactivity is detected. For families supporting older relatives, this type of passive monitoring could offer peace of mind without cameras in private spaces.
Hands-Free Access With Apple Home Key
Security also got a notable upgrade with the Smart Lock U400. This lock supports hands-free unlocking using Apple Home Key on iPhone or Apple Watch, allowing users to unlock their door simply by approaching it. No fumbling for keys, no opening an app, just a tap or proximity-based access.
For busy households, short-term rentals, or anyone with mobility issues, this is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement. As with previous Aqara locks, the big question for Ireland will be availability, supported door types, and pricing in euro. If Aqara can match the value of its earlier models, this could be one of the more appealing smart lock options on the market.
Ambient Dreamie Wants To Replace Your Phone On Your Bedside Table
If your phone has become an unavoidable part of your bedtime routine, CES has a gadget that thinks it should not be. Dreamie combines a gradual sunrise-style wake-up light with built-in playback for music, podcasts and ambient sounds, all without notifications, apps or endless feeds. Ambient CEO and co-founder Adrian Canoso told us the idea came from frustration with phones doing far too much in the bedroom, encouraging late-night scrolling and restless sleep.
It is a deliberately simple pitch in a very noisy tech space: give people everything they actually use their phone for at night, and remove the rest. Pricing and Irish availability have not been confirmed yet, but for habitual doomscrollers, Dreamie is positioning itself as a small but meaningful step towards better sleep.
SwitchBot Doubles Down On AI-Powered Living
SwitchBot has never been short of ambition, but its CES 2026 showing makes it clear the company is thinking far beyond button pushers and curtain motors. Following a strong presence at IFA in Berlin last year, SwitchBot used CES 2026 to outline what it calls Smart Home 2.0, a deeply integrated ecosystem built around embodied AI, robotics and context-aware automation.
The core idea is simple enough: homes that can sense what is happening, understand intent and then act without constant user input. In practice, that means everything from robots that can handle physical tasks, to security products that recognise you, to desk gadgets that respond to mood and environment. It is an unusually broad showcase, even by CES standards.
Onero H1 Shows SwitchBot’s Long-Term Robotics Play
The headline announcement is the onero H1, described as SwitchBot’s most accessible AI household robot to date. Rather than being built for one specific job, onero H1 is positioned as a multi-task system designed to adapt over time. It features 22 degrees of freedom, on-device sensing and an OmniSense visual-language-action model that allows it to understand objects, depth and touch.
SwitchBot says this combination improves reliability for everyday tasks like grasping, opening, pushing and organising, the kinds of actions that have traditionally been difficult for consumer robots. Crucially, onero H1 is designed to work alongside SwitchBot’s existing ecosystem of smaller, task-focused devices, rather than replace them outright.
Pre-orders for onero H1 and its A1 robotic arms are expected to open soon via SwitchBot’s own website. Irish pricing and availability have not yet been confirmed.
Lock Vision Brings 3D Biometrics To Smart Security
Security is another major pillar of Smart Home 2.0, with the introduction of the SwitchBot Lock Vision Series. SwitchBot claims this is the world’s first deadbolt smart lock to use 3D structured-light facial recognition, projecting over 2,000 infrared points to build a precise facial map for near-instant unlocking.
Unlike basic camera-based systems, this approach is designed to work reliably with glasses, hats or makeup, and includes liveness detection to prevent spoofing. All biometric data is stored locally, a detail that will matter to privacy-conscious buyers.
The Lock Vision Series also supports Matter-over-Wi-Fi, allowing direct integration with Apple Home without a separate hub. A Pro model adds palm-vein recognition, useful when hands are wet or dirty. As with the robot, Irish pricing and retailer availability are still to be announced.
Comfort Tech Expands Beyond The Home
SwitchBot’s announcements were not limited to robots and locks. The company also introduced several new comfort and productivity devices aimed at everyday life.
The AI MindClip is a lightweight, clip-on AI assistant that records conversations and meetings, then turns them into summaries, reminders and a searchable personal knowledge base using a cloud-based AI service. At just 18 grams and supporting over 100 languages, it is pitched as a “second brain” for work and personal life, though subscription costs have not yet been detailed.
Meanwhile, the new SwitchBot Weather Station uses a large E-Ink display to show indoor conditions, forecasts, calendars and AI-generated daily weather briefings. Rounding things out is OBBOTO, an expressive pixel globe light with thousands of RGB LEDs, motion sensing and AI-driven animations designed to reflect mood, music and environment.
Six years ago, I first saw the Meater+ at IFA Berlin and came away impressed. Soon after I reviewed it. The concept was brilliant: a wireless temperature probe that takes the guesswork out of cooking meat, with smartphone monitoring and a sleek charging dock. It seemed like the perfect convergence of my love for cooking and tech.
Now, after plenty of real-world use and seeing the product still on the market, I need to be honest. While the initial experience was promising, the long-term reality tells a very different story.
What is Meater?
For those unfamiliar, Meater is a wireless temperature probe designed to monitor meat while it cooks. You insert the sharp pointed end into your meat before cooking, and it measures both the internal temperature (at the tip) and ambient temperature (along the exposed shaft). The Meater+ model I tested connects to a stylish charging dock that extends the wireless range, allowing you to monitor your cooking from another room via a smartphone app.
The system works through a straightforward app where you select what you’re cooking and how you like it done. The app tracks temperatures in real time, notifies you when the meat is ready, and even reminds you to let it rest afterwards. There’s also Alexa integration if you want to ask your smart assistant for updates.
The Initial Appeal
I’ll acknowledge what impressed me initially, because these aspects do have merit. Cooking with a temperature probe genuinely removes guesswork. Watching the internal temperature rise gradually, then seeing it continue to climb during the resting period, was genuinely enlightening. That visual feedback changed my understanding of how meat actually cooks.
The Meater app is well-designed and intuitive. Setting everything up was straightforward, and the notifications for when to remove meat and when it’s ready to serve are helpful reminders. For someone learning to cook meat properly, these features have real educational value.
The Connectivity Reality
Here’s where things started falling apart. Even with the Meater+, which promises extended range through its charging dock, connectivity was frustratingly inconsistent. During that initial test with the spatchcock chicken, the connection dropped several times, forcing me to reposition the charging base repeatedly. This wasn’t a one-off issue; it became a persistent problem.
The base Meater model relies entirely on Bluetooth connectivity between your phone and the probe. In practice, this means you need your phone within a few metres of wherever you’re cooking. The Meater+ extends this slightly through its dock, but not reliably enough to justify the premium. If you want genuinely dependable remote monitoring, you need to step up to the Meater Link WiFi model, which adds even more cost to an already expensive gadget.
For most home cooking scenarios, you’re not wandering far from the kitchen anyway. The promise of monitoring your roast from the living room sounds appealing until you realise you’re checking the app every few minutes regardless, and you could just as easily glance at a traditional thermometer.
Durability Concerns
After roughly a year of fairly light use, my Meater+ simply died. Stopped working entirely. I wasn’t using it constantly; perhaps once or twice-monthly at most. For a premium kitchen gadget at this price point, that’s deeply disappointing. I’ve had budget kitchen thermometers last far longer with heavier use.
This is the critical issue I’ve come to after six years. For the vast majority of cooking I’ve done since that original review, I’ve had absolutely no use for a thermometer that I can monitor remotely.
Using a temperature probe is essential for many dishes. I’m not disputing that. Understanding when meat is perfectly cooked, rather than guessing or cutting it open repeatedly, transforms your cooking. But you don’t need wireless connectivity or smartphone integration to achieve this.
I now use a ThermoPro TP17 Digital Grill Thermometer with dual probes for nearly all my meat cooking, whether that’s steaks in a pan or salmon baking in the oven. It does everything essential: measures internal temperature accurately, has an external display you can glance at, and alerts you when your target temperature is reached. It costs a fraction of what Meater charges.
Who Might Benefit from Meater?
To be fair, I suspect Meater makes more sense for a specific type of cooking that’s more common in the US: long-term smoking or extended outdoor barbecuing. If you’re smoking a brisket for 12 hours, being able to monitor temperatures from inside your house without constant trips to the garden has genuine value.
But for the average person doing oven roasts or stove top cooking, that use case simply doesn’t apply. You’re in the kitchen already. You’re checking on things periodically anyway. The wireless monitoring becomes a solution looking for a problem.
The Verdict After Six Years
The Meater is an elegant piece of technology that solves a problem most home cooks don’t actually have. The initial wow factor of seeing temperature data on your phone wears off quickly when you realise you’re still hovering nearby, and the connectivity issues add frustration rather than convenience.
When my unit died after minimal use, I didn’t replace it. That tells you everything about whether it became indispensable.
If you’re serious about cooking meat well, absolutely invest in a good temperature probe. They’re essential tools. But save your money and get something like the ThermoPro for €20-€30 rather than spending €89-€109 on the Meater. You’ll get the same core benefit, reliable connectivity to a display unit, dual probe capability, and money left over for better ingredients.
The only exception? If you genuinely do regular long-form smoking or outdoor cooking where you need to monitor from a distance, and you’re willing to invest in the WiFi-enabled Meater Link model for reliable connectivity. For everyone else, this is an expensive gadget that solves a problem you don’t have.
Home Office Coffee: Making the Financial and Practical Case for an Espresso Machine
Remote work has shifted from temporary measure to permanent arrangement for many of us. The Irish government’s recent legislation encouraging it signals this isn’t reversing. But working from home brings unexpected costs, and if you’re like me, the local coffee shop became an expensive daily habit.
After tallying my spending, I made the switch to a home espresso machine. This isn’t a small investment, so here’s what I’ve learned about whether it makes sense and what actually matters when choosing one.
Does the Investment Make Sense?
I’ll start with the financial reality because that’s what drove my decision. Between my partner and me, we were buying coffee three or four times weekly. That adds up to roughly £1,000 annually, and some weeks pushed that higher. Even accounting for milk (I use oat) and decent coffee beans, a home setup pays for itself within the year if you’re a regular café visitor.
Beyond the numbers, there’s versatility. Most coffee drinks start with espresso as the base, whether that’s a flat white, cappuccino, or americano. Once you’ve mastered the espresso, you’ve unlocked the full range. Over Christmas, I used a friend’s machine to make Irish coffees, which highlighted how useful having one in the kitchen can be beyond your morning routine.
That said, this only makes sense if you genuinely drink coffee regularly. If you’re having one cup weekly, stick with your local café and support them properly.
What Actually Matters in a Machine
I spent considerable time researching before buying, and there’s a meaningful distinction between consumer appliances and commercial-grade equipment that goes beyond output volume.
I initially bought a £100 machine from Lidl. It worked fine for basic espresso, but I never achieved the cream layer I now consider essential. If you’re curious about whether you’ll care about coffee quality long-term, a budget machine from Argos or Lidl during sales makes sense as a trial. You’ll learn whether this is a passing interest or something you’ll pursue.
For those working from home who already know they appreciate quality coffee, the mid-range options offer better value. They provide room to develop your technique without the unforgiving nature of high-end commercial machines. The Sage Bambino Plus sits in this category, balancing ease of use with enough control to improve your results over time.
Pressurised vs Non-Pressurised Baskets
This technical detail matters more than you’d expect. The Bambino Plus includes both types. Pressurised baskets work with pre-ground supermarket coffee and handle the extraction process automatically. They’re forgiving and consistent, which is ideal when you’re starting or simply want coffee without fuss.
Non-pressurised baskets give you more control but require freshly ground beans and attention to grind size and tamping pressure. The advantage of having both is flexibility. You can start simple and experiment with whole beans later if you’re interested.
Milk Frothing: The Automated Advantage
Most espresso machines include frothing wands, but they’re genuinely difficult to master. Timing matters significantly. Too long and you burn the milk, too short and your coffee’s lukewarm. Cleaning the wand properly is another task you’ll dread.
The Bambino Plus has automated frothing, which is uncommon at this price point. Fill the included jug with milk, position it under the wand, press the button. The machine handles temperature and texture, then self-cleans. I’ve used this for hot chocolates and even baking applications, which makes it more versatile than a standard wand.
The Grinder Question
The Bambino Plus doesn’t include a built-in grinder, and I’d argue that’s actually preferable. All-in-one units create a single point of failure. If either component breaks, you’re left with a bulky, partially functional device taking up counter space.
I bought the Sage Smart Grinder Pro separately. When I get new beans, I spend a few minutes adjusting grind settings to dial in the perfect extraction. Once that’s done, you can fill the hopper and forget about it, even programming specific grind times. This separation means if one device fails, the other remains useful.
Why This Setup Works for Home Offices
The Bambino Plus strikes a practical balance. Commercial machines demand precision with grind size and tamping pressure. Get it wrong and you’re starting over, which is frustrating when you just want to begin your workday. Higher-end consumer machines can be similarly unforgiving.
This setup lets you maintain a simple morning routine whilst still producing genuinely good coffee. The pressurised baskets mean you can use supermarket ground coffee without compromising too much. The automated frothing removes a significant skill barrier. But if you want to explore whole beans and develop technique, the non-pressurised baskets and separate grinder provide that path.
The ritual of making coffee has become something I genuinely look forward to each morning. That matters when you’re working from home and creating structure in your day.
Honest Limitations
This isn’t cheap. The Bambino Plus and Smart Grinder Pro together represent a significant outlay. You’ll recoup costs if you’re a regular coffee buyer, but it’s still a barrier.
Quality beans make a substantial difference. Budget supermarket grounds will work, but you’re not getting the full benefit of the machine. I buy from Cloudpicker’s, but any reputable roaster will elevate your results noticeably.
Finally, this setup suits small to medium households. If you’re making coffee for four people regularly, you might want something with a larger water reservoir and faster recovery time between shots. Similarly, if you know you want to become serious about espresso technique, machines like the Gaggia Classic offer more manual control, though they’re less forgiving.
For remote workers who want reliable, quality coffee without becoming baristas, this combination delivers well.
We’re heading into January 2026 (or already there depending on when you’re reading this) and you’ve either committed to getting fitter this year or you’re helping someone else do the same. The good news is that fitness technology has become remarkably accessible, and the right gadgets can make the difference between sticking with it and abandoning your goals by February – but remember, they won’t do the steps or the lifts for you.
I’ve spent years experimenting with various fitness tech, and what strikes me most is how much value you can extract at almost any budget level. These aren’t just toys; they’re tools that provide the data and motivation many of us need to actually make progress.
The Foundation: Wearables and Trackers
The cornerstone of any fitness effort, in my experience, is data. Wearables give you a gentle nudge to get moving and provide feedback on whether you’ve been active enough overall and let you know if your day is short of some movement. They also give you motivation by offering insights into achievable goals (again like steps or activity streaks). They range from around €50 to €550, which means there’s genuinely something for everyone.
Xiaomi Smart Band 10
This is fantastic value from Xiaomi and works with both Android and iPhone. It tracks steps, sleep, and delivers well over five days of battery life. That’s a big win for sleep tracking, because what good is sleep tracking if you’re charging your watch every night.
The tech that powers this band would have cost two or three times the price just five years ago. It’s perfect if your office is planning a step challenge, or you simply want to understand your baseline activity levels without a significant investment.
Whoop represents a completely different approach to fitness tracking. It doesn’t even count steps. Instead, it’s a subscription-based service starting at €200 per year, though the band itself is free. The battery lasts roughly two weeks because there’s no display, just sensors constantly monitoring your vital signs.
All that data about your body gets handed over to the Whoop algorithm, which calculates your effort, recovery, and overall condition with impressive accuracy. Once it’s dialled into your baseline, you can often predict when you’re about to come down with a cold based on your recovery scores. That’s genuinely useful for athletes or high-performance amateurs who need to know when to push and when to rest.
But I have to stress this: Whoop really isn’t for someone who just wants to track steps. It’s a specialised tool for people serious about optimising performance.
If you want a comprehensive solution that brings everything together, the Garmin Forerunner 570 is one of the best fitness wearables available. It bridges the gap between enthusiast-friendly and serious athlete-focused tracking.
One feature I particularly appreciate is the ability to sync Spotify and connect my headphones directly to the watch. This means I can head out for a walk or run and take a break from notifications without carrying my phone, which feels genuinely liberating.
People more serious about fitness than me get excited about the GPS tracking accuracy Garmin offers. There’s built-in activity tracking for cycling, running, triathlons, hiking, and strength training, amongst others. You can also connect to Strava, which is excellent for tracking progress and social sharing. Because if you don’t share your run on Instagram, has it really happened?
From a practical standpoint, the colour e-ink display saves massively on power consumption. You’ll get well over a week between charges under normal use, though GPS tracking will drain the battery significantly faster. My mates and I love comparing sleep scores, which probably reveals more about my use case than anything else.
All the couch-to-5k programmes in the world won’t help unless the activity itself is entertaining. Whether you prefer music or podcasts, there’s a critical safety consideration that many overlook: most modern earphones use noise-cancelling, which isn’t ideal when you’re moving through traffic or shared spaces.
Shokz OpenFit 2
The Shokz OpenFit 2 are open-ear headphones with speakers positioned beside your ear rather than inside it. This design delivers surprisingly high-quality audio whilst keeping you aware of your surroundings. They’re ideal for people running, walking, or cycling who want distraction from the effort but still need to hear approaching vehicles or other potential hazards.
I’ve found this design particularly valuable during winter commutes when visibility is already compromised. Being able to hear what’s happening around you whilst staying motivated makes a genuine difference to both safety and enjoyment.
I’m consistently amazed at what this app, combined with a simple kitchen scale, teaches me each year. I recommend paying for the premium version (the Premium+ version is overkill for most) and focusing on macro tracking rather than pure calorie counting. That’s where I’ve achieved my best results, even if I did undo much of that work over Christmas.
The real value lies in understanding what you’re consuming. Having data behind your nutrition usually highlights why certain ingredients cost more to your health than they add to your happiness. Conversely, it can show when you’ve genuinely earned a treat in the evening, rather than assuming entitlement to one.
I regularly use AI tools for recipe ideas, general fitness tips, and help to analyse the data my various devices generate. This might seem silly, but having an always-available resource for quick questions has proved surprisingly valuable. Just use it responsibly and verify anything that seems questionable.
Zombies, Run!
What workout is better than one you barely notice happening? Zombies, Run! has been around for several years, and it remains brilliant. It’s an audio-based fitness game that turns your run into an interactive story.
You start the app and head out with your headphones. As you run, the narrative unfolds: you’ve woken up in the zombie apocalypse and must outrun bloodthirsty zombies whilst acting as a supply runner. The story progresses with each run, gamifying the entire experience. You’ll want to get going again, potentially even feeling disappointed when the day’s workout ends.
This approach of making exercise feel like something other than exercise works remarkably well for many people.
Sticking with work outs that pass by without even noticing, virtual reality offers another excellent avenue for gamified fitness. I’ve broken some serious sweats using my PSVR2 (which officially speaking isn’t IP rated for sweat). Beat Saber and Les Mills Bodycombat are both incredibly fun and genuinely challenging once you get into them, particularly Les Mills, which feels like a proper boxercise session with a personal trainer.
There’s also the practical benefit of being able to justify a PS5 purchase under the guise of getting fit.
This is one of my favourite pieces of fitness tech right now. Whilst not cheap, it’s remarkably clever in execution. The Gym Monster 2 is a comprehensive home gym solution that replaces most weights and resistance-based machines from a traditional gym.
The innovation lies in how it achieves this with a relatively small footprint. Instead of physical weights, it uses electromagnetic resistance to generate up to 100kg of resistance for your workouts. You can do squats, bench pressing, skiing movements, even rowing.
The machine includes a screen with virtual personal trainers who guide you through workouts. There are several other features that make this genuinely better than traditional weights, like variable resistance and the control ring, but those deserve their own detailed explanation another time.
The technology I’ve described here ranges from affordable entry points to significant investments. What matters most isn’t having the most expensive gear; it’s finding the tools that actually motivate you to stick with your fitness goals.
If you’re just starting out, a basic fitness tracker and a good pair of open-ear headphones might be all you need. As your commitment deepens and your goals become more specific, you can invest in more specialised equipment.
The other critical factor is honest self-assessment. Some days, despite having all this technology, the weather or your energy levels make rest the better choice. Don’t let attachment to tracking streak override practical judgment about what your body needs. As much as I love data, some of my biggest wins have come in the form of an old t-shirt feeling better on over the scales going down – particularly if you’re doing weights.
Fitness technology works best when it serves your goals rather than becoming the goal itself. Use these tools to understand your patterns, stay motivated, and make informed decisions about your health. The January motivation will fade, but good data and enjoyable routines tend to stick around much longer.
I discussed some of these products on RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Claire Brock. You can listen back below and get some tips from Karl Henry, who is much more familiar with exercise and wellbeing than me!
Google is finally letting users change their Gmail addresses, ending a long-standing frustration for anyone stuck with an embarrassing or outdated email handle. The feature has been spotted in an official support document, though it’s rolling out slowly and currently limited to India. I’ve tried it, and no luck for me or my Irish Google account.
Why This Actually Matters
If you created your Gmail account in secondary school or university, there’s a decent chance you’re still logging into Google services with something like “coolboy2007” or “partygirl_dublin”. I used to work in a phone shop and taking in repairs meant asking for your email and I know a lot of you not only have these emails but have been too lazy to get a new one.
For years, that address has been permanent. You could create a new Google Account, sure, but then you’d lose access to years of YouTube subscriptions, Google Drive files, and Photos libraries. The migration headache meant most of us just lived with it.
I’ve seen this play out countless times. A friend recently had to explain to a potential employer why his professional correspondence came from an address referencing a football team and a year that definitely wasn’t his birth year. It’s awkward, and until now, unavoidable.
What Google Is Offering
According to the support documentation discovered by the Google Pixel Hub Telegram group, you’ll be able to keep your old address whilst switching to a new one. Both will work simultaneously for receiving emails, which is genuinely useful. Your existing data, subscriptions, and services all stay intact. You’re essentially getting two Gmail addresses attached to one account.
The catch? You can only change your address once every 12 months. That seems reasonable, preventing abuse whilst giving people flexibility.
How It Compares to Alternatives
Microsoft Outlook has offered address changes and proper aliases for years. If you’re on a Google Workspace account (the paid, managed version), you’ve had workarounds through alternate addresses. But for standard Gmail users, this functionality simply didn’t exist. You had to create entirely separate accounts and manually set up forwarding, which breaks the single sign-on convenience that makes Google accounts useful in the first place.
The Rollout Reality
Here’s the less exciting bit: the support page is currently only available in Hindi, suggesting India is the testing ground. Google explicitly states the feature will roll out gradually, so global availability isn’t imminent. This is official documentation, not a leak, which means it’s definitely happening. But “definitely happening” and “available next week” are very different things in Google’s world.
To check if you have access now, visit my.account.google.com/google-account-email on your phone or computer. Navigate to “Personal Information,” then look under “Email” for an option to “Change email address for your Google Account.” If you don’t see it, you’re waiting like the rest of us.
Worth the Wait?
For most people, this removes a genuine pain point. Email addresses have become core identifiers across the web, and being stuck with a decade-old choice feels increasingly outdated. The ability to evolve your digital identity without fragmenting your accounts is long overdue.
That said, if you’re desperate for a professional address right now, don’t wait indefinitely. Setting up a custom domain through Google Workspace or using Outlook’s existing features might be more practical than hoping for a gradual rollout to reach Ireland this year. Sometimes the workaround you can implement today beats the perfect solution arriving eventually.
Google hasn’t officially announced this feature, so specifics could still change. But after years of requests, it’s encouraging to see movement. Even if that movement is currently limited to one region and rolling out at Google’s famously glacial pace.
