2026 could be a landmark year for battery life on phones. After well over a decade of a full day’s use being considered ‘good’, the popularisation of silicon-carbon (Si-C) technology could finally take things to the next level. Si-C batteries have far greater energy density than traditional lithium-ion versions, allowing for much higher capacities within the same total area. While there are already a few phones using the technology, it could go mainstream in 2026....

Christmas is now within our sights. Whilst the traditional chocolate advent calendars are always nice, there are plenty more exciting options to try that are perfect for geeks, tech-enthusiasts, kids and people who are looking for something a bit different. We’ve rounded up some of the best geeky and alternative advent calendars that are available to purchase – from fandoms such as Marvel and Harry Potter, to more niche ones such as gin-based calendars....

Now that we’re all spending more time at home, there probably isn’t a better time to begin converting your home into a smart one, and it doesn’t have to expensive either. Google’s smart speakers like the Nest Mini or Home Mini are around £50 or cheaper. In this article, we’ll go into what to expect from each model, where to pick each up at the best price, along with the best deals and bundles on now from various retailers....

Hoverboards, mini-Segways, Swegways or self-balancing boards – whatever you call them, are great fun to ride, and they make great gifts. The issue is that there are thousands available online, making it hard to work out which is best for your needs. That’s where we at Tech Advisor come in; as hoverboard experts, we’ll explain which features to consider when buying a hoverboard, as well as the laws regarding using their use....

Apple unveiled the third-generation iPhone SE alongside the new iPad Air and Mac Studio at an event back in March 2022. While it might not look any different on the surface, it boasts key upgrades including the A15 Bionic, 5G connectivity and much-improved battery life. Here’s all you need to know about buying the budget-focused iPhone SE 3 in the US and UK right now. How much does the iPhone SE 3 cost?...

Not only is the OnePlus 6T one of the best Android phones you can buy , it’s also one of the most versatile. Android is generally so but thanks to the Oxygen OS software the company designs and uses it’s a great phone to customise to exactly how you like it. But sometimes it’s tough to know all of the possible tricks to changing the settings, appearance and feel of the OnePlus 6T unless you know where to look....

As humans, we are constantly developing technology not only for ourselves but for also for our furry friends. With plenty of pet owners here at Tech Advisor, we know the attachment one can have towards their pet, (and we wouldn’t have it any other way). Essentially it’s often like looking after a child, with them needing food, water, exercise, love and attention. And just as we worry about our offspring, so do owners for their pets....

If you’re looking for free audio entertainment, podcasts are an excellent option. Whether it’s tech, sport, comedy, politics, entertainment, science, true crime, health or any number of other subjects there’s a show out there for you. Here’s our selection of the finest offerings from the past decade. If you’ve yet to take the plunge, then we suggest also reading our guide to the Best podcast apps so you’ll be able to listen to all of the shows listed below....

One of the best ways to ensure that you get things done – especially if you’re the forgetful or disorganised type – is to use a task manager. These allow you to set goals with particular dates and add sub-tasks to break things down to more manageable levels. You might have tried Reminders on your iPhone or Google Tasks on Android but have probably found them a bit too basic and limiting....

The Google Play Store continues to be targeted with malware attacks. Several apps posing as useful tools have infected more than 300,000 Android devices, giving hackers access to vital personal information. Just like the recent Joker malware , these apps appear to be genuinely useful on first glance. Fitness trackers, QR code scanners and cryptocurrency trackers are tools many of us will have downloaded in the past without too much thought....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Bose QC35 II headphones fix many of the complaints with the first-generation headphones, including the lack of control over noise cancellation. The introduction of Google Assistant is interesting and may be of use to some Android users, but we can’t see it being the main reason for making the purchase – especially when the headphones are so comfortable and produce outstanding sound quality....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict They’ve been a long time coming but Bose has finally made a pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones and they were worth the wait. They’re only £30 more than the QC25 which makes them a no brainer even if you use them chorded a lot of the time. They’re comfortable, the noise-cancelling is outstanding and the sound quality is high-quality too. An all-round excellent pair of immersive headphones....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Call of Cthulhu is a game that’s unmistakably flawed, let down by clunky controls, awkward writing, and a lack of polish that’s evident throughout, betraying the fact that perhaps Cyanide Studios’ ambition exceeded its grasp. But if you’re able to look past those flaws, there’s a surprisingly fun, schlocky, slow-burn horror here, as indebted to ’70s B-movies as it is to HP Lovecraft’s back catalogue....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Built-in immobiliser & cable lock Powerful motor Competitive price Cons Heavy Shortish range Our Verdict The Carerra impel is-1 is a nippy electric scooter with unique security-focused features including an immobiliser and built-in cable lock to deter potential thieves, and at £399, it’s cheaper than much of the competition. Best Prices Today: Carrera impel is-1 Following on from the success of the Carerra Vengeance, Halfords-owned Carerra has taken its knowledge of bikes and transferred it to an electric scooter....

How to change the colour of folders in Windows 8 and Windows 7. Colour code folders in Windows Explorer to help you work faster. Why change colour of folders in Windows 8 and Windows 7 Making your folders different colours has more than a cosmetic affect makes navigating Windows folders much easier. Maybe make urgent folders red, actionable this week could be amber, folders to share green and so on....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The display quality on the 14-inch screen is disappointing in a laptop costing the best part of £900. If you need true all-day battery life you may also want to look elsewhere. However, the Helium does manage to provide high-end computing performance at a more mid-range price. It could be a good option for anyone who needs a powerful desktop replacement system more than a lightweight ultraportable....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Inexpensive Simple to set up and use Expand coverage with M15 mesh Wi-Fi units Cons Eagle Pro AI Android app is slow and crashes Faster routers don’t cost much more Our Verdict The D-Link R15 router is cheap, easy to set up and, when paired with some M15 mesh Wi-Fi satellites, can provide Consistently good coverage around the home. It’s not the fastest or most flexible option out there, however, so if your budget can stretch, Consider choosing something a bit more cutting edge....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict If you need a compact, high performance Windows laptop, the 2018 Dell XPS 13 is the best laptop you can buy alongside the 8th-gen Lenovo Yoga 920. It is competitively priced, and even the high-end touchscreen Core i7 model at £1,649 is at least £300 cheaper than the same spec 13in MacBook Pro. In fact, for value for money, it is a better purchase than the Microsoft Surface Laptop as you get Windows 10 Home rather than Windows 10S, as well as saving at least £500....

The global launch of Disney+ means the streaming wars are set to go up a notch, something especially true in the UK now the country finally has the platform. Want to know your other options? Take a peek at our picks of the best TV streaming services . How much do they cost? Disney+ cost £7.99 per month here in the UK and $7.99 in the US. The UK cost is higher because it includes content from Star , the international equivalent of Hulu....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Powerful Bafang motor Neatly integrated LED controller Decent range USB-C port for charging your phone Cons Heavy Some budget parts Mode change requires one-handed riding Our Verdict As long as you’re not planning on extreme off-roading, the Netuno is a decent electric hard-tail mountain bike. It’s got plenty of power and good range, but it is very heavy. Best Prices Today: Eskute Netuno A year ago Eskute offered just two electric bikes but now has an increasing range of models....