Techwise Corner

 The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a polished pair of wireless earbuds that strike a pleasing balance between everyday convenience, strong audio performance and clever features. Finished in Moonstone, they have a discreet, modern look and feel suitably premium without being flashy. More importantly, they are comfortable enough for long listening sessions, which makes them easy to live with day to day. The compact design is one of their strongest points. The earbuds sit securely without feeling overly intrusive, while the charging case is small enough to slip into a pocket. Google’s attention to detail is evident in the controls and overall fit, and the buds are particularly well suited to commuting, working and exercise. The Active Noise Cancellation does an impressive job of reducing background noise, making music and podcasts easier to enjoy in busy surroundings. There is also a transparency mode for when you need to hear what is happening around you. Sound quality is lively and we...

The Motorola Razr Fold 5G (XT2651-1) is an appealing take on the modern foldable, combining a distinctive design with generous specifications and the flexibility of a dual-SIM setup. Finished in PANTONE Blackened Blue, it has a suitably understated look that feels more refined than flashy, while the foldable format gives it a clear sense of personality. The 512GB of storage is particularly welcome for anyone who keeps a large collection of photos, videos, apps and offline content on their phone. Paired with 16GB of RAM, the specification is comfortably suited to demanding multitasking, although real-world performance will naturally depend on software optimisation and the apps being used. Running Android 16 also gives the phone a modern software foundation, with plenty of scope for customisation and everyday convenience. The foldable design is arguably the biggest attraction. It offers a practical way to get a larger-screen experience without carrying a conventional large smartphone all...

 The RayNeo GT AR/XR Glasses make a strong first impression, combining the familiar shape of everyday eyewear with technology that feels genuinely futuristic. Their understated design is one of the biggest strengths: they look relatively sleek and wearable rather than like a bulky piece of specialist kit. For longer viewing sessions, comfort is equally important, and the glasses strike a sensible balance between their technological hardware and a reasonably natural fit. The standout feature is the 201-inch virtual display, which creates an impressively large viewing experience without requiring a large physical screen. Movies, games and other visual content feel far more immersive as a result. The native 3DoF (three degrees of freedom) tracking also adds a useful sense of spatial interaction, allowing the virtual screen to remain positioned in your field of view as you move your head. It is a subtle feature, but one that makes the experience feel considerably more polished. Dolby V...

The Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 46mm is a smartwatch that manages to feel both familiar and noticeably refined. Its black aluminium case gives it a clean, understated look, while the larger 46mm display makes everyday interactions feel spacious without making the watch seem overly bulky on the wrist. Design is one of its strongest points. The aluminium construction keeps the watch relatively light, and the minimalist finish works equally well with casual clothes or something more polished. The larger screen is particularly useful for reading notifications, checking activity data and navigating apps, with text and icons feeling easy to see at a glance. It is the sort of improvement you appreciate more the longer you use it. In everyday use, the Series 12 feels responsive and thoughtfully designed. Notifications are easy to manage, while fitness and health tracking provide useful information without requiring constant attention. Activity tracking, heart-rate monitoring and workout features...

The Microsoft Surface Pro strikes a compelling balance between tablet convenience and laptop practicality, and this latest Copilot+ PC feels particularly well suited to people who want one device for work, browsing and entertainment. The 12-inch LCD touchscreen is a comfortable size: spacious enough for everyday tasks without making the device feel cumbersome. The Platinum finish also gives it a clean, understated look that feels suitably premium. Performance is where the Surface Pro makes a strong impression. With the Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, everyday tasks feel quick and responsive. Switching between browser tabs, documents and productivity apps is generally smooth, while the solid-state storage provides plenty of room for files without making the device feel sluggish. It is not designed as a high-end workstation or gaming machine, but for typical office work, study and general use, it has more than enough power. The included keyboard adds consider...

The Nikon Z5II is a full-frame mirrorless camera that strikes a convincing balance between capable performance and sensible design. It feels like a camera built for photographers who want room to grow without stepping into the bulk or complexity of a professional flagship. From the first few outings, its combination of handling, image quality and modern features makes a strong impression. Design is one of the Z5II’s strengths. The body feels solid and reassuring in the hand, while the controls are sensibly laid out and easy to reach. The electronic viewfinder is clear and responsive, and the fully articulated touchscreen adds welcome flexibility when shooting from awkward angles or composing video. It is a practical design rather than one that tries to impress for the sake of it, which suits the camera well. Performance is equally convincing. The full-frame sensor produces detailed images with pleasing colour and plenty of scope for editing, particularly when shooting RAW. Autofocus is...

 The Crucial Pro DDR5 64GB Kit is the sort of memory upgrade that makes sense for anyone building a capable modern PC and wanting plenty of headroom for demanding workloads. With two 32GB modules running at 5600MHz, it offers a generous amount of capacity without becoming unnecessarily complicated to install or configure. Design-wise, the kit takes a fairly understated approach. There is no excessive styling or distracting RGB lighting, which will appeal to anyone who prefers a clean-looking build. The standard DIMM format also makes it straightforward to fit into a compatible desktop system, while the 2x32GB configuration leaves room for future expansion on motherboards with four memory slots. Performance is where this kit really earns its keep. A 5600MHz speed provides a useful step up from older DDR4 platforms, and the inclusion of both Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO support is particularly convenient. Rather than spending time manually tuning memory settings, compatible systems c...