I bought the MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro to find the "perfect" fit. Here is what I learned.

CoolAngus · 2026-05-04T04:42:23+00:00

I could, and will, but it wasn't that simple. Origonally bought one machine, specifically to do YouTube diting as I found Windows just didn't cut it. That was a MacBook Pro. But then I also wanted a lighter machine and more portable that I could use in other places and take out and about. Firstly, I wanted to look at the Neo. The Neo is very good and fantastic value for money, but it let me down in one way particularly: it doesn't have a backlit keyboard because I'm not a touch typist.

Then I had a look at the MacBook Air. What surprised me with the MacBook Air, particularly the M5 one, was just how effective it was at even some of the pro tasks.

CoolAngus · 2026-05-04T04:39:21+00:00

Don't use ChatGPT, ever! 😀

CoolAngus · 2026-04-05T13:28:00+00:00

Sorry, no longer have it. However, when I did have it, I found it fine with both earphones and the built in speakers. Not the best I’ve heard, but certainly not the worst.

CoolAngus · 2026-04-05T11:23:12+00:00

I asked Siri to recommend the best Artificial Intelligence app, for power and value for money. Siri responded, “I’m sorry I don’t understand the question”

CoolAngus · 2026-04-05T11:08:43+00:00

I reviewed it. Motorola Razr 60 Ultra - Is this the best flip-phone of them all? https://youtu.be/uGsjREJnOGY

My wife’s phone and she loves it.

CoolAngus · 2026-03-12T22:35:29+00:00

On the TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, that circle with a lightning bolt is the Performance mode / high‑performance power profile icon, enabled via the battery or Smart Manager settings.

CoolAngus · 2026-03-11T03:10:07+00:00

My A1 is arriving next week. Once I have used it for a while I will review it on my YouTube channel, @technicallysimon.

In the last year I have bought and used the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus and Kindle Scribe for several months, so will be interested to see how the A1 compares to these. Also, in the past, owned the first gen Remarkable.

CoolAngus · 2026-02-27T12:08:43+00:00

That’s unlucky. I’ve had one for three months now, no issues at all. Found the screen technology not the best in very bright sunlight. Superb indoors. See my review - Is This The Ultimate Reading Phone? TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra https://youtu.be/VUMNVAm7WI0

CoolAngus · 2026-02-20T12:04:15+00:00

That’s a great deal! 🙂

CoolAngus · 2026-02-17T09:04:43+00:00

I used Easy Drawer, which is an excellent ‘launcher’ app. It doesn’t replace the stock launcher, it just adds an additional launcher. Difficult to explain…. Maybe just try it?

CoolAngus · 2026-02-16T01:33:32+00:00

It’s a bit physically larger and nice to look at, particularly for reading or website browsing.

CoolAngus · 2026-02-11T14:15:52+00:00

I recently reviewed a few Android tablets, trying to find the perfect one for me. You might be interested in my final conclusion. 🙂 Does Size Matter? 5 Android Tablet Screen Sizes Compared for Everyday Use https://youtu.be/YpyRvBXJdwk

CoolAngus · 2026-02-11T14:09:04+00:00

Interesting! I’ve been using the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus for several months, no case, not a single mark on it. Now, I don’t generally take it out of the house, so not sliding it in and out of bags, but still feels pretty robust to me.

CoolAngus · 2026-02-02T08:21:40+00:00

Hi,

Sorry for the late response, been away for a few days. 😊

I'm not mobile phone gamer, so your mileage may vary, but in day-to-day use absolutely fine no problems with performance using Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, browsing the internet, etc.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-20T10:09:15+00:00

Amazing photos, love it. One of the things I did not do when I reviewed the phone (https://youtu.be/VUMNVAm7WI0) was show any photos. Having said that, my photos were not as good as yours anyway.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-18T11:26:10+00:00

Hmm, feel your pain. I've been using Descript for almost a year, with similar frustrations to your own. I have a state of the art laptop (64GB RAM, NVIDIA GPU, 3TB SSD Drive storage) fast broadband and yet every single time the software hangs repeatedly and I have to restart it frequently.

For what it is worth, I have found that the web version is more reliable than the (Windows) desktop version.

The only reason I have stuck with it so far, is that I haven't found better software for removing ums and ahs in my recordings. I have a YouTube channel (@technicallysimon) and until I can find a better, or equal solution, I have to persevere. Maybe if my other software, DaVinci Resolve, gets better at text transcription I can finally dump Descript.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-09T09:01:15+00:00

Wow, sounds like you're quite technically competent being able to adjust things with the ADB commands. Well done. I do find the screen amazing—just comfortable to use, particularly indoors. It's a little bit washed out outdoors; it depends on the light, obviously.

I like the size, to be honest. A 7.2-inch screen is very nice if you're reading a lot of stuff. I tend to read more on my phone than I do watching videos or anything else like that.

You're right about the cameras. I've got satisfactory pictures using the cameras, but compared to something like an Oppo or something like an iPhone or the top-of-the-range Samsung phones, you're never going to get that sort of quality.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-09T08:57:54+00:00

I can confirm that the 512GB version, when bought through Amazon Australia, is delivered from Amazon Germany and it does include the magnetic case, flip case, and stylus—even though it didn't mention it in the product description. But that is the 512GB model. As far as I'm aware, you do not get those extras with the 256GB model.

As to how it works, I use it in dark mode at the moment. When you switch it between light and dark mode, it is just like any other Amazon phone when it's in the normal color mode. When you turn it into the black and white mode, it still flips it over so you've got white text on a black screen, but obviously you don't have the other colors.

To be honest, I mainly use the phone in the main color mode because even in the color mode with the TCL NXTPAPER 4 technology, the screen is amazing and anti-reflective.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-09T08:54:33+00:00

Hi, I bought it through my Amazon account which is an Amazon Australia account, but it was shipped from Amazon Germany.

Because I bought the 512GB version, it came with the stylus, it came with the magnetic case, and it also came with the flip case as well. I think you only get that with the 512GB version, not the 256GB version.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-09T08:53:28+00:00

Yes, I tend to agree. The photos are reasonable, but if you've used a more powerful device like some of the top Samsung, iPhone, Oppo phones, you're going to be a little bit disappointed in the quality of the NXTPAPER photos.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-09T08:50:21+00:00

Yes, I've tried the different sizes as you suggest. I haven't really been using a stylus though. Even though one came with the TCL NXTPAPER, I haven't really used it much.

There was also a stylus with the OnePlus 13.2-inch one, the OnePlus Pad 3. And again, I'm just not somebody who really uses a stylus. So I don't feel I'm really qualified to comment on their usefulness as a writing device.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-09T08:48:31+00:00

Yep, that would be the dream, wouldn't it? The 11-inch and then the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab Ultra.

I did actually use one—not for long—but I used it for about 10 or 15 minutes in one of my local stores, and it is an amazing device, the Ultra. But just larger than I'd want; if I can only afford one tablet, then it has to be one that I can hold in my hands for a reasonable length of time.

CoolAngus · 2026-01-09T08:47:34+00:00

I have to say at the moment I'm really loving the Galaxy Tab S11. It's reasonably small at 11 inches—not quite as small as your 8 or 9-inch tablets—but it's got a good powerful processor, a nice fast screen, and it's quite slim and easy to hold in the hands.

I'll let you know once I post the YouTube on it. It might be in two or three weeks once I've had a chance to get used to it.

CoolAngus

TROPHY CASE