When is a quiet week in tech not a quiet week in tech? How about right now. Because even though this week lacked the huge launches of the previous one, it was still packed with big stories and impressive new technology.
For starters, we gave our expert verdicts on Apple devices unveiled last week, and the MacBook Neo in particular blew us away. We also sat down for a long chat with Sonos’ CEO as the audio giant launched two new speakers and delivered our Google Pixel 10a review.
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7. DJI prepared Avata 360 for launch
DJI’s first 360-degree drone has long been rumored, and this week it finally broke cover. And while we don’t know everything about it yet, we do know its name, launch date and a core specification.
Avata 360, as it will be known, will be equipped with 8K video recording and will launch on March 26. Additional specs and pricing are yet to be revealed, but we’re already getting pretty excited about it.
It will compete against the excellent Antigravity A1, which debuted last year as the world’s first true 360-degree flying camera, but the Avata 360 will have an advantage over that rival, settling into an already formidable DJI drone ecosystem. Watch this space for more information ahead of the launch date.
6. HBO started its global password crack
HBO Max’s password crack is going global, according to the company’s CEO and president of global streaming, JB Perrette.
This means you may no longer be able to share an account with another HBO max user unless you pay an additional membership fee – although this option is currently only available in the US.
But how long will HBO Max even be around? HBO Max’s future currently depends on whether regulators approve the acquisition of its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, by Paramount Skydance. According to at least one prominent media analyst, if it goes ahead, HBO Max could be shut down by the end of 2027.
5. Apple prepared its 50th anniversary
Apple turns 50 in a few weeks, and Tim Cook has teased what the tech giant has planned to celebrate the occasion.
“In the coming weeks, Apple and its global community will celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary, recognizing the creativity, innovation and impact that people around the world have made possible with Apple technology,” Cook said, before closing with a note to fans that “If you’ve taught us anything, it’s that the people who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world.”
So does this mean we should prepare for a crazy launch? The new MacBook Neo was impressive (see more about that below), but maybe the company has something up its sleeve for April 1st?
4. We tested Google’s budget Pixel
Even among the flashiest, most expensive tech, there’s room for a budget champion, and in the world of Android, the Google Pixel 10a is a strong contender for that title.
Our managing editor Jacob Krol has been reviewing it over the past week or so, and as his review says, “it proves you don’t need major upgrades to make a great phone.”
So while it won’t get a new processor or upgraded camera hardware this year – instead sticking with the Tensor G4 and the same dual-camera system as the Pixel 9a – the basics are there: a comfortable design, strong battery life, bright display and a reliable camera, all for a low price of $499 / £499 / AU$849.
3. And we also tested Apple’s iPhone 17e
Sticking to the world of budget smartphones, we also reviewed Apple’s iPhone 17e, and it also proved its worth as an affordable winner.
No, it doesn’t reinvent Apple’s budget iPhone approach, but it does bring some meaningful improvements to the iPhone 16e thanks to its A19 chip, double the starting storage at 256GB and the long-awaited addition of MagSafe – all at the same starting price as the previous model.
The single rear camera will be a letdown if you love taking snaps, and the screen isn’t as sharp as the iPhone 17’s, but if you’re looking for an affordable iPhone, there isn’t a better option based on our tests.
2. The MacBook Neo blew us away
The Apple MacBook Neo doesn’t sound like it should work. It runs on an iPhone chip, has only 8GB of total memory and includes old USB 2.0 technology. Still, the Neo manages to deliver an excellent MacBook experience – there are no macOS compromises, and it’s a far more capable machine than its budget counterparts running Windows 11 and ChromeOS.
Why? For a start, performance is solid. Yes, you’ll want to stick with Apple’s own apps over third-party alternatives and keep multitasking to a minimum, but you can get a good level of utility out of this machine.
Then there’s the design, which is simply beautiful, with the Neo color appearing across its aluminum shell, the Magic Keyboard and even in macOS elements – plus the screen is stunning.
And then there is the price. At $599 / £599 / AU$899, it stretches the definition of budget a bit, but compared to other MacBooks – or the Windows competition – it’s a steal.
1. Sonos gave us two new speakers – and some explanations
Sonos hasn’t been doing well lately, with its disastrous and well-documented app relaunch leading to much criticism and ultimately the replacement of its CEO in January 2025.
That was then and this is now, and this week Sonos released not one but two new speakers in the form of the Sonos Play and the Sonos Era 100 SL. And its current CEO Tom Conrad was eager to sit down with us and explain what went wrong in 2024, what its strategy is for the future, and why we should be excited about the new devices.
You can read our Home Tech managing editor Matt Bolton’s full interview with Conrad here, and also check out Conrad’s insight into what went wrong with the Sonos app upgrade. But for now, let’s focus on the speakers.
The Sonos Era 100 SL is a new, more affordable version of the existing Era 100, but without microphones; so it lacks the smart home features of the original, but comes at a much cheaper price.
Even more interesting is the Sonos Play. This new portable speaker sits between the Roam and Move models in terms of price and features, and Conrad believes it could be the “Goldilocks” speaker. And we think he might be right.
