Fernando Silva

As the house’s tech dad, I’m responsible for ensuring we have everything we need whenever we head out, whether it’s a weekend away, a park day, or just a long afternoon running errands. At the center of it all sits my iPad mini 7. It’s the device that does everything: work, content, notes, games, and even kid-friendly apps. Around that, I’ve built my perfect everyday-carry setup to keep my whole family powered, connected, and ready for anything. Here are some of my go to accessories!

I’ve been using Nomad bands for years now, and they’ve become my go to recommendation for anyone looking for a non-Apple, Apple Watch band. Nomad’s lineup has something for every situation, from sporty FKM bands to premium titanium and leather options. Personally, I always gravitate toward two styles: their Sport Band for everyday use and their Titanium Band when I want something more elevated and classy. But Nomad just blew my mind with their newest release, the Stratos Band. This band somehow combines both styles and materials into one hybrid design. Something I did not know I wanted, but now I need! Here’s what you should know.

Apple quietly made a massive update to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 lineup with their new iOS 26 update. They now officially support the new Qi2.2 wireless charging standard, allowing you to wirelessly fast-charge your iPhone at up to 25W. So one of my favorite iPhone accessory brands released their new Qi2.2 X40 Turbo charger, which I reviewed early last month. It was the first charger to bring true Qi2.2 25W fast charging to your iPhone. Today, they have doubled down on it and released the perfect companion to the new Cosmic Orange iPhone, with a perfectly color-matched X40 Turbo.

Find My accessories have changed how I keep track of pretty much everything. I have purchased countless AirTags in order to stay integrated in the Find My app, but the AirTag form factor is limiting and gets expensive. Suppose you want to put your AirTag on your keys. In that case, you need to buy an additional accessory, or if you want to track a bag, you ironically lose the AirTag at the bottom of your bag, and then the battery needs to be physically replaced every time you are low on charge. So Journey saw this and has taken a more innovative approach with its new LOC8 Universal collection, embedding Find My technology directly into everyday essentials like a laptop sleeve, key organizer, and compact fob. Here is what you should know.

It’s been about a week since the new iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro lineup hit shelves, and now that the honeymoon phase is winding down, it’s time to think about the next step: accessories. There’s no shortage of options, from ultra-slim cases to rugged cases, MagSafe batteries to charging setups, and everything in between. I have tested dozens of these new accessories, and here are some of my early favorites and must-haves!

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If you are in the market for a new 5K monitor that is built to work with your Mac or even your iPad, then you know the struggle. In a world where everything seems to be moving and innovating at lightning speeds, finding a true 5K monitor that delivers Retina-level clarity, Mac-optimized color accuracy, and reliable connectivity is still surprisingly rare in 2025. Then, when you do find it, there always seems to be some sort of trade-off you need to make.

So, I wanted to create a 5K monitor buying guide to help you navigate the market and ultimately make an educated purchasing decision. There are no cheap 5K monitors out there. So whether you’re a creative professional, a power user, or someone who just wants that ultra-sharp Retina experience on a larger screen, these are the top options worth your time and money.

Wireless charging and iPhones have had an interesting relationship. While Android phones had wireless charging extremely early, it took Apple years to adopt the regular Qi wireless charging with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus back in 2017. Back then, it only charged at 7.5W, and it was not very efficient. Then Magsafe and the Qi2 standard recently came around and allowed iPhones to charge at 15W. But now we are getting Qi2.2, which is faster, cooler, and more efficient, and Kuxiu is the first to bring it to us. Here is what you should know about the new X40 Turbo and Qi2.2 charging.

Last year, with iOS 18, Apple tried to shake up the Photos App by making it more streamlined. They put everything under one view, and for most people, it was a flop. Instead of making it simpler to navigate, it was actually even more tedious to use. It felt like nothing really had its own place, and everything was just on one never-ending page. Apple seemed to have heard us and changed up the look and feel of the Photos App with iOS 26 and I think they nailed it. They took the best parts of the old design, layered in some new looks and features of iOS 26, and now we have the best version of the Photos App that we’ve seen. Here are some of the best features you should know!

I’ve been using Nomad’s Apple Watch bands for years, and I recommend them to anyone with an Apple Watch. They offer a great mix of premium materials, thoughtful design, and durability. That is true of all of their Apple Watch Band categories, from their leather bands to their titanium bands to their best-selling Sports bands. But now, Nomad is introducing a new Apple Watch Band line called the Tempo Band, built with the athlete in mind. This is what you need to know.

Kuxiu continues to make some of the best iPad accessories in the game. They were the first to introduce “wireless” charging for the iPad by implementing the smart connector into their products, like the X33 Pro Max. It was the first magnetic iPad stand that also charged your iPad Pro with those smart connectors. They have doubled down on that and made it ultra compact. Today, they unveiled the M30 Magnetic Smart Connector Charger, and I’m so excited about it. Here is what you should know.

The moment Apple announced iPadOS 26, it felt like us iPad users have finally been heard. For years the iPad has always been “almost there”. It had the powerful hardware, but the software made the experience too limited for most people. But now with iPadOS 26, that gap is almost gone. The new windowing system, improved multitasking, and better file management make the iPad feel more like a computer than it ever has before.

So the next natural question is, can an iPad be your one and only computer? Let’s break this all down.

One of the most underrated and underappreciated apps in the Apple ecosystem has to be the Wallet app. Think about it, what other app do we expect to work 100% of the time? We rely on it to make purchases, store our boarding passes, house sensitive financial data, and even unlock our cars with complete accuracy and uptime. Those are just a few of the countless examples of how powerful the Wallet app can be if you know how to use it.

So I compiled a complete walkthrough of the best ways to use your Apple Wallet in all scenarios, including some new iOS 26 enhancements and how it works with the Apple Card. Here’s what you should know:

The moment Apple announced iPadOS 26 at WWDC, I rushed to install the developer beta on my M4 iPad Pro. And for the first time in years, it felt like Apple was finally putting iPad users first. We got features we’ve been asking for since iPadOS split from iOS: a fresh new look, Mac-like windowing, a smarter Files app, and more.

But what surprised me wasn’t the iPad Pro experience. It was just how many iPads supported all of these features, including the iPad mini. After installing iPadOS 26 on the mini, I was blown away by how well it worked. And that got me thinking: if the iPad mini can handle this, what does that mean for the future of the iPhone?

Back-to-school time always brings some of the best deals on laptops, and this year is no exception. Amazon is offering insane deals on both the entry-level M4 MacBook Air ($799) and the baseline M4 MacBook Pro ($1299). While my gut reaction is in awe at how much power and value you get from the M4 MacBook Air at $799, after I stopped to think about it, the M4 MacBook Pro at $1299 could actually be the best bang for buck computer out on the market, but is it worth the $500 price difference?

That is what I wanted to break down in this post. Both are exceptional values, but what exactly are you getting from the MacBook Pro that justifies the extra $500? Let’s get into it.

Early last year, Kuxiu released its X33 Pro Max iPad stand. It was the first stand to incorporate pin connectors into a magnetic stand to be able to charge your iPad. It was a fantastic idea. As a stand, it’s built very well, is high quality, does everything you need a stand to do, and gets the job done, but the fact that it also instantly charges the iPad was a game-changer for my setups. But now, they’ve brought the same tech but into your car with a mountable, magnetically charging iPad stand. Here is what you need to know.

I will continue to shout at the mountaintops that iPadOS 26 has completely changed what the iPad is to many people. I have been using my iPad Pro since 2018 as my main computer because I loved the idea and versatility of the iPad. But it was hard to recommend it as a computer solution to the average person. However, iPadOS 26 has made this a new reality for 95% of people who need a computer. But when you buy an iPad, you just get the iPad. So I wanted to share some of the best accessories to give you that computer-like feel for your iPad.

Spigen is one of my favorite Apple accessory companies because they know how to evoke nostalgia. Last year I picked up their C1 iPhone case and Magsafe wallet that themed my iPhone 16 Pro Max like the old school iMac G3 that I grew up using in school. I loved every part of that experience, and it was a great conversation starter! This year, they have added to their C1 lineup with their Apple Watch stand that isn’t just themed after the iMac G3, but looks like a tiny G3 iMac. Here is what you should know.

The iPad Mini has always had a special place in my heart. I think it’s one of Apple’s most underrated devices. Its size, form factor, raw power, and portability really make it the truest form of an iPad. Now we throw iPadOS 26 in the mix, and I think you might have the perfect portable powerhouse computer. Between the new windowing system, enhanced file management, and multitasking upgrades, I think the iPad Mini is the ideal modern-day netbook. Here’s why.