Reviewing tech for a living can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of hard, physical work.
This week, I unboxed and setup a bunch of new products for review. But two of them left me sweating, muscles aching, ready for a cold beer and a hot bath.
The first was the Ecovacs A2000 LIDAR GOAT robot lawnmower. While the general setup and unboxing was easy enough, screwing down the base plate into my backyard required a lot of effort. The only tool at your disposal is an Allen key. By the time I got to mapping my yard, I was covered in sweat.
The second product whose setup gave me a solid workout was the 65-inch TCL C8L TV.
Often when you review TVs, you either visit a hotel (not great for long-term impressions), or professional installers set it up on the stand for you and take the box when they go, before coming back a few weeks later to pick it up.
For the TCL, I had to set it up myself. It was an effort. I'm kind of glad I only got the 65-inch to test out.
While the initial process required a bit of labour, neither product has caused me any grief since. I'll spell it all out when the reviews are written in the coming weeks.
While you wait, feel free to tell me about the hardest you've ever had to work setting up a tech product! Keen to hear your stories.
Until next week
Nick @ BTTR
BTTR is a labour of love, and is only possible thanks to the support of subscribers. If you enjoyed anything from this week's newsletter, consider becoming a Supporter.
This week's news
- Spotify adds AI search and auto-series-tracking for audiobooks » I need this for all my reading.
- Samsung's new foldables are officially on sale in Australia today » I wanted to have my Z Fold8 review live this week, but the universe didn't want that to happen. It's a solid phone! Review to come next week.
- JURA's C9 wants to be the coffee machine your dad asks for this Father's Day » I mean, I certainly wouldn't complain if I unwrapped this on Father's Day...
- Tineco's new Floor One S9 Artist Steam Pro brings hotter steam, longer battery and a scrub mode for stubborn stains » Seems like a solid upgrade.
- Insta360 X6 arrives in Australia with a bigger sensor, Dolby Vision and hands-free editing » As these become more popular, I expect we're going to see some pretty incredible videos.
New reviews
- Shokz OpenDots 2 review: Better for the office than the gym » Shokz did a good job upgrading the original OpenDots, but there are limitations
New features
- iOS vs Android compared: The key differences that matter » If you're trying decide between smartphone ecosystems, I've got you.
Best deals this week
Here's a taste of this week's top deals. There are 68 total this week.
- Save $899.5 on 324L Pigeon Pair Freezer - Stainless Finish - GP-F324PL at LG - Was $1,799, now $899.5
- Save $750 on Roborock Q8 Max+ at Roborock - Was $1,299, now $549
- Save $641 on Google Pixel 7 Pro 5G (Dual Sim, 256GB/12GB, 6.7'') - Snow at Mobileciti - Was $1,129, now $488
- Save $600 on $600 OFF* HP Omnibook 5 Flip 14" Core 5 16GB 256GB Touch 2-in-1 Laptop (C8HW8PA) - $1,099 at The Good Guys - Was $1,699, now $1,099
- Save $290 on CostwayCountertop Ice Maker with Removable Basket for Home at Costway - Was $419.95, now $129.95
- Save $230 on Advwin 40L Air Fryer Oven 360° Toaster at Advwin - Was $599.9, now $369.9