Alan Martin
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Articles by Alan Martin
Suri Core 1.0 electric toothbrush review: this new budget model is still sustainable – and the one I’d buy
Now Suri has sought to tackle that problem with a cheaper brush: the Suri Core 1.0. It’s £65, and keeps the key improvements of Suri 2.0 (now rebranded as Suri Pro 2.0), making it a strong option for those who put sustainability at the top of their shopping priorities. View at Boots View at Suri How I tested Having tested more than 30 brushes for the Filter’s guide to the best electric toothbrushes, this isn’t my first toothbrushing rodeo, if you’ll excuse the confusing mental image.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra last-minute rumors: Release date, price, specs and all the biggest upgrades
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 leaked render. This summer will see the eighth generation of Samsung’s foldables. But this time around, the Korean giant will be shaking things up with a new ‘Ultra’ variant of its flagship foldable Galaxy Z Fold 8. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra follows in the footsteps of the company’s Galaxy S Ultra line, offering improved specs for those willing to pay top dollar.
‘It’s absurdly welcoming’: why I do parkrun
Big in Japan … our writer joins the morning crowd at Futakotamagawa parkrun in Tokyo. Photograph: Alan Martin/The Guardian I remember my first parkrun: Wimbledon in November 2014. I also remember the words I said to a friend at the end: “never again”. That was a promise that I didn’t so much break as grind into dust: I would complete 355 more of the free community 5ks over the next 12 years.
I’ve completed 355 parkruns – here’s what you need to get started
Parkrun, which recently marked its millionth global event, is a cultural phenomenon. Every Saturday, in 23 countries worldwide, tens of thousands of people gather in their local parks first thing in the morning to run 5km around a predetermined route. Upon finishing, they get a barcode token that’s scanned by volunteers so an official finishing time can be recorded. But parkrun doesn’t have to be about finishing in the fastest time.
Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 fan review: the handheld fan I’d pack for every trip – at a price that’ll make you sweat
To be clear, you don’t need to spend anywhere near this amount to get a decent fan. But if you’ve already decided you will, I would spend the extra £30 on Shark’s innovative little cooler. It’s not as powerful, but it trumps Dyson’s debut on the flexibility front, arriving with three distinct kinds of cooling built in. View at AO View at SharkNinja How I tested The three-in-one system means I had to adjust my usual testing methodology a little, but not by much.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: How Samsung's next foldable could square up with the iPhone Fold
It’s hard to believe that 2026 will see the eighth generation of Samsung’s foldable phones. Somehow, the best foldables still feel a little bit magical compared to regular flat handsets. But with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Samsung may need more "wow" factor than ever. That’s because reports claim that Apple will finally release its own iPhone Fold later this fall to rival what Samsung and other device makers already offer on the foldable front. So how does Samsung meet that challenge?
A PlayStation 6 without a disc drive? I’m done with Sony
How to watch Super Bowl with your PS5. However, The Verge is reporting that Sony’s Thalgau plant is already being repurposed to make optical microlenses instead. In other words, this wasn’t testing the waters with an announcement and checking for feedback — this was fait accompli: a decision already decided upon, with loyal customers the last to know. No wonder the company’s popular Xbox-baiting game loaning video from the PS4 era is now being thrown back in its corporate face.
iPhone Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: 5 biggest expected differences
IPhone Fold design . But that high price of entry doesn’t make it unambiguously the best iPhone you can buy, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have plenty going for it. Here are five key differences between the two handsets ahead of their September launch. iPhone Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Form factor (Image credit: Subsy @ MakerWorld) The iPhone Ultra will be Apple’s first foldable device, making it quite a change from the iPhones that have gone before it.
Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra tipped for an iPhone-like camera upgrade that'll massively improve selfies
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra concept. But it seems that the introduction of MagSafe-style charging won’t be the only similarity between Samsung’s flagship and recent iPhones. According to the Dutch tech site Galaxy Club, both the Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra variants will adopt a brand new front-facing selfie camera. This will see an upgrade to 16MP from the previous sharper 12MP number introduced with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but more interesting is the shape.
Dyson HushJet Mini Cool fan review: I’ve never tested a handheld fan this powerful – or this loud
Still, if you’re feeling the heat and are willing to pay £100 to make things a little more bearable, the HushJet Mini Cool has plenty of positives. It’s just a question of whether anyone will hear you saying them over the din of its mighty motor.
I was addicted to my phone – but one screen time hack actually made a difference
Happy not appy? Changing your smartphone habits may be daunting, but the rewards can be worth the early discomfort. Photograph: gorodenkoff/Getty Images I recently learned through Apple’s Screen Time app that I was spending about eight hours a week on my phone browsing Reddit and Instagram. That’s 17.3 days a year spent consuming entertaining but ultimately pointless fluff. So my piece looking for solutions for phone addicts was highly personal.
How to actually reduce your screen time: 12 simple, realistic tips to stop doomscrolling
“We’ve outsourced our brain to California – our emotions, our thinking,” says Prof Marcantonio Spada, emeritus professor of addictive behaviours and mental health at London South Bank University, and chief clinical officer at Onebright, a private therapy platform. “I started my career in academia researching alcohol and nicotine, and then I came to realise 15 years ago that we would end up having a bigger problem with technology,” he says.
God is love and the urgent call to love our neighbour : The deepest structure of reality is not domination or fear, but self-giving love, writes Alan Martin
God created mankind in his own image. This does not mean that humans physically resemble God, but rather that humans uniquely reflect something of God’s ultimate nature and character. Specifically, God is rational and loving and humans can reflect this through moral awareness and rationality expressed through the virtues of love and humility. This is absolutely true of every person, regardless of whether they are Christian or indeed of any specific religious persuasion.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Which Android foldable will win in 2026?
Leaked renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel Fold 11 placed next to each other . Though there’s been a recent flurry of entries from Motorola, historically, our list of the best foldable phones has been dominated by two brands: Samsung and Google. The two companies have refined the foldable experience over several generations, with the various quirks and drawbacks gradually ironed out for a great (if expensive) smartphone experience.
Becoming one with Christ through the Eucharist
In Holy Communion, God completely gives himself to us – one might say surrenders himself to us, for our own good and happiness, writes Alan Martin It is clear from Scripture that the human race was intended by God to have a supernatural destiny. The first humans were raised to a supernatural state by grace and it was intended that they would pass this grace onto their children. However, the remnants of this pure love, without ulterior motive and pride, is most evident amongst young children.
Amazon is ending support for pre-2013 Kindles. What to do if you’re affected (and what to avoid)
The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. Read more > Amazon has announced that, as of May, it will no longer support eight of its popular older Kindle e-book readers.
iOS 27: What’s coming to your iPhone in 2026, and what I’d like to see
iOS 27 release date Unlike with Apple’s hardware, there’s essentially two release dates for its iPhone software: the developer preview stage and the final release where the majority of users will see it for the first time. The latter is typically alongside a new iPhone. And as Apple has released nearly every one of its numbered iPhones in September for over a decade, it seems likely that iOS 27 will officially launch in September 2026 with the iPhone 18 Pro.
Google Pixel 11 Pro: Everything we know so far
Google Pixel 10 pro moonstone review images . For fans of Android, Pixel handsets are a brilliant showcase of what the operating system can do. As Google makes both the software and hardware, the phones work pretty seamlessly, with owners not only benefiting from long-term software support, but the earliest access to new versions. But there’s a slight feeling that the Pixel Pro series has been treading water for a while.
The best electric toothbrushes in the UK for every budget – tested
If you grew up using a conventional toothbrush – essentially a stick with bristles on the end – you may be surprised to learn just how long the electric toothbrush has been around. The first was designed in the late 1930s, but that model was a long way from the sleek, feature-packed and Bluetooth-enabled beasts you can buy today. There are now dozens of ultra-advanced versions on the market, but which ones are worth your cash?
iPad Air M4 vs iPad Air M3: What's different?
IPad Air M4 press image next to iPad Air M3. As insiders were predicting, Apple has refreshed the iPad Air, 12 months after its last update. Meet the iPad Air M4. The company’s mid-range tablet sees an upgrade to the M4 processor (with the M5 still reserved for the top-of-the-line iPad Pro) and gains an extra 4GB of RAM, while keeping prices static for another year.
The best running headphones (that actually don’t fall out)
The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. Read more > Wireless headphones don’t automatically translate into being good running headphones. Often, regular earbuds fall out, react badly to sweat or run out of charge too quickly. The best running headphones are more specialist. Whether you’re a casual jogger or a marathon runner, it’s worth investing in a good pair.
Apple tipped to launch at least 5 new products in the coming weeks — here's everything we expect to see
MacBook Pro M5. It’s been a quiet time for fans of Apple’s hardware, with just the AirTag 2 revealed in 2026 so far. But that’s all set to end soon, with a glut of new hardware emerging “over the course of the next several weeks”, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Here’s what we know about the hardware Gurman believes to be just around the corner. Low-cost MacBook (Image credit: Apple) Currently, the cheapest MacBook you can buy is the entry-level 13-inch $999 MacBook Air.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: How Samsung's next foldable could square up with the iPhone Fold
So how does Samsung meet that challenge? Here’s everything we know so far about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 based on early rumors. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Expected release date and price (Image credit: Future) Unless Samsung decides to mix things up, we can likely narrow the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s release window to just two months: July or August, 2026. Other than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Special Edition, you have to go back to 2020’s Galaxy Z Fold 2 to find a Fold model that didn't come out during the summer.
‘A sign to change your technique’: how to make your toothbrush last longer – and keep it out of landfill
Brush with greatness: caring for your pearly whites starts with caring for your tools. Photograph: Antonistock/Getty Images If toothbrushes were sentient, they’d complain about their lot in life. Their thankless existence involves repeatedly cleaning one of the grimmest parts of the body, then being thrown out once their bristles are insufficiently effective. Or, in the case of electric toothbrushes, decapitated before resuming their duties with a fresh head.
iPhone 18 Pro Max rumors and leaks: Everything we know so far
IPhone 18 Pro colors: purple, brown, burgundy. The arrival of the first Pro Max iPhone model in 2018 set a new standard for just how big an iPhone could be as well as how much Apple charged. That's likely to change in 2026 with the arrival of the iPhone Fold, though the anticipated launch of that phone doesn't make the iPhone 18 Pro Max any less important to Apple's phone plans for the new year. So what exactly are we expecting from the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
iPhone 18 Pro Max rumors and leaks: Everything we know so far
7 hours ago On X, sexual harassment and perhaps even child abuse are the latest memes. Earlier this week, some people on X began replying to photos with a very specific kind of request. “Put her in a bikini,” “take her dress off,” “spread her legs,” and so on, they commanded Grok, the platform’s built-in …
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs OnePlus 15: Which Android heavyweight is right for you?
So should you hang on or buy now? Here’s how the fully realized specs of the OnePlus 15 stack up against what we’re expecting from the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs OnePlus 15: Which Android heavyweight is right for you?
2 hours ago If you've ever tried to tell your friends about the weather in another country, there is likely one number that becomes a point of confusion: The temperature. For the Fahrenheit-faithful, 50 degrees sounds chilly, but for the Celsius club it might sound like you're going to roast your you-know-what …
Google phones in 2026: Pixel 10a, Pixel 11 and more
Pixel 10 vs Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 10 Pro XL showing their back casings and cameras. When it comes to the best Android phones, a significant number of people swear by the Google Pixel series. Google's phones may not be the fastest, as company’s own Tensor chipset lags well behind the leading Qualcomm silicon that powers other Android contenders.
Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Battle of the Android flagships
Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Specifications Samsung Galaxy S26 (rumored) Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 / Exynos 2600 (region dependent) 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto 48MP main, 13MP ultrawide, 10.8MP 5x telephoto Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Release date and price (Image credit: OnLeaks / Android Headlines) You can buy the Google Pixel 10 right now. Released on 28 August, starting at $799 for the 128GB version, but you can have double the storage for $100 more.
Don’t buy new tech this Black Friday: expert tips for buying refurbished phones and laptops
In other words, if your phone, laptop or TV is on its figurative last legs, Black Friday is a sensible time to seek a replacement. But if you’re hoping to limit your ecological impact, it’s definitely worth considering refurbished options. “As a consumer, you save directly 30-40% versus new, and you also have this feeling of doing the right thing,” says Peter Windischhofer, co-founder and CEO of Refurbed.
iPhone Fold will be 'first truly crease-free foldable phone', according to supplier
IPhone fold on a blue background . Foldable phones have come a long way in the six years since the original Samsung Galaxy Fold had its extremely bumpy launch. Reliability is now largely guaranteed, they’re thinner than ever and, in the case of flip-style folding phones, prices are becoming competitive. But there’s one design quirk that manufacturers have yet to satisfactorily deal with: the crease.
iPhone 17e could get this big camera upgrade
IPhone 16e review. This year’s batch of iPhones had one big upgrade in common. All four, from the regular iPhone 17 to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, swapped out the tired old 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera for a new 18MP Center Stage lens. The Center Stage feature was originally introduced back with the 2021 iPad Pro, and allowed the camera to track moving subjects while on video calls — especially helpful for that period, when Zoom and FaceTime became almost essential thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S25: A big leap, or more of the same?
Samsung Galaxy S25 review photos. Samsung tends to refresh its high-end Galaxy S line of smartphones at the start of the year, which means that the Galaxy S25 series isn’t going to be the top dog for too much longer. Today, we’re looking at the cheapest of the four, the Samsung Galaxy S26. Will it be a big leap forward from the Galaxy S25, or more of the same? Here’s everything we know so far.
Big savings – or big regrets? How to shop smart this Black Friday
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Big savings – or big regrets? How to shop smart this Black Friday
Still, even those of us who lament the never-ending drip-feed of commercialism and resent the very presence of Black Friday in the British lexicon can benefit from this particular capitalist jamboree. It’s just a case of playing it smart and focusing on what you need, rather than being seduced by offers. Here are some tips on how to get through Black Friday feeling smug, rather than regretful.
Big savings – or big regrets? How to shop smart this Black Friday
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
iPhone 18 rumors - everything we know so far
Note, however, that it’s early days yet, with the handsets not expected until September 2026 — and possibly even later for some of them. More on that in a moment, but be aware that this page is a work in progress that will be updated as more rumors and leaks emerge over the coming months. iPhone 18: Expected release date and price If you’ve followed iPhone rumors for years, you’ll be used to skimming this section.
My Ring doorbell has made the world pink - and I’m wondering if it’s time to move on
My patch of South London is less grey than you might imagine. Looking out of my window as I write this, I can see red brickwork, a number of different colored cars and even some greenery and trees to remind me what living outside the city feels like. But that’s not how my Ring Video Doorbell Pro sees the world any more.
Is Amazon Music Unlimited worth the money? The popular streaming service explained
Amazon Music Unlimited review The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. Read more > In the 17 years since Spotify launched, streaming has grown to become the main way to consume music. Even as someone whose vinyl habit is struggling to keep pace with his physical space, I can’t be without the simplicity of streaming.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Here’s how they stack up
The four iPhone 17 models compared. The iPhone 17 family is now available to buy, and early adopters have had plenty of time to get to grips with the new handsets. But if you’re still on the fence, you may be wondering which new release is right for you. We’ve now put all four models through their paces, and have a good idea of their relative strengths and weaknesses. Here’s how the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air stack up against each other.
Who buys an MP3 player in 2025? Why music streaming doesn’t always cut it
Let’s do the time warp again! MP3 players are back. Photograph: Alan Martin When I was 18, I bought a heavily reduced MiniDisc player. This wasn’t even what you could charitably call “fashionably late”, given the format was already on its last legs, but I loved it, and because nobody else was interested, blank discs were dirt cheap.
Suri 2.0 electric toothbrush review: does this sustainable brush live up to the hype?
It may lack some of the power of other electric toothbrushes, but the Suri 2.0 is a huge improvement on the original. Photograph: Alan Martin/The Guardian When I wrote the Filter’s guide to the best electric toothbrushes, one brand I didn’t need a sample from was Suri. I already owned one of its brushes, drawn in by its impressive commitment to sustainability in a sector that seemed blissfully unbothered by the climate crisis unfolding around us.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 Pro: Here's all the new rumored features
Leaked iPhone 17 Pro color image. The iPhone 17 launch is just around the corner, with Apple preparing to debut four new handsets to replace the iPhone 16 range. Three of these are straight swaps for the regular, Pro, and Pro Max versions of the iPhone 16, but there’s also an ultra-thin model on the way that's been dubbed the iPhone 17 Air until we get the official name from Apple. This is set to replace the iPhone 16 Plus after the Plus line failed to set the world alight, sales-wise.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Here's the biggest rumored upgrades
IPhone 17 vs iPhone 16. We’re now just days away from the release of the iPhone 17, and such is the enthusiasm for Apple’s phones that we already have quite a good idea of the kind of thing to expect when it’s officially announced on September 9. With Apple usually reserving its most eye-catching features for the Pro devices, the regular iPhone update can sometimes feel a touch underwhelming, like with the iPhone 14.
Apple Might Revive This 2010 Accessory for the iPhone 17 Air — Here's What We Know
IPhone 17 Air. The iPhone 17 launch is a matter of weeks away, and Apple is rumored to be mixing things up this generation with a super-slim handset. Dubbed the iPhone 17 Air until Apple gives it an official name next month, rumors suggest we’ll be getting a handset that’s just 5.5mm thick at its thinnest point — quite a drop from the 7.8mm of the iPhone 16. But thinness comes at a potential durability cost.
The best portable neck and handheld fans, tested: six expert picks to keep you cool
Which one should you buy? I’ve spent the past few weeks testing handheld and neck fans from the likes of John Lewis, Dunelm and Bush, assessing them for power, noise, battery life and portability. Here’s what I’ve found.
The best electric toothbrushes: prioritise your pearly whites with our expert-tested picks, from Oral-B to Philips
At a glance Why you should trust me As well as having the physical qualities required to test electric toothbrushes (my own teeth and a reliable toothpaste budget), I’ve been testing electronics – phones, drones and everything in between – for more than a decade.
The Vada Heist
It was a Tuesday morning, and to my surprise, I woke up early — a rare occurrence. Excited, I headed to the mess hall because Tuesdays meant idli and vada. The idlis served there were deceptive — soft to the touch but dense inside. They defied logic. How could someone ruin idli in such a unique way? But the vada — oh, my love. If you haven’t truly experienced love, have a proper vada meal.
From hallway jets to ‘pregnant’ toothbrushes: my chaotic water flosser showdown
Cats and teeth. That’s my contribution to the Filter so far, writing recommendations for new cat owners and electric toothbrushes. Rather than combining the two in a piece on cat toothpaste, I’m instead doubling down on the latter, writing about the wonderful world of water flossers. Water flossers, for those that don’t know, are exactly what they sound like.
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