Welcome to AU Favourites, a new monthly column where our writers highlight 5 things they’ve been loving lately. Whether it’s a good read, new tech product, or even a piece of furniture. We’re lucky enough to go hands on with a lot of things across the many areas that we cover on this website. We want to highlight what we’ve been raving to our friend about, so if you’ve got a birthday coming up, or just feel like treating yourself, you know exactly what’s out there in this the eternally vast sea of.. things.
1. Sony WF-1000XM5
While I look forward to Sony’s new earphones whenever the tech giant iterates every two years, I didn’t love the Sony WF-1000XM4s that were released in 2020. Despite sounding as brilliant as expected, the design was bulky and uncomfortable in the ears. I felt Sony’s attempt to curate a new microphone array kind of backfired.
So I’m still pleasantly surprised with the follow-up. The Sony WF-1000XM5s are still my favourite pair of earbuds, despite me testing some absolute heaters from the likes of Sennheiser, Jabra and Bose since. I feel like they’re the best personal audio device the company has released to date, citing a slimmer, more comfortable design and smarter tech that works seamlessly. Pop these in and the connection is immediate, as is the music. Finally it feels like I can move through the world without worrying about awkward pauses to my listening sessions.
$349
sony.com.au
2. iPhone 15 Pro
I own two phones. One, the Google Pixel 8 Pro which I use as a content phone. Second, the iPhone 15 Pro because I still can’t pull myself away from the brilliant ease of use offered by iOS. Yet I’ve always felt Apple has fallen far from the mark when it comes to cameras. That’s changed with the iPhone 15 Pro (and Pro Max). Now it finally feels like the iPhone has stepped up to the plate, refining some ideas from Android and introducing new ones.
And the design. Well the design is just the icing on the cake. The titanium material feels super premium in the hand and the iPhone 15 Pro is notably lighter and more comfortable to hold than say the iPhone 14 Pro. I can’t wait to see what the company does for the follow-up because this one will be hard to beat.
From $1,849
apple.com
3. Koala Beauty Sofa Bed
I recently published my review of the Koala Beauty Sofa Bed. Yes, we mostly review tech here, but we’ve found that our readers have been responding well to more design-focused products. As such, Koala sent us its newest sofa bed so we could test out its comfort. And, well, I think they’ve nailed it when it comes to price vs quality here.
The build feels like Koala really stepping its game to become a premium player in the furniture space, in addition to its well-known touchpoints like a generous trial period and speedy delivery. If you’re looking for a newbie to add to the lounge room, I couldn’t recommend this one enough.
$2,190
koala.com
4. Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet
Dyson is always going to come through. From the brand’s high-end vacuums to its hairdryers, it’s hard to see Dyson putting out a product that flops. Granted, I haven’t gone hands-on with the Dyson Zone noise cancelling headphones yet, which look so bulbous and odd that they are borderline controversial.
That said, Dyson’s attempt at a hulking air purifier is, as you’d expect, a winner. It’s expensive and it’s big, but the level of detail that has gone into this is outstanding. It looks like a big version of the brand’s disc-like personal desk fans, with a two-tone build that looks appropriately premium.
Yes it’s big, but it’s also quiet. Hence the name. I’ve been running this thing for months since I got it and not even whimper.
The size is a functional design. This is powerful enough to blow air 10 metres and purify large spaces. I’ve got it running my bedroom. The claim is that it captures 99.95% of ultra-fine particals and destroys formaldehyde, which is known to cause airway irritation amongst many other harmful things. And look, with these things you can never be sure. I’m not there testing the air quality every second by using other means, but I do notice that since I’ve had it running, I seem to sleep easier and the air in my room feels fresher.
From $1,499
dyson.com.au.
5. Penhaligon’s Babylon
I own plenty of perfumes as I used to write a column about it for another website. I originally wanted to get into them to better perfect my sense of smell, and my ability to write about them. I write about travel a lot, and I feel like understanding scent is important so I can craft more immersive stories, when appropriate.
As such, my perfume collection is quite vast. But I have my favourites. And the one I’ve been loving lately has been Babylon by Penhaligon’s. The London-based perfumer really went to town with this gourmand scent, which is mostly grounded by vanilla and tonka bean so you can smell like a dessert wherever you go.
$395
davidjones.com
