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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Shaken and stirred
Some people have to get up, some might need a lie-in, but the shrill sound of iOS’s “Old Car Horn” or Samsung’s “Space Bell” can wake everyone within earshot. This simple device, mounted on a soft-touch strap, connects to your phone via Bluetooth and is worn on your wrist at night. Set an alarm via its dedicated app and it’ll gently vibrate when that time rolls around, waking you and (hopefully) nobody else. You can adjust the level of the intensity on a one-to-nine scale; I set a backup alarm while testing it, but was reliably stirred by level 2 or 3. As someone who regularly falls asleep on trains, I also found it handy for rousing me at my stop.
Yogify me
I sympathise (and often agree) with those who question why everything has to be “smart” or “powered by AI”. Sometimes, however, these things can be neatly executed and truly helpful. The third generation of YogiFi’s yoga mat wears its smartness lightly; the only visible difference from a standard mat is a small board at the head with USB-C for charging and Bluetooth to pair with your phone. Sensors transmit your movements to the YogiFi app, which guides you through exercises while monitoring your stability and posture; lights on the board give instant feedback and your progress is stored. You may find a small phone stand helpful while using it.
Brush hour
Given that toothbrushes are one of the first things we use in the morning and one of the last at night, it’s surprising that we don’t have a closer relationship with them – but most people would struggle to name the model they own, and they certainly wouldn’t race to save it in the event of a fire. Suri appears to have broken that trend with its sustainable electric toothbrush; since its launch three years ago it’s picked up more than 12,000 reviews on Trustpilot with a 4.7 out of 5 average – a level of enthusiasm that even caught the company off-guard. “We were chasing our tail on producing enough supply,” admits co-founder Mark Rushmore.
But with those supply problems long ironed out and a toothpaste launch also under its belt, the company has unveiled the second iteration of its flagship product. The shape and dimensions of the slim body and head remain exactly the same, but an engineering overhaul within the handle brings some notable improvements, some of which were prompted by suggestions from loyal Suri users. A disclaimer: I’ve been using the original since it appeared in HTSI in 2022 and have become excessively fond of it, but I did find its tendency to switch itself on while packed in a small washbag to be mildly annoying. That’s one of the changes – a long button press activates a travel lock – but perhaps more importantly, the motor is more powerful and there’s now a built-in pressure sensor to teach good brushing habits.
Part of its appeal is simply the way it looks; unlike the chunky, mass-market electric brushes whose design evokes that of men’s trainers, it’s a sleek unit that feels pleasant to use, and the recyclable heads are a big tick in a product space with poor eco credentials. More practically, it just makes your teeth and gums feel clean, with bristles oscillating 33,000 times a minute, cleaning and polishing as they go. I can’t credit it entirely with keeping my zero-fillings record intact, but it’s certainly helped.
Have a good hair day, every day
Dyson’s latest multi-styler comes in two editions, Curly+Coily or Straight+Wavy, each with a motorised wand and attachments suitable for each hair type. (There is no “Bald” edition that might work for me, but my partner has hair so I was able to see it in action.) It builds on previous Airwraps’ ability to smooth, curl and dry without using extreme heat, and the dryer – its least fancy functionality – is incredibly fast and effective. Some may balk at the prospect of connecting a styling wand to an app, but doing so means each routine is tailored to your hair type with advice on operation, alignment, technique etc. The AirSmooth attachment was the big hit; super-straight hair without heated plates.
The dream steamer
Steamery’s deluxe clothes steamers look great and perform exceptionally well, whether knocking out creases from hanging clothes or used as an iron. Its larger steamers are fairly hefty, but this compact version is about 30 per cent lighter and has new features including a rotating head (good for flexibility and packing), a descaling system, and two operating modes (on demand or continuous). It heats up quickly and comes with a protective glove to give you something to press against when smoothing out collars and pockets. The water tank requires regular refilling, but that’s a minor inconvenience compared to the chaos that can be wrought by the average hotel iron.
