Expert Advice

Wondering if a DVD player is still worth it in 2026? Our buying guide covers what to look for, plus the Oakcastle DVD120 and DVD175 portable players

Behind almost every solar panels sits the same unassuming component: the MC4 connector. It's not glamorous, but it's arguably one of the most important pieces of hardware in the entire solar industry.

If your house still has an old-style rewireable fuse board — the kind with brown Bakelite fuse carriers and coloured dots rather than modern switches — there are some important checks to make before you plug anything in.

No jargon, no assumed electrical knowledge — just a clear walkthrough of what happens between the sun coming out and your kettle running on it.

If you've been shopping for binoculars, you've probably noticed two distinct shapes: one with a wider, stepped body, and one with a slim, straight barrel. That's the difference between porro prism and roof prism designs — and it affects far more than just looks.

The Instax Mini 13 is here. We break down what's actually changed vs the Mini 12, full specs, pricing and colours, and whether it's worth upgrading.

Here's what microinverters are, how they work, and why they matter whether you're planning a full rooftop array or a single panel on the balcony.

Dead spots in the bedroom, buffering in the garden office, one bar in the kitchen — most homes have somewhere the WiFi just doesn't reach. A WiFi extender is the simplest and cheapest fix. In short: a WiFi extender picks up your router's existing wireless signal, boosts it, and rebroadcasts it — pushing coverage into the rooms your router can't reach on its own. Here's how that works, and how to decide whether an extender is the right solution for your home.

Shopping for a power bank and confused by the wattage numbers? You're not alone. Between 10W, 20W, 45W, 65W and 100W models, it's hard to know what's overkill and what will leave you waiting hours for a charge. The short answer: 20W–30W is ideal for phones, 45W for tablets and small laptops, and 65W–100W for full-size laptops. Here's how to work out exactly what you need.

If you've been curious about smart home tech but don't know where to start, a smart plug is the answer. It's the cheapest, simplest gadget in the smart home world — and arguably the most useful. For less than the price of a takeaway, you can make almost any appliance in your house controllable from your phone. Here's everything you need to know, plus ten practical ways to put one to work.

Which binoculars are best for stargazing? Our guide covers what to look for in astronomy binoculars, our top picks for the night sky, and what you can actually see — from lunar craters to the Andromeda Galaxy.

Stand in front of a wall of Ethernet cables and they all look much the same: a plug, a length of cable, a price tag that varies more than you'd expect. But the "Cat" number printed on the sheath makes a real difference to speed, reliability and future-proofing — and buying the wrong one either wastes money or quietly bottlenecks your network.

Shot a roll on a 35mm or disposable camera? Here's how to get your film developed in 2026 — post it off or drop it in-store, plus how to pick your next camera.

Your car key fob has started playing up — you have to stand right next to the car and press the button three times, or the dashboard has flashed up a "key battery low" warning. The fix costs a couple of pounds and takes five minutes, but first you need to answer one question: which battery does your fob actually take?

There are few sounds more irritating than a smoke alarm chirping at 3am — and few more important to fix quickly. That intermittent beep is your alarm telling you something is wrong, and until you sort it, it may not protect you properly in a real fire.

A little tech planning goes a very long way. Whether you're heading to a muddy field for a music festival or pitching up somewhere more serene, here's the kit worth packing — all available at Maplin.