How to win January – 7 inspiring ways to upgrade your life with tech in 2026

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The 'Tech resolutions' we're making for 2026

A phone on a yellow background showing the Down Dog app, a man watching TV, and a hand holding an ereader
(Image credit: Down Dog / Future)

New year's resolutions are the last thing you need after the holidays – so below we've rounded all of our personal 'tech resolutions' instead.

These friendlier commitments don't involve hitting gyms or giving up chocolate. Instead, they're about using gadgets or apps to nudge your life in the right direction, or simply help you survive the brutal month that is January.

The ideas are below are just for starters, too – we'll be updating this page over the next week with more expert musings from the TechRadar team.

1. This year I'm buying Blu-rays again like it's 2016 – here's why you should too

A pile of Blu-ray discs in their cases

(Image credit: Getty Images / sakchai vongsasiripat)

Buying Blu-rays isn't just about nostalgia – it's a tactic that increasingly makes sense in a world of 'streamflation' and ever-changing catalogues.

TechRadar freelance writer Carrie Marshall feels so strongly about it, she's made a nine-step manifesto on why you should join her Blu-ray quest in 2026...

2. I’m an AI expert – here are my top 5 secret tools that could change your life in 2026

Three phones on a green and blue background showing the ChefGPT, Pine and Aesty apps

(Image credit: ChefGPT / Pine / Aesty)

Yes, ChatGPT and Gemini are great AI tools, but are they really the best ones for everything? And are there unsung alternatives that people are secretly using to run their lives?

TechRadar freelancer writer and AI expert Eric Hal Schwartz has gathered his five favorite lesser-known AI tools that could become significant parts of your arsenal for everything from organizing finances to cooking in 2026...

3. I'm slashing by streaming bills by 56% in 2026 – here's my five-step masterplan

A man watching TV

(Image credit: Future)

Streaming subscription prices have gone through the roof this year – so unless you're a long-time Nvidia stock holder, you've probably been feeling the pinch.

Fortunately, there are some tricks to help cut those streaming costs that don't involve simply staring at a blank screen. TechRadar's TV obsessive Carrie Marshall has rounded up those tips here – including a handy 'cheat sheet' for building your 'subscription hopping' plan for the year ahead...

4. I’m ditching true wireless earbuds for these bargain Chinese IEMs in 2026 – here's why

Letshuoer FE earbuds next to Letshuoer earbuds on a green and red background

(Image credit: Future / Andrew Williams)

If you've been thinking about going off-piste to find your next pair of earphones in 2026, then you should definitely read this.

TechRadar writer Andrew Williams explains how he's recently discovered the bargain world of 'Chinese hi-fi' – and how you can buy some impressive-sounding IEMS for just £45 / $60 / AU$90.

5. Forget Audible and Amazon – I'm switching to these 5 alternatives for audiobooks and e-books in 2026

Headphones mounted on a row of books, next to a hand holding a Kindle

(Image credit: Getty Images / Future)

Let's be honest, Audible and Amazon are a bit too dominant in the world of books, whether we're talking analogue or digital tomes.

If you've had a nagging feeling that you could be looking elsewhere for your audiobooks and e-books in 2026, then allow published author and TechRadar writer Carrie Marshall to show you where she gets her reading fix for both...

6. I finally fixed my home audio setup using a roomEQ kit – here's how you can too

A JBL speaker in a white room next to a tech resolutions logo

(Image credit: Future / Andrew Williams)

Been wondering how to get your home audio setup to sing in 2026, without spending a fortune on audiophile remodelling? A 'room correction' kit could be your answer.

TechRadar writer Andrew Williams explains how he recently used one of these kits to counter the effects of his living room and take his sound quality to the next level.

7. I've been a Spotify subscriber for over 10 years, but I'm ditching it for Apple Music in 2026 – here's why

Apple Music in the iPhone app store on an orange background

(Image credit: Shutterstock / sdx15)

It can be easy to get complacent with our favorite streaming services and stick with what we know. But is Spotify really still the best place to spend your musical life?

After over a decade with the music giant, TechRadar writer David Nield explains why he's finally jumping ship in 2026 to Apple Music. And no, it wasn't because of his Spotify Wrapped listening age...

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Mark Wilson
Mark Wilson
Senior news editor

Mark is TechRadar's Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he's contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph's Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London's Square Mile. 

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