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Unbreakable tech: The best hard-wearing gadgets to shop now

John Lewis
John Lewis

Forever phones, laptops designed to withstand a few knocks and speakers that can handle a splash of water.

Here’s my guide to the best gadgets with staying power. Choose wisely.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1

B&O is known for its high-tech speakers but the portable Beoplay AI is an example of the company’s innovation in smaller devices. With 24 hours of playtime, the aluminium grill looks good but also protects the speaker from bumps, dust, sand and splash. It’s not water-resistant, though, so don’t put it in the pool.

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£230 | Bang & Olufsen | Buy it now

Thule Gauntlet MacBook Pro Sleeve

When you’re dropping £1,000+ on a laptop you want to ensure it lasts. Thule makes exceptional sleeves to protect your beloved from bumps and scratches thanks to its padded interior and rigid exterior, with enhanced corner and edge protection. Fits a 15in MacBook Pro or most 14in laptops.

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£25.52 | Amazon | Buy it now

Mous charging cable

Mous first launched its unbreakable phone case range with a clever campaign, dropping the new iPhone off buildings with their case and showing how it survived. The company has just extended its range of unbreakable devices with a new charging cable for iPhones, which can withstand 10,000 bends.

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£19.99 | Mous | Buy it now

Silicon Power external hard drive

YouTuber Keaton Heller literally set this hard drive on fire and it was still functioning afterwards. It has 2TB of space, so there’s a lot of room for photos, videos and files, and USB 3, which is 10 times faster than the standard USB 2 cable, making it extremely efficient too.

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£69.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

Rains backpacks

The number-one tech recommendation I’m asked is for a nice-looking backpack which fits your laptop, and none prioritise being waterproof as much as Scandinavian brand Rains. They come in more than 10 colours and two styles, and protect your gadgets as much as look cool.

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From £59 | Rains | Buy it now

Fairphone 2

Fairphone wants to replace the current throwaway model for phones. The idea is you keep fixing the phone and replacement parts are sold alongside the initial device. The product is sustainable and supported by the Fairtrade Foundation. It’s sold out for now, but expect new devices to launch soon.

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£420 | Fairphone | Buy it now

Away luggage

Away’s stylishly branded, colourful luggage is extremely hard-wearing and simple: the suitcases come in different sizes, with two compartments and a removable charger. While not unbreakable, Away offers a lifetime warranty so that if your suitcase breaks, tears, dents, they will fix or replace it.

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From £235 | Away | Buy it now

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