Whether I’m gearing up for a packed schedule of product testing, diving into research for the next feature I want to showcase or sitting down to write its follow‑up review, I tend to reach for an energy drink when I know things are about to get especially busy.
I’m pretty selective about what I drink too, as it needs to taste good, give me a gentle and steady boost, and avoid the kind of hardcore ingredients that make its ingredient label read like a heart‑blasting science experiment.
That’s exactly why Update caught my attention. Its promise of sharp mental focus without the jitters, and its use of a relatively unknown yet surprisingly smooth‑feeling compound called paraxanthine sounded like the perfect fit for me. I like to enjoy a Pineapple Update throughout a hectic week, and I have plenty to say about this understated energy drink.
UPDATE Energy Drink
First Impressions of UPDATE.
Sporting a sleek metallic-pastel design, a can of Update is minimalist and subdued when compared to its “hardcore and edgy” neighbors in the energy drink space.
But its subdued appearance fits Update like a glove. I immediately noticed two pleasant things about Update as soon as I popped open my first can: it has a pleasant “freshly sliced pineapple from the produce isle” natural smell, as opposed to an artificial or sweet candy-like aroma, and it doesn’t have artificial colors.
I’m so used to energy drinks being served up in neon Mountain Dew colors, so it was a nice change that fits the minimalist “this just works” theme Update has going for it.
Specifications
- Price: $35.88 per 12-pack, $2.99 per can.
- Flavors: Pineapple, Peach, Mandarin, Grape, and Berry.
- Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha-GPC) (GeniusPure®), Paraxanthine (enfinity®), Malic Acid, Sucralose, L-Theanine, Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin).
- Sugar: None.
- Caffeine: Nope.
- Artificial flavors: None of that either.
- Artificial colors: No. Just water-like clarity.
- Paraxanthine: 300mg.
But how does it feel to drink UPDATE?
I’m glad that the team opted to send me their pineapple flavor out of their lineup of peach, grape, mandarin, and berry, as I had a feeling that it’d be my favorite anyway. If anything, I was caught off guard by how refreshing it is when compared to the average energy drink.
It’s smooth and light, with a sweet fruity natural pineapple flavor- as opposed to a candied, ultra-bold artificial taste. I found Update to be particularly mellow and soft-bodied. I found myself drinking a can more quickly than the average energy drink. It’s good!
I didn’t imagine I would need to study some science for a review either, but here we are! Unlike other energy drinks that pile on the caffeine, the source of Update’s energy boost is from paraxanthine.
You may not know what paraxanthine is, and you have probably consumed your share over the years. When your body ingests caffeine, the molecule is broken down by your liver into several other compounds, over 80% of which is converted into paraxanthine.
In a nutshell, Update was designed to bypass the jittery feeling, crash, and that unpleasant energy spike that come from caffeinated drinks, by delivering the pure paraxanthine your body uses for a boost.
Within ten minutes or so of finishing a can, I felt a gentle, yet consistent sharpness to my concentration, focus, and alertness. Although Update’s website suggests that its effects last about four hours, I felt this gentle yet laser-focused clarity seven or eight hours later. No pounding heart, no edgy “energy overload” peak, and I absolutely had no problem dozing off at the end of the day.
Update feels less like an overall “energy” drink, and more of a “you’re going to get a lot done today without feeling distracted or bored” drink, without all of the negative aspects of caffeine-packed alternates.
UPDATE Energy Drink
Who is UPDATE for?
After drinking Update for a week, I was able to cruise through my regular daily research, emails, testing, and writing like a machine, all with a gentle, yet continuous mental energy boost.
This stuff is excellent, and I highly recommend Update for people who want the benefits of energy drinks but who are unable to handle the negative aspects of caffeinated beverages. It’s also good for literally anyone who needs a boost to get them through those tedious parts of the day. Two thumbs up, these are stellar!
