Welcome to the 15th anniversary of the gadget guide. Some of these gadgets will prove to be useful. Others won’t see the light of day past a week. But I enjoyed researching and writing about them nonetheless, and it’s a good break from writing about tech! (p.s. If you are getting this on email, click the link at the end to view via the web as it is too long for email)
Looking back on the year, it feels like we are still cleaning up after a huge party. The crypto scandals have been tried and convicted, the recession that never came, and the world has become less safe, yet humans are still making leaps and bounds in areas like AI that are leaving our jaws open. The AI revolution is breaking record books regarding adoption, attention and investments, but we await that killer app. Sam Altman (as of writing this, he is once again the CEO of OpenAI), so maybe he will show us the way.
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$699
As much as I would love to love this, I don’t. I understand that AI will be everywhere, but I don’t think this is the way it will be executed. This thing is completely impractical. Check out the launch video. Those who are relating this to the launch of the iPhone, I would disagree. It’s impractical on so many levels: (a) speaking for action has its limits, (b) hardware needs to be tiny to work, which means it’s not super useful (reading text is hard, pics are poor, etc) (c) I do a lot more with my phone than ask it questions. In reality, most people will still carry their phones, so I don’t really see why I would carry this either. Now, if it were a contact lens….. That’s a different matter. I include this here because this year, it is still the most innovative device that has been launched and, given its size, is a pretty amazing feat of engineering. So Kudos!
Apple Triple Travel Charger - 3-in-one charger Ninja
$49.99
If, like me, you own the Apple triumvirate (Airpods, Watch and iPhone), your charging cables, when you travel, resemble Medusa’s head, and you quickly run out of sockets. In comes this beautiful Belkin foldable travel charger. It folds out from a box to a flat charger pad, allowing everything to charge wirelessly, leaving you satisfied and Medusa-less. The one negative is that I find my new after-market watch strap is a bit too heavy, and if you are not careful, it does disconnect from the magnet. Just don’t leave this behind in your hotel like you have done with your toothbrush countless times!
AirPods Pro 2nd Gen - Ear goblins that play music
$100
So I was one of those guys who upgraded because now everything I own is USB-C, but importantly, the case has speakers and can emit noise when you lose them. Having a volume on the side of the stems is also very helpful and easier than pulling out your phone. Although I will give a BIG shoutout to the wired Earpods from Apple. I find that if you are on a call outside of the office, the Airpods are pretty horrible for the other side. I always keep a set of wired so that you can pull the microphone closer to your mouth. Must have. (H/t to Partha)
iPhone Pro Max - The Apple of Your Eye (but not of your wallet)
$1500+
I finally caved and upgraded to the Pro Max. I held out for so many years…I mean, who needs a phone that big, right? Well, there were two things that tipped me over the edge: (1) Battery life. For the first time…EVER my iPhone lasts all day(!). I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. (2) the screen size is so much better for watching Manchester United lose and the screen is waterproof enough for my tears. The negatives are that I can no longer really touch type with one hand on the screen, and carrying the phone in jeans is now not an option. But it's worth the upgrade.
Nintendo Switch Lite -For Gaming on the Go or Hiding from Social Interactions
$198
Nintendo Switch Lite is the game console for those who fear commitment to a TV. Its portability means you can play "Zelda" in a boring meeting under the table. The smaller, lighter console fits in your back pocket, provided you're wearing clown pants. It's perfect for anyone who says they're buying it for travel but just wants to play in bed.
Asus Rog Ally - For the serious gamer
$1000
This is THE device to buy for the serious gamer who wants to carry around the full version of Diablo to play on the go. Lightening quick with almost no lag, it’s an amazing bit of hardware packed into a small device with no internet connectivity required. Will make all those long plane journeys a breeze (h/t Neil)
iPhone Mount - Because that laptop webcam is weak sauce
$38
Most cameras on laptops are absolutely horrible, which isn’t a surprise given the thin area that manufacturers have to work with. Why not leverage the best camera you have in your pocket instead? In steps, the iPhone mount slips onto your laptop, uses software to connect your Zoom to your phone instead of your laptop and boom. Amazing webcam results.
Quest Not Vision Pro - Because Reality is Overrated
$499
We are getting really really close to mass-market AR/VR products. Facebook’s new glasses are an engineering marvel but aren’t on the list yet because I still don’t think society is over the creepiness factor. The Quest lineup is getting very good. I have seen lots of videos of people doing chores (and here), working on multiple screens and working out. With mixed reality, you now don’t have to cut off the real world. I am most excited about the upcoming sports collabs that finally allow sports fans to sit right up to the action. This could be the killer app (although I'm not sure how ready I am to watch Man Utd get beat every week in VR). Quest may not be comfortable for long wear, but we are getting there. Player Ready One is imminent.
Moleskin Digital Pen - Where Digital Meets Doodle
$280
My wife bought the Remarkable2 even though I warned her that the reviews were poor. She bought it anyway and decided after the 90-day money-back guarantee date expired that she didn’t like it, and now I am lumbered with it. It’s fine for note-taking, but the whole unit is too bulky, doesn’t really work with any other apps, and overall is not a great user experience, given how “dumb” the unit is. Despite being a gadget geek, I can’t use computers to take notes in a one-on-one or non-office environment. Pen and paper are better, and this Moleskin pen is getting rave reviews. It uploads to the cloud and yet still feels like and looks like normal pen and paper writing. It’s on my stocking list!
Aqara Lock U100 -Turn Your Door Into Fort Knox
$189
The Aqara Lock U100 ensures your home is as secure as your internet password. It's smart, sturdy, and might just be more reliable than your dog at keeping the bad guys out. Bonus: it won't judge you for coming home at 3 a.m. It is currently sold out in most places, but be patient. It is worth the wait.
Nut Milk Machine - Be Your Own Barista, Minus the Hipster Beard
$99
Transform those sad, store-bought almonds into creamy milk with a push of a button. It’s for those who take their milk seriously but not seriously enough to want to spend insane money on Oatly. Welcome to the elite club of homemade milk... try not to brag about it at every brunch.
Loona Smart Robot (GPT3) - Robotic Love
$389
Of course, I had to include a ChatGPT3 device on the list this year. This darn cute little robot is basically a robot dog. Watch this video and see the dog do cute tricks. Comes to the door when you arrive home and plays with laser lights. It’s simply adorable.
Smart Home Devices
I have been asked multiple times for Smart Home devices list. (excluding the lock above and my ever-favourite Ambiclimate for Air-con control)
A word of caution for those upgrading to smart home devices. Gadget makers have finally agreed on a communication standard (like Bluetooth for audio) for all home gadgets. It’s called Matter. This will now be the de facto standard you will need to buy in order to future-proof your home and make sure everything talks to everything else.
All the quick options below are Matter-compatible. I will be upgrading a lot of things in my house over the next two years as Matter becomes more available, so will add them here.
$22
Bulbs that you can control from your phone. Light up your life and control the exact hue.
Excellent to place under TV cabinets and Sofas
$50
Turn devices on or off throughout the house as people or cats walk by
$21
Being able to turn plugs on and off using your app or automation saves money and effort; buy a whole bunch.
$31
Physical switches are still satisfying and quick to use. What I am waiting for on top of this would be digital control panels on Matter for the living room that can be wall-mounted and control everything around the house. But these switches are fine to play at doorways.
Curtain Motor by Switchbot on Matter
$89
Open and close your curtains via an automation (sunset/sunrise)
$90
I like this because you can have it as a lamp in your home, and then when you have guests outside, you can lift and move. It has super cool colours and great battery life.