Don't Be Misled By the Price

I don't know why I keep making the same mistake - assuming just because the Xiaomi/Redmi option is a bit cheaper, it won't be as good as the so-called flagships.

I've made that assumption before - especially with phones - only to discover not only does the device stack up performance-wise, there's even some design flair that really pops.

Yet for some reason, I did it again with Xiaomi's Redmi Buds 3 Pro. Simply because they retail at NZ$129.00 (even reduced to just $89 for the Black Friday sales), I pretty much wrote them off without even trying them. Well, almost. I am a professional, after all.

Somewhat begrudgingly, I took them out of the box and got my first pleasant surprise. 

What a lovely case. I've been sent the Graphite Black Buds 3 Pro to review (also available in Glacier Grey). The case is a complimentary dark grey colour, in a matte finish that feels rather luxurious to touch. I don't usually get too carried away with charging cases because why would you? But there's something satisfyingly tactile about how smooth and curved this oval case is. Great attention to detail too - when the lid snaps shut magnetically it fits together so perfectly, there's hardly a crack showing between it and the rest of the case. Even the pairing button sits absolutely flush at the base, above the USB-C charging slot. Unlike many other buds, the Redmi Buds 3 Pro do fast charging and the case will even charge wirelessly - pretty premium stuff.

Battery life is also very respectable, with up to six hours playback from the buds themselves and 28 hours in the case.

My heart sank a bit once I took the Buds 3 Pro out of that great case. They looked really weird; kind of square and chunky - with the actual bud part sticking out at a bizarre angle. "These are going to feel terrible," I thought to myself.

In fact, the Buds 3 Pro fit wonderfully. There's a selection of four sizes of silicone ear tips and the whole bud twists into my ears comfortably and very securely - making these some of the best fitting earbuds I've tried all year. They don't stick out of my ears very far at all, making them both sweetly balanced and quite good looking once inserted. They're also IPX4 water resistant, so sweaty, vigorous exercise is definitely allowed.

I can't even really criticise the sound of the Buds 3 Pro.

Due to the time of year, I've been sampling quite a bit of new release Christmas music, including Kelly Clarkson's album, "When Christmas Comes Around." The album is generally pretty ghastly; sort of a Kelly-sings-Christmas-karaoke, schmaltzy train-wreck. However, there are a couple of fun tracks where Clarkson's true sass shines through, one of them being "Christmas Isn't Cancelled (Just You)." This ultra-poppy, holiday-revenge tune bops along nicely on the Buds 3 Pro - every instrument punching through nice and clear. Although, I'm pretty sure every instrument was just a keyboard playing fake brass, fake bass, fake strings... you get the idea.

The 9mm vibrating diaphragm coil does indeed seem to deliver what Xiaomi promises; a clear reproduction of mids and highs as well as a fairly powerful bass kick.

Let's try something a bit more organic - how about "A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane? Oh yeah, now we're talking. Double bass setting the tempo. Drums and cymbals all around. Airy, wafty, almost unhinged piano floating in the background. All the while, Coltrane's legendary sax wailing in my left ear. Talk about going to your happy place. I just can't believe what a good job these Redmi's are doing as I type this, not that I can hear myself typing with the ANC on.

And that's the real kicker here; for under $130 you get Active Noise Cancelling that actually works, which you can toggle on or off with a long press of either bud. When the ANC is off, you're in transparency mode, with the outside world piped in so you don't get run over by a bus or something.

Unless you're paired with a Redmi phone, there's no companion app for the Buds 3 Pro - that means no personalised EQ or customisable controls. This doesn't actually concern me too much other than I'm missing my favourite function; on-board volume control. Thankfully I can handle that with my watch these days instead. Interestingly, (and cleverly) there's no single-tap control - this avoids accidental touches completely, often a problem when taking other buds out, putting them in or just adjusting them. Instead, it takes a more deliberate double-tap to play/pause or answer calls. 

Speaking of which, the triple microphone array also seems to do a good job. I've been on several calls with my elderly mother and she's never asked me to repeat myself.

The flash features keep coming - including in-ear detection to automatically pause playback when you remove either bud, starting it again when replaced. You can also connect to two devices simultaneously - instantly swapping audio between phone and computer for example.

I've been nothing but impressed with how the Redmi Buds 3 Pro punch well above their price-range weight - to the point I consider these to be the best value-for-money earbuds of 2021. 

     

Click here for more information and pricing on the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 Pro.

A Robot That Genuinely Saves You Time

Aren't puppies wonderful?

Their adorable eyes. Their soft coats. Their furry little paws. Their never-ending ability to leave screeds of muddy footprints all through the house? Their knack of stinking up the place with a single toilet-training accident?

Just gorgeous.

Like practically everyone else, the glennzb household decided to get a puppy during this interminable lockdown period. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Given the current climate, who doesn't need an endless supply of cuddles?

However, there's still a week of work to go to and suddenly household chores that used to happen once every seven days - like vacuuming and mopping - need to be stepped up to a more frequent rotation.

Joy.

Wait... isn't this the 21st century? I thought robots were supposed to be doing all this stuff by now...

It's weird how long robot vacuum cleaners have been around without really becoming truly mainstream.

It's possibly because for a long time, they weren't very good. We've all heard of early adopters coming home to the horror of a pet-poo smeared carpet, or even worse, a robotic suicide scene - death by falling down the stairs.

Now the DEEBOT T9+ from ECOVACS takes automated floor cleaning to a new level and I can never go back.

The first thing that really sold me on the DEEBOT T9+ is it comes with its own auto-empty station in the box. There are other robot vacuums that have a similar automatic emptying station as an optional extra - but at a price. The station for the T9+ also doubles as its recharging dock and is packaged fully assembled. 

Unfortunately, there's no bagless option - that means an ongoing cost to replace the dust bags but it's not very expensive and at least they're large; big enough to hold abut 30 vacuums-worth. And thanks to the replaceable HEPA filters it also means the whole process is completely dust-free - good news for sneezers like me.

In terms of vacuuming ability, the T9+ does a great job. There's hardly any setup, other than using the ECOVACS Home app to connect the vacuum to your Wi-Fi. At that point, you can just set it to auto-clean and the T9+ will commence to both clean and map your home, returning to its auto-empty station once it's done. I was surprised at how quickly and accurately the various on-board sensors can create a graphic representation of your floor plan on the app - there are even drop-detectors to ensure the T9+ avoids any stair tumbles. I've watched this in action. Quite exciting.

Once your map has been completed, you can divide or merge rooms and create virtual boundaries if there are areas you'd rather the T9+ didn't go - like outside. Interestingly, I have wide, sliding bi-folds in my living area and when they're open, there isn't really much to prevent the T9+ carrying on out to the deck, especially as it seems more than capable of traversing low doorsills and changes in floor coverings. This is despite being smart enough to avoid obstacles like toys and power cords.

The latest version of the ECOVACS Home app even has the option to create a 3D representation of your floor layout, adding furniture and other items for a more accurate picture. While fun, I didn't find this feature particularly useful - it's a bit like playing Sims with your own house.

There are definite limitations though. My home is quite large and double storeyed. Once I'd created my initial map of the upper storey, do you think I could figure out how to add another map for the ground floor? I couldn't even seem to add a room I'd missed to the original map. This got so frustrating I reached out to the ECOVACS support desk. To their credit, I got a fairly prompt response, although it turned out the solution was to take the entire auto-empty station downstairs and start another whole auto clean down there. Apparently, there's no way to add another room without creating a whole new map so you need to make sure the T9+ goes everywhere possible first time out. This seems unnecessarily cumbersome and I wouldn't be surprised if future app updates made things a bit more user-friendly.

The T9+ also struggled to get up onto my shaggy lounge rug. Admittedly, it is a very thick rug but funnily enough, it does an absolutely amazing job once it's on it - automatically sensing the different surface and ramping up the suction power accordingly.

Don't get too hung up with the map thing - stick the T9+ in a room and set it going, it'll still clean it, map or no map. You can change the vacuum power manually if you like, although it's nice to have it on a lighter setting on my hardwood floors as it runs amazingly quietly.

The T9+ introduces a deodorising function too - a first for a DEEBOT. There's a little, replaceable canister that fits into the air freshener head - this forces a small amount of scent into your carpets as it cleans - nothing overpowering - but definitely preferable to any lingering dog smell that may be hanging about.

Ah yes, that lovable pooch and his footprints. As I've already mentioned, I have a lot of wooden floors which seem to be permanently plastered with puppy paw prints these days. The DEEBOT T9+ disappears those prints quickly and effortlessly. The OZMO Pro Oscillating Mopping Kit replaces the air freshener head and has literally changed my life. You just fill it with water, valcro on a disposable mopping pad, clip it into place and let the T9+ do its thing. It sweeps, vacuums and mops all at the same time, so even quite stubborn patches of dirt and grime disappear in minutes and because it precisely measures out only the water it needs, the floors are dry enough to walk over almost straight away - fantastic news if the puppy is following it around while it works.

You've probably cottoned onto the fact there are a few running costs involved with using the DEEBOT T9+; the dust bags and mopping pads for starters - essential yet not overly expensive. The air-freshener pods are a bit more pricey at NZ$27 a pop, although they should last about 60 days and are not compulsory. The app also lets you know when to replace the side brushes, main brush and filters - although these are all pretty hardy and again, surprisingly affordable.

The brushes are easily removed and reattached for cleaning purposes which is just as well; there have been a few times when the T9+ has alerted me to a clogged main brush - something most vacuums succumb to in my home of long-haired cohabitants sooner or later. 

Fortunately, not only is the brush easy to pop out, there's a genius tool clipped into the lid of the T9+ that both cuts and untangles long hair from the brush with ease. Great design.

As I set the T9+ to work, mopping up yet more paw-prints the other day, my daughter accused me of being lazy. I pointed out I wasn't actually using the DEEBOT to mop while I sat on the couch, it was cleaning while I was writing reviews - literally giving me back some time to be more productive. What's more, we're now mopping several times a week instead of just once - only for the puppy to waltz on in and dirty everything up again. If that's ever happened to you, I'm sure you can see the advantages of device like the T9+.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+.

Christmas Is the Time to Accessorise

The Apple ecosystem; once you're in it, you may as well be all the way in it.

If you have the iPhone, why wouldn't you want the Apple Watch? Oh... and while you're at it, who doesn't love a Mac?

Whoops, almost forgot the AirPods - which of course swap their connection between all your Apple devices seamlessly, as if by magic.

See what I mean? Once you're in...

So then, now the festive season is fast approaching, what do you get the person who has everything? And by everything, I mean all the Apple toys...

If you're using and loving Apple, you'll be well aware the ecosystem doesn't necessarily stop with the devices themselves. There are plenty of things you can plug those gadgets into or even connect wirelessly to make the most of them - not to mention just charge them up.

Historically, Apple's minimalist design ethic has often resulted in a somewhat miserly approach to port selection and sometimes the range of Apple-branded peripherals and accessories is also limited. That's why for over 15 years, San Diego-based Satechi has been crafting quality tech products and accessories take those options to another level.

Satechi prides itself on attention to detail and using only premium materials to ensure lasting style and durability - and that was the first thing that struck me when I took my Satechi samples out of their boxes. These are the kind of high-quality gadgets that make you mutter, "Oh, yeah. That's nice. Very nice."

My first foray into the world of Satechi was a three-pronged affair; the Slim X2 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard, the Trio Wireless Charging Pad and the Type-C Aluminium Monitor Stand Hub for iMac. Each item is a very solid, hefty affair, reeking in class and super slim to ensure as small a desktop footprint as possible.

All three are two-toned - in subtle grey and black and any accompanying cables are of the highest quality.

At first blush, these accessories seem simple. What's so exciting about a charger? Or a monitor stand?

But a closer look reveals the extraordinary attention to detail - everything you need and nothing you don't.

Take the Trio Wireless Charging Pad, for example. Apparently just a slightly angled slab with dedicated spaces for Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone. Yet a closer look reveals rubberised, non-slip feet and rubber rests for both phone and watch to prevent any accidental slips or scratches. 

The watch stand can be used flat and also pops up to enable your watch to be viewed as a bedside clock. The only thing I don't understand is why the middle of the watch stand has to be white. This seems kind of garish in comparison to the rest of the Trio Pad's muted tones. Maybe there's some proprietary Apple tech involved that forbids it to be any other colour. Interestingly, non-Apple phones and earbud cases will charge just as effectively and in a nice touch, the compact 24W power brick included in the box includes adapters for all international power points.

As impressive as the latest generation iMac is, it has received a few minor criticisms, such as not providing enough ports and inputs. The iMac isn't unique here - not enough ports or slots seems to be a modern malady common to many PC's and laptops, a real cause for frustration if you use a lot of external accessories and storage devices. Another issue often pointed out is while the iMac's stand lets you adjust the angle of the display, there's no way to alter the height.

Satechi's Type-C Alumnium Monitor Stand Hub is the remedy for all this.

Again, from a distance it appears to be a reasonably innocuous metal stand. Yes, solid and stable enough to raise the iMac (or other monitor) to a more practical height - but it has a few other tricks up its sleeve. A more elevated screen is particularly useful for the iMac, as its webcam is built into the top bezel of the display and we all know, the higher the camera angle, the more flattering it is for those video calls.

But the Stand Hub's biggest advantage is you now have easily accessible, front facing ports; a USB-C, three full-sized USB 3.0's, an audio jack and both SD and microSD card slots. This makes swapping out memory cards, thumb drives, external SSD's and even your favourite headphones a doddle. No more fiddling around to try and access the extremely inconveniently placed, USB-C only ports on the rear panel of the iMac. 

Any cords can be tidily fed underneath the stand and tucked out of sight leaving the stand's brushed aluminium finish looking uber classy. Unfortunately, there's no pass-through charging option here, which is about the only limitation. Transfer speeds are still great as it connects to the iMac via its own concealed USB-C cable.

Which leaves us with the Slim X2 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard. This shares the exact same profile as the Magic Keyboard that comes in the box with the iMac - slightly angled but not much as it's just so damn thin. Despite that, the keys have much better travel and response than the native Apple device. Obviously, the X2 is much wider, not only offering the addition of a dedicated number pad but other useful keys like Home, End, Page Up and Page Down. There are even three extra function keys.

As its name suggests, the X2 is backlit, with several levels of brightness. Bluetooth pairing a simple process, holding down one of the four pairing keys to put the keyboard into pairing mode. That's right; you can use this keyboard with up to four different devices - doesn't have to be an iMac, maybe you use your MacBook with an external monitor when you're at your desk, making the X2 the perfect keyboard to go with it. There's even a set of rubber feet you can stick to the base to raise it to a more ergonomic angle if that's your preference. 

One caveat; initially the Home and End keys didn't do anything and I had to Google up a solution that involved a little bit of MacOS programming using Terminal. No biggie. What might be more of a hassle for you is there's no Touch ID on the X2, so you'll have to enter your password to do things like log in, alter security settings and install apps. Frustratingly, this also means you can't use FileVault encryption because your Mac won't connect to the X2 keyboard until you've logged in and you can't log in until the keyboard's connected. Again, for me, no big issue as I'm not particularly concerned about keeping my tech reviews encrypted on my home computer, so I just turned FileVault off.

The point is, each of these accessories is extremely useful, making the Apple products they're connected to more useful in turn. And they absolutely look the bomb, making them super-classy Christmas gift ideas for the avid Apple user in your life.

    

Click here for more information on the Satechi Trio Wireless Charging Pad.

Click here for more information on the Satechi Type-C Aluminium Monitor Stand Hub for iMac.  

Click here for more information on the Satechi Slim X2 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard.

This Lightweight Laptop Is a Surprise Powerhouse

It seems like my whole life computers have never got any cheaper.

As far as I can tell, this is because as various components become less expensive to produce, they also become obsolete, superceded by the latest, more expensive tech.

In fact, sometimes new tech also means extra tech - and of course, if you're adding stuff you're also adding to the price. So instead of getting cheaper, sometimes this year's laptop is more expensive than last year's.

But then I guess every now and then there's an exception that proves the rule.

When my review unit of the HP Pavilion Aero 13.3 arrived at my house, I assumed it must have fallen out of the box somewhere in transit. But no, it was in there. It's just lighter than the box. Weighing in at less than a kilo, this is one of the lightest laptops I've ever used.

Right away, if you're considering a tablet based solely on the added portability - perhaps for school or uni - make sure you check out the Aero 13.3 first. Not only is it light, it's slim too. The whole design is brilliantly thought out - just thick enough for a full-sized HDMI port on one side, yet the two USB-ports (one on each side) feature a compact, pull-down form-factor to save space. 

There's also a USB-C, a headphone/mic jack and a barrel-socket for the compact AC-adapter. Not that you'll need to take that adapter with you as the Aero can charge via the USB-C as well. The magnesium-aluminium alloy chasis is what keeps everything so light and also lends a super-modern look and feel to the whole setup - especially given I've been sent the Ceramic White variant. So cool.

I wouldn't go so far as to label the Aero as classy or elegant - it's a bit too funky for that. Also the screen is surrounded by glaringly contrasting black plastic bezels, albeit very narrow bezels.

The backlit keyboard is well spaced out, with nicely responsive keys and plenty of function keys like Home, End, Page Up and Page Down. The touch-pad, while not silky smooth is a generous size in proportion to the rest of the device and this aids greatly in precise cursor control.

On firing the Aero up, I was given the choice between installing Windows 10 or Windows 11 - a nice touch given just how new the new version is. In saying that, I went with 11 and have had zero issues whatsoever.

In fact, I've had no issues of any kind. This tiny little thing is a bit of a beast in disguise. The brains of the operation is AMD's Ryzen 7 5800U processor, teamed up with Radeon graphics, 16GB of RAM and a whopping 1TB of storage. Everything works. It works fast, smooth and all the time. That AMD chip is also impressively economical when it comes to battery life - HP suggests 10 hours use and I'd suggest that's about right, well above average for most laptops.

There's a bit of pre-installed bloatware which some people find annoying. Personally, I'm more than happy to have utilities like HP Support Assistant on hand to ensure drivers are up to date and everything's running at its optimum, although I was a little surprised to see a link to the Amazon store automatically pinned to the taskbar on startup. That was kind of weird. But removable.

The 16:10 WUXGA IPS display is bright, crisp and clear - with an anti-glare surface that actually does defeat reflection. A great screen for watching video and yes, even gaming. Like I say, there's plenty of power here - both processing and graphics-wise. I've wasted several afternoons blowing away cyborgs in Destiny 2, my current favourite first-person shooter. I even utilised that full-size HDMI to play it on my telly's big screen, converting the Aero into a kind of gaming console. It continued to run cool and quiet and never skipped a beat.

The Aero's HP Wide Vision 720p camera is solid enough, although it struggles a bit in backlit conditions. It isn't a Windows Hello lens either, so you'll have to rely on the dedicated fingerprint sensor on the right palm-rest if you want to log in without a password. At least there is a fingerprint option - not always the case. The dual-array digital mics do a nice job of picking up my voice clearly - the most crucial element when it comes to video calling.

The Bang and Olufsen speaker array lacks a little bass punch and stereo separation as most laptop sound systems do. However, the B&O Audio Control app offers quite effective EQ and noise reduction functions which mean I've been able to enjoy the latest NZ Top 100 quite happily as I write this.

In short, the Aero 13.3 is a joy to use, primarily because it does everything you want it to with no fuss and no effort. Traditionally HP's Pavilion range has meant more budget-friendly machines with less bells and whistles but this device just doesn't feel like a compromise. It feels like serious value for money... and you can put it in your bag and not even feel it.

    

Click here for more information on the HP Pavilion Aero 13.3 inch laptop.

Never Judge a Set of Earbuds by Their Case

That's right, it's Earbuds of the Week time again!

You think I'm kidding? I have definitely got at least another two sets of earbuds sitting on my desk I haven't even taken out of the box yet.

I asked out loud the other night, "Why on earth would you try and compete in the earbuds market? Everybody's making them."

To my surprise, someone actually answered. They told me a) everybody wears them and b) they're easy to lose. I had to admit, both excellent points.

So if you're in the market, either because you're only just getting round to going wireless, it's time for an upgrade or one simply rolled under a bus the other night after a party (no, I haven't got over that yet) then I've got another option you may not have considered yet - but may be interested in.

I have to admit, until quite recently I didn't even realise Technics was still a brand. I think I thought it had kind of evolved into Panasonic for some kind of marketing reason around the turn of the century. Even now, I'm not completely clear how it all works but I think they're basically two arms of the same company and the Technics arm did indeed get put away for a while but was then brought back in 2015 when it turned out there was growing market for fancy turntables.

Well I guess they've decided earbuds can be fancy too, with a new range including the EAH-AZ40.

Unfortunately when I took these out of the box, my expectations plummeted. Terrible case. Just terrible. It felt... well... cheap. And plasticky. I know all charging cases are made of plastic but this one really screams it. Perhaps because I was sent the silver variant and it seems like it's just spray-painted on. It's also small and light. This is usually a good thing - a great thing even. But because of the feel of it all, I was just left with the impression the EAH-AZ40's might be a bit overpriced. The case doesn't charge wirelessly either, BTW.

Then I opened the lid and bunged the things in my ears.

The silver of the buds themselves (which is actually only the half visible outside your ear, the inside is a matching pale grey) is a much classier finish - with the appearance of machined and polished metal and a subtle Technics logo across the centre. They also come in black or rose-gold.

The shape seems a bit unconventional - the ear-tip angled quite sharply away from the rest of the body and yet I was impressed how easily and snugly each bud nestled into place. It was immediately apparent these would be great for exercise and other physical activity - matching up with their IPX4 water resistance rating. There are four sizes of silcone earpieces to choose from but as usual, I found the mediums they came with to be the fit for me. 

Man, these things are light and as such, very comfortable for long listening sessions. I've worn them for hours on end with no fatigue at all. There's ample battery life to support those long sessions too; Technics promises up to 7.5 hours from the buds with up to 25 hours in the case. That's decent.

The accompanying Technics Audio Connect app is also decent. It's design is quietly understated but there are a lot of features and customisations available - especially given there's no Active Noise Cancelling with the EAH-AZ40's - you'll have to move up a model if that's a deal-breaker for you. Meanwhile, you can adjust the EQ, tailor the touch controls to your preference, select your favourite voice assistant and interestingly, adjust ambient mode settings. Although there's no ANC, because the passive noise cancelling is quite effective, Technics has decided you can opt to let in conversation or all other sound if you so wish.

There's also a lot of tech built in to reduce background noise when you're on a call. This is obviously very effective as I've not had a single caller ask me if I'm on speaker or hands-free, even when I'm out and about.

I often leave the sound quality part of the equation till last, because it's just so subjective. Technically, it's possible to measure which frequencies are played at what levels but we all hear things differently - especially deaf old geezers like me. If I'm being super critical, I'd suggest the EAH-AZ40's are guilty of the same trap many other earphones fall into; great bass but a slight lack of detail in the mid-to-upper ranges. This means jangly pop and rock sounds can seem a little muddy, while jazz, hip-hop and disco absolutely deliver.

The smoky jazz-club vibes of "Witch Hunt" by Wayne Shorter sound just as real, exposed and organic as they should, while the middle-of-the-road tracks of Rob Thomas' new Christmas album are not quite as lively.

But listening to Ladyhawke's new album, "Time Flies" was so sublime I did it twice. In a row. It's as though the EAH-AZ40's were specifically built for Ladyhawke's bass-driven dancey grooves - the sheer power of the punchy bass lines was like a religious experience.

At an RRP of NZ$229.99, these earbuds are certainly not cheap, even though the case feels a bit that way. But once open, the buds inside really do deliver in terms of fit, battery life, functionality, call and sound quality - especially if you're all about that bass.

    

Click here for more information on the Technics EAH-AZ40 true wireless earbuds.

Dyson Flies Away Into a Class of Its Own

I have no hair. I haven't had any for decades. Therefore I am perhaps the least qualified person possible when it comes to reviewing any kind of hair drying device.

My head pretty much drip dries of its own accord. Worst case scenario, I have to rub it a couple of times with a towel.

I'm not complaining. No matter the humidity, I remain frizz-free. I've never had to re-take a selfie because a gust of wind blew hair in my face. I've had to re-take them because of my face... but that's another story.

As for flyaways. Until very recently, I'd never heard of them.

However.

I do love a Dyson.

Given they consistently produce the best vacuum cleaners, fans and air purifiers I've ever used, I figured the hair dryer is probably pretty next level too.

 

The Dyson Supersonic is not new. In fact, people have been reverse-vacuuming their hair since 2016. And loving it.

As far as I can make out, from my remote distance as a casual observer of those with hair, in just five years Dyson has somehow completely reset the standard when it comes to home hair drying - in a very similar way to how Sir James Dyson's original vacuum cleaner turned that industry on its head.

So much so, even professional hair-dressers are looking to Dyson as their go-to weapon of choice.

Obviously, I've had to outsource my test-subject, given I personally have no hair.

This meant presenting the Domestic Manager with the hair-dryer famous for not really looking like a hair-dryer.

Initially she claimed it was very complicated to set up. I think that just meant there were a lot of bits in the box. 

Again, this reminds me of my experience unboxing Dyson vacuums. They certainly aren't shy with the accessories but I've always thought of this as a major bonus - not a drawback.

A couple of weeks or so into it, Domestic Manager now admits the Supersonic is, "Amazing".

In fact, she keeps raving about how simple the attachments are to... well... attach. This is because they simply magnetise into place. Not only does this make them easy to put on and take off, it also means you can rotate them to whatever angle you desire - kind of crucial when you want one half of your hair-style going one way and the other side the opposite.

No wonder the pros love this thing.

Another reason is the balance. Unlike conventional hair dryers that use a large fan built into the top half of the device, the Supersonic keeps all the important stuff down in the handle, making things much more comfortable to hold. The important stuff includes the unique V9 digital motor, which spins up to 110,000 revolutions per minute.

Does that mean the Supersonic dries faster? Indeed it does. And that's not due to excessive heat either. By measuring the air temperature forty times a second, heat damage is avoided, which protects your hair's shine.

I know this is true because Domestic Manager's hair is suddenly looking shinier. Yes, I actually noticed. Remember, we're still semi-locked down here in Auckland so it's been a very long time since she's been to the salon. Personally, I think she looks amazing. (I really hope she's reading this)

She's also commented on how the controls are intuitive and easily accessible. Okay... maybe she didn't use the word, "Intuitive" - but she definitely said she likes them.

One of those bits that now comes in the box is the all-new Flyaway Tool, which utilises some kind of crazy coriolis physics to tame those frustrating, out of control hairs that just refuse to settle down. By blowing tresses over the curve of the Flyaway Tool, longer hairs are lifted into place while those pesky, shorter, more sticky-out hairs are forced underneath. Dyson calls this the Coanda effect. I've seen it in action and it's impressive - sort of like a hairy magic trick. 

In fact, it's pretty hard not to be impressed by everything Dyson does. I've watched quite a bit of footage from their design and manufacturing facilities. I've also had the opportunity to chat with several Dyson engineers over the years and it's clear to me they're all extremely passionate about what they do, testing thousands of prototypes and trying all sorts of crazy ideas before coming up with the golden solution to an everyday problem - in this case, those damnable flyaways.

Sure, you pay a premium for the product but as usual, the brilliance of Dyson's design means you're saving serious time every day, not to mention a heck of a lot of hair frustration.

And you've got to admit, it looks pretty funky too. Especially in the limited edition Prussian Blue and Rich Copper available from the Dyson website as we speak.

Did I mention how great the Domestic Manager's hair is looking? See? Worth every cent.

     

Click here for more information and pricing on the Dyson Supersonic with Flyaway Tool.

The Smart TV for Dummies

You can spend a lot of money on the latest and greatest TVs. But do you need to?

While there are some incredible innovations being made in screen technology all the time, if you're in the market for a new telly, those innovations aren't compulsory.

For example, 8K... it's been around for a few years now but how much 8K content is being produced to play on those screens? I'm sure it'll turn up eventually but probably not until the general standard of our internet capacity improves enough to support it.

I'm not encouraging you to go entry-level/no-name brand either; in this respect TV's are no different to any other household appliance; cheap things break. That's just a fact of life.

But somewhere in the middle there's usually a kind of gadgety sweet spot - where you get all the features you actually need, without paying a premium just so you're not missing out on the latest add-ons you'll probably never use.

The Sony BRAVIA XR X90J is certainly not cheap, although starting under $2000.00 for the 50" model definitely drops it into that price-versus-features sweet spot I'm talking about. Even the 75", which is probably plenty big enough for most living rooms, is only NZ$4087.00 - less than half the price of some of the "top-of-the-line" latest and greatest.

I've spent a couple of weeks with the 55" X90J and I can tell you, other than being a little small for my space, there's not much more I need from a TV.

I've found almost everything about the X90J refreshingly uncomplicated - right from taking it out of the box. Sony's box design features removable plastic handles that double as clasps to keep the base and lid together. Once removed, it's a straight-forward process to lift the main part of the box off the TV so you can remove the rest of the packing and install the stands. Again, these are minimalist and simple; two narrow, angled feet that slide securely into their designated slots with no fuss.

The X90J is slim, without being paper thin. It's bezels are narrow, without being invisible. Put it this way; nobody's coming in and saying, "Hah... look at your ugly TV. It's so thick."

All the AV ports are on the left side of the rear panel - well, almost all. For some reason, the power cord connects on the other side, making it slightly more complicated to conceal all the cables, especially given the feet leave a significant and obvious gap beneath the screen. Perhaps Sony assumes you'll be connecting a soundbar and positioning it in front of that gap.

Word of advice; before you rush out and buy that soundbar, try the TV speakers out first. They're pretty great... well, for TV speakers, anyway. There was quite a period there when televisions got so skinny there was nowhere to put a decent sound system, so manufacturers just pushed their soundbars instead. Technology keeps on tech-ing though and now the built-in speaker array on the X90J does an admirable job of creating an immersive, 3D soundscape. There's not a lot of grunt to more bassy music tracks or sound effects like explosions and crashes but you might be surprised how good it sounds. 

Not to mention how good it looks. The BRAVIA XR range uses Sony's Cognitive Processor to perform quite a few visual magic tricks, including adjusting brightness and contrast to different parts of the screen, depending on the content. The full array, 4K LED panel is bright and clear and the X90J's upscaling abilities really are impressive.

One of the few criticisms levelled at the X90J is a drop in visibility for off-axis viewing, or watching from an angle. I don't really understand these comments. I'll concede there's a little more screen reflection when you're a bit side-on but nothing crazy. What's more, I watch a lot of TV during the day, on a couch in front of the TV with a large window right behind me. I haven't had to pull the blinds once.

It's always interesting to hear what the other people in my house have to say about the usability of any device I'm reviewing. After all, I'm fiddling around with these things all day every day, so a I take a lot of this stuff for granted. However, this can drive my house-mates crazy. Imagine coming home from work to discover a completely different telly in place of the one you were watching last night. Different remote. Different operating instructions. Thanks for nothing, glennzb.

But in the case of the X90J, the feedback has been only been positive. I put this down to two things; the user interface and the design of the remote.

Some remote controls have very few buttons at all and while this makes them look nice, it doesn't necessarily simplify control of the TV. Here, Sony has taken the opposite approach. The remote for the X90J is too large to lose, long and grippy underneath so it's easy to hold. 

What's more, there seems to be a button for almost every function, meaning you don't have to keep bringing up a Home or Settings menu every time you want to do something. There are even dedicated shortcuts for instant access to YouTube, YouTube Music, Netflix and Prime Video.

There are also media controls, including a standalone subtitle button. These are some of my favourite features because they work with pretty much everything.

Which brings me to the UI; Google TV. This is the evolution from the Android TV interface found on previous Sony televisions. It's much more refined and easier to navigate. The home screen offers an impressive range of viewing suggestions, based on which streaming services you have installed. Installing apps from the Play Store works pretty much like it does on a phone and you can even sideload more "specialised" APK's if that's your jam.

My only real beef with the software experience is accessing other hardware you might have plugged in. Devices like consoles, USB-drives and set-top boxes appear on a separate input menu, not on the home screen with your favourite apps. Admittedly, the input menu is only a button press away (of course there's a button for it) but I had to find something to complain about.

As a Google TV, the X90J is its own Chromecast device and you can AirPlay to it as well. You can even add it to your HomeKit and use Siri to control it, not just Google Assistant - although the mic on the remote is all Google and definitely saves a lot of virtual typing when it comes to searches and logins.

Everything about the X90J is easy; it's easy to set up, easy to use, easy to listen to and definitely easy to watch. Best of all, it's a lot easier to pay for than those other models with the all the stuff you don't need.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Sony Bravia X90J.

My New Audio Addiction

Of all the earbuds I've ever tried - and believe me, I've tried many - I've never had a set of AirPods.

Oh, I've done EarPods - back in the days before everything went wireless - but given I've been on a bit of an Apple hiatus (until this year) I hadn't really given AirPods a go.

That was due in no small part to me not being a fan of the original design. Other earbuds at the time were trying hard to be just that, buds... small, round and as inconspicuous as possible. Meanwhile, Apple's version looked like they'd literally just cut the cords off the iconic EarPods, leaving those rather obvious white stems behind.

"How ridiculous!" I said. "Who in their right mind would wear something like that?"

Of course, I'd underestimated Apple's ability to create tech fashion out of nothing. Again. Turns out, half the world's population were not only perfectly happy to walk around with white sticks hanging out of their ears, the people without them were jealous of the people with them.

Furthermore, other manufacturers even started producing earbuds in a similar form-factor.

Furtherer-more, I eventually tried some of these and liked them.

Just goes to show; I'm wrong about most things.

This year marks the launch of the third generation of Apple's AirPods, now so jam-packed with bells and whistles you've really got to work your way through the list to see what the AirPods Pro do that these new "vanilla" ones don't.

In fact, if you do compare both devices side by side, you'll actually discover the 3rd-gen AirPods even out-perform the Pro's in a few areas - starting with battery life.

The charging case (now a MagSafe case) provides up to 30 hours of listening time and you'll get up to 6 hours from the fully charged earbuds themselves. This compares with 24 and just 4.5 hours respectively from the AirPods Pro.

Like the Pro, the new AirPods now boast an IPX4 sweat and water resistance rating (although, I know plenty of people who've been sweating all over their O.G. AirPods for years, with no issues).

Like the Pro, the touch controls are more versatile and there's also now an inward-facing microphone for better call quality. 

Instead of the dual optic sensors of the AirPods 2 and Pro, the 3rd-gen AirPods now rely on a new skin-detect sensor. This means your podcast won't start playing again just because you've put your AirPod in your pocket - it actually has to be in your ear to work.

Appearance-wise, the 2021 AirPods perhaps look more like the Pro-version too. Generally smaller, with a much shorter, curvier stem. Unlike the Pro's though, AirPods 3 are still an open-fit design - no squishy, silicone ear tips for an air-tight seal. Just the same one-size-fits-all approach of the original design.

This also means no passive noise cancellation - a loose fit is a noisy fit. And as you might have already suspected, unlike the Pro's, there's no Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) either. This means if you're determined to keep outside distractions at bay, you'll have to do it by sheer volume alone.

This is definitely the new AirPods' greatest weakness. While bass response is surprisingly strong, given the lack of a tight seal, when listening to tracks with a rich, complicated timbre, a lot of the detail gets a bit mushed up. This means genre's like Jazz and Hip-Hop tend to sound excellent, while the more full-on styles like Rock and Orchestral get blurry quickly.

Allegedly, there's an adaptive EQ - sensing how things sound in your ear canal in real-time and making adjustments on the fly. If that's what's happening, it's not doing enough of it for my liking and I'd prefer the option to adjust the EQ from the settings menu on my phone.

But the 3rd-gen AirPods have one massive trick left up their sleeve (or stem); Spatial Audio with head tracking, just like the AirPods Pro.

Until now, I've mostly used spatial audio (or effects like it) for gaming and watching movies. Put simply, it's surround-sound but fixed in space, so if you turn your head, what was in front of you now sounds like it's coming from the side. When gaming, this means you can hear someone sneaking up behind you. Then, when you turn to face them, the soundscape moves accordingly.

While testing the AirPods, I've given Apple Music's Spatial Audio selection a real thrashing. And now I can't stop.

Mahler's, "Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection": V. Langsam" starts with the quietest of choral vocals and you really feel you're in the concert hall with the orchestra, waiting for your cue from the conductor.

But it's the jazz selection that's really turned my head (pun intended). There's something intimate about the spatial mix I find utterly immersive. I close my eyes and it's as though Diana Krall is performing on a small rise, just metres in front of me.

Annoyingly, this has made it hard to listen to anything else that hasn't been recorded this way.

My other big surprise is how well the 3rd-gen AirPods stay in. As I've pointed out already, the open fit is about as far from being air-tight as you can get, yet due to their extreme lightness and the slight claw-shape to the stem, once they're in, they certainly stay in. Between that secure fit and the new IPX4 rating, they're now a lot more attractive when it comes to to exercise.

Then of course, there's the automatic switching which Apple just absolutely nails. As if by magic, the AirPods somehow know which Apple device you're using at any given time and connect accordingly. Nobody does this as well as Apple does and it's this feature alone that makes AirPods the obvious choice if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem.

The connection is incredibly strong and reliable too - I can roam all over the house leaving my phone in one room while I'm in another and experience no dropouts at all.

As you can tell, I've ended up being more of fan of the new AirPods than I thought I would be. Battery life is great, they're comfortable yet fit securely and Spatial Audio is like aural magic. There's no question there are other earbuds that offer better technical sound quality - including Apple's own AirPods Pro, which also have the benefit of ANC.

But for all-round usability, there are a lot of great features here and not much to complain about.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on Apple AirPods (3rd generation).

glennzb's 2021 Gadget Gift Guide

This year I set a record. It's not even December and I've reviewed more gadgets than ever - over eighty phones, earbuds, speakers and other devices... with more to come. Like parent a with their children, I try to love them all equally of course. But also like a parent with their children, you can't help but have your favourites.

Here are my top twelve this year. Gadgets that is. Not kids...

 

 

1: SAMSUNG GALAXY FLIP3 5G

If recent international sales figures are anything to go by, Samsung's gamble on foldables is really starting to pay off and in some markets, the new Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 look like they're going to be even more popular than the S21 series of handsets from earlier in the year.

The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is a whopping $700 cheaper than last year's Flip, starting at $1599.00 for the 128GB model. It's not every day a tech giant produces something new, something better, then sells it for almost a third less than its predecessor. While this might be slightly shocking for those early-adopters who forked out so much more for the first Flip, it's great news for people considering a new flagship handset.

The general concept of the Flip3 is pretty much what we saw from the original - a clam-shell device that folds down to half the size of any other phone. The first Flip impressed with its durable hinge design - a big improvement on the more experimental-feeling Galaxy Fold that came before it. 

There are lot of reasons to buy this phone and I'm struggling to find many not to. Okay, sure the dual-lens rear shooter isn't perfect but I'm convinced that's a compromise most consumers would be prepared to make in favour of the totally unique form factor and inherent advantages like shooting in Flex mode. And to be honest, I can definitely do without the massive bump of a multi-lens camera module on the back of my phone.

Especially when it's folded neatly in half in my pocket.

     

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G.

     

2: APPLE WATCH SERIES 7

A lot of the hype around the 7th generation Apple Watch has focused on its display, with some justification given it boasts almost 20% more screen area than its predecessor, even though the watch itself is hardly bigger at all. This is thanks to two things; the new display has significantly smaller surrounds and now actually curves into the edges like many high-end smart phone screens have done over the years. 

On top of the more traditional stainless steel cases in Silver, Gold and Graphite, there's a new range of colours that are right up my alley - Midnight, Starlight, Green, Blue and (PRODUCT)Red all in a muted aluminium finish. The Midnight colour is interesting; it seems black at first but closer inspection suggests a more mysterious, inky blue but why anybody would choose a colour other than (PRODUCT)Red is beyond me.

Of course, WatchOS has been given an overhaul too. The interface was already great but significant tweaks have been made to things like fitness tracking, guided mindfulness exercises, photo display and watch faces.

Apple claims the new Watch is its most durable yet. Already rated WR50 to be fully swim-proof, it now carries an IP6X rating against dust - effectively making it beach-proof too.

The 6th-generation Apple Watch was the best smartwatch I'd ever used. This year's is now the best smartwatch I've ever used.

        

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple Watch Series 7.

     

3: JABRA ELITE 7 PRO

The more earbuds I try - and remember; I make sure I spend at least a couple of weeks using them in real life, exercising, gaming, streaming, video calls, housework - the more obsessed I have become with one feature above all else; how do they fit?

I've told you other buds were the best fitting I've ever worn and that was true every time - at that time. Now a new champion has stepped up to claim the crown. 

The Elite 7 Pro's are more compact than ever; 16% smaller than their Elite 75t predecessors. Apart from anything else, this makes them the most subtle-looking buds I've worn too, hardly protruding from my ears at all. Smaller also means lighter and the balance once inserted borders on weightless.

Jabra claims to have scanned more than 62,000 ear holes in order to refine the shape and my fear was this more intrusive design may feel weird and uncomfortable but quite the opposite is the case. Because the weight is more evenly distributed, the sensation is almost as if you aren't wearing them at all - even after hours of listening.

Although pricey, at NZ$319.00, this actually places them below several other competitor products with similar features so it becomes a question of priorities. Perhaps there are earbuds with better battery performance - but not many. Would a purist rate these as the finest examples of hi-fidelity reproduction available? No, but I don't have a degree in audio engineering so I don't really care. Same goes for ANC - if it's good enough to drown out the sound of my robot vacuum cleaner operating in the same room, what more do I need?

My priority is fit and as of today, that's where the Jabra Elite 7 Pro comes in at number one.

        

Click here for more information on the Jabra Elite 7 Pro.

     

4: GOCUBE

When the makers of the GoCube claimed I could, "Learn to solve the cube in a fun and interactive way (in 1 hour!)." I have to admit, I was pretty intgrigued.

The GoCube is pretty much exactly what you want it to be; a Rubik's Cube that connects wirelessly to your smartphone so the GoCube app can show you how to solve it. 

Not only can you try to beat your own times for both solving and scrambling the GoCube but you can challenge a friend or even participate in the RedBull Rubik's World Cup, taking on other GoCubers from around the globe.

I'm determined to get there and I know with enough practice, especially the guided practice offered by the GoCube app, eventually my tired old synapses must make a connection or two and I'll finally retain the knowledge I need to make this thing work.

Not a bad way to kill a few hours and a pretty cool stocking-filler for young and old this Christmas.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the GoCube.

     

5: ROBOROK S7

Yes, a robot has literally moved in and taken over my job. And I couldn't be happier. 

Damn, it's convenient. Especially in conjunction with the Self-Empty Dock - talk about no fuss, no muss. The dock even gives you the option of a bagless or bagged storage bin. I prefer not having to shell out for replacement bags but if you're an allergy sufferer, the sealed bag system will definitely keep things more dust-free.

But what matters most? The S7 definitely does an excellent job of both vacuuming and mopping. In fact, the mopping is quiet, fast and uses water sparingly so the floors are very quick to dry with no streaks. In fact, it was just after my very first Roborock mopping session when the Domestic Manager arrived home, took one look at the results and decided she could find space for it in the living room after all. It was at this moment she said, "That is never going back!" I guess I'd better start saving up. At $1099.00 from PB Tech, it's a significant investment - but still actually cheaper than many other premium, more conventional vacuums.

The results speak for themselves. I think it's worth it. After all, it is Domestic Manager approved.

        

Click here for more information and pricing on the Roborock S7 smart robot vacuum cleaner.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Roborock S7 Self-Empty dock.

     

6: DELONGHI LA SPECIALISTA MAESTRO

The La Specialista Maestro is a very flash name for a very fancy home espresso machine from De'Longhi. In fact, the people at De'Longhi think this machine is so good, they actually sent a guy called Giovanni to help me set it up. 

The La Specialista Maestro panders to my laziness brilliantly. Not only does it promise a perfect espresso, it offers latte, cappuccino and flat white options too. Oh, sure there's still a steam wand if you insist on making life hard for yourself but my motto is, why make life hard for yourself? Especially first thing in the morning. 

But probably my favourite feature of all is the Smart Tamping Station. If you've used an espresso machine before, you'll know the recommended amount of ground coffee for the portafilter is way too much for it to hold before you tamp it down. This inevitably means coffee grounds all over your machine and benchtop. Thanks to the Smart Tamping Station, you pull the tamping lever down before disconnecting the filter holder. This means you not only tamp the grind to the correct pressure every time but not a single grain spills out. 

At almost two-thousand dollars, this is obviously at the more luxury end of the kitchen appliance market but is that really so much to pay for your own personal Sicilian barista at your beck and call at the push of a button?

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro pump espresso machine.

     

7: DYSON SUPERSONIC WITH FLYAWAY TOOL

I haven't actually published my review of this yet as I've had to outsource my test-subject, given I personally have no hair.

This meant presenting the Domestic Manager with the hair-dryer famous for not really looking like a hair-dryer.

She claimed it was very complicated to set up. I think that just meant there were a lot of bits in the box. One of those bits is the all-new Flyaway Tool, which utilises some kind of crazy coriolis effect to tame those frustrating, out of control hairs that just refuse to settle down.

A week or so into it, Domestic Manager now admits the Supersonic is, "Amazing".

I think she's scared to give me too many details in case I actually publish my review and they take it off her. Sounds like a winner of a Christmas gift to me.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Dyson Supersonic with Flyaway Tool.

    

8: REDMI NOTE 9T 5G

 $398.99.

Not a bad price for a phone. That's what Xiaomi's Redmi Note 9T is retailing for right now.

But for a power user like me, there are certain features I've become accustomed to and while I might be prepared to do without one or two, generally the compromises involved in getting a phone down below four-hundred bucks are just too much for me to deal with.

Perhaps not this time though.

Look, I'm not saying there aren't limitations here - that's why the phone sells for less than four-hundred bucks. I'm just pointing out those limitations are ones you might well be willing to compromise on. As far as I'm concerned, there are only two that really bother me; display quality and camera performance. If you're looking for a phone to shoot the next low-budget, cinematic blockbuster with, this clearly ain't it. On the other hand, it looks pretty funky, runs surprisingly smoothly and has excellent battery life. If those are the things you care about most, or you're just desperate to jump on the 5G bandwagon, there's no doubt the Redmi Note 9T 5G is the most economical way to do it.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Redmi Note 9T 5G.

      

9: APPLE HOMEPOD MINI

Launched way back in November last year, 2021 saw the Apple HomePod mini become widely available here in New Zealand at several leading retailers and online from the New Zealand Apple Store.

The sound quality is actually hard to believe. As someone who spends hours every day in a radio studio, I'm kind of fussy about this stuff but the first time I heard what this tiny ball could do, I did a kind of aural double take.

Also, Siri is a better listener.

You can simply ask Siri to, "Play something I'd like..." This is exactly the kind of intuitive behaviour we've always wanted from our virtual assistants - don't play the same stuff I always ask for, play something a bit like it instead. My favourite command? "Hey Siri... never play this song again." Come on - if that isn't enough reason to sign up for Apple Music, I don't know what is.

What's more, the four internal mics do an incredible job of listening out for the "Hey Siri" command - again, better than any other speaker I've used. Siri rarely misses my requests, even when the volume is way up.

Perhaps most remarkably of all, you can pick up a HomePod mini for just $159NZD - great buying for a device of this quality... if you're an Apple user. If not... have you thought about becoming one?

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple HomePod mini.

     

10: RIG GAMING CONTROLLER AND HEADSET

When I plugged in the new RIG Pro Compact controller, then plugged in the RIG 500 Pro HC Gen 2 headset into that... well... the real world just went away. 

The 500 Pro HC Gen 2 has a kind of brutal, industrial quality to it - all steel and webbing - almost like something they'd wear to pilot those magnetic hoverships in the Matrix. Everything's modular and fully adjustable - you can even remove the earcups completely should you need to replace them. The two-piece headband design ensures a perfectly balanced distribution of weight. I'd go so far as to say when you're wearing the headset it feels like it weighs almost nothing at all. This is complimented perfectly by the dual-material ear cushions - both plush and pleather, the best of two feels combining to keep things cool and comfortable, even after hours and hours of game play. 

The 500 Pro HC plugs into the Pro Compact controller via a generously long, tangle-free, ribbon cable. The controller, in turn, sports a whopping three-metre, high quality, braided cable which gives you plenty of space between you and your Xbox console or Windows PC, while still maintaining totally lag-free, wired performance.

The name is slightly misleading; the Pro Compact is not dramatically smaller than any other controller, it's more the layout that's compact, meaning you can move from button to D-pad to joystick just that little bit more quickly.

The Pro Compact app makes this one of the most customiseable controllers I've used too. 

Best of all, these are not bank-breakers by any stretch of the imagination. At $149 for the headset and just $99 for the controller, I really urge you to consider RIG if you're looking to enhance your gaming experience.

    

Click here for more information on the RIG Pro Compact wired controller.

Click here for more information on the RIG 500 Pro HC Gen 2 gaming headset.

     

11: SAMSUNG NEO QLED 8K QN900A

If you're looking for a gift for the whole family... and budget isn't an issue...

The Samsung QN900A introduces a whole new evolution in display technology for Samsung, moving from QLED to Neo QLED.

This means a brighter, sharper image and if you thought 8K already looked good, wait till you see the illusion of depth this technology creates, on either a 65", 75" or 85" display.

The upscaling abilities of the QN900A's Neo Quantum Processor are second-to-none - I've found even 720p and 1080p footage still looks next level on this screen.

The QN900A is perhaps the most boring looking TV I've ever seen. That's not a criticism. That's what you want. The bezel is practically non-existent. And the panel itself is only 15.2mm thick. Combined with a very muted, unobtrusive central stand, when switched on the effect is like a hovering portal into another world - all picture and no TV at all

An interesting change for 2021 is the remote control. There's a large solar panel on the back to keep it charged - no batteries.

Perhaps the best thing about the 2021 Neo QLED experience is there's no fine-tuning required. Both the adaptive picture and sound settings do an excellent job of providing you with an out-of-this-world, immersive viewing experience that's almost impossible to fault.  

    

Click here for more information on the Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN900A.

     

12: SATECHI APPLE MAC ACCESSORIES

I loved these the moment I saw them. They look so classy and feel like they're constructed of stone, glass and steel - the kind of thing that will last forever.

Best of all; super practical.

If that little keyboard that came with your iMac doesn't quite cut the mustard, the Satechi Slim X3 bluetooth backlit keyboard has all those extra keys you've been missing, without taking up much more space.

If you want to keep everything tidy and could do with a few more ports right in front of you, the Aluminium Monitor Stand Hub for iMac is a truly elegant solution.

And the Trio Wireless Charging Pad just makes sense.

These Satechi gadgets are the most no-brainer Christmas gift ideas for dad since the invention of socks and undies.

     

Click here for more information on Satechi Apple Mac accessories.