Although it seems like every year I review even more devices than the last, I'm pretty sure 2022 has seen more significant upgrades and advances than I can ever remember.
That means this Christmas could easily be a tech-based one, with lots of crazy toys for everyone under the tree...
1. Orbi 960 WiFi 6E Mesh System
I have trialled many routers, modems and extenders over the years but the Orbi 960 Wi-Fi 6E mesh system from Netgear is the best by so far, I couldn't wait to tell you and I spoiled my verdict by revealing it right at the beginning of the review. That's how good it is and I knew it pretty much the moment I had it up and running.
What's amazed me about the Orbi 960 system is when I measure the coverage around my house, it stays unbelievably consistent. Sometimes I even get marginally faster download speeds from the satellite units than I do from the primary router. How can this possibly be?
Part of the explanation for this incredible connectivity lies in the fact this is a quad-band system - with a dedicated channel just for backhaul; the connection between the router and the satellites. This means you're not using up any of the bandwidth for the connected device, regardless of which unit it's currently connected to. What's more, if your device is compatible, you're also utilising the new 6Ghz Wi-Fi 6E band, which is the fastest and highest-capacity Wi-Fi technology currently available.
I wouldn't usually include something as "purely functional" in a gift guide but surely giving someone the best Wi-Fi experience they've ever had would be welcome under the tree?
2 . Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Samsung's Galaxy Buds2 Pro have come to this year's Christmas party with a total redesign shakeup.
The Buds2 Pro are dramatically smaller and are shaped quite differently to their predecessors. Samsung obviously heard the criticism of the original Buds Pros' tendency to bobble out when exercising vigorously or dancing stupidly and decided to do something about it. A good fit has fast become my number one consideration when it comes to earbuds as these days features like sound quality and reliable connectivity should be a minimum expectation.
The two-way speakers, dedicated woofer and separate tweeter combine to provide the clearest, most authentic sound of any Samsung buds yet.
Battery life is also good; up to five hours with ANC on and another 18 hours charge in the case.
In fact, it's very difficult to fault these earbuds in any way. These are my new favourite buds. Now I know you think I'm always saying, "These are my new favourite buds," but that's because the buds keep getting better and these ones have definitely got better - in many, many ways.
Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.
3. Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro is inarguably a thing of beauty. As usual, it comes in packed in a nice-looking, substantial box that prominently displays the device as soon as you lift the lid.
Once again, Huawei has opted for a circular face and once again, at first glance most people probably wouldn't even realise this is a smartwatch. That's not to say they wouldn't take a second look, just as you might when you witness any luxury timepiece when you're out and about.
The crystal is made from sapphire glass, which in my experience has proven to be extremely durable and after a couple of weeks' constant wear is showing no blemishes at all. The case is also as hard as nails - actually, it's much harder. It's made of titanium and has been ingeniously crafted into a seamless, one-piece design.
Where the Watch GT 3 Pro truly excels, is in health and sports. There's an ECG function - and like other recent Huawei wearables, functions like heartrate monitoring and sleep tracking are excellent - providing plenty of insight both on the watch itself and then even more detail on the Health app.
Now there's also a skin temperature sensor, which gives you excellent insight into trends over time, but sports tracking is really the icing on the cake; I've been a fan of Huawei's exercise interface for years and it just keeps getting better - whatever the exercise (and you can choose from more than a hundred - from mountain biking to jazz dancing to darts to triathlon) the display is clear, useful and provides great updates on the go.
There's no doubt this is a versatile, high-performance smartwatch that looks... well, just breathtakingly good. It's more than just a tech statement, it's a fashion statement too.
Click here for more information on the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro.
4. GoPro HERO11 Black
The HERO11 Black looks very similar to its predecessor which in turn, looked pretty much the same as the HERO9. But with GoPro, it's what's inside that counts. The HERO10's GP2 processor marked a true evolution in performance and this year the addition of a larger 1/1.9" sensor has taken things to an even more impressive level. Sensor and processor combine to offer higher resolution photos - up to 27MP, a significant upgrade to GoPro's already standout digital stabilisation tech, HyperSmooth 5.0 and perhaps most eye-catching and brain-bending of all; you can now shoot at up to 5.3K in an all new 8:7 aspect ratio.
This last feature essentially means you now get all the benefits of GoPro's legendary wide-angle capture both vertically and horizontally - an acknowledgement that a lot of unmissable action happens up and down, as well as side-to-side. Obviously, this can be cropped to other aspects depending on your preference using the Quik app - without losing any of the new, incredible image quality.
There's even a new battery; specifically developed for better cold-temperature performance. GoPro promises up to 38% longer recording time in normal temps over previous batteries. More battery life is always good news.
Twenty years in the business pretty much guarantees the HERO11 Black delivers unprecedented performance, still in a typically tiny package. What's more, yet again I can't believe the price; right now cheaper than most smart phones, on special for NZ$699.99.
5. HyperX Pulsfire wireless gaming mouse
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Most of what you need to know about the HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wireless can be found in my previous Pulsefire Haste review. For all intents and purposes the new cable-free version is basically indistinguishable; the size and shape is the same, button layout identical, even the pattern of hexagonal holes both top and bottom matches up meaning despite this device now incorporates 2.4Ghz wireless technology, it's still essentially weightless.
That, combined with its long, slim shape, concave buttons and IP-rated sweat-resistant, matte finish all adds up to an extremely comfortable user experience, even if you do have the time to game for hours on end.
As with the original, all the buttons are fully programmable - which you'd expect - as is the RGB scroll wheel and other settings like Polling Rate and Lift-Off Distance. This happens via the HyperX NGENUITY app which, unfortunately, is still only available for PC - no MacOS version although the mouse works perfectly with Apple devices.
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The big, obvious difference is the wireless USB dongle. It's USB-A so you'll need an adapter or hub if you're planning on using the Pulsefire Haste Wireless with a USB-C only laptop. There's no pairing required - simply plug the dongle in, turn on the mouse and you're in business. Assuming it's charged, obviously.
That probably won't be an issue; HyperX claims up to a hundred hours battery life on a single charge - pretty decent.
This wireless Pulsefire Haste works just as well as the corded one. If there's any lag at all, this very amateur gamer has yet to detect it. I loved the non-slip feel and lightness of the original and the new one is just as much a pleasure to use.
Click here for more information on the HyperX Pulsefire Wireless gaming mouse.
6. Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN900B
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As I say every year, this is one of my favourite reviews; Samsung's latest top-of-the-line offering; in 2022 that means the Neo QLED 8K QN900B.
In terms of how the TV looks before you even turn it on, Samsung has been setting the standard for a fair old while. If you haven't checked out the infinity screen on one of these incredible tellies, next time you're walking past an appliance store, grant yourself five minutes to pop in for a look. How Samsung manages to cram one of the world's most advanced displays into a screen that's just 15mm thick is truly a wonder of modern engineering. Not only that but its Infinity One classification means there's basically no bezel at all. The final effect is picture and nothing else, suspended on your wall or hovering on its minimalistic, silver stand.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about this year's OS update is the addition of the Xbox app. Incredibly, this means just by signing in with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you'll be able to play the full Xbox Cloud Gaming library on this exquisite TV without having to connect an actual Xbox. All you need is a compatible bluetooth controller and you're away.
Yes, the QN900B costs a pretty penny - especially if you go the whole hog and have the space for the 85-inch model - but it really is the best you can get right now; it looks incredible before you even switch it on and once you do, the brightness, clarity and contrast are unbeatable. And thanks to the app, it now basically comes with Xbox built in. I'm not sure what more you can ask for and that's why it's worth top dollar.
Click here for more information on the Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN900B.
7. Technics EAH-A800
For whatever reason, Technics has suddenly decided to give this bluetooth ear-wear thing a really good bash. We've already seen the new range of true wireless buds and now we have some over-ears; the EAH-A800 headset and it's time to see if Technics can hit it out of the park on its first attempt... again.
Everything looks and feels as premium as the NZ$499.00 price-tag suggests. The outer covers on the earcups have been machined in a circular way, reminiscent of the fine grooves on a record. There's just the right amount of flex in the headband without any nervous creaking. The earcups extend from that headband to the length required with satisfyingly chunky clicks.
At almost 300grams, the A800 is not the lightest headset around but I can't complain about the fit. The balance, cushioning and softness of both the headband and earcups is up there with any other headphones I've worn - and I have to wear them for hours on end, every single day. They're a pleasure.
The ANC is also top class. The ultimate test of this is if I can hear my Executive Producer talking to me while I have the live radio show in one ear and different audio previewed in the other. The answer is, I can't hear him at all. Perfect.
The A800's are certainly at the upper end of the price range - perhaps ambitiously so given the Technics brand hasn't really been seen on a high-end pair of bluetooth headphones before. However, as far as I'm concerned they've checked all the boxes. They sound fantastic - especially if you take a minute or two to tweak the EQ in the app. That app is comprehensive - you can even turn off the utterly pointless flashing bluetooth LED, yay! They look good, feel even better and you'll get about fifty hours playback from a single charge - and that's with ANC on.
There's no arguing with the pedigree of the Technics brand and these headphones definitely live up to that name.
Click here for more information on the Technics EAH-A800.
8. ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI
The people at ECOVACS seem pretty excited about their latest and greatest, the DEEBOT X1 OMNI.
They brought in the Jacob Jensen design team to give the X1 OMNI a Danish minimalist makeover. So rather than some stark, white, utilitarian box in the corner you have a classy, matte silver and black box in the corner. It's a talking point anyway.
Of course, there is a reason this Deebot has been upsized; it now fills its own water tank and washes and dries its own mopping pads. Yes, you read that right. The OMNI Station houses two large water containers, one for clean, one dirty. Both of these are simple to remove, fill, empty and reinstall and it genuinely does mean you no longer have to muck around with wet, dirty mopping pads.
What's more, the X1 knows when the pads need a clean and will automatically return to the OMNI Station for another rinse-off mid-mop. The X1's unique OZMO Turbo 2.0 rotating mopping system is vastly superior to any I've used before. Because the twin mop-heads protrude slightly from the rear of the device, they do a much better job of getting into tight spaces and corners - like around chair and table legs.
ECOVACS has made plenty of other advancements on the vacuuming side of the equation too. The X1 now sucks at a whopping 5000Pa - up from 3000Pa on the Deebot T9+.
The auto-emptying capabilities of the OMNI Station are also a major improvement. I have two cats, a dog and people with hair living in my house and previously that's meant a lot of clogging - not just for robot vacuums but any vacuum. Since I've been using the X1 I haven't had to go near the dust bin or floating main brush at all. Very impressive.
This is the most full-functioned and autonomous robot vacuum I've tried yet. I've been using it for weeks and still haven't got my hands dirty once.
9. Apple iPhone 14
For months before this year's iPhone launch I'd been reading rumours about Apple making an unprecedented decision to split up its base and pro models by reserving the new-generation A16 Bionic chip for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max while recycling 2021's A15 chip for the cheaper iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. What a shock.
Perhaps even more shocking is most of those articles neglected to point out there were two different chips used last year too; it's just they were just both called A15. The '21 Pro version boasted better graphics performance which also meant more powerful camera capabilities and it's that A15 Bionic running the iPhone 14.
This means a noticeable uptick in gaming and photography before you even touch the rest of the phone. The physical camera sensors have also been tweaked and combined with the processor boost, the photography experience on the iPhone 14 feels much more like what the pro models offered last time around.
More importantly, I'd like to point out something so many tech critics often fail to; even if the iPhone 14 was exactly the same as the iPhone 13 - which as we've already established, it isn't - it would still be a great phone.
Features like its ceramic shield screen and MagSafe wireless charging and accessories are still totally unique in the market and are amazing. In fact, I've become so enamoured with MagSafe over the last couple of years I get withdrawal symptoms when I have to review another handset without it. Being able to magnetise my wallet onto my phone or my phone onto its car charger isn't just super practical, it's pretty cool too.
Look, was the iPhone 12 a great phone? Yes. And it still is. Was the iPhone 13 a great phone? Yes. And it still is. Is the iPhone 14 dramatically different to either of those phones? Maybe not. So what does that mean? Yes, it's a great phone. Again. If it's been longer than two years you'll definitely appreciate the difference and if you're coming from another platform entirely, you may be surprised by just how good iOS has got. I know I was.
Click here for more information and pricing on Apple iPhone 14
10. Amazon Kindle (11th generation) 2022
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As I've commented before, the eReader was a near-perfect device right from its first inception. That's not to say things can't be honed of course and this year's Kindle is clear proof of that.
This may well be Amazon's smallest and lightest Kindle yet - which is not to say the screen is too small or in any way difficult to read - quite the opposite in fact. To begin with, display resolution has been improved dramatically. At 300ppi this new model is now on par with the rest of the Kindle family - that's three times the pixels of its predecessor so you're getting much sharper images and clearer text. In turn, that means you can reduce the font size right down without losing any legibility.
The glare-free, anti-reflective screen lets you adjust the brightness to your preference and now there's the welcome option of a dark mode - inverting the black text on a white background to a much more eye-friendly white-on-black instead. This has definitely become my preference on all devices over recent years and I now actually find myself blinking in shock if I'm confronted with a mostly-white screen.
Another major upgrade for the 2022 Kindle is storage space, now doubled to 16GB. If you're not sure how many books that converts into, the action novel I'm currently reading, "Blowback" by Brad Thor is 1.1MB. That means I could fit more than 15,000 books of a similar size on this device. I'm a slow reader, so that's never going to happen.
The 2022 kindle comes in both black and denim - with matching denim-feel cases available too. While it doesn't have built-in speakers, you can pair bluetooth headphones to listen to audiobooks. Once signed in with your Amazon account, you can purchase books straight from the device itself and Amazon now offers a Kindle Unlimited subscription, giving you access to over a million titles for a monthly fee. If you're an avid reader, it just makes economic sense.
In fact, everything about the new Kindle makes sense. I'm pretty sure even those old-fashioned "page-turners" must be convinced by now. At least try it. There's no shame in admitting you were just being pigheaded about it. I won't tell.
Click here for more information on the Amazon Kindle (11th generation) 2022.
11. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
There's simply no denying the Galaxy S22 Ultra is just a Note in disguise - and it's not much of a disguise. In recent years Samsung's S-range has included three models; the base version, a larger "Plus" and and even bigger and more specced-up Ultra.
This year, Samsung has followed the same formula although the Ultra looks quite different when compared with its other 2022 siblings. While the vanilla and plus models look more like a direct evolution of last year's S21's, with a slightly more streamlined camera module and a few different colour options, the S22 Ultra is almost an exact clone of 2020's Note 20 Ultra, available in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green and Burgundy.
And what cameras! Just like the Notes of old, Samsung has crammed pretty much every photographic innovation it can get its hands on into the S22 Ultra's camera setup - even inventing words like "Nightography" to describe the improvements in low-light shooting.
The new combination of larger sensors, Super Clear Glass lenses and of course, the very latest in chip technology means it's not just night shooting that gets a boost.
Video performance is just as impressive and features like Portrait Video and Director's View are now more powerful than ever.
The 40MP forward-facing shooter shares many of these new refinements and features as well.
You might think it's the S-Pen that makes a Note a Note but it's always been all that other stuff too; class-leading processing power, the latest mobile photography advances and a truly massive screen. While this is no longer called a note, there's no argument Samsung has delivered the exact device Note fans have been waiting for.
Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
12. Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
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Although the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) isn't really much bigger than its immediate predecessors, it ships with the Google TV OS installed. This means for just $110, your previously dumb telly can smarten up from the moment you plug the new Chromecast into one of its HDMI ports.
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Apart from the Google TV smart powers, the remote is reason enough to snap one of these things up today. Remember, this still functions just like any other Chromecast but now you have a physical remote to play, pause, skip etc - meaning you don't have to fiddle around with your source device (phone / tablet / PC) once you've started streaming. So much more convenient.
Of course, being an actual Google TV device, chances are you won't need to stream to it anymore anyway. Common apps like TVNZ+, Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ are all preinstalled - all you have to do is log in and away you go. What's more, you have access to thousands (yes, thousands) of other apps via your Google account. What's even more, you can sideload other apps if you have particular unusual favourites.
In fact, everything about the Chromecast with Google TV makes me happy - from the user-friendly remote to the intuitive home screen layout to the sheer number of apps available to the fact I can set my favourite pictures of the dog as a screensaver.
Recently, Google released a cheaper version of this device which essentially functions exactly the same way but is only HD, not 4K. If you're planning on plugging it into a nice, big, recent model TV, the extra $40 for 4K is well worth it.
Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is available from Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Noel Leeming, The Warehouse, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and PB Tech. RRP; NZ$110.00
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