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To paraphrase Ferris Bueller, tech moves pretty fast – and if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss the chance to own a drone with a 12 megapixel camera which starts hovering when it recognises your face. So keep up with our weekly pick of the best gadgets and tech out right now, whether you’re after something simple to make your every day more frictionless or something a bit special. To be specific, the ‘something a bit special’ is a tennis kitbag that also fires tennis balls at you.
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Nothing Ear (Stick) Earphones
The Nothing range really is something. The design-led brand has made waves since it arrived on the scene earlier this year, first with the launch of its ‘Phone (1)’ – which you can read us rave about further down the page – and now with its debut audio offering, ‘Ear (stick)’. Nothing’s naming conventions might take some getting used to, but the brand’s earphones certainly don’t: they’re easy to set up, super light, fit well in the ear and can be charged for up to 29 hours of listening time. What’s more, the Nothing app allows you plenty of control over how your music plays, and you can specify different settings you different ears. Nice case, too.
Sage Barista Express Impress
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Making good coffee is a complicated business, even if you’ve invested in all the pricey, shiny tech. If you ask Sage coffee expert Luke Powell, he’d estimate that over 70{18875d16fb0f706a77d6d07e16021550e0abfa6771e72d372d5d32476b7d07ec} of people aren’t getting the most out of their machines, unattuned to the nuances that go into a good drip, from grind size to water temperature. That’s a big reason why Sage put so much work into the new Barista Express Impress. Fundamentally, it’s an adaptive, somewhat game-ified coffee machine that works with you to find the best approach for whatever bag of beans you’ve brought home. You start by slotting your portafilter into the holder and pressing grind (you can alter the grind size yourself, and different beans suit different approaches) before pulling the in-built tamp down on a lever, which presses and twists with a weight of 10kg so that the grind is evenly distributed. If you’re got the right amount in there, you’ll be met with a green smiley face. If the light suggests you’re under, no problem: press grind again, and the machine will automatically fill it to the right amount. You retain the ritual while doing away with the mess and wide margins for error. A game changer for casual coffee fans.
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There are few phones that can compete with the Pixel 7 Pro when it comes to photography. That should come as no surprise, really: Google’s line-up of handsets have been lauded for their camera capabilities since the first model launched almost ten years ago. But the Cali tech giant continues to innovate, and the Pixel 7 Pro’s triple rear system boasts some brilliant new shooting modes. Best amongst them is Macro Focus, which allows you to zoom in extremely close to objects; the high-definition magnification is made possible by a new telephoto lens, and it’s very impressive indeed. Then there’s the tried-and-tested features that Pixel users have been banging on about for years, like the superior night-shooting functions, as well as Google Lens, the visual search tool which allows you to identity different anything and just about everything by taking a shot and letting the AI do its work (on that note, Google has just collaborated on a “nameless trainer” with MattB Customs and Ellesse, which fans can win by identifying on posters through the Google App. Check out details here.) Then there’s the cinematic video blur, similar to portrait mode, and Top Spot, which automatically picks out the best snap from a flurry of photos.
Leica D-Lux 7 “A Bathing Ape х Stash” Camera
New York graffiti legend Stash (AKA Josh Franklin) has been working with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape since the Nineties, most recently on a pair of 20th anniversary Bape Sta sneakers. Their new collab, however, is a decidedly more luxe offering: a camouflage Leica camera. Whether you want to blend in at the Barbican Conservatory or stand out on the street style circuit, the lightweight D-Lux 7 is a compact picture-taking powerhouse, perfect for people who want to take their photography to the next level. This collab, which comes with A Bathing Ape and Stash logos engraved on the camera body and embossed rope strap, is limited to only 1,850 models worldwide.
Leica D-Lux 7 “A Bathing Ape х Stash” Camera
Philips Series 9000 Prestige Beard Trimmer
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How many cheap beard trimmers have you burned through in your lifetime? For something we use so often, it’s all too tempting to opt for budget models over and over again – ones that fail to offer the kind of precision you need and can always be relied upon to conk out on the eve of an important occasion. But listen: invest in a proper shaver. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. The sturdy Philips Series 9000 looks and feels premium, with its stainless steel casing and integrated metal comb, which provides a far more accurate shave than a flimsy plastic guard, and the length is highly adjustable. What’s more, the device is wireless and one session requires only five minutes of charging.
Philips Series 9000 Prestige Beard Trimmer
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On the subject of false economy purchases: cheap toothbrushes. If you want to stay out of the dentist’s chair and away from a pricey bill, then it’s worth investing in a device that can really do a job on your teeth. The newest addition to Oral-B’s iO range, the Series 10, boasts seven personalised brushing modes, features a pressure sensor to ensure you’re not doing any damage, and even comes with a blinking smart charger that guides you through a thorough clean via a glowing light system (which sounds very sci-fi, but is very simple in reality). It’s quiet, water resistant (shout out to the shower power users) and connects to a dedicate app via Bluetooth.
Moleskine Smart Writing Set 2.0
An ingenious piece of tech that allows you to take down notes on a classic Moleskine notebook – with an actual (smart) pen, on actual paper (embedded with fine mesh), without any need for a rubber-tipped stylus or screen – and reproduce them on your computer, tablet or smart phone. Charge the pen, download the accompanying Moleskine app (available on iOs & Android), connect the two and you’re away. The pen will track your movements and produce a digital reproduction on the screen of your device (and transcribe it into text, for good measure). What’s more, your notes and doodles are all automatically uploaded to The Cloud. It’s a great way of sending yourself notes while you’re away from the desk, without going full Partridge with a Dictaphone (although the new version allows you to do that too). You can even export videos of your work, and the battery life has enjoyed a big upgrade.
Moleskine Smart Writing Set 2.0
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Fashion has been dragged kicking and screaming to the early 2000s, so it was only a matter of time before the tech world followed suit. Reminiscent of the translucent case designs of third-party N64 controllers and iMac G3s, tech brand Nothing’s new mid-range smartphone lives up to its name: the USP being that it’s a see-through device, crafted with sturdy Gorilla Glass, that allows you to look at the machine’s inner workings. Over 9000 LED lights – which the brand calls a ‘Glyph Interface’ – communicate notifications, battery status and incoming calls through a series of patterns, and everything is geared up to be as unobtrusive as possible. We’re used to do-it-all smartphones that attempt to keep you scrolling, tapping and consuming for as long as possible, but the Nothing Phone (1) aims to cultivate a more mindful approach to phone use and life in general. The display is vivid, the dual-camera impressive and the battery-charge fast, while the Android interface is as cleanly designed as you’d expect.
Nothing Phone (1), £399
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There are two ways to be The Best Guy at the BBQ. You could man the grills all day (an extremely stressful and lonely experience, despite what the lamestream media would have you believe) or you could bring the Perfect Draft Pro along and simply put your feet up. Guests can pour their own pints of beer from the machine, and you can monitor the temperature of the six-litre keg for optimum crispness via your smartphone app. Easy. You can choose from over 50 of them, including some of our favourite breweries like Tiny Rebel, Dark Arts and Mikkeller.
Perfect Draft Pro, from £385
Surface Pro Liberty Keyboard
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Liberty, one of London’s most fabled department stores, knows a thing or two about collaborations – they’ve been doing a fine trade in them since the nineteenth century, after all. So it goes without saying that the new crossover with Microsoft is something a little different, meeting the slick minimalism of the Surface Pro 9 laptop with the floral design that the haberdashery is famous for. The sleek limited-edition Liberty keyboard – which is also compatible with the Surface Pro 8 and X models – comes complete with a Slim Pen 2, which charges in a nook that sits underneath the touch screen, as well as backlit keys and a large glass touchpad.
Surface Pro Liberty Keyboard, £299
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If you can’t bring yourself to buy an influencer-style ring light for your daily Zoom calls, then this is the perfect alternative. Logitech’s Litra Glow clips to the top of your laptop, emitting a wide and soft glow, and while it’s technically designed for streamers – i.e. Twitch gamers who haven’t slept in two days and would benefit from some flattering lighting – it’ll more than do the job for everyday work meetings. You can adjust the brightness and colour temperatures to find the best light for your skin tone, too.
Logitech Litra Glow, £59
Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones
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Commercials for Beats Studio3 headphones would have you believe that they’re best suited to über luxe gyms, money-printing music studios and Champions League changing rooms. That all might be true, but we’re here to tell you they do a very good job on a drizzly Wednesday commute, too. That’s down to the well-crafted comfort of the device, as well as its strong audio and top tier noise cancellation capabilities. That’s not to mention the battery life and price, both of which put many competitors to shame.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones, £189
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An intuitive, minimalist 4K QLED TV that functions without an aerial dish, Sky’s new all-in-one entertainment system does things a little differently. Available in three sizes and five colours, the idea is that you pick one of several pricing plans on a 24-or-48-month basis, rather than buy the screen outright, plus a Sky TV streaming subscription. Then you’re away, free to enjoy the device’s impressive Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos sound systems, voice capabilities and plethora of streaming options and apps. It’s all very easy to use, and seamless in its performance. You can’t record movies and TV shows, but there are plenty available as part of the streaming packages, and it gives you the option of beginning a movie from the start if you tune in half-way through. An affordable way to jump on the 4K train.
Sky Glass, prices vary
Therabody TheraFace Pro
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Therabody is tired of dealing with our aching muscles; now the American fitness brand is coming for our faces. Luckily it has opted for something a little gentler this time around: the TheraFace Pro is a percussive device that comes with a trio of smooth silicone attachments, a multi-spectrum LED light ring that boosts collagen production, and a microcurrent capability that tones facial muscles. We were impressed when we tested it out at launch, and we think it’s a great option for people who hold a lot of tensions around their jaw. There are also heat and cryo attachments, available separately.
Therabody TheraFace Pro, £375
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New consoles take time to reach their full potential. Developers are still figuring things out in the first year or two, feeling their way around the hardware, and judging by the line-up of triple-A games set for release in 2023 – from Redfall to Starfield to Assassin’s Creed Mirage – the Xbox Series X is about to have a very big year indeed. Which means now is the perfect time to invest in a machine, especially as price drops and special bundles abound around Christmas.
Xbox Series X, £449
TEAC TN-280BT-A3 Turntable
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The vinyl resurgence shows no sign of stopping. After years of offering our lives up to The Cloud, it’s clear that people are interested in owning things again – specifically, a well-curated collection of LPs. But the next step is to find a record player that looks as good as it sounds. Opt for TEAC’s Seventies-style ‘TN-280BT-A3’ in walnut, a 2-speed belt drive turntable that features built in Bluetooth, which means no tricky wiring.
TEAC TN-280BT-A3 turntable, £299
Philips 3-in-1 Air Purifier, Fan & Heater
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They said it couldn’t be done. An air purifier, a fan and a heater, all wrapped up into one sleek package? Inconceivable. The fan and the heater are natural adversaries, after all, and the addition of an air purifier would surely guarantee that any such device would end up as large, ugly and spluttering as a 1950s computer. But Philips have created a true triple threat with the 3-in-1: the fan oscillates 350°, ensuring that (warm or refreshing, but always purified) air is distributed around the room.
Philips 3-in-1 air purifier, fan & heater, £239.99
Dodow Sleep Aid Device
Finding it hard to sleep? It might be that you’re struggling to turn your brain off. There are plenty of mindfulness methods you can apply to fix that, but Dodow is perhaps the simplest tech-based approach. It’s a simple device that projects a blue light onto your ceiling at a metronomic pace (for 8 to 20 minutes), which you match to your breath. Take a breath in when it expands, and breath out when it retracts. You should find that focussing your attention on the exercise calms your mind, and you’ll be off to sleep in no time.
Dodow, £49.99
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal
Stylish gaming headphones sounds like a contradiction in terms, but Bang & Olufsen are doing things a little differently. The audio giant’s new wireless Beoplay Portal matches understated design with the kind of technical features you need on a Modern Warfare session: lossless connection, four separate mics for impeccably crisp communication, surround sound with Dolby Atmos and active noise cancellation. Getting relentlessly ridiculed by American teenagers has never sounded better.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal, £449
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LARQ’s self-cleaning bottles strip tap water of harmful bacteria and chemicals, eliminating 99.8{18875d16fb0f706a77d6d07e16021550e0abfa6771e72d372d5d32476b7d07ec} of E.coli in a 20-second cycle. It’s all very impressive stuff, and you can really taste the difference in the quality of your water. So the the Bay Area-based startup’s decision to reinvent the humble pitcher is a good one – it uses advanced technology to get rid of chlorine, mercury, cadmium, copper and all that nasty stuff, and can track your water intake on the app (the filters also last a surprisingly long time.)
LARQ Water Pitcher, £110.40
Theragun PRO Limited Edition Gold-Plated Massager
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If Salt Bae has taught us anything, beyond messy seasoning methods, it’s that covering something in gold is the key to success. So it goes without saying that your workout would benefit from this gold-plated Theragun PRO, of which only 550 have been made (a bespoke serial number is engraved on the device.) You can read our full review of the device (sans gold) in our best massage gun round-up here.
Theragun PRO Limited Edition Gold-Plated Massager, £1000
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The fifth iteration of the Fitbit Charge is less angular than its predecessor, and has introduced a stainless-steel case to proceedings, but the real visible change is in the screen quality: an always-on colour AMOLED touch display, which only the brand’s pricier models have boasted before this point. Beyond that, it’s added plenty of cool health apps like the electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor, which reports levels of stress, as well as the electrocardiogram (ECG) app, which checks for irregular heart rhythm. As a fitness tracker, it’s up there with the very best.
Fitbit Charge 5, £169.99
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The way we watch movies has changed. Hollywood studios were forced into rethinking their release schedules due to the pandemic, and nowadays a big budget movie is just as likely to debut on a streaming service as on a cinema screen. That means you need to improve your home entertainment set-up and enjoy films just as the director intended you to (while scrolling on your phone, pausing every 15 minutes to find out where you know that actor from). To that end, the next generation model of Sonos’s Beam home cinema speaker will give you panoramic sound (with Dolby Atmos 3D effect) in a sleek and understated package. It’s all been fine-tuned by Oscar-winning sound engineers, and the dedicated app will help you personalise the machine to your tastes (as well as hook up to other Sonos devices and play music).
Sonos Beam, £449
Therabody + (RED) Theragun PRO Massager
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A muscle gun that soothes aches and saves lives at the same time? Until now a mere fantasy, made true by Therabody and (RED), the non-profit charity dedicated to ending COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. The Theragun PRO is the most powerful and advanced model on the market, with speed options that range from 1750 and 2400 percussions per minute. It also features an OLED screen, six different attachments for different areas of the body, and an app that allows you to fine-tune your recovery.
Theragun PRO Massager, £550
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A lot of sports professionals sing the praises of the Theragun – the rapid-movement deep muscle massager designed to aid recovery and relieve tension – but the price and size of the device can prove prohibitive to casual gym-goers. But now we have the Mini – the little but no less beastly brother of the Theragun, featuring three power settings ranging up to a 2,400 percussions per minute. It’s highly transportable and boasts new quieting tech, and while you can’t sync it up to the app, that’s a small concession to make for a big price drop.
Theragun, £175
Bang & Olufsen H95 Headphones
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Two lovely colourways – chestnut and navy – for Bang & Olufsen’s noise-cancelling behemoths. The Danish audio brand’s H95 headphones (a reference to their 95th anniversary last year) sound as impressive as they look, and are refreshingly easy to control: a wheel on the right controls the volume, while the one on the left drowns out the world with state-of-the-art ANC tech. They even last up to 38 hours with the function turned on, and 50 without it. The H95 is a truly premium offering; luxurious, super comfortable (the earcups are covered in soft top grain lambskin) and, above all, they deliver crisp, top tier sound.
Bang & Olufsen H95 headphones, £700
Logitech Ergo K860 Keyboard
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It looks like home offices are going to play a key part in the future of work, and that means investing in the kind of tech that just makes things easier. Logitech’s ergonomic K860 keyboard is a must-have for people who want to improve their posture and stave away the kind of muscle strain that a bog-standard set-up can cause, thanks to the device’s curved, split keyframe, sloping form and pillowed wrist rest (the latter is covered in durable knitted fabric, supported by layers of high-density and memory foam.) It’s also made from 71{18875d16fb0f706a77d6d07e16021550e0abfa6771e72d372d5d32476b7d07ec} recycled plastic.
Logitech Ergo K860 Keyboard, £109.99
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You might have noticed that you’ve been feel a bit different since May. You’ve not been able to put your finger on why, but it feels like something shifted this summer, something fundamental. Yes, that’s it: the barbecue has finally been nudged off its perch as the king of outdoor cooking. For proof, look at this beauty. Gozney’s Roccbox is compact but big enough for its high dome to give your pizza an even, consistent firing, and its 19mm-thick stone floor whips moisture away to leave you with a crisp, light base. Plus! There’s a built-in thermometer. Plus!! The insulating silicon jacket makes it a lot less terrifying to be around. Choose from gas power or dual fuel if you’d rather try wood-firing your pizz.
Gozney, £399
Keep an eye on your car at any time of the day, from any location, all through your smartphone. The CarLock app (available on both Android and iOS) allows you to monitor when your vehicle is moved, when the engine is started and if there’s any unusual vibrations, and can even provide insights on your car’s battery. Then there’s the detailed GPS function, which helps you to track where the vehicle is going (in the event that it’s been stolen) or has been previously. The whole subscription package is affordable too, at £6.95 a month.
CarLock, £59.90
According to London-based brand Nolii, this is the world’s first modular plug and power bank system – which is to say, it strips back the need for separate charging wires altogether. The silicone plug attaches magnetically to the power bank, which itself has a built-in lightning cable (as well as a USB-A port for non-iPhone related emergencies.) It’s a smart idea! How often have you you picked up a power bank in a mad dash out of the door, only to find that it has run out of juice? Doesn’t hurt that Nolii create some of the most tastefully designed phone accessories in the game, too.
Nolii Set Battery, £59.99
Marshall Major IV Headphones
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British amplifier dons Marshall have been at the top of the audio game for over fifty-five years, but it was only a decade ago that they decided to venture into headphones. The retro-inspired Major series is now on its fifth iteration, and they’re one of the best affordable over-ear options on the market: 80+ hours of wireless playtime, wireless charging and a much-improved foldable design. That’s not to mention the quality sound. As unfussy as they are impressive.
Marshall Major IV Headphones, £129.99
Smartwatches are getting more and more sophisticated with each passing year, and the prices often reflect that. But what if you just want the most essential fitness features? What then? Well, there are plenty of budget models that offer just that, and we’re big fans of the Honor Band 6. The design is unobtrusive, understated and super comfortable, with a 1.47″ AMOLED touchscreen and a tasteful selection of strap colour options. Feature-wise, it automatically picks up the type of work-out you’re on and offers a selection of plans, while blood oxygen, sleep and heart rate monitors ensures you’re always on top of your health. The battery life lasts for fourteen days (or ten days on heavy usage), which is pretty impressive too.
Honor Band 6, £41.76
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Sonos’ device is as sleek and powerful as you’d expect, with incredible sound and the kind of tough-wearing design you need from a portable speaker. Drop-resistant and waterproof up to three feet (for thirty minutes), it also boasts an impressive battery life of 10 hours. But the most impressive feature? Trueplay tuning, which adapts the Roam’s sound to your surroundings and whatever it is you’re listening to.
Sonos Roam, £159, sonos.com
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Ever dreamed of packing in your job to become a Twitch streamer, playing FIFA all day to your adoring fans? Well they deserve the very best, so if you want to do it right, then you better invest in a top quality camera. The Logitech StreamCam records HD 1080p footage at 60 frames per second, and automatically tracks your face to ensure it’s always in focus. It also boasts an auto-exposure feature that fends against unexpected light changes, and you can adjust the video dimensions for different social media sites.
Logitech StreamCam, £139, logitech.com
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What Peloton did for home cycling, Hydrow is attempting to achieve with the humble rowing machine. Engineered to mimic the feeling of being out on the water, a 22” touch screen (with front-facing speakers) displays workout routines and all the stats you need to track your process, while also allowing you to train with fellow rowers and friends. It’s quiet and comfortable too, with an ergonomically cushioned 10-roller system seat. It’s said that rowing engages 86{18875d16fb0f706a77d6d07e16021550e0abfa6771e72d372d5d32476b7d07ec} of your muscles, and this is the most convenient and high-tech way to put that theory to the test
Hydrow Rower, £1995, shop.hydrow.co.uk
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A truly tiny device that packs a few surprising extras, Polaroid’s new analog instant is a top tier party camera. Small enough to fit in your pocket, it produces the brand’s signature square prints, and offers double exposure, a self-timer and a selfie mirror too. It’s also rechargeable, making it a far more cost-effective option than rivals like the Instax Mini. It’s something of a novelty, but one that we fully approve of.
Polaroid Go, £109.99, polaroid.com
Deceptively light and packed with useful tech (an LCD screen that displays calories burned, GPS instructions that feed through to vibrations in the handlebars, a weather and pollution index, an anti-theft alarm, and unique speed settings of up to 15 mph), the Angell is up there with the very best e-bikes available. Its classic clean lines were concocted by French designer Ora-ïto, and developer Marc Simoncini hopes to make it the “iPhone” of the electric bike market.
Angell E-Bike, £2860, angell.bike
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The one downside of playing electric guitar is that it’s not particularly neighbour- or flatmate-friendly. Fender’s new pocket-sized amp is an extremely elegant solution though: you plug it straight into your guitar, plug your headphones and play through one of 12 different Mustang amp sounds and with 12 in-built effects. It’s super-light, and it’s got a USB interface for recording straight into your laptop too. Extremely handy.
Fender Mustang Micro, £89.99 fender.com
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Designed to improve flexibility, supercharge recovery and create an all-round soothing experience for your muscles. Therabody, the market leaders for massage guns, have released a Bluetooth-enabled foam roller for targeted relief before and after workouts. It boasts top-of-the-range vibration technology, as well as five intensity settings and an app that allows you to tailor your approach. It’s pretty quiet, too, and features a 3-hour battery life. Top stuff.
theragun.com, £125
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You brew a cup of tea but decide to let it cool down. You have quite literally been burnt too many times before. But then you become distracted by a non-tea related matter, and eventually return to the kitchen to find a lukewarm mug of regret. What’s the solution? Pay more attention? Take more responsibility? Stop being so wasteful? Not on your life, my friend. The true answer is the stainless steel Ember Smart Mug², which keeps your drink temperature controlled for up to three hours (or all-day if its placed on the charging coaster). You can even control it from your phone! The future is terrifying and boring.
Ember Mug², £130
Oral-B iO Series 9 Toothbrush
Smart toothbrushes are a tougher sell than they should be. Why do we cheap out when it comes to taking care of our teeth, in the full knowledge that bad dental care can provide a pretty grizzly outcome? The truth is, a manual toothbrush just can’t provide the same kind of service and protection as a high-tech model, and it’s worth investing in something that can provide a tailored experience. This one is at the top of the list, thanks to its 3D tooth tracking function that gamifies the process and ensures you get a thorough clean every time, alongside the seven different smart modes that adapt the toothbrush to your needs.
Oral-B iO Series 9 Toothbrush, £249.99
Doorbell cameras have exploded in popularity over the past few years, but affordable home security doesn’t have to stop there. Bolster your set-up with a few of these Ring Stick Up Cameras, which you can sync with the rest of your devices to create across-the-board protection. They’re easily mountable to any wall, inside or out, and provide 1080p HD video two-way talk and motion-activated notifications. The battery pack is easily removed, too, so you don’t have to take it down each time.
Ring Stick Up Camera, £89
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The Vantage V2, from Finnish sport tech brand Polar, is a satisfyingly lightweight and minimalist fitness tracker that takes a 360 approach to health. As well as drilling down into your running, swimming and cycling sessions, it also comes with tools that help you to identify if you’re straining yourself too hard – helping you to avoid injuries and dispiriting setbacks. You’ll also get full access to the brand’s data-driven program, Polar Flow, which keeps track of all of your training stats. That’s not to mention the 40 hours of battery life, advanced wrist-based heart monitor, mindfulness tools and more.
Polar Vantage V2, £449
Bose Smart Sound Bar 300
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Listen, you deserve a top tier sound bar. You just do! It makes the TV experience so much more immersive, even if you exclusively watch Come Dine With Me re-runs (scratch that; especially if you exclusively watch Come Dine With Me re-runs.) The sleek Bose Smart Sound Bar 300 is one of our favourites: it boasts four full-range drivers, a central dome tweeter and two ports, and is built-in with Google Assistant, and Alexa with Voice4Video tech (the last one allows you to control your TV by voice, too). Top stuff.
Bose Smart Sound Bar 300, £399.99, johnlewis.com
Sage Combi Wave 3 in 1
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Are microwaves boring? Generally speaking, yes. But what happens when you trick one out with an air fryer, a convection oven and an inverter circuit that helps to cook food more evenly? What happens when that very same microwave allows you to cook a whole chicken to juicy, crispy-skinned perfection? What then? Well, it becomes a lot more exciting. The Sage 3-in-1 is the perfect multi-function machine for those of us who struggle to cook the sprawling meals we want with only one oven, but it’s also a great choice for people who want to approach fried food in a healthier way. (It’s good for a simple steaming bowl of porridge, too).
The Combi Wave 3 in 1, £399.95, sageappliances.com
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Tablets have come a long way, and it doesn’t get much sleeker or more powerful than the Surface Pro X. Whatever line of work you’re in, Microsoft’s machine can make things easier for you – and it goes without saying that it makes keeping in touch over Zoom a lot more satisfying (it’s essentially all-screen).
Microsoft Surface Pro, £999, microsoft.com
Chipolo One Bluetooth Key Finder
In the immortal words of Mr. Zip: Have you ever been in this situation where you lost your keys and your mobile phone? Where me keys? Where me phone? Where me keys? Where me phone?
Of course you have! Too many times. But worry not, because we have just the thing to help you. The Chipolo, made from recycled fishing nets, emits a 120db loud sound that help you find your keys, phones and other valuables. What’s more, the battery life lasts up to two years and is easily replaceable. An affordably priced device that could come in very, very handy.
Chipol One Bluetooth Key Finder, £29, amazon.co.uk
In the minds of millennials, fitness and wellness are the yin and yang of a balanced lifestyle. Sitting down to practise your breathing can, in theory, be just as beneficial as puffing your way through a 10k. To that end, the Fitbit Sense, with its temperature, stress, blood oxygen, sleep and fitness trackers, aims to cover all the bases. The new heart rhythm sensor – an ECG app that helps to assess your ticker for atrial fibrillation – is particularly impressive, ditto the stress sensor (in which you place your palm over the face of the watch and track changes over time) and guided meditation features. It also takes blood oxygen levels while you sleep, and the fitness apps are as good as ever. A great all-rounder for anyone who wants to take care of their physical and mental health.
Fitbit Sense, £255.23, amazon.co.uk
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This slightly scaled down version of the big Transparent Speaker is only 15 inches tall but packs a punch as well as adding a bit of style to your stack. A bit American Psycho, though you’re obviously under no obligation to blast Phil Collins’ ‘Sussudio’ while chopping up City boys.
Mr Porter, £450
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Give your living room a 2001: A Space Odyssey reinvention with ultra-thin modular smart lights which you can turn into all sorts, including touch-sensitive or music-responsive lighting and mirror screening. You don’t need to drill either – there’s wall-saving mounting tape included. The shapes are endlessly remixable, so you can keep playing around and finding new ways to light things up.
Nanoleaf, £119.99
Senstroke virtual drum kit
In the grand ranking of the least neighbourly pastimes you could take up during lockdown, learning to play the drums is right up there with indoor trampolining and smelting. Senstroke, though, uses sensors hooked up to its app to give you a near-silent way to clonk through ‘Use Somebody’ repeatedly for four hours. The app comes with lessons for absolute beginners upward.
Senstroke.com, £133
Bosch IXO cordless drill
Presumably, you have a drill. You look at it sometimes, wondering when it will next taste sweet wood dust in its teeth again. But nothing needs drilling, not right now. You put it away again. Bosch’s IXO has been around a while, but its newest iteration can be put to work as a corkscrew, a barbecue lighter, or a salt and pepper mill.
Amazon.co.uk, £53.97
There are absolutely loads of Bluetooth speakers out there, and most of them are hooked up to Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. This one’s concerned with your privacy though – when you turn it off, by pressing the central speaker bit down into the body of the speaker, it physically disconnects the microphone so Jeff Bezos definitely can’t hear you. Plus, it’s small but mighty, and its kicky 45-watt speaker really fills a room.
Amazon, £99.95
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