New year, new tech! We’ve seen so many cool launches in the past years that it’s become normal to be overwhelmed with the options. If you’re looking to make an upgrade with the gadgets in your home, office, or anywhere in between, whether for yourself or your tech-loving family and friends, we can help. Here’s our curated list of must-have gadgets this 2019.
Best Laptop: Huawei MateBook X Pro (Starts at $1,199.99)
Techradar rates the Huawei MateBook X Pro a solid 5/5. With its sleek 91% screen-to-body ratio with a 3K LTPS display and 3000×2000 resolution, the screen provides next level visuals for a vivid, high-def, immersive viewing experience. The 450 nits maximum brightness and 1,500:1 contrast ratio provides sharp and vibrant displays from the brightest lights to the deepest blacks. The screen boasts of a 10-point touchscreen with a smooth and accurate finger response, with the Corning Gorilla glass and anti-fingerprint coating keeping the display clean and scratch-free.
The 8th generation Intel Core™ i7 8550U processor powered by a 57.4 Wh battery packs a performance punch. It’s one of the speediest, longest-lasting laptops in the market and is well worth its $1,199 price tag. The Matebook has a total of four Dolby Atmos speakers, a power button with a built-in finger scanner, a backlit and spill-proof keyboard, and the largest trackpad with Microsoft’s Precision Touchpad technology. This high-powered notebook is 14-inch wide, 4.9mm thin and 1.33kg light so it’s also comfortably portable. If you’re looking for a stylish new laptop with the specs to back it up, sell your Macbook and upgrade to the Huawei MateBook X Pro.
Best Game Console: PS4 Pro (Starts at $399.99)
Two years later after its launch, the PS4 Pro is still unbeatable as the best gaming console. Out of every five sales of the PlayStation 4s, one is a PS4 Pro according to Time Magazine. That’s a commendable win on Sony’s part considering that gamers are paying a $100 premium for the improved 4K graphics.
With its new upgrades from the PS4 model such as 4K and HDR support, prepare for some serious upgrade in graphics if you own a sweet 4K TV. The constantly growing game library of Pro Mode games will keep you immersed in boosted frame rates with the double GPU power of the PS4 Pro. The Pro provides more vibrant colors and more graphic details in every part of the gaming experience. The upgrade to a 1TB hard drive is also twice the base model of the previous console.
Best Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (Starts at $899.99)
If you believe bigger is better, then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is where it’s at. With a 6.4-in infinity display, a 4000mAh battery, 8GB RAM, a dual 12MP rear camera setup, and a 128GB base storage with a microSD card slot that you can fill with a 512GB memory, Samsung aces the smartphone race albeit at the cost of a pretty penny.
The camera features a noticeable upgrade from the Note 8 with the back camera featuring a dual-aperture technology that stands head to head with the Google Pixel 2’s excellent quality in low-light. It has a built-in automatic scene optimizer to color correct and adjust white balance, and flaw detection features for that instant Photoshop effect. It also records super slow-mo videos at 960 frames per second at a 720p resolution although the lack of HDR recording can be a setback. Travelling solo with no one to take your Insta-worthy shots? No worries! Up your Instagram game with the Bluetooth S Pen stylus lets you take your shots remotely up to a 30 feet distance.
The price is truly a big hold-up but we’d have to blame the iPhone X for raising the bar. If you’ve gone a long time since your last phone upgrade, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be worth the wait. If you have the Note 8 though, maybe waiting later in the year for the S10 is the smart move to make.
Best Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM3 (Starts at $350)
It’s almost impossible to review the Sony WH-1000XM3 without mentioning the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. The QC35 definitely reigned supreme in the headphone scene for a while, but it’s game over for Bose with the introduction of Sony’s third instalment of the 1000X model. With better, clearer sound definition, defined by a smooth treble, natural midrange, and strong, powerful bass, the 1000XM3 beats the QC35 and all other headphones in its price range. The companion app even allows you to fine tune the sound to your liking. With its active noise cancellation features, it’s easy to transform a busy New York subway to your own personal concert or a quiet library.
The fit is comfortable and the 254g build is a great improvement on comfort. With the quick charge feature, you can squeeze 5 hours of use from a 10-minute charging session. At full charge done with a USB Type-C cable, you get 30 hours of battery life at a moderate volume. Pretty impressive overall.
It’s an exciting time for tech and we can’t wait to check out what 2019 has in store for us.
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