FIVE pieces of tech I can’t live without (2022)
As you might already know, I am a bit of a technology fanatic.
In fact, I have a page on this website dedicated to my favourites. So, to compliment that, I thought I’d collate a list of five pieces of tech I couldn’t live without. This has been quite tricky to shortlist, but here we go:
iPhone 13 Pro
I recently upgraded to the iPhone 13 Pro from the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the improvement is even better than I thought it would be. The 11 always felt a teeny bit large in my hand, and I often felt like I was using a tablet rather than a phone. Opting for the smaller model of the 13 totally eliminates that issue. Other improvements come with the new camera system, better screen, and quicker processor speeds compared with the 11. Overall, a really good decision to upgrade.
AirPods Pro
I got the original AirPods back in 2016 and my main issue with them was the lack of noise cancellation, as at that time I was commuting on the train for work and would easily get distracted by background noise. When the Pro model came out, it felt like they were literally made to my specifications! I had to buy foam ear tips on eBay as the Apple ones were really uncomfortable for me but, apart from that, I’ve not looked back since purchasing the AirPods Pro.
iPad Mini
Along similar lines to the massive iPhone I used to own, I also used to regularly use a rather large iPad Pro as my main tablet. Last September, I bought the new iPad Mini 6, and it has been a bit of a game changer. It’s portability is second to none, and the integration with the Apple Pencil 2 is superb. I was speaking at a conference in Glasgow recently and I carried my iPad Mini in a tiny Bellroy sling bag with absolutely no issue. Definitely my new main tablet of choice.
MacBook Pro
When there’s a large piece of work I need to do, I prefer the footprint of a laptop over the iPad. I complete all typed assignments on my MacBook Pro, and the 13 inch 2020 model is perfect for what I need it to do. This was the first line of MacBook Pros to get rid of the butterfly switch keyboard, which is what prompted me to upgrade from the 12 inch MacBook. While I loved the portability of that model, the typing experience and slowness of the machine made it almost impossible to work productively. The MacBook Pro has been my saviour whilst working from home: I purchased it in May 2020, and I am on it for at least a few hours every day. A perfect working companion!
Playstation 4
This one may surprise a few of you who know I do own a Playstation 5, but the PS4 has to win this one. My PS5 has a hardware issue that conveniently made it’s way to the surface just as the one year Sony warranty ran out. I took it to a local repair shop who couldn’t do anything, I contacted the retailer who also couldn’t do anything, so now it is an expensive ornament for my TV unit. I am super glad I didn’t sell my PS4, as it has now become my go-to gaming machine. I can still play all my games (apart from the one PS5 disc game I bought: RIP Miles Morales), and I’ve never experienced any problems on the trusty PS4.
I’m sure some of these top five gadgets will resonate with some of you. Do get in touch on Twitter or send me an email and let me know your favourites too!
