the mail and guardian has put together a list of premium tech toys worthy of your holiday wish list. Without order they are:
Apple Macbook Air M2
There’s a reason the new Macbook Air M2 received rave reviews around the world. Having used one for almost five months, I can attest to that. The 2022 Air has been redesigned to look like a Pro, but it’s thinner and lighter.
It features Apple’s new M2 chip, which is a significant improvement over previous Intel-based Macbooks. It remains silent despite its fanless design for hours, especially when using resource-intensive applications like Photoshop. It has a sharp, bright display, a much-needed 1080p HD webcam upgrade, and Touch ID. The M2 Air has ridiculously good battery life, and you can now charge it with a MagSafe cable, which frees up both USB-C ports for accessories.
Price: R25 999.
Samsung Neo QLED 8K
Samsung’s new Neo QLED TV now comes in 8K resolution. It is powered by a neural quantum AI processor with better contrast and sharp quality, with various technologies including backlit dimming.
In addition to its latest TV technologies, as an ecosystem it has a Smart Hub and apps for a better user experience, which includes cloud games, on-screen multitasking, NFT management and Google Duo video calls if you connect a smartphone. It also supports a vertical interface for YouTube or TikTok; and Multi View to view content from other sources with Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode.
It’s suited for gaming, supporting 4K 120Hz and low-latency HDR gaming, along with built-in Dolby Atmos for 3D sound. With access to Samsung Smart Things, you can control all your compatible smart devices from one place.
Price: R62 999.
oculus quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset offers a standalone virtual reality experience without a game console or PC. It is owned by Meta and is known as Meta Quest 2, so a Facebook account is required.
The Quest 2 is powered by the Snapdragon XR2 platform, 256GB of storage, a high resolution of 1832×1920 per eye, and a 90Hz refresh rate. The headset is wireless and comes with two touch controllers, a charging cable, AA batteries, power adapter and a silicone case. It offers cinematic 3D positional audio, a spacer for those who wear glasses for comfort.
Beat Saber is included as a free game download in 2022, but there are more than 350 VR titles you can buy in various categories. If you buy a cable separately, it can be used for Steam PC games.
Price: R14 995.
DJI Avata
Every year DJI releases a bunch of drones, but 2022 introduced the unique Avata that offers a new paradigm in the form of “first person view” (FPV) drone flights. Instead of flying a standalone drone, he wears the DJI Goggles 2 headset and sits directly in the pilot’s seat. It is combined with a motion controller to offer a unique flight experience.
Use the triggers to go forward or brake and twist your wrist to spin. It can hover, speed up, zoom, stop in a split second, and features “turtle mode”, which flips up to take off when it lands upside down. It records in 4K at 60 fps from its 48 MP sensor, offers a 155-degree panoramic view, 20 GB of storage and has built-in modes to record stable images. A single charge produces 18 minutes of flight time and has a transmission distance of 10 km.
Price: R29 999.
Sony WH-1000XM5
A follow up to Sony’s most popular WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones are the WH-1000XM5. No points for naming convention. These on-ear headphones have an updated single-hinge design, weigh 250g, but come with a larger carrying case because it doesn’t fold up anymore. It offers exceptional sound quality, pairs with two devices, and has the all-important Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature. The headphones feature touch controls to play, pause, skip, adjust volume, or toggle ANC.
Battery life on a single charge promises up to 30 hours, suitable for long-haul flights, but a quick three-minute charge yields three hours of playback. Included with the headphones are the carrying case, 1.2 m headphone cable and a USB charging cable.
Price: R9 499.
Samsung Galaxy Z Foldable 4
The most premium foldable device you can get your hands on today is Samsung’s exceptionally well-built Galaxy Z Fold 4. The large 7.6-inch foldable tablet is a multitasking beast, allowing you to simultaneously work from three apps and access another floating one.
It also has the best hardware you can get from Samsung; a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, 12GB of RAM, storage up to 1TB, and a 4400mAh battery. It has three cameras, more than you’ll ever need; including a 50MP rear triple, a 10MP selfie camera and a 4MP under-screen camera. With seamless Google and Microsoft integration, the Z Fold 4 lets you work from anywhere.
Price: R36 999.
Hobot Legee D7
One of the best things about a smart home is automating tasks, and there’s no better way to do that than with the Hobot Legee D7 robovac. This nifty D-shaped cleaner is designed to get into corners and has a trick up its sleeve; cleans both floors and carpets.
It has an extremely powerful 2700Pa tangle-free suction, can climb 20mm over obstacles, and a 6mm smart lift mop when on carpets. It stores 5 maps in its memory, allows you to create virtual barriers and room dividers, and can operate with voice commands (Google, Siri) or your app.
There are eight cleaning modes, including a custom one, and you can schedule your cleanings, such as outside of load disconnect slots, before you wake up, or if you’re on vacation and want to return to a dust-free home. Ideal if you have pets, allergies or children.
Price: R8 999.
Logitech G502X Plus
If you need a gaming mouse, look no further than Logitech’s top-of-the-line G502 X Plus, their next-generation mouse from their best-selling lineup. It features Logitech’s Lightforce Hybrid Optical Mechanical Switches that promise everything important in the world of gaming: speed, reliability, precision, and crisp response.
It’s wireless, has customizable RGB lighting, and an ergonomic design, just like you’d expect from Logitech. It also has a removable and reversible DPI shift button, allowing you to reprogram buttons, adjust sensors, or create different profiles. The mouse itself has a storage compartment for the USB receiver so you don’t lose it, for wireless connectivity since it lacks Bluetooth.
Price: R2 999.
