Like yearly, I used quite a lot of tech in 2023, together with the most recent telephones, tablets, audio gear, good dwelling tech, and equipment — So. Many. Equipment. And since I do not know any higher, I purchased an honest quantity of tech.
There was no scarcity of pleasure on the house entrance as effectively, and these are the issues that outlined the yr.
I grew to become a dad
I do not normally speak about my private life right here, however being a guardian is a life-changing occasion that overshadows all the things else, in order that’s clearly what I am beginning with. Our child lady was born in June, and even now, my spouse and I flip to one another and share how surreal it’s that we’re mother and father.
Caring for a child is quite a lot of work (and invitations quite a lot of anxiousness), however additionally it is fulfilling on a stage I did not suppose was potential earlier than. It’s loads of enjoyable, too; my spouse and I learn quite a lot of child books to her, and it is an immensely pleasurable exercise (I plan to begin studying The Lord of The Rings subsequent month). We hearken to quite a lot of metallic, and it is thrilling to see the newborn take pleasure in it. She presently likes Amon Amarth and Avenged Sevenfold, and we will introduce Eluveitie, RATM, Amaranthe, Nightwish, and Metallica quickly.
I used manner too many telephones
I examined near 100 telephones this yr, and there have been a number of that clearly stood out. The Pixel 8 Professional is my favourite cellphone of 2023, and that is down to 2 elements: digital camera and software program. It does a terrific job taking images of infants, and nothing else comes shut. Having used quite a lot of One UI, MIUI, and ColorOS, going again to the Pixel is only a breath of contemporary air. I am intrigued by a number of gadgets launching in January, however I do not see myself switching out from the Pixel 8 Professional anytime quickly.
The Xiaomi 13 Extremely is an in depth second — my greatest subject with this system is that Xiaomi would not promote it in additional nations. It has the most effective cameras of any cellphone, and the movies it takes are on one other stage completely. My spouse is utilizing the cellphone as her every day driver, and the portrait photographs that she takes are higher than what I handle with my mirrorless digital camera. When you’re listening, Xiaomi, please launch the 14 Extremely in additional areas subsequent yr.
The iPad Professional confirmed me I can get work executed wherever
I was very inflexible about the place I wrote, however sitting at my gaming rig all through the day simply is not possible with a child. I wanted a transportable possibility, so I acquired the iPad Professional six months in the past. I used a number of iPad Air fashions over the course of the final three years, however the 12.9-inch iPad Professional is in a league of its personal; the mini-LED display is attractive, and the big measurement means it’s far more handy as a productiveness system.
Sure, I do know iPadOS has its limitations, however these simply did not matter. I are inclined to deal with one factor after I’m writing anyway, and for that, the iPad Professional was a greater system than absolutely anything else I’ve round. And whereas I am a keyboard snob (see beneath), I ended up utilizing the Magic Keyboard a lot that I truly prefer it now.
I acquired again into handheld gaming
I did not care concerning the Steam Deck when it launched, as I wasn’t large on handhelds. I’ve an honest gaming rig with the RTX 4090, and after I need to play on the TV, I’ve a PlayStation 5. However I wasn’t in a position to get a lot gaming executed on both during the last six months, so I purchased a Steam Deck to see if I may squeeze in a couple of minutes of gaming in the course of errands.
If I had recognized the Steam Deck was this good, I might have picked it up the second it launched. It’s simply the most effective gadget I purchased this yr, and it makes on-the-go gaming easy. The battery life is common, however that is what energy stations are for — should you want a handheld that allows you to play your Steam library wherever, the Steam Deck is the one to get.
I went down the mechanical keyboard rabbit gap
I used mechanical keyboards for over a decade now, they usually’ve principally been gaming keyboards based mostly on Cherry MX switches. Even till the top of 2022, I used to be utilizing the Corsair K100 as my board of selection, however with the rising momentum of DIY boards and customizable choices, I acquired my arms on a Superb GMMK Professional.
I appreciated it a lot I made a decision to see what else was out there, and practically two dozen keyboards later, I spotted that this was a rabbit gap without end. The perfect half is that these keyboards are simply as accessible as any mainstream gaming product; the Keychron Q1 Professional makes use of a gasket-mounted design, and it’s out there as a fully-assembled possibility that is prepared to make use of out of the field. Truthfully, that is the keyboard I would advocate to anybody eager to get a high-end mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth.
And should you’re keen on OnePlus, the Keyboard 81 Professional is a rebranded model of the Q1 Professional with a tremendous design. I’ve no scarcity of keyboards, however that is the one I am persevering with to make use of simply due to the best way it seems. I paired it with the terrific LOTR Elvish keys and a Keychron quantity pad attachment. And should you’re within the interest, you must check out CableMod — their keyboard cables are artworks.
I acquired to check out quite a lot of cool equipment
Among the best components of this job is getting to make use of fascinating equipment earlier than everybody else, and there was no scarcity of that in 2023. The yr has been notably nice should you like see-though designs, with the likes of the Sharge ICEMAG, Acefast GaN chargers, Lofree 1% keyboard, and related merchandise catering to this area of interest.
As somebody that has manner too many devices that must be consistently charged, I am all the time concerned with tech that streamlines my charging wants. UGREEN met my necessities this yr; between the Nexode 200W, DigiNest Professional, and the Nexode 2-in-1 MagSafe charger, I’ve all the things I must cost all my telephones and equipment reliably. The Nexode RG 30W additionally will get a point out simply due to how lovely it’s.
I organized my music library — and acquired respectable audio gear
My offline music assortment may finest be summed up as a hodgepodge, however I used to be in a position to get it underneath management this yr. I did not do a lot in the best way of organizing myself — I let Roon deal with that. Roon is a high-end music participant that catalogs your music library, and it has a beautiful interface with loads of helpful metadata. Briefly, it made a drastic distinction in how I hearken to music.
I additionally acquired quite a lot of gear upgrades this yr, and I’ve to begin with the Audeze MM-500. This headset prices $1,600, and whereas it is not the most expensive I examined, it sounds completely magnificent. I’ve the MM-500 related to the Fiio K9 Professional, and I even have Fiio’s glorious all-in-one R7 and M15S because the go-to option to stream music after I’m not at my desk.
As regards to portability, I used quite a lot of IEMs this yr, and the Sennheiser IE600 stood out together with the Thieaudio Status and Fiio FX15. I would like to say Artistic’s Aurvana Ace 2 as effectively; these wi-fi earbuds use all-new solid-state drivers and sound wonderful. To spherical issues off, I additionally acquired a number of gaming headsets, with Corsair’s HS80 Max being the most effective of the lot.
My studying checklist was wildly completely different this yr
I averaged 75 books a yr during the last three years, and it was equally cut up between science fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction. I most likely learn lower than two dozen books this yr, and most of it was centered round parenting books. I began the yr with being pregnant books, so I’ve a greater understanding of what is going on on, and to be trustworthy, it went very easily.
However we targeted a lot on the being pregnant that we type of forgot what comes after, and we did not undergo any parenting books earlier than the newborn was born. When you’re pondering of getting a child or have one on the best way, do not do what we did and skim a guide or two earlier than the infant exhibits up — it makes issues considerably simpler.
Anyway, the preliminary weeks have been difficult as a result of we had no concept what we have been doing and weren’t getting any relaxation. However as soon as my spouse and I began studying a bit extra, we acquired a greater sense of what our child was doing, what to look out for, and what issues to keep away from. Amidst all of the parenting books, I used to be in a position to squeeze in a number of novels, and these are those I loved essentially the most:
We acquired to journey once more
My spouse and I used to journey so much earlier than the pandemic, however all that modified after 2020. We mainly locked ourselves in the home and have become paranoid about something to do with the surface world. Our aim in 2023 was to get again to some semblance of normalcy, and whereas we have not gotten there but (we used to exit so much), we managed to journey to Delhi and never completely freak out, so I am counting that as progress.
We nerded out over quiz exhibits
I used to love Netflix, however the service simply spits out forgettable exhibits with no originality today. Its solely redeeming high quality is documentaries, and as somebody who has learn quite a lot of spy thrillers, “Spycraft” was extremely pleasurable. Whereas not on Netflix, “Silo” was an awesome present, and I am excited that Hugh Howey’s books are being made into TV exhibits.
For a lot of the yr, my spouse and I simply streamed quite a lot of British panel exhibits, and whereas there are quite a lot of terrific decisions — “Would I Like To You,” “Mock The Week,” “QI,” and “Taskmaster” instantly come to thoughts — we determined to stream “College Problem.” Mainly, it’s the hardest quiz present ever imagined, and the breadth of questions you come throughout is ridiculous. There are over 100 questions in every present, and we’d be ecstatic if we acquired seven or eight proper.
There are quite a lot of fascinating merchandise launching in January, and I am excited to see what’s in retailer with the likes of the Xiaomi 14 and OnePlus 12. I acquired an early take a look at the potential of 2024 telephones with the iQOO 12, and if that’s any indication, it’ll be a terrific yr.
