Your monthly ‘how to spend it guide’ to all the cool new gadgets
- BREAKS THE CLUTTER:
The Nothing ear (1) breaks design cliches in the True Wireless Bluetooth earbuds space with a stripped down design — you see the microphones, magnets, and circuit board. The design is not intended to be just a showstopper, but also features practical touches. A fisheye dip in the case secures the buds, while the instantly recognisable red colour differentiates the ‘right’ earbud. The buds feel remarkably light (just 4.7 gm) in your ear. The ear (1) punches way above its weight and price in the sound quality department. It’s propelled by fairly large drivers (11.6 mm) and offers balanced bass, mids, and treble. These buds come with wireless charging, and up to 34 hours of battery life with the case. Rs 5,999
- VINTAGE ONEPLUS:
OnePlus Nord 2 is a throwback to the OnePlus of old — a device that ticks all the right boxes at a compelling price tag. At under 190 gm, it feels really good in your hand. The Nord 2 is kitted with a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display (2400 x 1080 pixels / 410 PPI) with a 90Hz refresh rate. It’s ultra-smooth; videos (that get a boost from the stereo speakers), and gaming are immersive. OnePlus has worked closely with MediaTek on maxing out the AI capabilities of the new Dimensity 1200AI processor that’s backed by 12GB/256GB (or 8GB/128GB) OnePlus’ warp charging solution, which is one of its product differentiators. The Nord 2 comes with a 65W charger in the box that powers the device (4500 mAh battery) in just over 30 minutes. Rs 29,999 onwards
- BRING THE MOVIES HOME:
The Premiere (LSP9T), Samsung’s new ultra-short throw projector, is part of a growing post-pandemic trend that’s seeing unprecedented consumer interest in home projectors. This projector can be placed just 11.3 cm from the wall to project a highquality screen of up to 130-inch, creating a big-screen private cinema experience anywhere in your home. The Premiere comes with built-in room-filling surround sound experience with Acoustic Beam technology, doing away with the need for additional audio devices. It’s also the world’s first HDR10+ certified projector with triple laser technology and an impressive peak brightness of up to 2,800 ANSI lumens that ensure bright and clear pictures, even during the day. Rs 6,29,900
- THE FUTURE IS FOLDABLE:
Samsung’s next gen Galaxy Fold 3 5G makes big improvements over its predecessors, making the strongest case for a foldable yet. The 6.2-inch cover screen (in this case the secondary display) gets equal attention with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1500 nits. It’s the 7.6-inch QXGA+ primary display that’s the highlight and in tab territory. The coolest touch is the under-display camera that conceals the front facing cam once you flip the device open, allowing you to enjoy videos and gaming without the annoying punch hole. Samsung has added S Pen support, and also managed to reduce the heft to 271 gm. It’s also IPX8 resistant, making it the first water-resistant foldable. Rs 1,49,999 onwards
- SOUND NO BAR:
The Sonos Beam has been tuned by Oscar-winning sound engineers to emphasise the sound of the human voice. This soundbar is a great add-on to your home theatre or large screen TV, and equally to stream your favourite music via Bluetooth. The sound setup includes four full-range woofers that ensure a faithful playback of mid-range vocal frequencies plus deep, rich bass, while the tweeter creates a crisp and clear dialogue. Three passive radiators help move air around inside the compact Sonos Beam, and add warm sound to the bass. We also dig the adjustable bass and treble controls that let you customise your sound by individual rooms or groups of rooms. Rs 43,999
- LOSE YOURSELF IN YOUR PLAYLIST:
If you like to immerse yourself with your music playlist, then over-ear headphones might be your scene. The JBL LIVE 660NC is comfortable to wear for hours together and features JBL’s ‘Smart Ambient’ technology that allows you to filter the noise, or be aware of your surrounding environment. Digital assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are easily accessible, while these headphones handle calls with equal ease. You won’t reach out for the charger frequently — the 660NC delivers 40 hours of battery life with ANC (Active Noise cancellation) and 50 hours on normal mode. Rs 12,999
