Like yearly, I used rather a lot of tech in 2023, together with the most recent telephones, tablets, audio gear, sensible dwelling tech, and equipment — So. Many. Accessories. And as a result of I do not know any higher, I purchased a good 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 turned a dad
I do not normally discuss my private life right here, however being a mother or father is a life-changing occasion that overshadows the whole lot else, in order that’s clearly what I’m 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.
Taking care of a child is rather a lot of work (and invitations rather a lot of anxiousness), however it’s also fulfilling on a degree I did not assume was potential earlier than. It is a lot of enjoyable, too; my spouse and I learn a range of child books to her, and it is an immensely pleasing exercise (I plan to start out studying The Lord of The Rings subsequent month). We hearken to rather a lot of steel, and it is thrilling to see the infant get pleasure from it. She at the moment likes Amon Amarth and Avenged Sevenfold, and we’ll introduce Eluveitie, RATM, Amaranthe, Nightwish, and Metallica quickly.
I used means too many telephones
I examined near 100 telephones this yr, and there have been a couple of that clearly stood out. The Pixel 8 Pro is my favourite cellphone of 2023, and that is down to 2 elements: digicam and software program. It does a terrific job taking images of infants, and nothing else comes shut. Having used rather a lot of One UI, MIUI, and ColorOS, going again to the Pixel is only a breath of contemporary air. I’m intrigued by a couple of gadgets launching in January, however I do not see myself switching out from the Pixel 8 Pro anytime quickly.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a detailed second — my largest situation with this machine is that Xiaomi does not promote it in additional international locations. It has the very best cameras of any cellphone, and the movies it takes are on one other degree fully. My spouse is utilizing the cellphone as her day by day driver, and the portrait pictures that she takes are higher than what I handle with my mirrorless digicam. If you are listening, Xiaomi, please launch the 14 Ultra in additional areas subsequent yr.
The iPad Pro confirmed me I can get work performed 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 choice, so I acquired the iPad Pro 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 Pro is in a league of its personal; the mini-LED display screen is attractive, and the massive dimension means it’s way more handy as a productiveness machine.
Yes, I do know iPadOS has its limitations, however these simply did not matter. I are likely to deal with one factor when I’m writing anyway, and for that, the iPad Pro was a greater machine than absolutely anything else I’ve round. And whereas I’m a keyboard snob (see beneath), I ended up utilizing the Magic Keyboard a lot that I really prefer it now.
I acquired again into handheld gaming
I did not care concerning the Steam Deck when it launched, as I wasn’t massive on handhelds. I’ve a good gaming rig with the RTX 4090, and once I wish to play on the TV, I’ve a PlayStation 5. But I wasn’t in a position to get a lot gaming performed on both over the past six months, so I purchased a Steam Deck to see if I might squeeze in a couple of minutes of gaming within the center of errands.
If I had recognized the Steam Deck was this good, I’d have picked it up the second it launched. It is well the very best 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 — if you happen to want a handheld that permits 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 largely been gaming keyboards primarily based on Cherry MX switches. Even till the tip of 2022, I used to be utilizing the Corsair K100 as my board of alternative, however with the rising momentum of DIY boards and customizable choices, I acquired my fingers on a Glorious GMMK Pro.
I preferred 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 better part is that these keyboards are simply as accessible as any mainstream gaming product; the Keychron Q1 Pro makes use of a gasket-mounted design, and it’s out there as a fully-assembled choice that is prepared to make use of out of the field. Honestly, that is the keyboard I’d suggest to anybody desirous to get a high-end mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth.
And if you happen to’re keen on OnePlus, the Keyboard 81 Pro is a rebranded model of the Q1 Pro with a tremendous design. I’ve no scarcity of keyboards, however that is the one I’m persevering with to make use of simply because of the best way it seems. I paired it with the terrific LOTR Elvish keys and a Keychron quantity pad attachment. And if you happen to’re within the passion, it’s best to check out CableMod — their keyboard cables are works of artwork.
I acquired to check out rather a lot of cool equipment
One of the very best components of this job is getting to make use of attention-grabbing equipment earlier than everybody else, and there was no scarcity of that in 2023. The yr has been notably nice if you happen to 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 means too many devices that should be always charged, I’m at all times desirous about tech that streamlines my charging wants. UGREEN met my necessities this yr; between the Nexode 200W, DigiNest Pro, and the Nexode 2-in-1 MagSafe charger, I’ve the whole lot I must cost all my telephones and equipment reliably. The Nexode RG 30W additionally will get a point out simply because of how cute it’s.
I organized my music library — and acquired respectable audio gear
My offline music assortment might greatest be summed up as a hodgepodge, however I used to be in a position to get it beneath 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 a lot of helpful metadata. In quick, it made a drastic distinction in how I hearken to music.
I additionally acquired rather a lot of gear upgrades this yr, and I’ve to start out 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 linked to the Fiio K9 Pro, and I even have Fiio’s wonderful all-in-one R7 and M15S because the go-to option to stream music when I’m not at my desk.
On the topic of portability, I used rather a lot of IEMs this yr, and the Sennheiser IE600 stood out together with the Thieaudio Prestige and Fiio FX15. I want to say Creative’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 couple of gaming headsets, with Corsair’s HS80 Max being the very best of the lot.
My studying listing was wildly completely different this yr
I averaged 75 books a yr over the past 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 sincere, it went very easily.
But we targeted a lot on the being pregnant that we kind of forgot what comes after, and we did not undergo any parenting books earlier than the infant was born. If you are pondering of having a child or have one on the best way, do not do what we did and browse 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 thought what we have been doing and weren’t getting any relaxation. But 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 couple of novels, and these are those I loved probably the most:
We acquired to journey once more
My spouse and I used to journey rather a lot 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’ve not gotten there but (we used to exit rather a lot), we managed to journey to Delhi and never completely freak out, so I’m 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 rather a lot of spy thrillers, “Spycraft” was extremely pleasing. While not on Netflix, “Silo” was an awesome present, and I’m excited that Hugh Howey’s books are being made into TV exhibits.
For most of the yr, my spouse and I simply streamed rather a lot of British panel exhibits, and whereas there are rather a lot of terrific selections — “Would I Like To You,” “Mock The Week,” “QI,” and “Taskmaster” instantly come to thoughts — we determined to stream “University Challenge.” Basically, 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 rather a lot of attention-grabbing merchandise launching in January, and I’m 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 is going to be a terrific yr.