Best of 2022: Gadgets and Glamor

2022 is the year society slowly rose from the ashes of the pandemic, and so did the tech world.

After lukewarm years, online-only launches, no in-person events, and the brightest new gadget never feeling like a priority in our lives, 2022 has finally seen plenty of exciting releases.

Here we have selected the best from different categories.

Category: Smartphone

Someone who really shines! — Google Pixel 7 Pro

From the excellent camera to the excellent battery life of a multifunctional smartphone, the Google Pixel 7 Pro stood out among the highly competitive flagship lineup. The beauty of this smartphone is not only the technical specifications, but also the rich and diverse user experience and AI-driven features that Google currently offers.

There are many attractive options to take your photo output to the next level, such as the effective “Photo Unblur” and “Magic Eraser”. Even Apple’s original Cinematic Blur feature renders beautifully on the Google Pixel 7 Pro.

The Pixel 7 Pro delivers on all other fronts with very little to complain about, aside from its glossy, slippery finish, making it our favorite flagship of the year!

For CXOs: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Galaxy Note fans who were saddened by the series’ discontinuation definitely found hope in this phone with a nifty little stylus pen. It’s also good for the on-the-go entrepreneur, multitasking maestro, or someone who’s spending a lot of money on his top-of-the-line Android phone.

The company’s Galaxy Fold4, which launched in August 2022, is a close second as a productivity “phablet” that gets the job done.

For (rich) generation Z! — Samsung Z Flip4

If you’re an absolute head-turner and want one by your side, the Samsung Z Flip4 is for you! Not a single day!

Truly made for the selfie generation, the Flip4 is not only a compact flagship, but packed with great cameras and user features that take social media gaming to the next level. We were stuck with the boring black version, but the Bora Purple color really helps the smartphone stand out.

Category: Audio Devices

A product for serious audiophiles — Sony WH-1000XM5

| | Photo credit: sidmc

Audiophiles are loyal and so is Sony. The Japanese company has brought back the fifth-generation version of its flagship headset with significant improvements. With the app’s new drivers and more customization EQ options, you can now stream music and audio from your TV shows.

Not only do they offer excellent active noise canceling and very crisp vocals on audio calls compared to all the other headphones we’ve tried this year!

Best TWS Earbuds — Apple AirPods Pro 2

Established as the OG of TWS earbuds, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 made an impact with their impeccable music playback quality. The active noise cancellation is definitely one of the best he’s tried this year.

Overall, this device is simply one of the best earbuds on the market right now, justifying its design, comfort and sound quality.

Category: Laptops & Tablets

Best Premium Laptop — Apple MacBook Air M2

This year’s thinner, lighter, and more powerful MacBook Air had the best of both worlds: beauty and intelligence.

Weighing in at just over a kilogram, with a great display, powerful speakers, a decent webcam, and an amazing 15+ hours of battery life, there’s nothing overwhelming about this machine.

Best Value Tablet — OPPO Pad Air

OPPO’s first tablet launched in India definitely surprised us. This guy didn’t expect to be captivated by the 10-inch, but was impressed with its consistent performance.

Ultra-lightweight, despite its size, the tablet is great for consuming media, and comes with a whopping 7,100 mAh, so it lasted longer than I expected. An easy winner here!

Category: Smartwatch

Best Premium Smartwatch — Apple Watch S8

Sleek, sleek, and already an iPhone user’s best companion, the latest Apple Watch continues to impress.

Focused on health, especially women’s health, the watch ticks all the boxes when it comes to general fitness and phone-related features, only being a little disappointing when it comes to battery life.

Best budget smartwatch — Amazfit GTS 4 Mini

Although the design is not completely original, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini still looks very elegant. The 1.65-inch HD AMOLED display is his one of the best features of this watch. Bright enough even in the sun.

With an endless list of health and fitness trackers, there’s more than you need! I had a few issues with Alexa-related reminders, but nothing to worry about. A feature that really brings home to me and puts many other smartwatches to shame is the infinite battery life.

The GTS 4 Mini resembles some of the old Kindles, and I could easily use it for almost two weeks without worrying about plugging it in. And I can’t say this will be the case for many devices in 2022.