I’VE tested a load of top gadgets this year – and three have blown me away.
If you’re looking to splash some cash on tech, these are my three picks from 2023.
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Meta Quest 3
Don’t fall into the same old trap of buying another games console.
There’s loads of fun to be had with virtual reality – and the Meta Quest 3 serves it up for phenomenal value.
The £479 / $499 VR headset is technically a “mixed reality” device.
That means not only can it fully immerse you in a virtual space, but it can also draw in parts of the world around you.
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Similarly, it can show you almost all of your real environment – and augment it with a few CGI additions.
There are loads of games and experiences to enjoy, and the image is very high quality for the price.
It’s exceptionally good fun, and you can even stream the footage of what you’re seeing to a TV, smartphone or tablet so other people in the room can share in the experience.
An honorary mention goes to the Meta Ray-Ban Glasses.
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They were announced at the same time as the Meta Quest 3, and I’ve also tried them out.
They can take photos and videos, and even answer questions that you’ve asked aloud.
Their big new upgrade lets you ask the built-in AI to tell you about what you’re seeing.
But it’s only just rolling out and it’s still very early, so it didn’t make the cut for my top three.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is about as good as smartwatches get these days.
It’s got all the bells and whistles from previous Apple Watch models, and chucks in some extras to boot.
This model has a faster chip than the old Ultra, and a mammoth 36-hour battery life – extending to 72 hours with the right settings.
A brilliantly bright 3,000-nit display is visible even on a bright day, and the titanium casing is very tough to dent.
You can double-tap your fingers together in the air to ‘click’ courtesy of a new gesture feature.
Of course they’re just new additions: the real magic is the fact that the Apple Watch now packs in so much.
For a start, it can track your workouts, play music, and let you make payments via Apple Pay.
The Ultra 2 also has a built-in compass and altimeter for navigation, and even even help you retrace your steps if you’re lost.
But it could also save your life.
Heart-rate notifications, heart rhythm tracking, fall- and crash-detection, a blood oxygen sensor and more can help you stay on top of your health.
That’s arguably priceless, but Apple is charging £799 / $799.
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1
I know what you’re probably thinking. How can a charger be one of the best gadgets of the year?
What a waste of money, when your old cable by the bedside works just fine.
Well I thought that too but Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro completely changed my mind.
I am absolutely sick to death of having cables everywhere.
Thankfully USB-C cables are quickly dominating the world, so at least they’re all the same cable.
But the Belkin stand lets me wirelessly charge my AirPods on its base.
And my iPhone magnetically tacks onto the wireless charging pad stand.
Not only does this power up my iPhone, but it also activates Apple’s new StandBy Mode when I swivel the handset sideways.
This lets the iPhone screen show a clock, plus some general widgets like weather, alarm time and more – all dimmed and in gentle colours for nighttime viewing.
This effectively transforms my iPhone into a smarter bedside table clock. Brilliant.
I use it every single night and sometimes in the day too.
Apple’s US store still has this item for sale for $99.95.
Sadly, as far as I can see, the product isn’t listed on Belkin’s website any longer.
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If you want to buy directly from Belkin, they have an even better version of the BoostCharge Pro that’s a 3-in-1 charger.
This is currently retailing for £109.99 (normally £139.99) in the UK and $149.99 in the US.
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