HAPPIER AT WORK
We may all be working harder and longer now, but being better equipped can make work easier, whether you’re in an office or grafting remotely.
1 Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
When you’re bouncing between coffee shops, train tables and hot desks, connectivity is key – this variant of the S10 offers the chance, if you’re lucky enough to find a signal, to exploit the absurd speed of 5G. With a huge 6.7-inch screen and an enormous battery, it’s the perfect quick-fire work tool even if you’re tethered to 4G. From $1,399, samsung.com.au
2 Logitech C930E
Some built-in webcams offer less-thanideal levels of performance. Not that we’re picking holes, but that’s the one area where Apple really dropped the ball with its latest MacBook (see below), which is perplexing given the company’s mastery of miniaturised phone optics. Get a better one like Logitech’s 1080p C930E, designed to deliver clear sound and video, even in low light conditions.
$215, logitech.com
3 Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC
An in-ear neckband headset with four integrated omnidirectional microphones, made for the professional end of the market. Boring? Not even. While this is massively useful for taking calls in noisy environments, with Plantronics’ businessgrade ANC effectively masking the fact that you’re stuck working in an airport terminal, it’s equally great for blasting those keepworking tunes.
From $359, plantronics.com
4 Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch
The laptop is central to any remote working setup, and we’d definitely opt for the larger of the two 2019 MacBooks. That extra diagonal inch in the Pro’s screen doesn’t really translate to extra bulk over the previous generation. And while the MacBook Air (from $1,699) is slimmer and smaller, the power of a full-bore MacBook means you won’t be lacking muscle when it counts. One for remote workers.
From $3,799, apple.com/au
5 MobiScribe
Get those sparkling ideas down on electronic paper fast with the MobiScribe, a combined ereader and sketchbook with a bag-friendly compact size. Its pen is pressure sensitive, so you can make some pretty detailed sketches, but a choice of backgrounds gives you options for lined paper, graphs, memos and more, and you can also export your work as a PDF.
US$264, mobiscribe.com
6 Corsair MM1000
Offer your mouse a wonderful surface to glide over, and give your phone somewhere to sit at the same time; Corsair’s MM1000 combines a subtle mouse mat with a Qi charger. While Corsair would probably like you to use the Qi-compatible Dark Core mouse, that’s perhaps not the most officefriendly pointer – but there’s a Qi adapter in the box, meaning you can charge whatever you like as long as it’s on the hotspot.
$139, corsair.com
7 Fitbit Charge 3
Sitting in an office chair all day is not what the doctor ordered, with that heady mix of sedentary habits and general office stress. Fitbit’s Charge 3 to the rescue, then. It intelligently monitors your heart rate and uses that data to take you through guided breathing exercises in order to reduce stress. And it’ll show you the ugly truth about how few steps you’ve been taking during the working day.
From $99, fitbit.com
8 Sony WH-1000XM3
There are days when you need to shut out your work buddies. Don Sony’s award-winning noise cancelling headphones and block out a good portion of the surrounding office noise. This will help you focus and power through work. In fact, they’re ideal if you’re planning an all-day session of knuckling down, as they offer just the right headband tension for longer wear. $395, sony.com
9 Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse
The Pen+ Ellipse is a quality pen, but it’s far more than that: writing or sketching with it produces an instant digital backup on your phone, and gives you an SVG file you can take elsewhere for further editing. Although it does tie you to using specific Moleskine notebooks with subtly dotted patterns, few people would see that as a big detriment, particularly as there are so many options available. There’s even a Creative Cloud Connected notebook, and an extra large sketchpad that can (as long as you’re using macOS) pipe your scribbles directly to Adobe Illustrator.
$245, moleskine.com
10 Ember Mug 2.0
Meetings can strike at any time; who knows when you’ll next get a sip of tea? With an Ember 2.0 it doesn’t matter because the mug will keep your coffee or tea at the perfect temperature for up to 90 minutes through its internal battery. Leave it on the charging base at your desk and it’ll stay perpetually hot, meaning your cuppa is still piping hot when you’re next dragged away from your work without warning.
$169.95, ember.com