All the very best for the new year
If you’re waiting for the January sales to treat yourself to some tech, here are my favourite buys from the last 12 months
IT’S been another stellar year in the world of consumer technology, with the boundaries of what’s possible being pushed in all directions. Here, in no particular order, are the best things I’ve tried out this year…
PHONE
Best: iPhone 11 (From £729 at apple/ com/uk) Simply the best mobile phone on the market today, the combination of Apple’s peerless industrial design and its outstandingly usable software is unbeatable. The iPhone 11 lacks some of the bells and whistles of the 11 Pro, but the difference in price is much bigger than the difference in features. The camera in particular is a spectacular triumph of engineering.
Honourable mention: Google Pixel 4 (From £669 from store.google.com) Google’s flagship phone upped the specs and upped the price this year, and gave the iPhone 11 a real run for its money. Running a simple and beautifully functional version of Android, the Pixel 4 excels in the camera department as much as anywhere else. The images it produces have a distinctive look, and are consistently good under most conditions… it’s not quite so good for video, but if you’re in the Android world and need a new phone, this is the smart choice.
HOME SECURITY
Best: SimpliSafe (Starter kits from £249 at simplisafe.co.uk)
One of the best things about the move to wireless technology is that you can now fit your home out with a fully-featured security system with no cables, no drilling, and no fuss. You don’t even need to get someone in to fit the system – you more or less just have to turn it on and it works right out of the box.
Start small with the essential kit, and add to the system over time as your needs grow.
Honourable mention: Blink (Starter system from £79.99 at amazon.co.uk) If a fully-fledged security system is beyond your needs, the simple Blink cameras (now owned by Amazon so fitting right in with Alexa’s voice control), might be all you need.
The latest outdoor camera in the Blink line-up has added two-way audio, so you can chat to your burglars if you’re not at home.
It’s now a more complete set-up than before. All you need is a wi-fi connected hub and you can add the motion-sensing cameras wherever and whenever you like. They have a two-year battery life and free online storage of captured clips, too.
HOME HELPER
Best: iRobot Roomba 676 Robot Vacuum Cleaner (£299.99 at irobot.co.uk) The one device that has changed my life the most this year has to be the
robot vacuum cleaner. I honestly have no idea how I managed without it
– set it off using the app or schedule regular cleans, and it’s done.
Honourable mention: Vorwerk Thermomix TM6 (£1,099 at vorwerk.co.uk/thermomix, pictured below, left) A device that replaces a gazillion other gadgets, the Thermomix was a revelation. How can one device weigh, mix, and cook your dinner – all you have to do is follow the screen prompts.
I’ve seen one in use a few times on Masterchef this year, too, so I’m not alone in singing its praises.