Can a Fancy Webcam Solve Your Biggest Work-From-Home Problems?

It wasn’t that long ago that we were in a webcam crisis. When the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, the vast majority of people — now forced to work from home — realized that their computer either didn’t have a webcam, or that the webcam that it did have, sucked. But they couldn’t buy one…because all the most popular webcams were sold out. For months. And months. And months.

Fast forward to present day, and it’s a brave new webcam world. Most laptop and computer makers have committed to boosting the quality of their webcams; for example, all the newest MacBooks and iMacs have been upgraded with 1080p webcams, after years of being 720p or worse. And there are more high-quality webcams — even some that can capture 4K — than ever before.

And, yes, you can actually buy them.

Yet, this shift to a new work environment has also spawned a kind of new breed of webcam — ones that attempt to be an all-in-one solution for video calls. Anker’s newest external webcam, the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar, might be the best example of this. It packs a 1440p (a.k.a. 2K) webcam, built-in speakers and microphones and the kicker is that it also has a built-in light to glam you up. Of course, this all-in-one package comes at the cost of a fairly sizable chunk of change: $220.

Tucker Bowe

I’ve been using the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar for the last several weeks — as a replacement for the webcam, the Logitech C920S HD Pro ($70), that I bought last year when webcams started to become available again — and I have to say that it works well. The image quality is much better than my 2016 MacBook’s webcam. The speakers are pretty decent, although the built-in mics leave a little bit desired, admittedly (it doesn’t do the best job at filtering out background noise). And the glow light…well, it works.

Now, the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar is far from the first webcam to try to solve multiple workstation problems, but very few try to solve all of them. The Logitech 4K Pro Webcam ($160) and the Dell UltraSharp webcam ($200), for example, are two high-end options with fantastic high-resolution camera and built-in mics, but both lack speakers and a glow light.

The biggest caveat to the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar is, obviously, price. At over $200, it’s an expensive webcam (even compared to higher-resolution webcams) because all those integrated components add up. And it actually poses a pretty interesting question for consumers: do you really need an all-in-one webcam?

Tucker Bowe

For someone like me, who has spent has been building out their work-from-home setup for the last near-on two years — I have a Blue Snowball mic ($40), Logitech webcam (mentioned above), and bookshelf speaker system powered by an Audioengine N22 amp ($199) — the answer is: probably not.

In fact, I found that having an all-in-one webcam on top of my other desktop gear a little bit annoying. I use various different video conferencing platforms — Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and several others — and too often would I realize that my speakers or external mic (which are better than those integrated in the webcam) were getting monopolized by the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar. I wanted to use it as webcam, and that’s it. It wasn’t difficult switching back to my defeat speakers and mic — but, again, I found it a little bit tedious.

Obviously, an all-in-one webcam like the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar is a good and easy (and yes, pricey) solution for people who want to improve most aspects of their workstation in one fell swoop. It just so happens that, given a lot of people have been working from home for a while now and likely already have an external gadgets that up their video conference game, it might not be right for you.

Anker

AnkerWork B600 Video Bar

amazon.com

$219.99

$186.99 (15% off)

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What to Expect at Tuesday’s Big Apple Event

It’s official. Apple will be holding its first big event of the year tomorrow — on March 8, at 1:00pm EST (or 10:00am PST) — and you can expect new hardware. At past spring events, Apple has announced its first M1-based iMac and M1-based iPad Pros, AirTags and an updated Apple TV (all in 2021), as well as the updated and redesigned iPhone SE (in 2020). This year, we’re expecting a new affordable iPhone, a new-and-improved iPad Air and a few new Macs with updated chipsets. There could be a few surprises (new AirPods Pro? new external monitors? AR/VR glasses?) as well.

Here’s what you need to know.

We’ll probably see Apple announce a new affordable iPhone

Apple

Apple hasn’t given us a new iPhone SE in almost two years — but that looks set to change in the very near future. The iPhone SE that was released in spring 2020 borrowed the design of the iPhone 8 (released in 2017) and the name of the original iPhone SE (released in 2016), but it packed new guts, a new camera and some new features (like wireless charging).

The rumored 2022 iPhone SE is expected to start at the same entry-level price point ($399), but Apple will presumably deck it out with a new processor, new camera — and, most significantly, support for 5G internet. It’s expected to have the same design as the 2020 iPhone SE (so, no support for MagSafe).

We’ll likely see Apple announce a new iPad Air

Apple

The iPad Air was last updated in September 2020. At the time, Apple decked it out with a drastically new design so that it more closely resembled the iPad Pro (meaning it got a more edge-to-edge display, a new camera system, USB-C charging instead of Lightning, and support for most of the same accessories as the iPad Pro).

The 2022 iPad Air isn’t expected to change so drastically — in fact, it will likely have the same exact design — but Apple is expected to give it an updated processor (likely an A15 Bionic chip, which is the same chip in its iPhone 13 line), a new camera system and bring in support for 5G.

Apple might finally announce a high-end Mac mini

Apple

The upcoming spring hardware event is likely to more heavily focus on the new iPhone SE and iPad Air, but it’s likely that Apple will also announce a new Mac mini. Don’t expect a change of design, but it’s likely that Apple will finally give pro-users the option to get a Mac mini with its higher-end M1 Pro or M1 Max chips. (Apple the first M1-based Mac mini in late 2020.)

Apple could announce a new iMac Pro

Apple

It’s been heavily rumored that Apple is working on a new-and-improved iMac Pro, which was first launched in 2017 and then oddly discontinued last year in March 2021. If true, the new iMac Pro will get a complete redesign so that it looks similar to the new colorful 24-inch iMac, but in a 27-inch model.

Apple will deck it out with a much higher-end display (likely similar to its current Pro Display XDR) and its higher-end M1 Pro and M1 Max chipsets. However, this spring event is more likely to focus on the new iPhone SE and iPad Air, so Apple could hold off on the returning iMac Pro for a later date.

We probably won’t see a new 13-inch MacBook Pro — at least, not yet

Apple

Those of us waiting for the 13-inch MacBook Pro to join its brethren in banishing the Touch Bar will probably still be waiting a bit past March to see a new entry-level member of the MacBook Pro lineup. That said, when it does come, it likely won’t have many of the fancy features of the more expensive Pros like the 120-Hz ProMotion display, according to Bloomberg‘s Gurman.

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5 New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar

It was a short yet eventful week in the gadget world. Sony gave us a first-look of its upcoming new virtual reality headset, the PlayStation VR 2. Spotify announced that any Premium subscriber could buy its sleek dashboard accessory (for the cool price of $90). And a host new MagSafe accessories were rolled out to new iPhone owners.

Here’s what you need to know.

Sonus Faber Omnia

Sonus Faber

Sonus Faber, an Italian high-end audio company, announced its newest all-in-one wireless speaker: the Omnia. It’s essentially a newer and more affordable of the company’s $10,000 SF16 that was released in 2016. The Omnia has a similar shape and wood-and-aluminum design as the SF16, but it’s smaller, less powerful (490 watts vs 1,400 watts) and lacks SF16’s fantasy motorized arms (aka wings) that widen the sound stage. The good news is that at $2,000, the Omnia is quite a bit more affordable. Plus, it packs a lot more wired and wireless connectivity options so you can listen to music basically however you want.

Price: $2,000

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Spotify Car Thing

Spotify

Spotify announced Car Thing — its first-ever gadget and dashboard accessory for controlling Spotify in your car — in April 2021, but only a very small number of people who signed up for waitlist were able to get one. Now, almost ten months later, Spotify is making Car Thing available to anybody to buy. It costs $90 and you must be a Spotify subscriber for it to work for you.

Price: $90

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Astell&Kern ACRO BE100

Astell&Kern

Best known for its beautiful portable hi-fi players, Astell&Kern has announced its first-ever Bluetooth speaker. To be clear, theAcro BE100 is a powered Bluetooth speaker. It isn’t portable as it doesn’t have a battery. And it lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, so there’s no smart assistant support or multi-room capabilities. Instead, the Acro BE100 is meant as a beautifully-designed speaker that’s easy to use (just connect via Bluetooth) and, as it supports aptX HD and Sony’s LDAC, it’s able to stream higher-resolution audio compared to other Bluetooth-only speakers.

Price: $499

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Acer Swift 3 and Swift 5

Acer

Acer announced its latest lightweight laptops. Both the Swift 3 and Swift 5 are decked out with the Intel’s latest CPUs (12-generation Alder Lake processors), more storage, an upgraded port selection and a new two-tone aluminum design. The Swift 5 is also significant because it is Acer’s first laptop with a taller display that has a 16:10 aspect ratio. The Swift 3 and Swift 5 cost $850 and $1,499, respectively, and will be available in the US this June.

Price: $850+

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Plugable Graphics Adapters

Plugable

Plugable announced three new graphics adapters designed to add multiple external displays to either your Mac or Windows workstation — and do so relatively affordably. There’s the USB 3.0 and USB-C to Dual HDMI Adapter ($69), which adds two additional HDMI ports; the USB 3.0 and USB-C to HDMI Adapter ($63), which adds an additional HDMI port; and the USB 3.0 and USB-C to DisplayPort Adapter ($66), which adds an additional DisplayPort. All three new adapters are available now.

Price: $63 — $69

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Spotify’s Ultimate Music Player for the Car Is Finally Available to All

Tired of pairing your phone with your car, for some reason? Well, good news: Spotify is making its first-ever gadget, a dashboard accessory named “Car Thing“, available for anybody and everyone to buy.

The streaming giant announced Car Thing roughly ten months ago, in April 2021, and it was basically free (save for the cost of shipping) for Spotify Premium subscribers who signed up for a waitlist. The catch was that it was a very limited release, and very few people actually got one. But as of today, anybody can purchase Spotify’s Car Thing for the cool price of $90.

The Car Thing is designed for Spotify subscribers who want was it basically the ultimate Spotify streaming device for their car. It plugs into your car (via USB or a 12-volt adapter), rests on your dashboard (via an air vent or CD player mount) and provides the driver with a big touchscreen to view and control their music and podcasts. It also has a built-in voice assistant that works with “Hey Spotify” commands, so you can control your music hands-free.

Of course, Car Thing might not be a game-changer for all Spotify subscribers. The device still needs to be tethered via Bluetooth to your smartphone, and you’ll still consume data. So it won’t allow you to leave the house sans smartphone. And if you’re on a strict data plan, you’ll want to download your music or podcasts to your smartphone over Wi-Fi beforehand.

Spotify’s Car Thing is essentially a glorified Spotify remote for people who don’t have Bluetooth in their cars. If you have a large smartphone and a car mount, Car Thing does essentially the same job (albeit with a few convenient features like a large knob and voice control). That said, if you’re a Spotify super fan, or you just want something that’s a little nicer for music control than your smartphone, then this is the perfect accessory upgrade for your car.

Spotify

Spotify Car Thing

spotify.com

$89.99

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The Coolest Speakers and Soundbars That Were Released in 2021

This story is part of our end-of-year series This Year in Gear rounding up the most notable releases of 2021. For more stories like this, click here.

This was a banner year for audio products, specifically speakers, soundbars and home theater systems. There are more speakers that support high-resolution audio (and there needs to be, given that lossless audio boomed this year). Dolby Atmos soundbars and surround sound systems got more innovation and more affordable. And just all the biggest audio manufacturers — Sony, Bang & Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, Sony, JBL and more —all seemed to announce numerous cool new gadgets.

JBL L52 Classic

Courtesy

Q Acoustics Concept Series

Q Acoustics

The British audio company Q Acoustics is best known for its high performing yet affordable bookshelf speakers, and it has brought that same mantra over to its home theater range. The new set of Concept speakers — Concept 30 (standmount, $1,299/pair), Concept 50 (floorstander, $2,999/pair) and Concept 90 (center channel, $999/ea) — bring over technologies from its high-end Concept 300 and 500 speakers, and put them in a more affordable package.

The new Concept home theater speakers will be available at the end of October.

Price: $999 — $2,999

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Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series D4

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins has updated its flagship 800 Series Diamond range of loudspeakers. The fourth generation series — aka “D4” — have a new cabinet design, a new suspension system, and a redesigned housing for the tweeter, all of which are meant to further eliminate distortions and deliver a lifelike and unrivaled sound. Like with the previous D3 line, the D4 line consists of seven speakers (two standmounted, three floorstanding and two center channels) that range from $5,500 to $35,000. These are serious audiophile speakers.

Price: $5,500 — $35,000

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Klipsch Forte IV Loudspeakers

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The Forte IV are the newest addition to Klipsch’s famed Heritage Series. They’re an improved version of the original Forte loudspeakers, which were first debuted in 1985 and one of the company’s best selling speakers of all time. The Forte IV have a vastly improved sound thanks to a host of acoustic enhancements, but they still have the classic wood exterior that make them look timeless. You can buy them in four finishes: American Walnut, Natural Cherry, Black Ash and Distressed Oak.

Price: $4,500

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Sonus faber The Lumina II and The Lumina V

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The Italian luxury hi-fi company Sonus faber has added two speakers to its affordable line of Lumina speakers. There’s the Lumina II, a new pair of bookshelf speakers that cost $1,200, and the Lumina V (pictured), a new pair of floor-standing speakers that cost $2,800. Both are high-performing and beautifully-designed speakers that can be used as a stereo pair or integrated in a larger multi-channel home theater system with the company’s other Lumina speakers.

Price: $1,200 — $2,800

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Q Acoustics M20

Q Acoustics

The M20 is a wireless music system consisting of two bookshelf-sized powered speakers. It isn’t as big or as expensive as the company’s recent Q Active 200 speakers, but it does carry over some similar features, such as Point to Point (P2P) cabinet bracing technology and support for high-resolution audio (up to 24bit/192kHz). Maybe most importantly, it houses both wireless (via Bluetooth 5.0)and analog connections (via optical and minijack) so you can easily stream music or connect it directly to your TV or turntable. There’s no built-in Wi-Fi or HDMI connection.

Price: $599

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Kanto YU Passive Bookshelf Speakers

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Kanto launched two new sets of passive bookshelf speakers, both of which cost less than $200. There’s the YU Passive 5.25″ ($199/pair), which features a 5.25-inch Kevlar woofer and 1-inch silk dome tweeter, and the YU Passive 4″ ($159/pair), a 4-inch woofer and 1-inch silk-dome tweeter. The two sets of speakers look basically identical, other than the YU Passive 5.25″ being slightly larger, and being passive bookshelf speakers, they’re also very flexible. You can use them as desktop speakers if you a DAC/amplifier, or you can use them as TV or stereo speakers with a receiver. Available now.

Price: $159/pair (4″); $199/pair (5.25″)

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Pioneer DJ VM Series of Active Monitors

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Pioneer DJ announced a new line of active near-field speaker monitors that are designed to emulate the sound of a studio or club, but in your own space. There are three different-sized models: VM-50 ($169), VM-70 ($229) and VM-80 ($289). Each speaker will be decked out with a 4 mm-thick aluminum front baffle, Class D amplifier, Aramid fiber cones and Vortex Bass Accelerator, all of which, according to the company, are designed to “accurately reproduces sounds, including deep low-end frequencies while cutting out unwanted vibrations.”

Price: $169+

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JBL 4309 Bookshelf Speakers

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The JBL 4309 studio monitors are essentially smaller and more affordable versions of the company’s high-end 4349 studio monitors, which run for $7,500. Each 4309 loudspeaker is decked out with the company’s 1-inch tweeter, 6.5-inch mid-bass driver and twin-firing reflex ports, so that it sounds as dynamic as its larger sibling. And each speaker looks stunning, with a blue baffle, wooden veneer (either walnut or black walnut) and cloth grille — they’ve already been given a 2021 Red Dot Design Award.

Price: $2,000/pair

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Polk Audio R200 Bookshelf Speaker

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Polk Audio announced the Reserve Series, its new line of high-performing loudspeakers that take many technologies from its flagship Legend Series (such as Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeters and Turbine Cone Midrange drivers) and put them in a more affordable package. The Reserve Series is comprised of various different-sized floor-standing speakers, centre channel speakers and bookshelf speakers, as well as a height module to complete the Dolby Atmos home theater system. All speakers are available now.

(Pictured: The R200 is the larger of the two new pairs of bookshelf speakers in the Reserve Series. The R100 bookshelf speakers are smaller and $100 cheaper. )

Price: $699

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Fluance A-Series Bookshelf Speakers

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Fluance is a Canadian-based audio company that’s best known for its line of affordable yet high-end turntables. This week, it announced two new pairs of powered bookshelf speakers that can partner those turntables. There’s the Ai41 and Ai61, the latter being the slightly larger, more powerful and better-sounding of the two — but besides that, they’re basically identical. Both speakers can be connected to any turntable with a built-in preamp. They have built-in Bluetooth so you can stream directly from your smartphone or computer. And you can even use them as TV speakers via an optical or RCA connection. The best part? Both pairs cost less than $300.

Price: $249/pair (Ai41); $299/pair (Ai61)

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Beosound Emerge

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Bang & Olufsen’s newest high-end wireless speaker, the Beosound Emerge, is designed to blend in with the other books on your bookshelf (although it kind of looks a little like a shrunk down version of the Flatiron building). It’s a relatively small powered speaker supports a number of wireless connectivities, including AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Chromecast and Bluetooth. It can be set up to work as a smart speaker that responds to “Hey Google” voice commands, too. It will be available this fall in either black or gold (the latter will cost an extra $200).

Price: $699+

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Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 28

Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 28 is a pair of luxury floorstanding speakers that promise excellent sound and copious connectivity options. Each speaker has three 3” full range drivers, a 1” tweeter on the front, and a down-firing subwoofer, and they’re packed with technologies that allow you to calibrate the sound to your specific room. The speakers support AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth, as well as wired connections such as Ethernet and line-in/optical. The other cool thing is that the speakers come with a replaceable connectivity module, which the company claims make them essentially future-proof.

Price: $14,750/pair

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Symfonisk Picture Frame WiFi Speaker

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Sonos and Ikea added a new speaker to their existing Symfonisk line. The all-new Symfonisk Picture Frame WiFi Speaker is designed to hang on your wall and looks like a piece of art. (The speaker also has rubber feet so you lean it up against a wall, in case you don’t want to hang it.) As for sound, speaker will work similarly like a Sonos One SL; there’s no built-in mic or voice assistant. It can be stereo paired with another Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker, or grouped with any other Sonos or Symfonisk multi-room system.

Price: $199

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Syng Cell Alpha

Syng

The Cell Alpha is a high-end spaceship-looking wireless speaker that’s been designed by an ex-Apple engineer who worked on the HomePod (as well as a vast number of other Apple products). According to the company, it’s the world’s first “Triphonic” speaker, meaning it’s able to play spatial dynamic audio that’s way more immersive than traditional stereo. It supposedly sounds great on its own, but the company actually recommends pairing three together in a room for the best possible sound — which is a very expensive proposition. The speaker supports Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2, and it has dual USB-C ports for analog connections.

Price: $1,799

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Devialet Phantom I

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We’ve been big fans of Devialet’s beautiful-yet-alien-looking wireless speakers for years, and we got a new one: the Phantom I. It still looks and works the same as the company’s previous Phantom speakers — its two opposing woofers pulsate against one another, in perfect symmetry, without ever touching — but the French audio company has made the Phantom I more power efficient, so it supposedly sounds way better. They also gave it support for AirPlay 2 and a fancy new physical remote. As for price, well, it’s still expensive. The Phantom I comes in two versions — 103dB or 108db — and they cost $2,200 and $3,200,

Price: $2,200+

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Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore

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Bang & Olufsen announced a new ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker called the Beosound Explore. The speaker is designed to be super rugged and drop resistant, and it is thanks to its hard anodised aluminium shell. It also comes with a small carabiner so you can attach to your backpack. Other than its unique design, the Beosound Explore’s standout feature is battery life — it promises 27 hours playtime, which is pretty incredible given its size. The speaker is available in three different beautiful finishes, including black, green and gray. Available now.

Price: $199

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Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level

Bang & Olufsen

The Beosound Level is a unique take of the portable home speaker because, well, Bang & Olufsen expects that it will last you a really long time. Like many many years. It has built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, similar to the Sonos Move, but it also has what B&O is calling a “modular design.” Basically, it’s designed so that it can be taken apart and that its various components can be replaced, like the chipset or the battery, when they become antiquated in the future. It’s also designed to sound and look great for years and years. The Beosound Level will be available in late April.

Price: $1,499

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Sonos Roam

Sonos

The Sonos Roam is the company’s smallest and most portable speaker ever. It’s essentially a much smaller version — about 1/6th the size — of the Move, which Sonos released in late 2019. But while the Move costs an intimidating $399, which is more than most people are willing to spend on a portable speaker, the Roam comes in at a surprisingly affordable $179.

Price: $179

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JBL Flip 6

JBL

The JBL Flip 6 is a new and improved version of the fan-favorite Flip 5 portable speaker. It has a more rugged design (IP67 vs the Flip 5’s IPX7), some updated internals and a redesigned JBL logo on its side. It’s available now in a number of different colors.

Price: $130

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Sony SRS-XB13

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The Sony SRS-XB13 is the company’s smallest portable Bluetooth speaker — it’s effectively half the size of a soda can. It’s the next-generation version of the SRS-XB12, which looked identical, but the SRS-XB13 now charges via USB-C and delivers true 360-degree sound. Other than that, the SRS-XB13 is still a good portable speaker for people looking for a small and affordable option. If you’re looking for more room-filling sound, we recommend spending a little more on Sony’s SRS-XB23, which you can pick up for just below $100.

Price: $59

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Sony SRS-RA3000 and SRS-RA5000

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Sony has officially released its first wireless speakers that support the 360 Reality Audio, which is the company’s immersive sound technology (similar to Dolby Atmos); previously, you had to use a different company’s speaker, like a Echo Studio, to take advantage of this audio format. Both of Sony’s speakers, the SRS-RA3000 and the SRS-RA5000 (pictured), the latter being the better sounding and more expensive version, support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming. And they have a built-in microphone that allows them to self-calibrate for the room so they sound best. If you’re looking for a powerful and premium wireless speaker — that’s not portable — that can play true 360-degree sound, consider these one of your best bets.

Price: $298 (SRS-RA3000); $698 (SRS-RA5000)

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Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin (2021 Model)

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins released a new and improved version of its iconic Zeppelin speaker. The last iteration of the speaker, the Zeppelin Wireless, was released in 2015 and this new version keeps mostly the same look and feel, with the difference being that the new version is completely wireless — there are no analog connections — and it supports AirPlay 2 and comes integrated with Alexa (just like an Echo) for voice controls. It supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (AptX) streaming, and it’s able to be integrated in a multi-room system with other new Zeppelin speakers, B&W’s existing line of Formation speakers, as well as other AirPlay 2 speakers.

The new B&W Zeppelin is available today in either light or dark grey.

Price: $799

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Bose SoundLink Flex

Bose

Bose announced a new affordable, rugged and ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker called the SoundLink Flex. It’s really water-resistant and durable — IP67 rated — and it’ll even float, in the event you drop it in the pool or tub. Bose promises incredible sound compared to other similarly-sized speakers, thanks to a custom transducer and dual-opposing passive radiators, too. It lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, meaning there’s no voice assistant, but you can sync it with other Bose speakers and soundbars that you have in your house (via a companion app) to give you the multi-room effect.

Price: $149

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LG Xboom 360 RP4

LG

The Xboom 360 RP4 is LG’s newest portable party speaker. It’s not a small speaker, weighing nearly 13, but it’s able true 360-degree audio and output a hefty 120-watts of power. It has an integrated handle and, most conspicuously, a lantern that can be customized (via a companion app) to shine whatever color you want the party vibe to be.

Price: $400

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Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Bose

Bose introduced its latest flagship soundbar, the Smart Soundbar 900, and it’s the company’s first ever soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos (finally!). The new soundbar — which replaces the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 in the company’s lineup — has a HDMI eARC connection, supports multiple streaming methods over Wi-Fi (including AirPlay 2) and Bluetooth, and it can be integrated to support Alexa and Google Assistant so you can summon music with your voice. At $900, this is very much a competitor to the Sonos Arc.

Price: $900

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Sonos

Sonos announced the second generation of its Sonos Beam soundbar, notable for being a Dolby Atmos capable soundbar that comes in under the $500 mark. At half the price of the flagship Sonos Arc (which is now $900 after a price hike that affected a number of Sonos speakers), the Beam makes for a relatively affordable entry into Dolby Atmos for the relatively budget conscious, or those with small rooms to fill. Without the upward-firing drivers of the Arc, it won’t have quite the same quality (or quantity) of sound, but it’s definitely a worthwhile addition to many a Sonos system for its size and price.

Price: $449

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Sony HT-A5000

Sony

The Sony HT-A5000 is the company’s newest Dolby Atmos soundbar, and it’s essentially a smaller and $400-cheaper version of the company’s HT-A7000 soundbar, which was recently announced in July. The HT-A5000 is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar (instead of a HT-A7000’s 7.1.2) and supports all the same technologies, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and 360 Reality Audio. It has one HDMI 2.1 (eARC) connection (instead of HT-A7000’s two), making it a great option for people with new TVs and next-generation consoles.

Price: $1,000

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JBL L75ms Music System

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The JBL L75ms has similar retro vibes to the company’s L52 Classic, but it’s a much more modern system. It’s actually a five-channel powered speaker system — two tweeters, two woofers and a midrange driver — that’s capable of streaming high-resolution audio (up to 32-bit/192kHz). It’s also extremely versatile. You can connect to your TV (via HDMI ARC) or your turntable (thanks to its built-in phono preamp). It also supports a range of streaming options, including AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Bluetooth.

Price: $1,500

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Sony HT-A9 Speaker System

Sony

The Sony HT-A9 is an innovative home theater system that does away with the soundbar completely. Instead, it’s comprised of a control box, which you plug into your TV, and four wireless speakers that you place around the room. The four speakers — which act dedicated right, left, rear-right and rear-left channels — talk to each other wirelessly and are able to deliver an immersive surround sound experience that supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. The system will support Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect for easy music streaming, as well.

Price: $1,800

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Sony HT-A7000 Soundbar

Sony

The Sony HT-A7000 is the company’s newest high-end Dolby Atmos soundbar. It’s 7-channel soundbar with two HDMI 2.1 with eARC connections, meaning it’ll work with the latest-and-greatest 4K and 8K televisions as well as the latest generation consoles (like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X). It can stream high-resolution audio, including Sony’s immersive audio format, 360 Reality Audio; it also supports Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect. The Sony HT-A7000 soundbar costs $1,300 on its own. You add the company’s newest SA-RS3S satellite speakers for an extra $350, or $400 or $700 on own of its two new subwoofers.

Price: $1,300+

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TCL Roku TV Wireless Sound Bar

TCL

TCL has been in the business of affordable 4k TVs for years and it has made various lines of soundbar-and-subwoofer systems to pair with those TVs, too. The company’s newest soundbar, the Roku TV Wireless Soundbar, is its first “wireless” soundbar, meaning unlike its previous soundbars, the Roku TV Wireless Soundbar doesn’t have any HDMI or other audio ports. You plug it, pair it to your Roku TV over Wi-Fi and it just works. It’s designed as a simple solution for people who want to get better sound out of their Roku TV without having to pay too much.

Price: $180

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Klipsch Cinema 1200 and 800 Soundbars

Klipsch

Klipsch announced its first two Dolby Atmos soundbars. The Cinema 120o ($1,499) is a 5.1.4 surround sound system (which is able to decode Atmos in full 7.1.​4) and the Cinema 800 ($799) is a more traditional soundbar-and-subwoofer combo. Other than the size and power of the soundbar and wireless woofer (and the fact that the Cinema 800 doesn’t with satellite speakers), the two systems are very similar. They both connect to your TV via an eARC-enabled HDMI 2.1 port (which supports the passthrough of up to 8K HDR and Dolby Vision). And they have built-in Bluetooth and support Alexa and Google Assistant.

Price: $799 — $1,499

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Monoprice SB-600

Courtesy

The SB-600 is a complete 5.1.2 that costs less than $500, making it one of the most affordable surround sound systems you can buy. It has a host of connectivity options, including coaxial, optical, USB and a 3.5mm line-in jack. It also has built-in Bluetooth for streaming music when not watching TV.

Price: $450

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Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+

Courtesy

The Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ is a Dolby Atmos soundbar that’s very much a competitor to the Sonos Arc. It costs the same ($899) and has pretty much all the same connections and abilities; Bluesound is known for its ecosystem of wireless multi-room speakers, just like Sonos, so the Pulse Soundbar+ can easily be built out into a true surround sound system. It’s available in either black or white finishes, although the later costs $100 extra.

Price: $899+

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Apple Is Rumored to Be Working on Three External Displays

Apple and LG are apparently working on three displays set to launch in 2022. According to leaker @dylandkt, two of the displays fit the sizing specifications of the next-gen 24-inch iMac and a rumored upcoming 27-inch iMac Pro, while the third display is a 32-inch model that could be the next-generation of the $4,999 Pro Display XDR, which Apple released in the fall of 2019.

Apple and LG have had a long standing relationship when it comes to displays. In fact, other than the Pro Display XDR, the only other monitors that Apple has sold for the past several years has been LG’s UltraFine line of 4K and 5K monitors. It’s unknown if the 24-inch and 27-inch models are for the rumored next-generation iMac and iMac Pro, but they could be Apple-branded standalone displays, instead. And that would be the first “entry-level” (or not “super pro-level”) displays that Apple has sold since 2016.

The upcoming next-generation of the Pro Display XDR is maybe the most exciting of the bunch, as it is rumored to be integrated with a custom Apple silicon chipset. 9to5Mac published a similar rumor back in July, but this could mean that display’s built-in CPU and GPU could help it deliver higher-resolution graphics with even better performance, thanks to the fact it wouldn’t depend as much on your Mac’s built-in CPU and GPU.

Of course, this is the time of year when rumors are rampant as for what Apple could release in 2022. But here’s to crossing our fingers that relatively affordable Apple-branded displays are on the horizon.

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This Is the Futuristic Game Boy You’ve Been Waiting For

It’s finally here. The Analogue Pocket ($219) — a gorgeous new portable console that can play old Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advanced games in really high definition — was announced more than two years ago but, because of mostly pandemic-related production delays and supply chain issues, it’s only now being released to the world.

If you pre-ordered the Pocket this past summer, you should be receiving the console very shortly (shipping starts today, December 13). If you preorder tomorrow (December 14), which is when it opens back up again, you’ll Pocket will arrive sometime in Q1 of 2022. But you’ll have to be quick because if you miss the boat then there’s a chance your Pocket won’t come until 2023. Demand is very high.

I’ve been lucky enough to test several of Analogue’s high-end retro consoles over the last few years, including the Nt mini and the Super Nt, but the Pocket just feels different. Maybe it’s because the company’s first portable console, or that it looks so damn sleek, or that it hits home more because I spent so much time playing Game Boy and Game Boy Color when was a kid, but after spending the last two weeks with the Pocket I can say that it’s easily the coolest retro gaming console I’ve ever tested. It’s fucking awesome.

Tucker Bowe

The Pocket does exactly what Analogue’s other retro consoles do: it plays old games, but upscales them so they look and sound way better. According to Analogue, the Pocket is plays games at 10x the resolution of the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color and 6x the resolution of Game Boy Advanced (although there’s a slight difference in screen aspect ratio). And it really does make a huge difference.

When comparing the Pocket side-by-side with my old Game Boy Color — it’s night and day. The Pocket’s screen is a bigger and way more pixel rich, so games are so much more vibrant and colorful. It’s also way brighter and, thanks to its backlit LED panel, you can easily play games in the dark. In fact, I found myself wondering how my kid-self was even able to see the screen of the Game Boy Color, which, even in the wrong light, becomes almost impossible to see.

Tucker Bowe

Admittedly, I never owned a Game Boy Advance so I’m not as well-suited to make a comparison, but Analogue did send over some old GBA cartridges (Mario Kart, Castlevania and Advanced Wars 2, specifically) and they worked without a hitch, even if I was frustratingly bad at each. Turns out, old games are hard.

But the Pocket isn’t just special for its ability to make old games look good. Analogue gave it a bunch of new features and abilities that make it kind of feel like a new portable console. It has a USB-C charging port, loud stereo speakers, re-mappable buttons and 3.5mm headphone jack so you can play games with sound in private. There’s even a built-in synthesizer, which is a cheeky wink to the modding and music communities who have turning original Game Boys into chiptune synths for years.

Tucker Bowe

The most convenient new feature, at least for me, is the Pocket’s new sleep/wake feature. It allows you to quick press the power button and put the Pocket in a low power mode instead of turning it off; that way you can quickly boot up and pick up the game right where you left off, like in the middle of a Bomberman level or in the middle of Pokemon battle, without having to reboot the game. So it’s a huge deal if you forget to save your game before turning it off, either.

Additionally, Analog is releasing a number of accessories for the Pocket, including various cables that will allow you trade and battle friends, as well as cartridge adapters for Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket and Atari Lynx games — as if there weren’t enough game options. However, maybe the coolest thing is a dock ($100) that, just like the Nintendo Switch, allows you to play games on your TV with wired or wireless controllers.

Tucker Bowe

The Pocket costs $219, which doesn’t actually feel that much considering its cool factor and how well made it is. The only downsides, as far as I can tell, is that the Pocket doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth (so no wireless headphones, unless you get an adapter) and it’s 6-hour battery life isn’t sensational (it takes about two hours to charge its 4,400mAh battery).

The biggest cost will probably be buying the game cartridges, which can be tricky because some of the most popular games can be difficult to find (and there are a lot of fakes out there). But if you have a lot of games already, you’re good to go — and you’ve probably ordered the Pocket months ago.

Due to component price increases, Analogue has increased the price of the Pocket from $200 to $219, meaning if you were on the first wave of Pocket preorders you saved $19.

Analogue Pocket

store.analogue.co

$219.00

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All Our Favorite Home-Office Upgrades of 2021

This story is part of our end-of-year series This Year in Gear rounding up the most notable releases of 2021. For more stories like this, click here.

For plenty of people, 2021 became the year the home office turned from a temporary stopgap to a more permanent proposition, and that means it’s going to need to be kitted out with appropriate gear for the long haul. There was no shortage of work-from-home gadgetry that dropped this year. Here are the highlights.

Twelve South SurfaceSnap

Courtesy

The SurfaceSnap is a unique and elegant cable management solution. It’s a leather band with button snaps that can be attached to the side or underside of a desk via an adhesive (and it leaves no trace when removed). You can purchase the SurfaceSnap in two different colors, black or grey. ($30 gets you a three-pack.)

Price: $30

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Jabra Evolve2 30

Courtesy

The Evolve2 30 is a new $100 headset that’s designed for the new breed of mobile workers. The wired headset easily plugs into your laptop or desktop and, thanks to its mic-and-boom, will make you sound significantly better on video calls. There are some on-ear controls for playback, too.

Price: $100

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Satechi USB-C On-the-Go Multiport Adapter

Courtesy

Satechi is well know for its line of Apple-friendly accessories and its latest addition is a high-end USB-C adapter for a MacBook Pro/Air or iPad Pro/Air. It adds nine ports including three USB-C ports (one for your host connection, which supports USB-C PD charging up to 100W), HDMI and VGA display ports, two USB-A charing ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port and slots for your micro/SD card. It costs $100 but Satechi is running promo now through March 15 — get 20-percent off when using code MULTIPORT20 at checkout (works at both Amazon and Satechi’s website).

Price: $100

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Samsung 2021 External Monitors

Courtesy

Samsung announced its new line of S6, S7 and S8 high-resolution monitors, with each model supporting HDR 10 technology, vivid colors and a wide 178-degree viewing angle. The S8 is the company’s flagship line of USB-C monitors with its most beautiful display (99% sRGB color gamut), fastest transfer speeds (up to 10Gbps) and up to 90W charging. The S6 and S7 are Samsung’s slightly more entry-level (read: affordable) lines. No pricing or availability information has yet to be announced.

Price: $480+

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Colorful M1 iMacs

Apple

Apple announced new iMacs that are decked out with its M1 processing chip, 24-inch display, a thinner design, a smaller base, a 1080p webcam, improved microphones and better speakers (that support Dolby Atmos). The new iMac will be available in seven new colors, too, including red, white, blue, green, purple, orange and yellow.

Price: $1,499

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Microsoft Modern Webcam

Courtesy

Microsoft’s newest webcam is a pretty basic option. It supports an HD video (not 4K) and connects to your computer via USB-A (not USB-C). It comes with a privacy shutter and has a built-in LED light that will indicate when it’s on. If you’re looking for a fairly affordable option that will upgrade your laptop or desktop setup, this looks to be a solid option. It will be available this June.

Price: $70

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Anker PowerConf C300 Webcam

Courtesy

Anker is getting into the webcam market. The PowerConf C300 is a 1080p webcam that connects to your computer via USB-A. The neat thing about it is that Anker has integrated an AI chip that enables what the company is calling “smart framing,” which allows the webcam to keep you in focus as you move around the screen. The PowerConf C300 is available right now.

Price: $130

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Simplehuman Cleanstation

Simplehuman

Simplehuman is best known for its excellent and well designed (and yes, expensive) trash cans, and the company has taken that same ethos and integrated into its first-ever UV smartphone sanitizer. The Cleanstation works kind of like a toaster; you place your smartphone into the top, it automatically lowers, sanitizers and (30 seconds later) rises up a clean smartphone. Its UV light chamber sanitizes all around the smartphone, so you don’t have to sanitize each side separately. And it’s available in three aluminum finishes: brushed, slate or white.

Price: $200

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Nomad Base Station Mini

Nomad

Nomad announced a smaller and more affordable of its Base Station wireless charging pad. The Base Station Mini looks almost identical to the company’s existing wireless chargers — a combination of metal and leather — but it’s only large enough to charge one wireless device at a time. It’s powered by USB-C and as an integrated LED that lights up to let you know when it’s charging. It costs $60, but you’ll need a separate 20-watt USB-C wall adapter to get the most out of it because Nomad doesn’t include one. (Nomad can bundle its own USB-C adapter for an extra $14.)

Price: $70

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SteelSeries Rival 5

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The Rival 5 is SteelSeries’s newest gaming mouse. It’s affordable and versatile, and should be a good fit for most gamers, whether they’re playing Valheim, Fortnite or Minecraft. It has a number of primary and thumb buttons, toggle bars, an RGB-backlit scroll wheel and a DPI switcher. It also has a TrueMove Air optical sensor for accuracy. Its lightweight and ergonomic design should make it comfortable, too. And at just $60, it’s a good chunk cheaper than a lot of other gaming and standard mice (like Apple’s $79 Magic Mouse).

The Rival 5 is available now.

Price: $60

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Epos B20 Streaming Microphone

Courtesy

The Epos B20 is the company’s newest USB microphone that’s designed for gamers, streamers and podcasters — or basically anybody who wants a better mic for their work-from-home computer setup. It supports 24bit audio (so you can record in high-resolution) and, conveniently, it comes with a desk stand. It’s compatible with Mac and PC.

Price: $149

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Linedock 16″

Courtesy

We’ve covered Linedock pretty extensively in the past. The company makes 3-in-1 gadgets (that share the same name) that each work a docking station, a portable power bank and an external hard drive. More importantly, they’re designed to perfectly match and fit under your MacBook Pro. The company’s newest gadget, the Linedock 16″, is designed specifically to match the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which Apple first introduced in late 2019. (Note: the $479 model doesn’t come with any extra storage.)

Price: $479+

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Dell UltraSharp Webcam

Dell

Dell announced a high-end webcam that can work with either Windows 10 PCs or Macs. The UltraSharp Webcam is a true 4K webcam (a rarity) that connects to your computer via USB-C. You can adjust the resolution and the frame rates of the captured video — it can capture 4K at 30fps or 24 fps, and 1080p video at up to 60fps — and it also has some neat AI tricks to keep you in frame and in focus. The only real downside is that, considering its steep price, it lacks a mic.

Price: $200

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Satechi Stand & Hub for Mac Mini with SSD Enclosure

Satechi

This is Satechi’s new stand-and-hub combo that’s optimized for the M1 Mac mini. It has a hidden enclosure for M.2 SATA SSD storage (which all recent Macs have), meaning you can more affordably add storage (rather than buying an external SSD). The stand-and-hub combo sits flush underneath your M1 Mac mini, connects via a single USB-C connection, and adds a bunch of much-need ports, including a USB-C data port (5Gbps), three USB-A ports (5Gbps), both micro SD and SD card readers, and a headphone jack. It’s available right now.

Price: $100

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Plugable USBC-HUB7BC hub

Plugable

This is a first-of-its-kind of docking station. It has seven USB-A ports, all of which can charge and transfer data (up to 5Gbps) at the same time. It comes with USB-A (3.0) and USB-C adapter cable, too, so it can work with a newer USB-C laptop or older laptop with a USB-A connection. And its stackable design means you can add two (or three) in case you (or a classroom) need to charge a bunch of devices simultaneously.

Price: $49

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Kensington StudioCaddy

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The StudioCaddy is neat little charging dock for your various Apple devices. It plugs into the wall for power, and has an integrated charging stand for your iPhone and a wireless charging pad for your AirPods Pro (or AirPods, should they support wireless charging). There are USB-C and USB-A ports on the side of the device to simultaneously charge your MacBook and iPad. And, thanks to its modular design, you can add vertical stands to hold said MacBook and iPad without taking up much desk space.

Price: $179

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Anker PowerExpand 9-in-1 USB-C PD Dock

Anker

Anker’s newest dock supports 60-watts of passthrough charging via USB-C. It can also add a bunch of new ports to your workstation, including USB-A (3x), USB-C (1x), a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Gigabit Ethernet connection. It also has an HDMI port that supports 4K and a DisplayPort port, so it can be used to connect up to two external monitors (although, it can only be used with one external monitor when connected to a M1 Mac). It’s available for purchase now.

Price: $149

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Samsung Odyssey Neo G9

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Samsung announced a beast of gaming monitor this week. The Odyssey Neo G9 is a 49-inch curved monitor that packs a Mini LED backlit panel — the same technology used into Samsung’s high-end line of Neo QLED TVs — to help it get really bright (up to 2,000 nits) and still achieve deep blacks with excellent contrast. It also supports 240Hz refresh rates and 1ms response time. The fact that it packs two HDMI 2.1 ports means that you can hook up the Odyssey Neo G9 to either your PC or a next-gen gaming console.

Price: $2,499

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Logitech Circle View

Logitech

Logitech announced a new smart home camera, the Circle View, that’s designed to work within Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem (in fact, it doesn’t work with any other smart home ecosystem). It’s the next generation version of the Circle 2 and has mostly the same capabilities, such as 1080p video capture, 180-degree FOV, two-way talk, and night vision. The difference is that the Circle View has a completely different design — it’s not modular — and there’s a privacy button on the back that lets you shut off the mic and camera in one fell swoop.

Price: $160

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HP 2021 X-Series of Gaming Monitors

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HP revealed its 2021 lineup of X-Series gaming monitors this week — and there are seven of them. They range in includes 27-inch and 34-inch gaming monitors that have flat and curved screens, screen resolutions that are either 1080p or 1440p, and come in prices ranging from $260 to $460. Each monitor has the same number of ports, support for the VESA mounts (which can be lowered or raised) and a panel with the same peak brightness.

Price: $260+

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Satechi USB-C Clamp Hub

Courtesy

Satechi’s newest USB-C accessory adds ports to your M1 Mac in a pretty clever way: a clamp. It attaches to the base of the display, right near its rear-port array, and adds six ports — USB-A (3x), USB-C (1x) and SD and Micro SD card readers — while also elevating off of your desk. The other neat thing is that Satechi is making the Clamp Hub in silver and blue so that it will match the colorful M1 Mac. (If you have an M1 Mac with one of the other five colors, you’re out of luck for now.)

Price: $55

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Twelve South StayGo mini

Twelve South

The StayGo mini is a USB-C hub for Apple’s latest iPad Air and iPad Pro, as well as any one of its latest MacBook. It adds USB-A, HDMI (supports one 4K external display) and USB-C ports, the latter for passthrough power, as well as a dedicated headphone jack. It’s essentially a smaller and more affordable version of the company’s StayGo.

Price: $60

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Logi Dock

Logitech

The Logi Dock is Logitech’s newest all-in-one hub for your home workstation. It’s decked out with multiple ports — USB-C (3x), USB-A (2x), DisplayPort and HDMI — and it supports up to 100-watts of passthrough power, which allows it to power up to two external monitors and charge your laptop. However, what makes the Logi Dock really unique is its built-in speaker (along with excellent mics) that are designed to elevate your video conferencing experience. It’s compatible with both Macs and Windows PCs, as well as popular video conferencing services like Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. It’s also available in two colors: white or graphite (shown).

Price: $399

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Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub

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Plugable announced a neat new hub for USB-C laptops. It adds a number of useful ports and is compatible with many of today’s most popular USB-C standards — most significantly being Thunderbolt 4. The big thing with Thunderbolt 4 is that allows for faster data transfer (up to 40Gpbs), 60-watts of power deliver and support for up to two 4K displays (both over USB-C).

The nicely named “TBT4-HUB3C” hub is available now and is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers.

Price: $189

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Plugable UD-3900C

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Plugable’s newest docking station, the UD-3900C, is both powerful and movable. It’s designed for hybrid workers who are used to “hot-desking,” or sitting in a different area of the office each day. The UD-3900C can connect to your laptop via a USB-C or USB-A connection, and it adds a number of ports for your peripherals: HDMI (2x), USB-A 3.0 (2x), USB-A 2.0 (4x), two 3.5mm audio jacks (for a microphone and headphones) and a Gigabit Ethernet port for a wired connection.

The Plugable UD-3900C is available now.

Price: $119

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YubiKey Bio Series

YubiKey

Yubico is one of the best-known makers of physical security keys that plug into your device via USB — you can think of them as a type of two-step verification, but instead of a getting a text message or email with a code you have to plug in the physical security key into your device. The company’s newest series of physical security keys, the YibuKey Bio, take that a step further by integrated another layer of security: an integrated fingerprint reader.

Price: $80 (USB-A model); $85 (USB-C model)

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Satechi Pro Hub Mini

Satechi

The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros answered a lot fo peoples’ prayers by bringing back a wide variety of ports (something that had been missing for years). And yet, for some people the new port selection might still not be enough. Enter Satechi’s newest adapter. It connects to the MacBook Pro’s USB-C port and adds even more ports, including an Ethernet and USB-A (2x) ports that are still not on the new Pros, while not blocking off the new MagSafe charger.

Price: $70

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Want to Buy a Sonos Speaker for Christmas? It Might Already Be Too Late

If you were thinking about buying a Sonos speaker or soundbar as a gift for somebody (or yourself) for the holidays, well, that ship might have already sailed. That’s because due to high demand and well-publicized production delays (for a lot of things, not just Sonos speakers), many Sonos speakers are backordered on its website. This means that if you order now, some might arrive right before Christmas, while others are already slated to arrive just after it.

The prime example of this is the Arc, Sonos’s flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar, which if you order now — in black — is scheduled to ship on December 31. That’s right, after Christmas. You can order the Arc in white and it’ll ship immediately, but the vast majority of people prefer a speaker or soundbar in black rather than white.

Other speakers that are already backordered on Sonos’s website include the Five, One SL and the Move — all are estimated to ship in the middle of December, which could cut it close if you want it to arrive before the holidays. The only speakers that aren’t backordered are the One, Roam and the company’s new Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Beam (Gen 2).

Sonos One

Sonos

$219.00

Sonos Roam

Sonos

$179.00

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Sonos

$449.00

There are also a few refurbished options, which have the bonus of coming at a discount! The catch is that choice, and supply, are limited and they go very quickly. For the time being, only three things are still in stock:

Refurbished Beam (Gen 1)

Sonos sonos.com

$259.00

Unlike the second-generation Sonos Beam, this does not support Dolby Atmos sound. But it is much cheaper! 

Refurbished One (Gen 1)

Sonos sonos.com

$129.00

Sonos has already sold out of refurbished models of the Sonos One in black, but the white version is still in stock.  

Refurbished Playbar

Sonos sonos.com

$329.00

You might be thinking, ‘I’ll just order one from Amazon or Best Buy,’ but Amazon’s and Best Buy’s stock of Sonos speakers are already dwindling. Plus there’s the fact that, specifically if you order from Amazon, it is going to charge you a king’s ransom. At the time of writing this article, Amazon is currently selling the Sonos Arc for $1,231 (an up-charge of $332), the the One SL for $268 (an up-charge of $68), and the Roam for $228 (an up-charge of $49). Incredible.

The bottom line: if you want to gift somebody a Sonos speaker or soundbar for the holidays, you should seriously think about ordering it now. The truth is, however, depending on the speaker or soundbar that you want to order, it might already be too late.

If you are committed to getting something Sonos-related, say for people who already have a Sonos speaker system, a great option to buy some accessories like covers, stands or mounts — those are all in stock.

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Apple Watch Series 8: What We Know So Far

Apple only announced one new smartwatch this fall, the Apple Watch Series 7, which was a bit of a surprise as most expected to also get an updated Apple Watch SE. While that might’ve bit a little bit of a letdown at the time, the good news is that 2022 looks set to be the biggest year yet for the Apple Watch. According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the Cupertino giant is working on not two but three new Apple Watch models.

The three rumored Apple Watch models include

• a new flagship (the Series 8)
• an updated version of the SE
• all-new rugged Apple Watch that’s designed for serious athletes

There isn’t a lot of details out there about each of these potential new Apple Watch models quite yet, but it’s expected that the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8 and next-gen SE will adopt the larger display and more-curved design of the Series 7. To keep the price down on the new SE, Apple will again likely omit some fancy features like the always-on display and some higher-end (like the electrical heart and a blood oxygen) sensors.

As for the all-new ruggedized Apple Watch, Gurman suggests that it could have the flat-edged design that was heavily rumored to be given to the Series 7 before it was announced. This same flat-edged design was given to the latest iPhone 13 models to make them more durable, and Apple could be set to do the same thing with a sport-focused Apple Watch. It’s also likely that this new Apple Watch will have a thicker case to make it more resistant to dings, scratches and other potential mishaps.

As for when these new Apple Watch models could be announced, it’s likely we’ll have to wait until next September (when Apple traditionally announced its new Apple Watch models).

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