Can a $150 Tube Amp Stand Up Against the Top Audio Systems?

I have a few music tracks that are my go-to tunes when evaluating stereo systems. They’ve risen to the top not because they test different sound qualities specifically, or because they reflect any show-offy declarations of musical taste, but because they’re just great songs — ones that I’ve listened to thousands of times throughout my life. I know them intimately and can spot playback distinctions like an owl catching a flicker of movement from a mouse buried under 10 inches of snow. Plus, I never tire of them, and when I listen I focus on the delivery, not my fickle reactions to the music itself.

Monoprice 25 Watt Stereo Hybrid Tube Amplifier

Monoprice monoprice.com

$109.99

Auditioning the Monoprice Stereo Hybrid Tube Amp via such perennial favorites presented a special challenge. The shelf system is a 25-watt tube amp system that also has Bluetooth, so you can feed it from your smartphone or tablet. That makes it a hybrid system, using a solid-state power amplifier but a tube pre-amp. The tricky part in evaluating it is identifying what’s making the music sound so: Is it the four vacuum tubes making it sound a certain way, or the speakers and cables, or the fact that it’s streamed through the ether via Bluetooth? The only option in critical thought is to go with your gut, and the only way to find out is to fire up those tubes.

I did so in my den, a smallish room with wooden walls — about the perfect size for shelf systems. If you’re new to the idea of vacuum tubes, they predate more efficient solid-state transistor amplifiers, which are driven entirely by electrical signals, and are effectively the mechanical equivalent in terms of boosting signals and powering speakers. Though outdated by decades, they’re thought by audiophiles to generate a warmer, more realistic sound by virtue of their mechanical operation, especially when the sound is delivered via lossy Bluetooth. They give back the more subtle audio signals that Bluetooth strips away.

Having a hybrid system such as this amplifier permits modern audio sources to pair with the vacuum tube. When you turn it on, simply pair your device with the system and select your track. The tubes glow orange, as does the VU (volume unit) meter on the front. The amp looks retro, particularly with the aluminum cages protecting the vacuum tubes while showing them off. You have the option of cable inputs for audio source, and there’s a headphone jack, as well, so you’re able to control those variables as you like. (You can also upgrade the speakers.)

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I cycled through my tracks and found the system to be much warmer within all of them than my go-to, and much more expensive, shelf system, the Joey Roth Ceramic Speaker and Subwoofer ($1,095). The Monoprice system did more with less, generating robust sound at high volumes through relatively small speakers, though having the subwoofer helped, too, of course. The tube amp also created a more intimate audio experience that, while not as crisp as my go-to Roth system, was exceptionally satisfying and enjoyable. And, naturally, the benefit seemed to match with the song — the more vintage Goo Goo Dolls and Queen sounded slightly better on the tube amp, while Lady Gaga and Maroon 5 tracks favored the Roth system. The Monoprice, notably, was also far better than any other Bluetooth speaker or shelf system that I can think of at this price point. I tried the same tracks in a portable BT speaker and a more mainstream shelf system, and the Monoprice’s sound was significantly better. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that the entire system cost so little — an unbelievable bargain for such a classic experience.

Aesthetically, the amp will look great on your shelf, with its tubes, piano-black shell and silver faceplate. The build quality is solid, but not as polished as pricier vacuum tube units targeted toward the audiophile crowd. The faceplate has some rough edges, the bass and treble dials aren’t nearly as smooth-turning as higher-grade equivalents, and the illuminated VU meter looks a bit chintzy, even as it sits there bouncing happily away to the beat of “Bad Romance.” There’s also a persistent hum emanating from the Monoprice when powered on, but that’s part of the tech — and the charm. Vacuum tubes hum, and this one hums along pretty damn well.

Monoprice 25 Watt Stereo Hybrid Tube Amplifier

Monoprice monoprice.com

$109.99

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The Best Tablets of 2021

Tucker Bowe

Tablets sit in kind of a weird middle ground. They’re bigger than smartphones with most of the same capabilities, and they’re smaller than laptops with not quite the same computing power.

But a dedicated non-phone device for browsing the web, doing art, or sharing with the kids still has a place in the digital ecosystem — the trick is just figuring out exactly what you want it for. Do you just want a bigger screen to browse the web, stream movies or use as an e-reader? Or do you need a tablet that comes with a stylus that allows you to illustrate, take notes or sign documents?

After you know what you want to use the tablet for, you then need to decide what type of tablet you want to buy — aka what ecosystem do you want to live in. For example, do you want a tablet that works seamlessly with your other other Apple or Samsung devices?

Finally, then you need to decide how much you’re willing to spend as well as how small or large of a tablet you want to buy — these two factors go hand-in-hand. You might also need to consider that most tablets don’t come with a lot of accessories, such as a case, keyboard, mouse or even stylus; so you might plan on spending extra for those.

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Best All-Around

Apple iPad mini (2021)

The newest iPad mini ditches the old design of its predecessors and adopts the fuller-screen and squared off sides of the higher-end iPad Air — in fact, the iPad mini is effectively a shrunk-down version of the iPad Air. It has Touch ID integrated into the power button, supports the newest Apple Pencil and has a USB-C port for fast-charging and fast data transfer. It’s a more expensive than the entry-level iPad, but you get so much more and it’s a form-factor that will stay cool for years to come. The only real downside (other than price) is that, because of its size, the new iPad mini is not compatible with Apple’s fancy Magic Keyboard. 

Best Upgrade

Apple iPad Pro (2021)

The iPad Pro is primarily designed for creative professionals, but it’s across-the-board upgrades in display and processing power make it a good upgrade pick even for the non-artistically-inclined. It’s available in two different models, 11-inch and 12.9-inch, which are identical except for their size and displays. Both are decked out with Apple’s M1 chip, a new Thunderbolt USB-C port and they support 5G. The big difference is the 12.9-inch model has a significantly nicer display; specifically, it’s a Liquid Retina XDR display that’s made of over 10,000 mini-LEDs, and it promises a significantly better (read: brighter, more vibrant and with contrast) picture. Like the 2020 models, the new iPad Pros have a 120Hz display to help draw more accurately with the Apple Pencil (the iPad Air’s display maxes out at 60Hz). It also has a dual-camera system and a LiDAR sensor, which helps the iPad Pro shoot improved low-light photos and have enhanced AR capabilities; and it has a similar front-facing system as the latest iPhones, meaning you can unlock the device via Face ID.

Best Budget

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)

The Fire HD 10 is the most advanced tablet that Amazon currently makes — and yet it still costs well under $200. It’s available in two different models, Fire HD 10 and the Fire HD 10 Plus, with the latter model having a few extra features, such as more RAM, support for wireless charging and a more premium finish. Both models of the Fire HD 10 have a 10.1-inch display, which is a slightly bigger and brighter than the Fire HD 8’s display. And compared to the previous generation Fire HD 10, the 2020 models have slimmer bezels, more RAM and, again, their display is a little bit brighter. They also have a front-facing camera that’s better positioned for video calls.

Apple iPad 10.2-Inch (2021)

The 10.2-inch iPad is by far the most popular tablet that Apple makes. It has a nice display, a long battery life, a powerful processor and runs iPadOS, same as Apple’s higher-end tablets. But the biggest drawback of this entry-level iPad is that it has an outdated design. It’s the only current iPad that still has an actual Home button (with Touch ID) and charges via Lightning (instead of USB-C). It also still supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, which is good but doesn’t magnetically clip to the top of the iPad for easy storing/charging/pairing like the second-generation stylus. All-in-all, it’s the best bang-for-your-buck iPad that Apple makes. 

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)

The Fire HD 8 is one of the best affordable tablets you can buy. It’s slightly bigger and more expensive than Amazon’s Fire 7, but it’s also better in a lot of key areas. It has a higher-resolution HD display, a larger battery and, yes, a longer battery life. The other big difference is that the speakers are infinitely better on the Fire HD 8. Instead of Fire 7’s single rear-firing speaker, the Fire HD 8 has a stereo speaker setup that also supports Dolby Atmos — movies and music are going to sound way better, especially if you don’t use headphones. It’s an excellent spare tablet, or one for the kids.

Apple iPad Air (2020)

Apple radically redesigned the iPad Air in 2020, making it very similar to the new design of the high-end iPad Pro. In fact, the iPad Air looks and feels nearly identical to the 11-inch iPad Pro. It’s a little smaller (at 10.9-inches) and has slightly larger bezels, but the main differences lie mainly in the display and camera systems. The iPad Air lacks the high-refresh rate display (maxing out at 60Hz) and has a single-lens rear camera. It also has Touch ID integrated into the side power button, and doesn’t support Face ID. Effectively, the iPad Air is a great tablet for whoever wants the high-end look and feel of the iPad Pro, but doesn’t need some of its more unique and expensive features.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ (2020)

The Galaxy Tab S7+ is Samsung’s high-end tablet that’s really designed to go toe-to-toe with Apple’s iPad Pro line. It has a beautiful 12.4-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a powerful Snapdragon 865+ chipset, a wonderful-sounding speaker that supports Dolby Atmos, and a high-end dual rear-camera system. Samsung includes its stylus, the S Pen, in the box and at no extra cost. If you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and you’re looking for a high-end tablet that will fit into the same suite of apps Samsung services.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020)

Released in late 2020, the Galaxy Tab A7 is one of Samsung’s newest tablets. It’s also designed as essentially a more entry-level alternative to the Galaxy Tab S7+. It has a less powerful Snapdragon 6622 processor, a smaller (10.4-inch) display doesn’t get nearly as bright, and a single rear-camera system. The other big tradeoff is that the Galaxy Tab A7 does not support the S Pen, so you shouldn’t get this if you want to use a stylus to take notes or draw.

Amazon Fire 7 (2019)

Amazon makes some of the best budget tablets that you can buy, and the Fire 7 is the cheapest of the bunch — it costs less than $50. It gets its name from its 7-inch display, but when compared to Amazon’s more expensive tablets, it really comes down to hardware. The Fire 7 is very similar to the Fire HD 8, but is just a little bit smaller and lacks that same HD display. Other than that, it has pretty much all the same capabilities. You can use it to stream shows or music, or use it as an e-reader. If you have a Fire TV, you can also use the Fire as a remote control.

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This Trick Makes iCloud+ Pay for Itself

With iOS 15, Apple is rolling out its handy Hide My Email feature to millions of iPhone owners, a service which automatically creates unique email addresses that forward to your main inbox, so you can get emails without having to give out your real address.

It’s designed to protect you from information harvesting but as one Redditor has realized (and graciously shared): it’s also a gateway to extra new-customer trials and discounts.

Because Hide My Email generates a random Apple address, using the feature to make new accounts on websites where you already have one can result in a particularly useful combination of factors: a new member discount + emails that still come to your normal inbox.

There are a few catches. First, some services may be able to tell you aren’t a new customer based on your payment information, or may (understandably) stop offering these discounts to these types of email addresses. Second, Hide My Email requires iCloud+, which isn’t free. But the lowest iCloud+ tier costs just $1 a month in the United States, enough that a couple new member discounts can almost certainly cover the cost.

Is this the intended use of this feature? Of course not! Will retailers start putting checks in place to prevent this kind of … advanced couponing? Quite possibly! But that’s bound to happen no matter what you do. Is it something you wanna do? That’s up to you, but it can certainly save you a buck or two.

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The Best and Biggest Gadgets of October 2021

October brought a whole ton of new products this year, including drops from Apple like the redesigned MacBook Pros and new AirPods, plus things like Google’s next flagship phone, the Pixel 6.

Here’s what you need to know about from this month.

14- and 16- MacBook Pros

Apple

Without a doubt, the biggest new product announcement was Apple’s new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. They’re decked out with features that Pro users have been asking for years, such as more ports, a physical row of function keys, the return of MagSafe charging, an even more beautiful display and a better webcam. More importantly, they can be configured with Apple’s new higher-end silicone chipsets, the M1 Pro and M1 Max, which promise to put even last year’s much-lauded M1 chipset to shame in terms of power, graphics and efficiency.

The new MacBook Pros are available for preorder now and start shipping next week (October 26).

Price: $1,999+

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AirPods (3rd-Generation)

Apple

After months of rumors, Apple finally announced its third-generation AirPods and they are the new middle child of Apple’s AirPods lineup. They are priced between the AirPods (now just $129) and the AirPods Pro, and they look and work like a mix of the two as well. They have the shorter stem of the AirPods Pro, but also lack the in-ear design and silicone eartips — so they fit in your ears more similarly to the original AirPods. And they lack the active-noise cancellation and transparency modes modes of the Pro, but still support spatial audio and adaptive EQ. That said, Apple did these new AirPods some unique features, such as a magnetic charging case that can stick to a MagSafe charger (although there’s no charging speed advantage) and the best battery life (up to 6 hours per earbud) of any AirPods to date.

The third-generation AirPods are available for preorder now and start shipping next week (October 26).

Price: $179

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Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

Google

Google announced its much-anticipated flagship smartphones, the Pixel 6 and the Pixel Pro. Not only do they have the most “Pro” displays and camera systems that Google has ever put in its smartphones, but they also are the first Pixels to feature Google’s new custom processor called Tensor. This new custom processor was specifically designed for Pixels (similar to how Apple designs its own iPhone chipsets) and it will help them really excellent battery life and power some of the fancy AI features (such as real-time language translations and new computational photography skills) that Pixels have become known for. As far as differences between the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, there aren’t many. The Pro has a bigger better display, an extra telephoto lens, and a better selfie camera.

The Pixel 6 starts at $599 and the Pixel 6 Pro starts at $899. Both be preordered right now and will hit shelves October 28.

Price: $599+

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Nikon Z9

Nikon

The Nikon Z9 is the company’s long-awaited new flagship full-frame mirrorless camera — and it’s fast, really fast. It has an all-new high-speed sensor (45.7-megapixel stacked CMOS) and a new processor (EXPEED 7) that powers a super-fast and super-intelligent auto-focus system that can capture photos at up to 120fps. It’s also capable of recording 8K (at 30fps) and 4K (up to 120fps) videos. It’s designed as a true weapon for professional photographers, especially those capturing action sports or fast-moving wildlife.

Price: $5,500

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Master & Dynamic MG20

Master & Dynamic

Master & Dynamic has brought its love of premium materials and hi-fi sound into the gaming world. The MG20 is the company’s first-ever gaming headset. It has magnesium earcups, anodized aluminum arms, lambskin leather earpads and an Alcantara headband. Inside, it packs 50mm Beryllium drivers that support aptX HD and 7.1 surround sound. The headset is really designed for PlayStation and PC gamers, as there’s a USB adapter to establish a low-latency connection, but it supports aptX Low-Latency for smartphone gamers as well. The other neat thing is that it’s technically a “hybrid” gaming headset because, thanks to a detachable boom mic, you can use it as regular wireless over-ear headphones when you’re not gaming.

The MG20 will be available in two colors (white or black) starting November 16.

Price: $450

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Wyze Switch and Wyze Bulb White

Wyze

Wyze announced a number of new smart home gadgets this week, including a new solar panel and new smart bulbs, but the Wyze Switch is probably the most interesting of the bunch. It’s the company’s first smart switch, which replaces an existing light switch in your home and then allows you to control those traditional lights with voice commands (compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri) or via the Wyze app. The only real downside is that the smart switch doesn’t allow you to dim your lights.

A 3-pack of these smart switches costs $33. They’re available for preorder now, with shipping set to start in December.

Price: $33 (3-pack)

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Plugable UD-3900C

Courtesy

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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Vive Flow

HTC

The Vive Flow is the newest VR headset by HTC and it looks drastically different from pretty much every other VR headset out there. (In fact, it it looks kind of like an overgrown pair of sport sunglasses for Vuarnet.) It’s a completely wireless headset — you’re not tethered to anything — that’s designed to be compact, more portable and comfortable. It also doesn’t come with controllers (you’ll have to have an Android smartphone, instead), which is why the Vive Flow is designed for more general entertainment, like watching 360-degree videos and interactive experiences, rather than intense VR gaming.

The Vive Flow will be available in November.

Price: $499

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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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Wyze Video Doorbell Pro

Wyze

Wyze announced a “Pro” version of its $30 Video Doorbell (released in 2020). At $65, it’s more than twice as expensive — which is still really affordable compared to other video doorbells — but it also comes with more features. The most significant thing is that you can use it wired or wirelessly, thanks to its built-in battery, but it also has a slightly better camera (in terms of resolution and field-of-view) and a wireless chime that you can place inside your home (so you can hear when somebody rings the doorbell). Like before, you’ll need to pay a small subscription fee ($1.49/mon) to get some of its more advanced features, like people and package detection.

The Wyze Video Door Pro is available for preorder now, but you’ll have to wait until December for it to ship.

Price: $65

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke Edition

Samsung

Samsung didn’t exactly any new hardware at its Unpacked event this week, but it did announce a customizable version of its foldable smartphone. You can now order the Galaxy Z Flip3 with its front and back panels in a variety of different color, and you also have the choice of a black or silver frame. (There are apparently 49 different color combinations, according to Engadget.) This “Bespoke Edition” will cost you an extra $100 from the regular Galaxy Z Flip3.

Price: $1,099+

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PhoneSoap SurfaceSoap UV Wand

Phone Soap

PhoneSoap specializes in making gadgets that use blue light clean your other gadgets, and the SurfaceSoap UV is its latest travel-friendly entry. It’s a UV wand that you turn on and wave over personal items, be it your car keys or your iPad, and it kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria and pathogens. There’s also a built-in hand guard to prevent your hand from rubbing up against something you haven’t cleaned yet.

The SurfaceSoap UV Wand is available for preorder now and is expected to ship in mid-November.

Price: $200

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Apple 140-Watt USB-C Power Adapter

Apple

One thing that Apple didn’t really talk about at its Mac event is its new adapter ever, which is the most powerful one it’s ever made. The 140-watt USB-C wall adapter ships with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro and uses gallium nitride (GaN) technology, which it to fit more power in a smaller package; when paired with the new USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable, it can give the new MacBook Pro a 50-percent charge in just 30 minutes. For those interested, Apple is going to also sell this wall adapter separately for $99.

Price: $99

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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Soundcore Frames

Anker

Soundcore, the audio division of Anker, announced its first pair of audio glasses: the Soundcore Frames. They’re more similar to the Bose Frames, as opposed to the Facebook x Ray-Ban Stories, because they don’t have any kind of built-in cameras or social component — they’re strictly sunglasses and eyeglasses with speakers built into each arm so they work like any pair of Bluetooth headphones. The difference with the Soundcore Frames (compared to the Bose Frames) is that the arms are detachable and you can swap them with different frames (there are 10 different styles) to get a different look.

Price: $200

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Jabra Evolve2 75

Jabra

The Evolve2 75 is what Jabra is calling a “hybrid headset,” meaning it is designed as a work headset with excellent call clarity (thanks to it boom microphone) and compatibility with Zoom and Microsoft Teams (and others). The boom microphone folds up into the right earcup so that they can be disguised as a regular pair of noise-canceling wireless headphones, too. Basically, they’ll designed for both work and play.

The Jabra Evolve2 75 is available now.

Price: $349

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Tile Mate, Pro, Slim, and Sticker (Updated Models)

Tile

Tile announced next-generation versions of several of its Bluetooth trackers — specifically the Mate (keychain fob), Slim (card), Pro (smaller keychain fob) and Sticker (attachable button) — all of which are getting improved range and water-resistance, as well as updated designs. All of them (save for the Sticker) are gaining a new Lost and Found feature, which allows strangers to scan a QR code on the back of the tracker, get your contact information and thus return your item (and tracker) back to you.

All these next-generation Bluetooth trackers are available now.

Price: $25 — $35

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V-Moda Hexamove Lite and Pro

V-Moda

V-Moda, the audio company best known for its DJ-approved Crossfade headphones, announced its first two pairs of wireless earbuds. There’s the Hexamove Lite ($130) and the Hexamove Pro ($180). Both pairs of wireless earbuds are basically the identical — same hexagonal shape and same sound — and allow you to customize them with different “shields,” so you can make them look how you want. The difference is that the “Pro” version come with swappable silicone earhooks and an optional wire neck strap, to give you a better fit and prevent you from losing them. The Pro versions also work with a companion that lets you tweak the EQ. Neither earbuds support wireless charging or have ANC.

Price: $130 — $180

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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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Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro

Anker

Soundcore’s latest flagship wireless earbuds, the Liberty 3 Pro, aim to deliver high-end sound and premium features at a reasonable price. They are the successor to the Liberty 2 Pro (released in 2019) and have a similar earwing design, but they are 30-percent smaller. They have active-noise cancellation and support high-resolution audio (including Sony’s LDAC, which enables them to stream higher-quality audio than most other wireless earbuds), which their predecessors lacked. And the charging case supports wireless charging.

The Liberty 3 Pro are available right now and come in four colors: black, white, purple or gray.

Price: $170

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Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X and 900 Pro X

Beyerdynamic

Beyerdynamic announced the latest studio quality headphones in its hugely popular Pro X line. There’s the DT 700 Pro X (closed back, pictured) and the DT 900 Pro X (open-backed), both of which feature the company’s famed cushy velour earpads, along with a brand-new driver that promise to deliver a neutral, realistic sound. The headphones also have a low impedance (48 ohms), meaning they’re easy to drive and plug-and-play ready — no separate headphone amp required.

Both headphones cost $299 and are available now.

Price: $299

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Sony SRS-NS7 Wireless Neckband Speaker

Sony

The category of “wearable speaker” is a little bit of a weird one. They are speakers designed for people who work in a solitary environment and don’t risk disturbing other people in the room, or people who don’t like wearing headphones for long periods of time. Sony’s newest wearable speaker, the SRS-NS7, is unique because it’s the first to support Dolby Atmos as well as Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, so it’s able to deliver a more immersive listening experience. And if you pair to one of Sony’s latest Bravia TVs, the SRS-NS7 turns into a wearable surround sound system for your home theater.

Price: $300

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Acer Aspire Vero

Acer

Acer announced a handful of Windows 11-ready laptops this week, with the Aspire Vero arguably being the most interesting because it’s an “eco-friendly” laptop. It’s made from recycled plastic and other sustainable materials, but it’s also a powerful machine running the Intel’s latest 11th-generation processors. The 15-inch laptop will start as low as $700 and should be available for purchase in early November.

Price: $700+

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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)

Sonos x Ikea Symfonisk Table Lamp Speaker (Gen 2)

Ikea

Sonos and Ikea announced the second-generation of their table lamp speaker. It’s different from the previous model in that Ikea is now giving you to the option to buy one of two lamp bases (in either white or black) and then you can pair it with one of two lampshades: one glass and one a see-through textile. The lamp base will cost $140, while the glass and textile lampshades will cost $39 and $29, respectively, putting the total cost right around the $179 of the original. Just like before, the base of the table lamp will work just like a Sonos One SL speaker (no built-in voice assistant).

You’ll be able to purchase the new table lamp speaker on October 12.

Price: $169 – $179

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Sony WF-C500 Wireless Earbuds

Sony

Sony announced a new pair of wireless earbuds and the big selling point: they cost just $100. TheWF-C500 are smaller earbuds than the company’s flagship 1000XM4, and lack active noise-cancellation as well as the same sound quality. They do have support for the company’s 360 Reality Audio and are compatible with Headphones app so you can tweak the EQ settings, however. They also charge via USB-C and support quick-charging; a 10-min charge will get you roughly an hour of playtime.

The Sony WF-C500 are available for preorder today with general shipping set to start

Price: $100

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Sony WH-XB910N ANC Headphones

Sony

The Sony WH-XB910N are the company’s newest pair of budget noise-canceling over-ear headphones. They take the place of the WH-XB900N in the company’s lineup, but have a much sleeker design that’s more akin to its flagship WH-1000XM4 headphones. They are set to have improved sound, noise-cancellation and call quality compared to their predecessors — just don’t expect them to be quite at the level of its flagship cans.

Price: $249

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Skullcandy Grind Fuel and Push Active

Skullcandy

Skullcandy announced two new pairs of wireless earbuds this week: the Grind Fuel (pictured) and the Push Active. The Grind Fuel are the slightly higher-end of the two. They have a traditional earbud design, an IP55 water-resistance rating and work with the company’s companion app so you can adjust your sound preferences. The Push Active are more fitness focused and have an earhook design. The big thing with both sets of wireless earbuds is that they work with “Hey Skullcandy” voice commands, which allow you to hands-free adjust volume, skip sounds and answer calls. These voice commands are neat for two other specific reasons; they are compatible with Spotify and they work offline, so you can request songs and playlists if they are downloaded on your phone.

Price: $80 — $100

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Wyze Scale S

Wyze

Wyze announced new smart scale that costs $15. It’s “smart” because it sends all your metrics to a companion app, which then allows you track your fitness and set goals. It also is compatible with Fitbit, Google Fit and Apple Health, meaning it will sync with the fitness app you already use. The Scale S capable of tracking 10 different metrics in addition to weight, including body fat, body mass, bone mass and body water percentage.

The Wyze Scale S is available for preorder, with shipping set to start in November.

Price: $15

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Amazon Astro

Amazon

At this week’s big hardware event, the standout announcement was Astro, a tiny Alexa robot on wheels. It has built-in speakers and a built-in display, so it can follow you around and play music, movies/shows, and help with video calls. It also has a pop-up camera, meaning that Astro can work as a moveable smart home camera to monitor your home, pets or people who need extra care (like elderly) when you aren’t there.

Price: $999 (introductory price)

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Blink Video Doorbell

Amazon

The Blink Video Doorbell is a simple smart video doorbell that’s designed to work with an Alexa smart home. It comes in wired or wire-free models and delivers a lot features you’d expect in a smart doorbell, like HD video, night vision, motion detection and two-way audio. Of course, the big thing is that it costs just $50, which is substantially cheaper than most other options currently out there.

Price: $50

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The Best Smartwatches of 2021— Which Is Right for You?

The Tiny iPad Should Be the Go-To iPad. Here’s Why

There’s a simple reason why the 10.2-inch iPad — known simply as “iPad” — is Apple’s most popular tablet: it’s less expensive than all the rest. Apple sells it for just $329 but schools and students can buy it for even less.

Despite its popularity, however, it’s not the entry-level iPad most people should buy. That honor falls on Apple’s new iPad Mini, a tablet I’ve been testing since its launch in mid-September.

Apple

iPad Mini (2021)

apple.com

$499.00

Credit where it’s due, of course. Apple’s starter iPad a perfectly good tablet for people who just want to stream movies and shows, check email and casually browse the web. But it looks, feels and works like an iPad from yesteryear.

The iPad Mini flips the script by adopting the new-age design of Apple’s more expensive tablets — squared-off sides, flat edges, slimmer bezels, a display that takes up most of its front, and support for USB-C charging. Despite its size, it has basically the same look, feel and feature-set as the 2020 iPad Air. Now, that is exciting.

Tucker Bowe

Every iPad model that Apple sells these days has support for an Apple Pencil. But if you desire to draw — and draw seriously — then the iPad mini is where you want to start. Not only does it support Apple’s second-generation stylus (which is better in pretty much every way), but it works in tandem with the iPad mini’s Liquid Retina display so that it feels like you’re actually drawing on the surface. On the 10.2-inch iPad’s regular (non-Liquid) Retina display, it shows a slight separation between the tip of your first-generation Apple Pencil and what you’re drawing. It’s subtle, but definitely noticeable.

If you watch a lot of videos or listen to music, then the iPad Mini remains a better bet. It has a true stereo speaker system with left and right channel speakers on either side of its display (but only in landscape mode), whereas the cheaper 10.2-inch iPad only has one speaker. This makes a big difference in sound quality, whether you’re watching YouTube videos or playing a mobile game on Apple Arcade, if you’re not listening to headphones.

Then there’s the size of the iPad Mini, which isn’t just adorable but feels really nice in your hands. Compared to previous generations of the iPad Mini, the screen of the new model is bigger (8.3-inches versus 7.9-inches), so you get a lot more screen in a small space. Think of it as a bigger, cheaper iPhone.

Tucker Bowe

The main downside to the new iPad Mini (as it relates to the 2020 iPad Air) is that you’re not going to use it like a computer. It’s too small to be compatible with Apple’s fancy Magic Keyboard ($329), which has the same great keyboard as the new MacBooks, and there just aren’t very many great keyboards that work with it.

It also costs $499. That’s not a significant leap from the iPad’s $329 sticker price, but it’s no small bump, either.

The new iPad Mini sits smack-dab in the middle of Apple’s lineup. It’s not as affordable or outdated as the 10.2-inch iPad. It’s not as fancy or expensive as the most recent iPad Air and iPad Pros. And it’s not as big any as any of them. But it packs a lot of punch in that small body, making it a great iPad for, well, just about everybody.

And because the Mini has a modern design and latest chipset, you know Apple will support it with software updates for years and years to come.

Price: $499+

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