Go on, spoil yourself with our pick of the niftiest new personal technology. By Vaibhav Sharma
New Must-Have Personal Technology
HEADPHONES
Sony WH-1000XM5
Is this the best noise-cancelling headphone around? Many would say so. The newest iteration of Sony’s flagship range ramps up the tech overload: dual processors and eight mics for more accurate auto noise cancellation, a new driver, and as you’d expect, the usual Sony goodies like wireless high-res streaming, and DSEE Extreme upscaling. INR 27560
LAPTOP
MacBook Air M2
There’s a new processor—the Apple Silicon M2—but it’s the design tweaks that make the 2022 MacBook Air near perfect: MagSafe charging makes a comeback, the display is brighter, there’s a new flat, slim-bezel design, a Full HD webcam, and a midnight black colour option. From INR 1,49,900
SMARTWATCH
Maserati Hybrid Traguardo
Smartwatches can sometimes leave you cold, especially if you’re a watch person. But that’s why hybrid watches were invented—to give you the best of both worlds. With the Hybrid Traguardo, you not only get old-school charm (thanks to the steel case and perforated leather strap), but you can also track your steps, calories, and sleep; control music and your phone camera, and even receive alerts. INR 17,100
PORTABLE SPEAKER
Beosound A1 Gen 2
It’s waterproof, can shrug off dust and sand, and supports Alexa. Voice calls get some importance, and the 3-mic system makes for crystal clear voice calls. But what’ll make you fall in love is the simple yet elegant design, and the surprisingly meaty audio from this compact device. INR 25,000
CAMERA
Nikon Z30
It’s all about the reels now. That’s why you should pick the Z30 for your next vacation. This mirrorless camera marries a 20.9MP DX-size sensor with features made for online creators, think eye and face tracking, autofocus tuned for product shots, a flip-out screen with easy selfie controls, a built-in stereo mic, a remote control app, and bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. INR 94,495 (with two kit lenses)
APP
Global Blue
All set for a fancy shopping experience on your travels abroad? Install the Global Blue app and make it easy to register and claim tax refunds as you shop. Set it up, enter your details, add a credit card number for refunds, and just show your app ID when paying! That’s it, your duty free refund paperwork will be all ready to file (digitally) at the airport.