WithIFAin Germany last month and the iPhone 15 lineup at Apple’sWonderlustevent in September, a lot of new devices have made their showroom floor and shelf debuts. The Pocket-lint team has been keeping up with latest releases and traveling around Europe and the US to get our hands on and tell you about the newest devices.
Amidst all the chaos, there are a few products that particularly stand out - tech we want to pocket for ourselves even after the review goes live. With that, here are our favorite items from the beginning of the “Tech-tober” season, plus a few items in our cart that we’re hoping to snag withAmazon’s Big Deal Daysand Black Friday around the corner.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Amazon Echo Hub
Panasonic Lumix G9ii
Garmin Approach S70
Amazon Echo Pop
Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C)
September Pocket Picks
A handset worth having
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max features subtle upgrades from its predecessor, like an ultra lightweight Titanium build, a multi-functional action button, and crystal clear camera quality.
TheApple iPhone 15 Pro Maxis a really lovely device. The titanium build oozes quality, while the lighter weight and contoured edges make for a very different feel for this device overall compared to its predecessor. TheAction Buttonis super convenient and once again changes how you interact with your iPhone - like Dynamic Island did last year - while the improvements to the camera, including 5x optical zoom, give this top dog some new tricks.
The new smart home standard
If you have an Alexa smart home, the Echo Hub ties everything together perfectly so you have a great touch control panel that everyone can access.
TheEcho Hubis the missing piece of the Alexa smart home puzzle, giving you a dedicated controller that you’re able to mount on the wall - just like an expensive home automation system. There’s a new user interface to make it super-easy to access all your connected smart home devices and a new way to view everything. It still supports voice, but it’s great for touch controls around your home.
Premium photos and performance
If you like the idea of carrying smaller, lightweight lenses, but don’t want to compromise on imaging performance, the G9II is the way to go.
Lumix finally adds phase detection autofocus to a Micro Four Thirds Camera body, and the results are superb. TheLumix G9II, although introduced at a lower price, bests the popular GH6 in almost every way and is sure to become the MFT camera of choice for photographers and filmmakers alike.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini
Mini form-factor, but big sound
With a chunky price, this is ideal for those looking to get uncompromising sound despite a smaller design.
I’ve been using a Sonos Beam for years, but theSennheiser Ambeo Minimight be the first compact soundbar to clearly outperform it - with gorgeous virtual surround sound and excellent balance. It’s a great smart speaker, too, making it just as useful as Sonos' bar. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a premium but small soundbar.
Sony A7C R
Ridiculously good
Sony’s compact full-frame A7 model is worth your money because nothing this size comes close in terms of sharpness of images, or speed and reliability of autofocus. Yes, it’s expensive, but boy is it good.
There is a lot to like about theSony A7CR, but there are a couple of things that really stand out. One of them is that you get an incredibly powerful full-frame camera in a compact, portable body that’s easy to carry around. Add to that the fact it has a ridiculously sharp 60-megapixel sensor, and it features Sony’s market-leading autofocus and tracking, and you have an unbeatable package - albeit an expensive one.
A Garmin fit for a golfer
The Garmin Approach S70 is expensive, but the wealth of on and off-course data it offers make it worth the price if you’re a dedicated golfer.
TheGarmin Approach S70is the smartwatch to own for anyone who loves golf. From detailed views of every course to swing tempo analytics, this watch does it all. It also has all the fitness tracking features and phone integration to make it a perfect daily driver.
JBL Authentics
Stylish surround sound
If you’re looking for a stylish speaker that offers great flexibility and a big, room-filling sound, the JBL Authentics 300 - and the whole family for that matter - looks very promising indeed.
First off, the JBL Authentic family looks gorgeous, with a retro design that’ll fit into even the most stylish of households. However, from what I’ve heard, it also puts in a strong showing in the performance stakes too, with stacks of volume and a big, authoritative sound. One of its biggest talking points is its ability to use Alexa and Google Assistant interchangeably - the first speaker to be able to do that - and while the whole range looks great, I’ve picked themiddle memberof the family to recommend, thanks to it having the flexibility of being portable.
Alexa on a budget
The petite Echo pop provides Alexa’s smarts and decent sound for less space on your bed side and a lower asking price.
I’ve been needing a speaker in my room for a while, but I could never bring myself to splurge on a premiumJBLorBosemodel. And after I saw our team wrote areview on the Echo Pop, and I saw it go on sale the next day, I was sold. The Echo Pop makes a lovely addition to my nightstand, and I love the Alexa voice control for hands-free use. While not super bassy or powerful, the speaker sound is pretty decent, especially for the price.
WithAmazon Prime Big Deal Dayscoming on Oct.10 and 11, we’re eagerly hoping the prices drop on these tried and true products.
Worth the investment
Now, with a price tag of nearly $500, theDyson Supersonic hair dryeris undeniably a significant investment, but it’s light, powerful, and leaves your hair looking smooth and sleek.
While thesecond-gen AirPods Pro 2only subtly changed its design, the case faces a convenient charging upgrade in featuring the universal USB-C.
