Your monthly ‘how to spend it’ guide to all the cool new gadgets
Fan Edition
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G takes over from the S20 FE as Samsung’s latest flagship challenger device. It shares the ‘contour cut’ rear cam design with the Galaxy S21 flagship trio, and looks every inch premium with an elegant haze finish that plays out particularly well in the olive colour variant. It’s the perfect heft — just 177 gm, finding the balance between form and function. Colours are vibrant on the 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Exynos 2100 processor is at the heart of the S21 FE that comes in three hardware configurations and a robust 4500 mAh battery. The triple rear cam scores with improved low light photography and portrait images Rs 49,999
Smart vision
Titan becomes the latest brand to plunge into the smart wearable segment with the Titan EyeX. It’s designed to work with voice assistance and features touch controls on both left and right temples for receiving and rejecting calls, controlling music, and snapping a selfie. These multipurpose glasses can double up as spectacles or shades. Just like other rivals, the open-ear wireless audio doesn’t block or cover ears. You can tune into your music playlist and still be aware of your surroundings at the same time, making it safer for outdoor use. These sweat-resistant glasses feature Bluetooth 5 and CVS (Clear Voice Capture) technology for improved voice quality with dynamic volume control that adjusts the volume of audio output depending on the ambience. Rs 9,999
Audiophile alert
JBL’s all-new premium over-the-ear headphones are comfortable for extended audio sessions whether you’re in online meetings all day or hooked on to Spotify. With 50 hours of battery life (25 hours with active noise cancellation), you won’t be reaching out for the charger on a regular basis. These headphones come with quite a few thoughtful additions, including True Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology, which instantly monitors external sound and adapts to the perfect level of noise cancellation for your environment, eliminating distractions in real time. The innovative Smart Audio Mode allows you to optimise the Bluetooth connection for normal listening, increase fidelity in music mode, or watch videos in low latency video mode. Rs 25,999
Bring the cinema home
We’re seeing increased consumer interest in the home projector space, as most of us look to replicate large screen experiences at home in a post-pandemic world. The Optoma UHZ50 is an all-new 4K UHD projector that is perfect for live sports or the latest action blockbuster. It boasts of 3,000-lumen brightness and a 2,500,000:1 contrast ratio. Colours are vibrant and blacks are rich, thanks to HDR capability. It boasts of a long-lasting Laser engine with life span of up to 30,000 hours & IP6X certified optical design. Enhanced gaming features, 240Hz refresh rate, plus an extremely low latency add to its entertainment creds. Rs 3,99,900
5G ready
India is yet to keep its date with 5G, but it’s just around the corner. Motorola’s new Moto g71 5G is the only smartphone in the sub Rs 20K segment to offer an AMOLED FHD+ display along with the maximum 13 5G bands. It becomes the first 5G ready smartphone in India to be propelled by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor. The 6.4-inch AMOLED FHD+ (409 PPI / 700 nits) is one of the highlights of this device, and is backed by a 5000 mAh battery with 33W fast charging. Other features include a 50MP Main camera with Quad Pixel technology for sharper low-light images and an IP52 water-repellent design. Rs 18,999
Feather light
The OnePlus Buds Z2 are a follow up to the brand’s Buds Z, one of our favourite buds in the sub Rs 5K segment. The ultra-light Buds Z2 makes a couple of key improvements over its predecessor. They’re kitted with the same 11mm dynamic drivers that power the OnePlus Buds Pro aside from a trio of microphones for better call quality. They also feature active noise cancellation, a great add-on at this price. You can choose between two adjustable noise-cancelling adjustable modes — Faint (+/-25dB) and Extreme (+/- 40dB) — that give you more control over your music. The OnePlus Buds Z2 features three sound modes for various use cases: Cinematic Movie, Immersive Music, and Mobile Gaming. The case can withstand a splash thanks to its IPX4 rating while the 38-hour battery life is another key win. Rs 4,999