Just because something has been around for a while doesn’t mean it’s bad or not worth buying. I’ve bought a few products over the years, and here are a few older tech items I think are well worth a look.
If you’re chasing the latest and greatest, then this probably ain’t for you. Some of this stuff is old, old. Some of it may have been released a while back, and you might have missed it. Not everything is particularly special, just some things I own and I like.
Ugreen Nexode 65W GaN charger
About a year ago, I left my favorite multi-port charger in a coffee shop, plugged into a power outlet. I cursed myself and decided I needed a better one, which is where I found the Ugreen Nexode 65W GaN charger. It’s super compact, maybe it’s a little garish in gray-silver, but it’s most importantly powerful enough to charge my Macbook, Pixel, and any other accessories I need because there is room for 3 USB-C ports plus a USB-A cable.
I paid around $40 to replace my old charger, but price drops put it around $25, you’re getting a 4-port power brick that is solid and reliable. It doesn’t get super hot as some chargers do, and I’ve used it all over the world now without a problem. It’s an essential part of my EDC.
Sony XM5 headphones
The Sony XM5 headphones are not the best-sounding you can buy, but they are still an incredible set for just about every scenario. I picked up the XM5 in the new year, long after the follow-up XM6 arrived, as the upgrades were not obvious enough to warrant the 30-40% price uptick. I’d previously been using the Nothing Headphones 1, but while I liked the design, they are just too heavy to carry day-to-day and get uncomfortable due to the metal frame.
So, the lightweight and beautifully pastel Sony XM5 went to the top of my list. I can honestly say I have not worn a more comfortable pair of headphones for a 10+ hour flight. ANC is excellent, they’re comfortable, and the battery lasts easily 35 hours in my own experience. Honestly, I can’t find fault now that the price has dropped substantially.
The pricing does fluctuate quite a bit, but I wouldn’t suggest a used pair of headphones simply for hygiene reasons. At $198 right now, direct from Sony, you’re getting exceptional value for money, but you can get them for the same price at Amazon if you prefer.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3
My favorite pocketable earbuds, probably ever, are the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. I have two pairs so that I have some on hand, no matter where I go. They are, in my opinion, perfect.
Quick syncing with any Android device, great controls, and a comfortable bud shape. Sound quality is subjective, but I have yet to try a pair of in-ear earbuds that I vibe with so much. Everyone sounds incredible to me. The battery is great, and the case has a nice texture, so it doesn’t scuff and scratch.
I don’t recommend the blue colorway – even though I have a pair. These earbuds look much sleeker in black, in my opinion. They’re on sale for $100 right now, which isn’t exactly cheap, but these earbuds slap the Pixel Buds Pro 2 all over and are a vastly superior package.
Galaxy Tab S10 FE
High-quality Android tablets are few and far between, with most coming from Samsung. I would ordinarily suggest the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE as a decent tablet for just about anyone who wants a great way to browse the web, watch movies, and maybe do a bit of light gaming on the go. I bought one a few years ago for my dad, and he takes it everywhere. It has been arguably the best gift I’ve ever given him!
However, Amazon’s Prime Day sales have the newer and IP68-rated Tab S10 FE available for an awesome $349 right now. As a tablet you can throw in a bag and simply not worry about, it’s an awesome option. What’s awesome is that it comes with the S Pen, so you can take and make notes, draw, annotate, and more.
The display is amazing, it’s super slim, and you’re getting a lot of tablet for your money.
Moft Magsafe Wallet Stand
A few years back, I picked up a Moft Magsafe-compatible wallet kickstand because I wanted a way to take Astrophotos with the Pixel 8 Pro. Little did I know that we wouldn’t always need a case to use magnetic accessories with the Pixel 10 lineup. Because of that decision a few years ago, I’ve gained a nice little kickstand that acts as a card holder too.
There’s enough room for a couple of credit cards if you squeeze them in, or some banknotes if you’re like me and ditch the card in favor of Google Wallet and like a bit of walking around money. The kickstand works in landscape and portrait. I love how strong the magnets are, and the soft-touch PU leather hasn’t stained or discolored at all.
For $24, you get a dual-purpose, good-looking accessory. I am pretty sure I paid way more than that, so to me it’s a good deal.
Kodak Chamera
I grew up with the old school digital camera look, and when I was gifted the Kodak Chamera keychain “thing” as a sort of joke present late last year, I figured that it would live on my keychain and never get used. How wrong I was.
This has become a little time capsule, a fun offline camera that I take random images with then every so often I’ll plug in the micro SD card and find some absolute gems to bring a smile to my face. It’s a real “in the moment” camera. The viewfinder and screen are absolutely tiny, but I just take a photo or short video, forget about it then love finding a gem a few weeks later. It’s a real throwback and it’s all the better for it.
Totally pointless tech in the very best ways. Maybe not quite worth $60 to everyone, but to us oldies, it’s an incredible gift to give or receive – trust me.
Olight iMini keychain flashlight
I’m obsessed with EDC content and have been for a long time. So when I’m traveling, I’ve always carried a torch or flashlight everywhere I’ve been. I found out about the Olight iMini a while back, and it is constantly connected to my keys or a carabiner I stick on my sidebag – which coincidentally is something I love to death.
It’s just a little flashlight that you pull slightly to power on, it charges by plugging into a USB-A port, and it gets way brighter than my phone. It’s so small you can just attach one to practically anything. Plus, it doesn’t sap my phone battery, so I like having it as a separate little thing.
They’re like $12 on sale, so I don’t feel like it’s breaking the bank, and the battery lasts a long time given how small it is. The number of times it has helped me find something I’ve dropped while walking my dog, that’s some of the best money I’ve ever spent.
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