As 2022 winds down, I’ve been looking back on the many high tech products I reviewed this past year. There have been many that have stood out for one reason or another, but I’ve narrowed a list down to five of them that made a lasting impression. You won’t find any audio-related products here — this year they get their own standalone year-end wrap.
IQAir Atom Desk Air Purifier
IQAir Atom Desk Air Purifier
The pandemic clearly isn’t done with us yet, even though we continue to push towards a return to normalcy. If the idea of being in an office where a coworker could potentially expose you to Covid-19 has you a little on edge, or if you are struggling with how to protect the rest of your family should someone living at home test positive for Covid-19 , the IQAir Atem air desk purifier could be the answer.
I bought one of these in the summer, when I caught Covid, and I couldn’t be happier with it. It is a highly effective air purifier that uses IQAir’s proven HyperHEPA filtration technology to filter 99% of particles down to 0.003 microns. This includes viruses, bacteria, dust and allergens. The beauty of this air purifier is that its sized to sit on a desk, operates very quietly, and easy to move around, providing a bubble of personal protection from airborne threats.
You can read the full review here.
Aiper Seagull 1500 Intelligent Cordless Pool Cleaner
Aiper Seagull 1500 Intelligent Cordless Pool Cleaner
In 2022, my family’s in-ground pool was finally completed. We’d ordered it just before the pandemic hit, then got clobbered by lockdowns, a rush for big reno projects, and a shortage of construction materials, but it was finished and ready to use just in time for summer.
As a first-time pool owner, I was caught off guard by how much labor and time were required for daily maintenance. Daily vacuuming — an absolute necessity with so many trees around — took at least an hour a day and wasted a lot of water.
The Aiper Seagull 1500 intelligent cordless pool cleaner turned that daily chore into a monthly one. I’d drop the robot over the side in the morning, and it crawled the pool for 90 minutes or so, effectively vacuuming up pretty much everything, including dirt, leaves, pine needles, and crab apples. It even climbs the sides of the pool to scrub the waterline. Pull it out, spray out the basket, and charge it for a few hours and the Seagull 1500 is ready to repeat the pool cleaning the next morning.
Hands-on review here.
Brydge MAX+ Wireless Keyboard Case With TrackPad
Brydge MAX+ Wireless Keyboard Case With TrackPad
With every iPad OS update and new, more powerful processors, it seems that Apple’s iPad becomes more and more like a laptop replacement. The only thing missing is a physical keyboard.
Brydge has been making keyboard cases for iPads for years, offering features like a premium aluminum build, backlit keys, and long battery life. The Brydge MAX+ Wireless Keyboard Case With TrackPad (for 11-inch iPads including the iPad Pro 11-inch and gen 4, 5, and 6 iPad Air) is its best yet.
A protective case for the iPad connects magnetically so it can be easily removed if you want to use the iPad in tablet mode. It features a comfortable, very Apple-like backlit keyboard and instantly connects to the iPad wirelessly. This version even includes a trackpad to take full advantage of iPad OS’s multi-touch and mouse support.
The full review is available here.
Nomad Base One Max MagSafe Charger
Nomad Base One Max MagSafe Charger
If you own a recent iPhone, chances are you use a MagSafe wireless charger. If you also own an Apple Watch, you may even have a combo charger to save space and have one less wire to contend with.
It may not be the most practical (it’s unabashedly chunky), or the most affordable option, but I’ve yet to try out a combination MagSafe/Apple Watch charger that has the appeal of Nomad’s Base One Max. This is a 2lb chunk of metal and glass that makes a visual statement. It’s not going to tip over and with its raised MagSafe pad, there’s no guessing involved in iPhone placement or concerns about ever-expanding camera bumps. It also serves as a Qi wireless charger for non-MagSafe devices. It’s both luxurious and functional.
As part of the charger’s minimalist theme, power is supplied by a single USB-C cable — although you’ll need to supply your own 30W AC adapter.
See more of the Nomad Base One Max in my review.
Geneverse HomePower 2 Backup Power Station
Geneverse HomePower 2 Backup Power Station
Finally, a product that becomes more practical with every extreme weather event power outage we experience (and there have been many in 2022): the Geneverse HomePower 2 backup power station.
I’ve had the opportunity to go hands-on with many portable power stations in recent years, but this one was a favorite. Its Lithium-ion NMC battery has a 2060Wh capacity and can output 2200W of continuous power through a wide array of ports including four 110V AC outlets. That’s enough capacity to keep a full-sized refrigerator running for over a day, and the ability to run high-draw devices like toasters, electric kettles, and small space heaters. It will charge your smartphone several hundred times… Add an optional SolarPower 2 portable solar panel, and the Geneverse can keep providing at least some power for days or weeks — even if the grid is down.
The HomePower 2 is a manageable size at just over 47 lbs, the upright form factor minimizes its footprint, it includes wheels as well as an integrated handle for easy movement, and the company offers handy accessories including a dust cover. Unlike a gas-powered generator, the battery-powered Geneverse HomePower 2 is safe to use indoors.
To learn more about this emergency power solution (known as Generark at the time of review) and why it was so outstanding, you can read my full review here.
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