In the world of technology 2013 was a year of incremental updates. This doesn’t mean we didn’t get some cool gadgets in 2013. There were a lot of nice options for tech-savvy consumers to satiate their craving for something new.
Here are some gadgets that I believe stood out this year. These are the gadgets that are available in Indian market.
Google Nexus 5: Nexus 5 is not a phone that dazzles. It has an unassuming, though compact and utilitarian, design. There is no fancy fingerprint scanner or a high-resolution camera in Nexus 5. It has a below average battery life and speakers that are not loud enough. Yet, in my opinion, it is the top phone of 2013. Reason: This is the best value-for-money phone in the market right now. As I said earlier, Nexus 5 will do almost everything a phone like iPhone 5S can do, yet costs only about half as much as the Apple phone. That’s a pretty compelling package.
Apple iPad Mini (retina display): This is almost the perfect tablet in the market. It has a size that is neither big like full-size iPad, nor small like a Nexus 7. Even the original iPad Mini, launched last year, was very good. But this year, the iPad Mini has the same core hardware that powers the bigger iPad, has a screen with the same resolution and uses a similar full-aluminum shell. In sum, you don’t have to make any significant compromise with iPad Mini if you select it over the bigger iPad.
Sony PS4: PS4 is an update on PS3, which is now over seven years old—an eternity in the world of technology. It is clear that older consoles like Xbox 360 and PS3 are holding the game developers back. The much powerful hardware in PS4—and Xbox One, which is likely to be launched in India in the coming months—should allow game developers to create better-looking games and more immersive gaming experience.
But why am I putting PS4 in this list and not Xbox One?
Primarily, this is because I believe PS4 is a slightly better console. Theoretically, it is almost 50% more powerful than Xbox One in some aspects. This may not matter in the beginning but in the late stages of consoles, say after four years, the powerful hardware may give PS4 an edge. PS4 is also smaller and, in my opinion, better looking than Xbox One. Finally, you can buy it (pre-orders are on, retail availability in India is from January 6) while Xbox One will be likely launched in India in the coming months.
HTC One: If you want to buy an iPhone-like Android phone, HTC One is the best option. It is not perfect—in fact, you should buy iPhone if you want an iPhone-like phone—but it works. HTC has focused a lot on the experience part with this phone. The phone uses an aluminum unibody shell. It looks as good as any iPhone. Performance is top-notch and so is the screen. The camera is average, though. But if you want an Android phone that will turn heads, HTC One is, err, the one to pick.
Google Chromecast: This tiny dongle is cheap. And amazing! You can connect it to any recently-purchased television that has a HDMI port and convert it into a smart TV. Once Chromecast is attached to your TV, you can stream content on the big screen from the small screen like a tablet or phone. This means YouTube on the big screen! The real value of Chromecast is in how easy it is to set up and use. The price in the US is $35 and so far it is not officially available in India. But you can buy it on eBay or Amazon for around Rs 3,000.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3: This is the best phablet in the market right now. And this is the best device to use if you want functionality related to stylus so that you can scribble, doodle, sketch and annotate documents on your phone. What is really striking about Note 3 is how refined it feels. The 5.7-inch AMOLED screen in Note 3 is a sight to behold. It shows rich and vibrant colours. The performance is very good and features like multi-window are useful. Camera performance and battery life are above average. Best of all, despite its large screen, Note 3 is on the smaller side of phablets in terms of physical size and weight.
Nokia Lumia 1020: If you are crazy about phone photography, this is the best device you can buy. It shoots amazing pictures and videos. The 41 megapixel image sensor is sort of a novelty. Only Nokia has it. The company has paired this image sensor in Lumia 1020 with a sharp lens and a versatile camera app. Windows Phone 8, which powers the device, lacks important features like a good notification system, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Lumia 1020 is a phone with the best camera. At least in 2013.
Nokia Lumia 520: This is an incredible value-for-money phone at its current price of around Rs 8,500. At this price, whatever limitations Windows Phone has don’t matter that much. Yes, you may not get some software features and apps that Android offers, but in Lumia 520 you can get a device that is relatively fast, has a decent screen and build quality, comes with a camera that works, offers a working maps and can run most of the games available for Windows Phone. For Rs 8,500, most of the Android phone can’t offer a similar experience.
Micromax Canvas HD: This is an old phone now and I don’t suggest you should buy it. But it belongs to this list because this was the first phone which showed that good Android experience can be offered in a phone that costs less than Rs 15,000. Unlike most of the other budget Android phones, Canvas HD had good performance, a nice screen, and decent design. Canvas HD was followed by phones from other local manufacturers, which offered similar experience.
Asus VivoBook F202E: This machine from Asus is one of the most capable and yet one of the cheapest portable laptops. Powered by Core i3 processor and 4GB RAM, VivoBook F202E costs around Rs 33,000. Unlike most of other budget laptops, it has good build quality, complete with an aluminum cover on the lid. The 11.6-inch screen and low weight—just 1.36kg—make it portable. Another highlight is that it uses the touchscreen. This makes using Windows 8 more tolerable. In my opinion, VivoBook F202E is a poor man’s MacBook Air.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2013 version): I still prefer actual books over ebooks. Reading a book is an experience. But if you can’t deal with storing and managing books or can’t carry them while you travel, Kindle is the next best option. And among all Kindles, the Paperwhite version, which allows you to read in pitch darkness, is the best. It is very light and slim. You can easily hold it in your hands for hours and read. The reason why Kindles work best for ebooks, compared to a tablet like iPad or Nexus, is because they use e-ink screens, which are easier on the eye. In comparison, the traditional touchscreens tire the eyes after you have stared at them for an hour or two. If you love reading books and travel a lot, do yourself a favour -- get a Kindle Paperwhite!
