Harish Jonnalagadda’s Top 10 of 2023

Like yearly, I used plenty of tech in 2023, together with the newest telephones, tablets, audio gear, good residence tech, and equipment — So. Many. Accessories. And as a result of I do not know any higher, I purchased an honest quantity of tech. There was no scarcity of pleasure on the house entrance as properly, and these are the issues that outlined the yr.I grew to become a dad(Image credit score: Android Central)I do not often discuss my private life right here, however being a guardian is a life-changing occasion that overshadows every little thing else, in order that’s clearly what I’m beginning with. Our child lady was born in June, and even now, my spouse and I flip to one another and share how surreal it’s that we’re mother and father.Taking care of a child is plenty of work (and invitations plenty of anxiousness), however additionally it is fulfilling on a stage I did not suppose was attainable earlier than. It is loads of enjoyable, too; my spouse and I learn a wide range of child books to her, and it is an immensely fulfilling exercise (I plan to begin studying The Lord of The Rings subsequent month). We hearken to plenty of metallic, and it is thrilling to see the newborn get pleasure from it. She presently likes Amon Amarth and Avenged Sevenfold, and we’ll introduce Eluveitie, RATM, Amaranthe, Nightwish, and Metallica quickly.I used approach too many telephones(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)I examined near 100 telephones this yr, and there have been a couple of that clearly stood out. The Pixel 8 Pro is my favourite telephone of 2023, and that is down to 2 elements: digital camera and software program. It does a terrific job taking pictures of infants, and nothing else comes shut. Having used plenty of One UI, MIUI, and ColorOS, going again to the Pixel is only a breath of contemporary air. I’m intrigued by a couple of gadgets launching in January, however I do not see myself switching out from the Pixel 8 Pro anytime quickly.The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a detailed second — my largest concern with this gadget is that Xiaomi would not promote it in additional international locations. It has the perfect cameras of any telephone, and the movies it takes are on one other stage completely. My spouse is utilizing the telephone as her day by day driver, and the portrait pictures that she takes are higher than what I handle with my mirrorless digital camera. If you are listening, Xiaomi, please launch the 14 Ultra in additional areas subsequent yr.The iPad Pro confirmed me I can get work achieved wherever(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)I was very inflexible about the place I wrote, however sitting at my gaming rig all through the day simply is not possible with a child. I wanted a transportable possibility, so I acquired the iPad Pro six months in the past. I used a number of iPad Air fashions over the course of the final three years, however the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is in a league of its personal; the mini-LED display screen is beautiful, and the massive measurement means it’s far more handy as a productiveness gadget.Yes, I do know iPadOS has its limitations, however these simply did not matter. I are likely to concentrate on one factor when I’m writing anyway, and for that, the iPad Pro was a greater gadget than absolutely anything else I’ve round. And whereas I’m a keyboard snob (see beneath), I ended up utilizing the Magic Keyboard a lot that I really prefer it now.I acquired again into handheld gaming(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)I did not care in regards to the Steam Deck when it launched, as I wasn’t large on handhelds. I’ve an honest gaming rig with the RTX 4090, and once I wish to play on the TV, I’ve a PlayStation 5. But I wasn’t in a position to get a lot gaming achieved on both over the past six months, so I purchased a Steam Deck to see if I may squeeze in a couple of minutes of gaming in the course of errands. If I had recognized the Steam Deck was this good, I’d have picked it up the second it launched. It is definitely the perfect gadget I purchased this yr, and it makes on-the-go gaming easy. The battery life is common, however that is what energy stations are for — should you want a handheld that allows you to play your Steam library wherever, the Steam Deck is the one to get.I went down the mechanical keyboard rabbit gap(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I used mechanical keyboards for over a decade now, and so they’ve principally been gaming keyboards primarily based on Cherry MX switches. Even till the tip of 2022, I used to be utilizing the Corsair Okay100 as my board of alternative, however with the rising momentum of DIY boards and customizable choices, I acquired my fingers on a Glorious GMMK Pro.I preferred it a lot I made a decision to see what else was out there, and almost two dozen keyboards later, I noticed that this was a rabbit gap for ever and ever. The better part is that these keyboards are simply as accessible as any mainstream gaming product; the Keychron Q1 Pro makes use of a gasket-mounted design, and it’s out there as a fully-assembled possibility that is prepared to make use of out of the field. Honestly, that is the keyboard I’d suggest to anybody eager to get a high-end mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth.And should you’re keen on OnePlus, the Keyboard 81 Pro is a rebranded model of the Q1 Pro with a tremendous design. I’ve no scarcity of keyboards, however that is the one I’m persevering with to make use of simply due to the way in which it appears. I paired it with the terrific LOTR Elvish keys and a Keychron quantity pad attachment. And should you’re within the passion, it is best to check out CableMod — their keyboard cables are artworks.I acquired to check out plenty of cool equipment(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)One of the perfect components of this job is getting to make use of attention-grabbing equipment earlier than everybody else, and there was no scarcity of that in 2023. The yr has been significantly nice should you like see-though designs, with the likes of the Sharge ICEMAG, Acefast GaN chargers, Lofree 1% keyboard, and comparable merchandise catering to this area of interest.As somebody that has approach too many devices that must be always charged, I’m all the time enthusiastic about tech that streamlines my charging wants. UGREEN met my necessities this yr; between the Nexode 200W, DigiNest Pro, and the Nexode 2-in-1 MagSafe charger, I’ve every little thing I have to cost all my telephones and equipment reliably. The Nexode RG 30W additionally will get a point out simply due to how lovely it’s.I organized my music library — and acquired respectable audio gear(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)My offline music assortment may greatest be summed up as a hodgepodge, however I used to be in a position to get it below management this yr. I did not do a lot in the way in which of organizing myself — I let Roon deal with that. Roon is a high-end music participant that catalogs your music library, and it has a stunning interface with loads of helpful metadata. In quick, it made a drastic distinction in how I hearken to music.I additionally acquired plenty of gear upgrades this yr, and I’ve to begin with the Audeze MM-500. This headset prices $1,600, and whereas it is not the most expensive I examined, it sounds completely magnificent. I’ve the MM-500 linked to the Fiio K9 Pro, and I even have Fiio’s wonderful all-in-one R7 and M15S because the go-to option to stream music when I’m not at my desk.On the topic of portability, I used plenty of IEMs this yr, and the Sennheiser IE600 stood out together with the Thieaudio Prestige and Fiio FX15. I would like to say Creative’s Aurvana Ace 2 as properly; these wi-fi earbuds use all-new solid-state drivers and sound superb. To spherical issues off, I additionally acquired a couple of gaming headsets, with Corsair’s HS80 Max being the perfect of the lot.My studying record was wildly completely different this yr(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)I averaged 75 books a yr over the past three years, and it was equally break up between science fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction. I in all probability learn lower than two dozen books this yr, and most of it was centered round parenting books. I began the yr with being pregnant books, so I’ve a greater understanding of what is going on on, and to be sincere, it went very easily.But we centered a lot on the being pregnant that we form of forgot what comes after, and we did not undergo any parenting books earlier than the newborn was born. If you are considering of getting a child or have one on the way in which, do not do what we did and skim a e-book or two earlier than the toddler exhibits up — it makes issues considerably simpler.Anyway, the preliminary weeks have been difficult as a result of we had no concept what we have been doing and weren’t getting any relaxation. But as soon as my spouse and I began studying a bit extra, we acquired a greater sense of what our child was doing, what to look out for, and what issues to keep away from. Amidst all of the parenting books, I used to be in a position to squeeze in a couple of novels, and these are those I loved essentially the most:We acquired to journey once more(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)My spouse and I used to journey so much earlier than the pandemic, however all that modified after 2020. We principally locked ourselves in the home and have become paranoid about something to do with the skin world. Our objective in 2023 was to get again to some semblance of normalcy, and whereas we’ve not gotten there but (we used to exit so much), we managed to journey to Delhi and never completely freak out, so I’m counting that as progress.We nerded out over quiz showsI used to love Netflix, however the service simply spits out forgettable exhibits with no originality today. Its solely redeeming high quality is documentaries, and as somebody who has learn plenty of spy thrillers, “Spycraft” was extremely fulfilling. While not on Netflix, “Silo” was an incredible present, and I’m excited that Hugh Howey’s books are being made into TV exhibits.For a lot of the yr, my spouse and I simply streamed plenty of British panel exhibits, and whereas there are plenty of terrific selections — “Would I Like To You,” “Mock The Week,” “QI,” and “Taskmaster” instantly come to thoughts —  we determined to stream “University Challenge.” Basically, it’s the hardest quiz present ever imagined, and the breadth of questions you come throughout is ridiculous. There are over 100 questions in every present, and we might be ecstatic if we acquired seven or eight proper. There are plenty of attention-grabbing merchandise launching in January, and I’m excited to see what’s in retailer with the likes of the Xiaomi 14 and OnePlus 12. I acquired an early take a look at the potential of 2024 telephones with the iQOO 12, and if that’s any indication, it may be a terrific yr.