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The 15 best gadgets of the year
The best gear of 2014, as selected by Esquire’s resident tech expert
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Canyon Aeroad CF SLX
The original Aeroad was one of the most successful racing bikes of recent years, developed with the help of Belgium’s Lotto Belisol pro-cycling team. The new version goes for a three-pronged redesign, one that addresses cosmetics, aerodynamics and adds a structural revamp. The result is a thing of beauty: packing ma
Samsung NX Mini
The problem: most phones’ front cameras are far poorer than those on the back, leading to grainy self-portraits. The solution: this portable Samsung’s 3in preview screen literally flips up from its hinge, allowing you to utilise its full 20.5MP power. You don’t even have to press the shutter button — it’ll detect a wink. And don’t even think of telling us you’re not taking selfies, either.
samsung.com
Beoplay A2
You might call Beoplay Bang & Olufsen’s diffusion line, but that wouldn’t be fair. It’s a stunning range of ultra-modern audio devices that now includes this iPad Mini-sized, double-sided Bluetooth speaker which, while designed mainly for smartphones, will give a punchy sound boost to any laptop, too.
beoplay.com
LG LB730V
LG’s budget blockbuster TV boasts top tech yet ditches costly extras. While there’s no 4K, there is 3D (two pairs of rechargeable glasses are included) and Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Facebook, Skype and Spotify. The latter’s perfect for parties with the LB730V’s built-in subwoofer.
lg.com
Jawbone Up24
As the name suggests, this life monitor is always on (you only charge it once a fortnight) and goes deeply into sleep patterns and nutrition as well as recording physical activity. It teams wirelessly with a stat-heavy app, through which you can also log food and drink intake via pics.
jawbone.com
Illy Francis Francis Y3
The smart, space-saving, retro-futuristic design isn’t the only reason to love Illy’s coffee machine: in taste tests, its nine-bean blend iperEspresso pods have been voted the best. There’s various shelf heights and a smart mess-free, one-button system (the coffee never touches the device). It brews fast, too.
shop.illy.com
Roku Streaming Stick
This 3in stick adds Netflix, iPlayer, 4OD and Facebook to your bog-standard TV. It beats Google’s similar Chromecast device thanks to its ability to let you cast personal videos and media from your laptop, tablet or phone over wi-fi thus bringing your stash of torrents to the biggest screen.
roku.com
Parrot Zik 2.0
Philippe Starck’s greatest creation since that funny lemon squeezer, the original Zik headphones packed a spacey design, clever touch controls (tap the right ear cup to pause tracks) and was USB-rechargable. The upgrade comes in six colours, adds a new dedicated app and ups noise cancelling. The adverts feature Conchita Wurst, oddly.
parrot.com
Sony Xperia Z2
Perfect if you want to opt out of the Apple vs Samsung arms race.The Z2 has top specs (10.1in screen, 3GB chip), yet is water-, dust- and scratchproof, too. Ideal for the modern-day adventurer, or a bit of Minecraft by the pool.
sony.co.uk
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Or, said the internet, “You won’t believe how much the big new iPhone bends.” (It bends no more than other thin tech like this, which is hardly, if ever.) Justifiably called a “phablet” as its 5.5in screen may make you think tablets are obsolete.
apple.com
Samsung HU8500
As well as the now ubiquitous high-end TV features (3D, 4K, huge dimensions etc), this has a banana-shaped screen. The jury’s out on its benefits (the illusion of depth is cancelled out with reflection issues, and heaven forfend your sofa’s at an angle), but it’s the only TV so pretty it will enhance your lounge’s aesthetic. Best bit: it can note spikes in crowd noise and excitement during football matches, so it only records the game’s highlights (note: this won’t work when England play).
samsung.com
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
Is Samsung’s latest tab better than the new big iPad? Maybe. It has a slightly larger screen than the Air 2 (10.5in vs 9.7in) crammed into a whispy shell (6.6mm, 465g), and while its plastic back lacks the premium feel of Apple’s metal case, it trumps it with a far sharper, 2560 x 1600 screen.
samsung.com
Sony DSC HX60
A feature-packed compact with retro design. Its pop-out flash and wind-on-styled shutter control conceal its 30x zoom and 20.4MP camera. It’s a prolific video recorder, too, with full-HD and shaky-hand-proof “Active Mode” stabiliser. Plug it into a 4K TV’s HDMI port and you can even view a slideshow of your snaps on a super-hi-res screen.
sony.co.uk
HTC ONE M8
The Taiwanese telephone maker has Robert Downey Jr as pitchman, phone-of-the-year award from global tech writers in 2013 and 2014 and, in the One M8, a magnificent mobile. It is stylishly forged from a single piece of metal and full-featured, with a glorious 5in screen. If you can look past the Apple/Samsung/LG/Nokia nexus, then you will be handsomely rewarded.
htc.com
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