Top-Notch Gadgets of October 2024's Arsenal
This year's Techtober didn't fall short of expectations. We were inundated with an array of new Mac gadgets, including a fresh iPad mini. Towards the closing stages of the month, Apple unveiled an assortment of new Mac products set to hit the market in November, featuring the new iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini powered by M4 chips. While we await the arrival of these devices, the spooky season of 2024 brought us exceptional offerings for VR headsets, PCs, and an abundance of headphones.
Big brands were making strong pitches for their high-end holiday season products, while smaller manufacturers and DIY enthusiasts also had something compelling to offer. If you still have any unused N64 cartridges, consider adding the Analogue 3D to your collection. The DIY community was particularly active, with one designer modifying an original Xbox to fit inside a handheld-sized enclosure. November might pose a challenge in surpassing October's offerings.
Reolink Atlas PT Ultra
Meta Quest 3X
© Image: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Priced at $300, the Meta Quest 3 was already an impressive VR headset, but Meta aims to bring VR into as many households as possible. However, many people may not see the need for a VR headset, even with its advanced AR passthrough capabilities. To bridge this gap, Meta has introduced the Quest 3X, which is as powerful as its premium $500 headset and features comparable hand-tracking capabilities. The only drawbacks are the lower-quality lenses and field of view, but for $200 less, it offers a fantastic option for those wanting to delve into VR. Furthermore, Meta's Steam Link connectivity enables access to a wider variety of VR games unavailable on the Quest's game store.
iPad mini 2024
© Image: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
In essence, the 2024 iPad mini is a refined version of the 2021 model, despite carrying a last-generation A17 Pro chip, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro. Is it a bad thing to have a last-gen mobile CPU in a small form factor device? Hardly. For $500, the smaller-scale iPad provides equal functionality as its larger-screen counterparts, including compatibility with the top-tier Apple Pencil Pro stylus and support for upcoming Apple Intelligence features.
JBL MA AV Receiver and Stage 2 Loudspeakers
Image: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
My colleague Dua Rashid got the opportunity to check out JBL's MA AV Receiver and Stage 2 Loudspeaker. Stage 2 is a premium yet scalable lineup considering its $3,500 price tag for a five-point setup, which is a testament to JBL's commitment to delivering high-quality audio equipment.
DJI Neo S
© Image: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
The DJI Neo S is an affordable yet powerful drone priced at $200. It has a limited 15-minute battery life for 4K video recording, but DJI controllers can expand its range and speed. Despite these limitations, the Neo S is an ideal drone for novice filmmakers and enthusiasts. Its small size and weight make it an easy carry, making it perfect for landing in the comfort of your palm.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Image: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
The second iteration of Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds gets numerous aspects right, particularly for their price point. The earbuds offer outstanding sound quality and impressive noise-cancellation capabilities. At $180, it is a competent earbud, although its size and weight may not appeal to everyone. Plenty of other earbuds deliver better aesthetics and comfort at this price range, but Bose's offering excels in sound quality.
Alienware Pro Wireless Headset
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Alienware's Pro Wireless Headset boasts solid audio and mic quality, as well as excellent comfort. However, its size and design may make it less convenient for traveling compared to other headsets. The removable mic is a useful feature, but the non-swiveling earcups may be a limitation.
Maingear MG-1
© Image: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Prebuilt PCs often lack the satisfaction of building a computer tailored to one's needs. However, Maingear's MG-1 is an exceptionally well-designed PC build that is hard to ignore. Featuring excellent cable management, this machine is easy to work with and ran smoothly from the get-go. The only downside is the overt RGB LED strip, which might make the build look a bit DIY.
Diva Utopia
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
© Image: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
I wasn't fully convinced by the SteelSeries Arctis 5 Wireless headset, despite enjoying its sound and comfort. The main reason was the peculiar shape of its dongle. However, SteelSeries really impressed me with the Arctis Gamebuds. They offer Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, allowing you to switch between consoles, PC, and mobile devices. The sound is fantastic, and the Arctis app provides an excessive range of EQ settings for game-specific audio. What clinched it for me was the dongle, which can be fitted within the case. This makes the Gamebuds my preferred choice for listening to my Steam Deck or other portable gaming devices when I'm out and about.
In the future, tech enthusiasts might be intrigued by the potential of Meta's Quest 3X VR headset, as it offers a powerful VR experience at a more affordable price point compared to its premium counterpart. Meanwhile, the 2024 iPad mini, despite using a last-generation A17 Pro chip, continues to impress with its equal functionality and compatibility with high-end accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro.
