Top 10 Best Tech Products of 2022

Each year, Samsung refreshes its TV lineup, making comprehensive updates to enhance the viewing experience. This year, the Samsung 2022 Neo QLED series has received significant improvements over previous models. Whether you're looking at the 4K or 8K versions, you can expect new features, innovative technologies, and better overall picture quality. This is exactly what you want from a brand-new TV.

For the 2022 Neo QLED range, Samsung has introduced key upgrades, such as the Tizen OS with a revamped and much more intuitive Smart Hub. The Smart Hub's home screen now presents content in a much more visual way, making it easier to navigate and discover new content. Additionally, users will have quick access to recently viewed shows, whether live TV or streaming platforms, directly from the homepage—no need to sift through menus first.

The iPad Air is Apple's mid-range tablet, offering essential features like USB-C and Touch ID starting at $599, depending on the model. The current iPad Air now includes the M1 chip from the iPad Pro, an upgraded front camera with Center Stage, and new color options. For those who still prefer an iPad, the iPad Air is the ideal middle-ground choice, but for those seeking a smaller tablet, the iPad mini offers almost all the same features at a compact size.

Launched in March 2022, the iPad Air is the latest model in Apple's iPad lineup and is still early in its product cycle. Apple doesn’t update the iPad Air as frequently as the iPhone, with a gap of around two and a half years between upgrades, and there’s no clear timeline for a new version soon. This makes now an excellent time to purchase the iPad Air, as most buyers shouldn’t expect a new model anytime soon.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is more than just a phone—it's a foldable powerhouse that lets you do more, right from the palm of your hand. The sleek 6.2-inch screen unfolds to reveal a massive 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex display with 120Hz refresh rate, turning it into a tablet-like experience. Elevate your productivity with the Galaxy Z Fold4.

Attend virtual meetings, take notes, or catch up on your favorite shows while messaging, all at the same time. With multiple windows and a large screen, multitasking becomes effortless. The Flex mode allows hands-free selfies and video watching in a more comfortable position. Built to last, this device is stylish, water-resistant, scratch-proof, and ready to go throughout your day. Work, watch, and play your way on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4.

The new Razer Stream Controller is the result of a partnership with Loupedeck, a company known for its "custom control boards" designed for streamers, broadcasters, and anyone seeking more tactile control over their work and entertainment.

Unlike competitors like the Elgato Stream Deck, Loupedeck devices combine customizable buttons with integrated LCD screens (similar to the Stream Deck) and simple physical buttons. Although the Loupedeck CT is priced at twice the cost of the Stream Controller, Razer’s collaboration with Loupedeck brings a premium feel akin to the CT. The touchscreens offer high responsiveness, excellent fingerprint resistance, and a satisfying tactile feedback thanks to integrated haptic motors, providing a subtle vibration to confirm your actions.

In the world of headphones, only a few new releases from select companies truly stand out, and Sony tops the list. With a minimalist driver design featuring new features and an updated look, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is an impressive addition to the top active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones on the market today. These wireless headphones are particularly exceptional for travel or office use. The WH-1000XM5 is lightweight enough to avoid putting pressure on your head, with plush cushioning on the headband for added comfort.

Completely redesigned, the WH-1000XM5 stands among the best ANC headphones available. Packed with features, Sony has nailed the fundamentals. Covered in soft, vegan leather, the ear pads provide just the right amount of grip without causing discomfort. The headband is designed with frictional padding, similar to the Grado Labs SR60x, replacing the older notched design from previous Sony wireless models.

The Wyze Room Sensor is a compact, wireless device designed to pair with the company's smart Wifi Thermostat, launched in December 2020. It helps optimize comfort in your home by managing hot and cold spots. The sensor detects temperature, humidity, and motion within the room. It can only function when paired with the Wyze Thermostat through the Wyze app, so it cannot be used as a standalone temperature monitor.

Each sensor is priced at $24.99 plus shipping, or you can purchase a three-pack for $69.99 plus shipping. You can also buy the Wyze Room Sensor as part of a bundle with the Wyze Smart Wifi Thermostat ($70.99) for a total price of $145.96 (plus shipping). These room sensors are a popular addition to the smart thermostat, giving you more control over the temperature in every room of your home.

The Panorama 3 is Bowers & Wilkins' first Dolby Atmos soundbar from the renowned British high-performance speaker brand. This all-in-one 3.1.2 channel design features an integrated subwoofer and Dolby Atmos technology, along with eARC connectivity, making it the perfect companion for today’s premium 4K TVs and projectors. These aren’t just compact home theater systems in a box; modern soundbars utilize advanced processing to create three-dimensional imaging and immersive 3D soundscapes from a sleek, single enclosure.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dolby Atmos Soundbar delivers high-fidelity audio in a simple, streamlined package, proving once again that it can provide a theater-like listening experience in the living room. Thanks to its easy setup, the Panorama 3 soundbar is the perfect way to elevate ordinary TV watching into an extraordinary experience. It’s also fantastic for music playback.

After 14 years, three revisions, and two different processor architectures, the iconic wedge-shaped design of the MacBook Air is now a thing of the past. It has been replaced by a completely redesigned MacBook Air with uniform thickness from front to back. Nearly every aspect of the new MacBook Air has been updated or changed, making this the most significant update since the Air was first introduced almost a decade and a half ago.

Along with design and hardware changes, the new MacBook Air comes equipped with Apple’s latest custom processor, the MacBook Air M2. It also carries a higher starting price—$1,199, which is $200 more than its predecessor, with higher storage configurations starting at $1,499. The M1 MacBook Air was one of the most impressive laptops, setting a high bar, and with all the improvements Apple has made to the M2 model, it’s poised to take that legacy further.

The Google Pixel 6a was officially unveiled on May 11, 2022. This smartphone features a 6.1-inch OLED display and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It supports both Nano-SIM and eSIM. The rear camera setup consists of a dual camera system: a 12.2 MP wide lens and a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, complemented by a dual-LED flash, while the front camera is 8 MP wide. The phone also includes an optical under-display fingerprint scanner, barometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass.

The Google Pixel 6a is equipped with a USB Type-C 3.1 port, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, and Bluetooth 5.2. It is powered by a 4410 mAh Li-Po battery, with 18W fast charging and USB Power Delivery 3.0. The smartphone comes in a variety of colors: Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage. The device is built with a Gorilla Glass 3 front, an aluminum frame, and a plastic back. Its dimensions are 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9mm, weighing 178 grams. The sensors include an optical fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, and barometer. The device runs on Android 12.

The first-generation Mavic Mini was an excellent drone at its time, featuring DJI's intelligent design and technology in a compact body that stayed just below the weight limit requiring registration in many countries. It was great for casual exploration, but its lack of advanced features and a mediocre camera made it less useful for more serious tasks. The release of the Mini 2 (dropping the 'Mavic' branding) offered near-premium-level features and a significantly better camera, though the image quality still didn't quite meet the standards of pro-level drones.

Now, DJI has stepped up with its latest iteration, the DJI Mini 3 Pro, pairing the small frame with a much more powerful camera and a new gimbal that can rotate 90 degrees for vertical video. The Mini 3 Pro brings the latest advancements of DJI's ultra-light Mini series into a drone with a genuinely impressive camera—something typically found in larger drones. It's labeled 'Pro' for its top-quality imagery and a host of advanced features. For the first time, DJI also gives customers the option to choose between two different controller models.