We’re finally getting to that special time of year when all the new toys come out. New smartphones, tablets, and wearables are all the rage right now; this most recent crop of devices all improve substantially on their predecessors — you’ll find new features, improved specifications, and refined designs. Here are five new gadgets available now or soon that we really think you ought to be lusting over.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung’s Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone is brand new, being released in Australia on April 11. The phone packs a swathe of new features – it’s water-resistant, has mobile Tap ‘n’ Pay, uses a fingerprint scanner for extra security (including on your PayPal purchases), and can last for up to two weeks on a single charge in its ultra-long life battery saving mode — a huge improvement on the already impressive Galaxy S4.
Google Nexus 5
The Google Nexus 5 is an extremely impressive device. It has decidedly high-end specs, but doesn’t have the high-end price tag: you can pick it up for as little as $399 on the Google Play Store. Google has blessed it with the latest version of Android, without any of the fripperies that slow down other smartphones. Of course, you might want a similarly cheap prepaid plan to go along with it.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro
Sometimes a smartphone isn’t large enough — watching movies is better on a big screen, especially when it’s a big, bright, crisp 10.1-inch Quad HD one. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro is built for multitasking, with Samsung’s bespoke Multi Window feature that lets you work on a document, browse the Web and check your Twitter feed all at once. It’s a tablet that can keep up with your fast-paced work day and help you relax afterwards.
Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit
Tracking your fitness is the new cool thing. With data easily available about your workout regime, you’re able to push yourself harder and faster each time, without going too far. Samsung’s Galaxy Gear Fit does all that and more, without forgetting why we wear watches on our wrists in the first place. The Gear Fit has a heart rate monitor and pedometer within its slim, curved body, but the 1.84-inch Super AMOLED display also makes it a particularly stylish smartwatch to boot.
Apple iPad Air
As we’ve come to expect from Apple, the latest iPad is by far the greatest, with hugely improved battery life, an excellent 9.7-inch Retina display with great colour and detail, and an impressively thin and light body. If you have the chance to pick one up you’ll appreciate the engineering feat that the iPad is — there’s a huge amount of power and technology crammed into that 7.5 millimetre-thick chassis, with the novelty and convenience of inbuilt mobile connectivity.