The holidays are (almost) here, and it’s officially the final stretch to Christmas. And if If you’re still trying to figure out what to get – KnowTechie’s procrastinator-friendly holiday gift guide is here to help.

Shopping for friends and family can be tough because spending money on someone other than yourself is harder.

So, with support from KnowTechie, a stable internet connection, and GOD HIMSELF, I’ve put together an exhaustive list of all the best gifts for literally anyone in your life.

We cover home and garden, tech, gaming, and entertainment. We put in the hours, so you don’t have to.

So please, grab a cup of coffee, kick back, and bask in the glory that is this best gifts guide. You’re welcome.

Amazon Gift Card – $25

This will be the bare minimum, the $25 gift you give to someone you… just know.

Not someone you invite to the house, mind you, but that friend or family member you hit up when you are in the area and need to kill an hour.

They probably send you a Christmas card each year with their spouse and dog on it, and after five years of getting these cards, you’ve decided to acknowledge their existence with this gift card.

Verified

Staff Pick

Amazon Gift Card – $25
This $25 gift will be the bare minimum, but it still shows you care.

$25 at Amazon

Amazon Gift Card – $30

The $30 option will be another great choice for an acquaintance. Maybe you went to high school or college with them.

Maybe you used to hang out. Who knows, the point is now that has devolved to nothing more than “yeah, let’s get up soon!” and other empty promises.

You like their family photos on Facebook and laugh and react to their lame memes to make them feel better about themselves.

Verified

Staff Pick

Amazon Gift Card – $30
This gift is a great choice for an acquaintance or someone you don’t know all that well.

$30 at Amazon

Amazon Gift Card – $40

We’re starting to get serious now; buckle in.

A $40 Amazon gift card teeters on the realm of “you’re a real friend” or “I’m glad you’re my son.”

Mind you, it isn’t quite there and if you receive a $40 Amazon gift card this year, know that you’re almost important to that person.

Almost.

Verified

Staff Pick

Amazon Gift Card – $40
Feeling a bit more generous and want to show someone you really care? A $40 Amazon gift card goes a long way.

$40 at Amazon

Amazon Gift Card – $50

Let a person know that you actually care that they exist with a $50 Amazon gift card.

$50 says “I hope you can get something you actually want.” Anything below $50 is just charity towards something that the person actually wants to buy.

I don’t make the rules.

Verified

Staff Pick

Amazon Gift Card – $50
Watch out, you absolute big spender. Who are you trying to impress? But seriously, good for you.

$50 at Amazon

Amazon Gift Card – $51+

Anything above $50 is just showing off. We get it; you have money; stop rubbing it in everyone’s face Curtis.

I know Kevin doesn’t pay me; stop reminding me. You’re not my dad.

Verified

Staff Pick

Amazon Gift Card – $51+
Okay, okay, we get it – you’re rich. Just buy a nice gift and be done with it.

$51+ at Amazon

And that’s a wrap for KnowTechie’s 2022 procrastinator-friendly holiday gift guide.

If you’re feeling a little lazy and didn’t want to put too much effort into your holiday shopping this year, we hope this helped. If not, there’s always next year.

What do you think? Is this the best gift guide of all time? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• KnowTechie’s Holiday Gift Guide (2022)
• The best wireless earbuds (2022)
• The best Steam Deck accessories
• The best Xbox controllers

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more.

The post KnowTechie’s procrastinator-friendly holiday gift guide (2022) appeared first on KnowTechie.

For several years now, Nintendo has been the king of handheld gaming consoles with its Nintendo Switch.

The Switch is a versatile console you can take with you on the go or dock it at your television and game on the big screen.

When the console was originally released in 2017, there was only one real option. Your only choice was the color of the Joy-Cons.

The original Switch stood by itself for a while before the company finally released different console versions.

The Nintendo Switch Lite was introduced a couple of years after the original console was released. Then, two years later, Nintendo came out with the improved Nintendo Switch OLED version.

READ MORE: How to turn on dark mode on Nintendo Switch

For those looking to get their hands on a Nintendo Switch console, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. Check out the different Nintendo Switch versions below:

Nintendo Switch vs. the OLED Nintendo Switch

The two versions of the console that are the closest are the original Switch and the OLED version, released in 2021.

Both of these versions of the console feature a screen with detachable controllers that can be docked for use with a television.

And now for the differences: The OLED version of the Switch features a few upgrades (as well as an upgraded price).

First, the dock on the OLED switch features an ethernet port, so you can plug in straight to the internet for better download speeds.

But probably the more important difference has to do with the console itself. As the name implies, the OLED version features an upgraded 7″ OLED screen.

Compared to the 6.2″ LCD screen on the original version, the OLED option is a pretty decent upgrade.

The OLED version is also fitted with a larger 64 GB hard drive compared to the 32 GB drive on the original Switch.

While this is definitely an improvement, it’s still not going to be enough to load up a bunch of games.

You’ll likely have to take advantage of the microSD expansion slot (found on all versions of the Nintendo Switch).

The OLED switch retails for $349.99, while the original version still sits at its original price of $299.99.

Difference between Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite

And, of course, we can’t forget about the Switch Lite. The Lite version of the console was designed as a handheld-only option for gamers that aren’t interested in gaming on their TVs.

The Switch Lite features the smallest screen in the Switch lineup, at just 5.5 inches. It doesn’t come with removable Joy-Con controllers.

If the infamous Joy-Con drift happens to you, you’ll need to send the unit in for repair.

The console is essentially the same as the original Switch, except for these minor differences and the inability to play the console on your TV.

The Nintendo Switch Lite retails for just $199.99, so it is, by far, the most affordable in the Switch lineup. However, it also features the least amount of versatility, so that’s something that you’ll definitely want to consider.

So which Nintendo Switch is best for you?

Short answer: It depends on how you plan to use the console

Looking at the specifications, the biggest difference in Switch consoles lies between the Lite and the other two versions.

If you are looking for a console to use strictly for handheld gaming, then the Nintendo Switch Lite is perfect.

You won’t be able to use it on your TV, but you’ll be able to save a good amount of money by snagging the Lite.

As for the other two options, it really comes down to preference. I don’t think there’s enough of an upgrade between the original Switch and the OLED version to justify the $50.

But, if you want that bigger, better screen with a little more storage and the option to hardwire your internet when docked, then the Switch OLED version is the one you will want.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here are the best-selling and most-played games on Steam in 2021
• PlayStation 5 Standard vs. Digital Edition – which is best for you?
• When does the Steam Deck come out?
• Which Xbox Series X|S games have Dolby Atmos support?
• How to add friends on your Nintendo Switch

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Which Nintendo Switch is best for you? appeared first on KnowTechie.

While our selection looks at the usual gadgets and smartphones, we’ve also included some out-of-the-box ideas. 

From the best mechanical keyboards and tablets to the year’s hottest streaming services, there’s something here for everyone on your shopping list. 

We’ll break down each category for quick access in the sidebar, or you can scroll through the categories below if you feel like browsing.

No matter who you’re shopping for, something here is sure to please everyone on your list. Happy holidays!

The post KnowTechie’s Holiday Gift Guide (2022) appeared first on KnowTechie.

The best wireless earbuds have a trifecta of qualities – audio quality, solid connectivity, and comfort.

Once those are satisfied, you can add other features, like active noise canceling, stylish exteriors, and charging cases for times you’re away from a charger.

And thanks to advances in Bluetooth protocols, you can get great sound out of wireless earbuds. Sure, there are other options, but nobody likes jogging in bulky over-ear headphones.

But with so many options out there, what are the best earbuds? Well, that’s where we come in, and we’ll give you plenty of options to sift through.

We’ve included both true wireless (TWS) earbuds and some with wires. Which type suits you is a matter of preference.

While some prefer the size of TWS, others like that the wire will catch the earbud if it falls out of their ear. Regardless of your preference, we have a solid list lined up.

We’ll keep revising this list as the year progresses, but here are the best wireless earbuds.

PaMu Z1 ($69)

For a really nice price, you get a lot of sonic performance from the PaMu Z1 wireless earbuds.

They’ve got hybrid Active Noise Canceling, Bluetooth 5.2 for solid wireless connection, 6.5 hours of playback from a single charge, and a total of 24hrs due to the charging case.

That case charges via USB-C or Qi wireless, and the 10mm titanium drivers give a powerful sound.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 ($249)

Apple upgraded the internals of its AirPods Pro for the second time around. The new H2 chipset improved active noise cancelation and transparency modes, and the stems now have swipe gestures for volume control.

The charging case works with Find My and has a small speaker for battery notifications and to play sound if you lose them.

You also get a more balanced sound signature, punchy low end, clear mids, and treble. Battery life is improved to six hours on a charge, with a total of 30 hours with the battery in the charging case.

Oddict Twig Pro ($149)

These aptX Adaptive capable TWS earbuds from Oddict sound as good as they look.

Powered by 12mm dual layered carbon drivers, you get active noise canceling, 5.5 hours of playback in the buds, and another 1.5 charges in the case.

That’s less than many TWS sets, but the Twig Pro’s charging case is much easier to pocket.

Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport ($249)

We’re big fans of anything Master & Dynamic puts out, and for good reason.

Every pair we’ve used has stellar sound quality, intuitive physical controls, and a style that just won’t quit.

The MW08 Sport comes with a Kevlar charging case for a little less weight to carry around, and it recharges via Qi-compatible charging pads.

The active noise canceling is decent, and they have a transparency mode, so you don’t feel cut off from your surroundings.

Gravastar Sirius Pro ($130)

Sometimes you want your earbuds to look different. The Gravastar Sirius Pro comes in an alloy charging case that’s literally out of this world.

They come IPX5 rated for sweat and rain protection and give you 4hrs of listening, with another three charges in the case.

The neat thing is its Gaming/Music/Movie modes, which tweak sound and latency to suit the content. Oh, and that metal case is handy as a bottle opener for those warm, lazy summer nights.

Read our review of Gravastar’s Sirius Pro here.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds ($279)

Bose has been shutting out the world for decades with some of the best active noise canceling around. The QuietComfort Earbuds continue in that proud tradition, with rich sound and a comfortable fit.

The six-hour battery life is bolstered by two more full charges in the case, which also has fast charging to top you back up in no time.

Sony WF-1000XM4 ($278)

If the main thing you want from your wireless earbuds is active noise canceling, the Sony WF-1000XM4 should be the first thing on your list.

They are better than anything else on the market, with ANC that doesn’t affect the full-bodied sound signature when on.

If satisfied Amazon customers are anything to go by, they’re also comfortable to wear and have great on-call quality.

Audeze LCDi3 ($899)

What’s as good as over-ear headphones but fits inside your ear?

Audeze’s LCDi3 wireless earbuds are one of the best-sounding IEMs that also comes with a wireless option.

You have to deal with a cable running behind your neck to use them wirelessly, but that’s worth it when you hear the expansive sound.

They’re also tweakable with the Audeze app so that you can turn the reference sound into something closer to your preferences.

1MORE EVO ($169.99)

1MORE has long been a favorite of KnowTechie, and EVO is no exception.

Two drivers give you solid performance across the frequency band with clean, deep bass. LDAC support means high-quality source material.

Bluetooth 5.2 means rock-solid connectivity.

That’s just for starters. You also get four ANC modes, two transparency modes, and sensitive touch controls.

With ANC off, get 8 hours of playback (based on playback at 50% volume), with 2.5 more charges in the case. Oh, and IPX4 rating, so they’re great to use when getting your sweat on.

Nura NuraTrue ($200)

Nura’s true wireless IEMs, the NuraTrue, customize their sound signature to your ears, just like on the larger NuraPhone. They sound excellent even before tweaking, and that’s the beginning.

You also get active noise cancelation, IPX4 waterproofing, fast charging, and Hi-Res audio support.

Google Pixel Buds Pro ($200)

Google Pixel owners are going to want to pick up a pair of Pixel Buds Pro. They come with Pixel-specific bonuses like easier settings, and Spatial Audio is planned for early 2023.

Multipoint Bluetooth support is a big feature, as is active noise cancellation. They also have quality sound, long battery life, and are comfortable to wear for long periods.

Beyerdynamic Free Byrd ($249)

Beyerdynamic’s first pair of TWS earbuds is a heavy hitter.

Quality sound, ANC that removes background noise without fatiguing, and up to 11 hours of playback combined in a tidy little package.

The carrying case has another 19 hours’ worth of charge in it. You get aptX Adaptive and AAC, IPX4 waterproofing, and a ton of ear tips to find your best fit.

The best part? Mimi Sound Personalization, which tweaks the EQ from a two-minute listening test, so the sound quality is personal to you.

The best wireless earbuds don’t have to break the bank

As you can see from the list above, there are plenty of great options for in-ear headphones that don’t break the bank.

For example, the PaMu Z1 in-ear headphones cost about the same price as a new video game.

But, if you have the ability to splurge, there are also great options that provide amazing sound clarity and features.

At the end of the day, any of these options will treat you right, so look through the guide to find the perfect fit (both literally and figuratively) for you.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best Spotify alternatives for streaming music
• Review: EarFun Free Pro 2 – true wireless earbuds with ANC that won’t break the bank
• The Audeze Euclid in-ear headphones are expensive, but nearly perfect
• Review: Tribit XSound Mega – a hefty Bluetooth speaker with powerful sound

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best wireless earbuds (2022) appeared first on KnowTechie.

Valve’s Steam Deck is one of the most innovative introductions to PC gaming in a long time.

If you were lucky enough to get your hands on an early Steam Deck, you’ll likely be looking to pair some accessories with your new device.

The Steam Deck itself is an all-in-one gaming PC right in the palm of your hands. That means you technically don’t need any accessories to game on the Steam Deck.

But most gamers know good accessories can greatly improve your gaming experience.

For example, there’s even a way to turn the Steam Deck into a stationary gaming PC that you hook to a monitor before the official Steam Deck dock comes out.

The best Steam Deck accessories

From headsets to portable keyboards, you can pair tons of accessories with the Steam Deck. But which ones should you get? This post will answer that below.

So let’s see what kind of accessories are out there.

Short on time? Feel free to skip ahead using the jump links below.

Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub

Kicking things off in our list of Steam Deck accessories, this Anker 7-in-1 Hub can take Steam Deck gaming to a whole different level.

Valve plans to release a dock for the Steam Deck so you can dock the device and hook it up to a TV or monitor, like a Nintendo Switch.

But Valve’s dock isn’t coming out until at least late spring, and Anker’s 7-in-1 hub can get the job done today. It features an HDMI hookup to connect a monitor and pass through charging via USB-C.

That way, you can hook the Steam Deck up to the Anker Hub and play games for hours without worrying about battery life. The Anker 7-in-1 Hub is available on Amazon for $34.99.

Official Steam Deck Docking Station

If you are looking for a way to easily connect the Steam Deck to a monitor or want a way to conveniently charge the handheld, the Steak Deck Docking Station is perfect.

For $89, you get two USB ports, an HDMI port, USB-C, and an ethernet port. Now that anyone can buy a Steam Deck, we highly recommend checking out this option from Valve if you want more functionality from your gaming handheld.

Unitek Cooling Dock Pro

With so much tech packed into a small case, the Steam Deck can occasionally get pretty hot. Unitek has created its own solution with the Cooling Dock Pro.

The Unitek Cooling Dock Pro works like most other docking stations, with passthrough charging, HDMI output, and a LAN port for wired internet.

But where it stands apart is the included thermoelectric cooler. It uses a metallic contact plate and a cooler on the back to help keep your Steam Deck cooler during those intense gaming sessions.

The Unitek Cooling Dock Pro is available on the Unitek website for $119.

JSAUX upgraded docking station

We’re still waiting for news about the official Steam Deck Dock, so until then, it’s time for some third-party action.

The upgraded dock from JSAUX has HDMI 4K60 output, Gigabit ethernet, USB-C for charging, and three USB-A 3.0 ports.

READ MORE: Can the Steam Deck play GTA 5?

Supporting 100W power delivery, it can charge at the full 45W that the Steam Deck supports. Oh, and it’s also compatible with iPads or Android phones with USB-C.

Omni Mobile 25,600mah power bank

And you will definitely want a portable power bank to pair with your Steam Deck.

The battery on the Steam Deck will drain pretty quickly when playing some more demanding games. This 25,600mah power bank from Omnicharge should keep you going for a while.

READ MORE: Can Steam Deck play Minecraft?

This power bank provides a charging output of up to 60W via USB-C, which should your device pretty quickly.

And there are multiple ports, so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously.

With this amount of stored power, you should be able to charge your Steam Deck up to full at least a couple of times before recharging the battery. You can get this power bank from Omnicharge from Amazon for $149.99.

Anker 20,000mah power bank

You can also find a portable power bank for a little bit cheaper. This option from Anker offers a similar 20,000mah capacity battery at a much lower price.

But it is a bit slower than the previous option, outputting at a maximum of 20W. So you might have to wait a little longer to charge your Steam Deck up using this option.

Still, the 20,000mah capacity should give you a couple of full charges on your Steam Deck so you can keep playing beyond the initial battery life.

The Anker 20,000mah portable power bank is available on Amazon for $69.99.

iVoler Steam Deck screen protector 3-pack

By now, most of us know screen protectors are crucial to keeping our devices safe.

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to add a screen protector to your Steam Deck, just do it. Unless you’re comfortable risking scratches or cracks in your $400 plus dollar investment.

iVoler has already developed screen protectors for the Steam Deck. And you can get a pack of three on Amazon for just under $12.

Do yourself a favor and protect your Steam Deck’s screen from scratches with a screen protector or three.

DLseego TPU protective shell case

Depending on how clumsy you are with your electronics, you might want to outfit your Steam Deck with a protective case.

The DLseego TPU protective case is a good option that’s affordable and offers a decent level of prottection from scratches and light impacts.

The TPU material is what’s typically found in many smartphone cases, and offers a flexible but durable design.

While it might not save your Steam Deck from big falls, the DLseego case provides good scratch protection and some cushioning from potential impacts.

It also features a non-slip grip material on the handles of your Steam Deck for a little extra security.

The DLseego case is available on Amazon for just $16.99. Click the button below to check it out.

JSAUX standing case

Another option you might want to consider is the JSAUX standing case.

It offers a similar, TPU shell as the DLseego above. But JSAUX added a stand to this one in case you wanted to game hands-free on your Steam Deck.

This case offers an ergonomic grip with texturing on either side to help you grip your Steam Deck.

But what stands out the most (no pun intended) is the flip-out stand that lets the Steam Deck stand up by itself.

This case could make things much easier if you’re playing Steam Deck with a mouse and keyboard. Check out the JSAUX stand case on the JSAUX website.

Daydayup Steam Deck carrying case

If a full-on carrying case is more your style, then check out the daydayup Steam Deck carrying case.

The Daydayup carrying case is your one-stop shop to protect and haul around your Steam Deck in comfort.

The Daydayup carrying case features a hard, protective outer shell to keep your Steam Deck safe from dings and drops.

Inside, the Steam Deck fits in a cushioned compartment with a mesh zipper pouch that can store all your cords, a power bank, earbuds, and other small accessories.

Oh, and there’s an included 16-slot SD card case so you can carry around all the game storage you’ll ever need.

The Daydayup case is available on Amazon for $19.99.

Waterfield Cityslicker leather case

A premium case for your Steam Deck might be one of the ultimate accessories. Next up, we have the Cityslicker leather case from Waterfield.

Now, all three versions of the Steam Deck already come with a case. But Waterfield’s Cityslicker is a decent step up.

The outside comprises full-grain leather, and the inside features a soft liner. And the case offers stellar protection with its ballistic nylon lining.

The Waterfield Cityslicker will have you carrying your Steam Deck in style while offering an increased level of protection from damage.

The Cityslicker is available for preorder on the Waterfield website starting at $129.

JSAUX Carrying case (hard shell)

More options are never a bad thing, and if you are a fan of some of JSAUX other products on this list, the company’s Steam Deck carrying case is worth checking out.

This protective case for Steam Deck includes places for chargers, earbuds, and more. The best part, at $29, it won’t break the bank. It’s available on Amazon (link below) or directly from the company.

Audeze Penrose wireless gaming headset

And now we’re on to the accessories that enhance your gameplay experience.

To start things off, the Audeze Penrose wireless gaming headset is a great option to pair with your Steam Deck.

The Audeze Penrose features Bluetooth, so you don’t have to worry about buying any extra accessories to work with the Steam Deck.

The headset is lightweight and features a powerful battery that will keep you gaming for hours.

And its planar drivers offer incredible sound both in games and when listening to music. The Audeze Penrose is a great-sounding headset that would work well with the Steam Deck.

Check out our full review here if you’re not convinced. You can snag the Audeze Penrose from Amazon for $299.

SteelSeries Arctis 7+ wireless gaming headset

Another great headset option for the Steam Deck is the SteelSeries Arctis 7+. SteelSeries is known for its award-winning gaming peripherals, and the Arctis 7+ is not different.

SteelSeries’ Arctis line of headsets remains one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve tried to date.

However, one issue with the headset is that it lacks Bluetooth connectivity.

You’ll need to use the USB-C port on the Steam Deck or something like the Anker 7-in-1 Hub mentioned above to connect the headset.

But, if you decide to use your Steam Deck docked with a hub like that, then you definitely can’t go wrong with the SteelSeries Arctis 7+.

Check out our full review of the Arctis 7+ here. The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ is available at Amazon for $169.99.

EPOS H3 Hybrid wireless gaming headset

The final headset that will work well with the Steam Deck is the H3 Pro Hybrid from EPOS. Like the other headsets mentioned, the H3 Hybrid offers great sound and comfort.

But one cool thing about the H3 Hybrid is that it can connect to two devices simultaneously.

You can connect it wired via USB and wireless via Bluetooth simultaneously to listen to two devices at once.

That could be convenient, for instance, if you were talking on the phone and playing the Steam Deck at the same time.

The H3 Hybrid also features a detachable boom microphone, so you can turn it into a lower profile pair of headphones for when you’re out gaming on the go with your Steam Deck.

The EPOS H3 is available at Amazon for $179.

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless

You can also enhance your Steam Deck experience with old-school PC gaming accessories. Of course, the Steam Deck has several of its own control options.

But some games are just so much better with a mouse. And the Aerox 3 is the perfect mouse to pair up with a Steam Deck.

The Aerox 3 is an ultra-lightweight mouse that’s relatively small in size, so you can take it anywhere. And it connects via Bluetooth, so you don’t have to worry about extra accessories.

And to cap things off, the Aerox 3 has an incredible battery that can keep you going for weeks. I’m a big fan of the Aerox 3, and it seems like the perfect mouse to pair with your Steam Deck.

You can grab an Aerox 3 wireless in white or black for $99.99 at Amazon.

Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless

Next up, we have the Logitech G305 Lightspeed wireless mouse. Logitech consistently delivers quality gaming peripherals for computers and the G305 is no exception.

The G305 features six programmable buttons with onboard memory for settings. And the G305 also has an impressive battery rated for up to 250 hours of use on a single charge.

The only downside to the G305 for the Steam Deck is that it lacks Bluetooth connectivity.

You will need to connect the included dongle to hook this mouse up to your Steam Deck, which means you’ll need something like the Anker Hub mentioned above.

But the G305 is relatively affordable, at just $49.99 on Amazon.

Cooler Master SK622 Wireless

As is the case with gaming mice, so many games in the Steam library work much better with a keyboard.

But the Steam Deck is still designed for mobile gaming, so a mobile keyboard is what you need. And Cooler Master delivers with the SK622 wireless keyboard.

This particular keyboard is a 60% design. So, not only is it missing the number pad on the right side, but it also packs all necessary keyboard keys into one of the smallest form gaming keyboards you can find.

And it connects with Bluetooth. So you don’t have to worry about keeping up with a dongle or buying an extra gadget to make it compatible with your Steam Deck.

The SK622 from Cooler Master is available on Amazon for $115.

SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL keyboard

Another great mobile keyboard option is the Apex 3 TKL from SteelSeries.

This keyboard is a little bigger than the SK622 mentioned above, but it’s still a small, lightweight option compared to other gaming keyboards.

The Apex 3 TKL features IP32 waterproof protection, protecting it from water splashes and dust buildup.

That makes it a good option for gaming on the go in environments that aren’t necessarily controlled. However, there is one flaw with the Apex 3 TKL when pairing it up with a Steam Deck.

And you guessed it, no Bluetooth. The Apex 3 is a wired keyboard, so you’ll need something like the Anker Hub mentioned above to add USB ports to connect this keyboard.

The Apex 3 TKL is pretty affordable, at just $44.99 on Amazon.

Xbox Core Wireless controller

While the Steam Deck does have its own onboard controller, you won’t always want to pick it up.

The smaller thumbsticks aren’t the easiest to use either so that you might prefer a dedicated controller.

You can’t beat using an Xbox controller for all those times you’re docked to play on a larger screen.

All the games in your library support one, it’s ergonomic and has superior quality thumbsticks, and it works either wired or by Bluetooth.

AOpen 15.6″ portable monitor

Now, we’re going to check out a couple of monitors you can pair with the Steam Deck.

The Steam Deck has its own 7″ screen for games, but there might be times when you want a bit bigger screen for gaming.

And the AOpen 15.6″ portable monitor is a great option for portable gaming. This is a 15.6″ monitor with its own stand that you can set up anywhere.

And it has a USB-C port for display, so you won’t need anything extra to hook up your Steam Deck.

The AOpen monitor does require a power supply, so its portability is somewhat limited.

And if you connect it directly to your Steam Deck, you won’t be able to use the Steam Deck’s USB-C port for charging. So you will be limited by the device’s battery unless you use additional hardware.

You can get this AOpen 15.6″ portable monitor on Amazon for $275.

LG Ultragear 27″

We talk a lot about the portability of the Steam Deck, as that is what it was mainly designed for.

But it’s still a full-functioning gaming PC. And pair it up with the LG Ultragear 27″ gaming monitor, and you’ve got a decent gaming setup.

READ MORE: The best equipment for your sim racing rig

The LG Ultragear 27″ is a 1080p 144hz monitor, which will take full advantage of the Steam Deck’s capabilities.

Of course, the Ultragear 27″ only features HDMI connectivity for display, so you’ll have to snag the Anker Hub or wait until Valve releases the dock for the Steam Deck.

This particular monitor costs $299.99 on Amazon.

SCUF Exo posture cushion

The Steam Deck is pretty hefty, at 23.6 oz (669g). That’s a lot of strain on your wrists and back when playing handheld without support.

SCUF has you covered, with the Exo posture pillow.

We’ve been using these with controllers and our Nintendo Switch, so we know it’ll be fine with the added weight of the Steam Deck.

The Exo is inflatable (or maybe deflatable if you want to look at it that way), so you can throw it in your bag to use wherever you are gaming.

For $40, it’ll help save you from a lifetime of aching joints.

Lexar 64GB microSD

And the last things we want to cover aren’t necessarily accessories, but they’ll definitely improve your Steam Deck.

Depending on the size Steam Deck you went with, you may need extra storage sooner rather than later.

With this 64GB microSD from Lexar, you can store a few extra games over the initial capacity of your device.

And at only $10, you can even snag multiple of these cards to fill up with games and switch them in and out whenever you’d like.

Samsung EVO 512GB microSD

This 512GB option from Samsung will give you a little more room to play.

You can fit several additional games on your Steam Deck with half a terabyte of extra storage.

The more storage you have the better. Nobody wants to uninstall and reinstall games constantly because they don’t have enough storage.

The Samsung EVO 512 GB microSD costs $74.99 on Amazon.

SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSD

And finally, we’ve got the big one. This 1TB of storage offers twice as much storage as the Samsung option mentioned above. Even the largest Steam Deck only comes with 512GB of storage.

Adding this 1TB microSD from SanDisk will triple the number of games you can install on your device.

That should keep you going for a long time. Although some of today’s games are absolutely massive, so you still might fill that up quickly.

This 1TB microSD from SanDisk will run you $174.99 on Amazon.

Ugreen Nexode 140W USB-C GaN Charger

It’s no secret the Steam Deck commands a lot of power. And if you’re playing it mobile, you’re eventually going to need to recharge it. This is where the Nexode 140W USB-C GaN charger comes in.

Instead of waiting for your regular charger to juice up the Steam Deck, this charger can get it done in half the time.

The charger uses GaN technology, which generates a high-efficiency charge with less heat. This new technology is gaining popularity as it can deliver more power to devices than traditional chargers.

What would normally take your Steam Deck an hour to charge, this Nexode 140W can get it done in just 30 minutes or less.

Read our review here: Ugreen Nexode 140W USB-C GaN Charger Review

GuliKit (no drift) Type A Electromagnetic Joystick Module

Stick drift is a big issue, especially on smaller joysticks like those on the Steam Deck. These replacement joysticks fix drift once and for all because they use the hall effect for sensing.

Because they use magnets, they won’t wear like normal joystick modules. These units are only for Steam Decks using Type A sticks, so head to Settings, System, Steam Deck Controller ID, and make sure it starts with MEDA before you purchase.

You’ll also need a soldering iron to install them. We recommend finding a professional to swap if you’re not comfortable, as your Steam Deck wasn’t cheap.

We should see more Steam Deck-specific accessories in the coming months

And that does it for some of the best accessories that you can add to your Steam Deck.

Of course, there are tons of mice, keyboards, and other peripherals that you could pair with the Steam Deck to enhance your gaming experience. These are just some of our favorites.

The Steam Deck’s design combined with the fact that it has only been out for a few weeks means there aren’t a lot of accessories designed specifically for the device yet.

However, as more and more people get their hands on the device, we’ll likely see some new accessories in the future.

We’ll update this article with any additional accessories we see over the next few months. It’s definitely an exciting time for PC gamers, as the Steam Deck gets into the hands of more and more gamers.

I’ve got my reservation in, and I can’t wait to see what the Steam Deck’s all about when I finally order mine.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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• Here are the best STEM toys on the market today
• The best wireless earbuds of 2022
• Which Nintendo Switch is best for you?
• Best back-to-school laptops for college students in 2022

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best Steam Deck accessories appeared first on KnowTechie.

It’s hard to argue that Microsoft isn’t offering one of the best deals in gaming with Xbox Game Pass.

Whether you are playing on a Series X, S, One, or even from your computer, there are a ton of games constantly at your disposal.

However, with all the great offerings, you may need an extra controller for some couch co-op gaming with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, or you need a controller for playing on your PC.

You might even be looking to up your game by upgrading your sticks. Regardless, there are a ton of options out there for you.

You may feel overwhelmed and decide a standard, first-party Xbox controller is the way to go. For price and feature, though, you have many different options.

There are quite a few options, whether you like flashy lights, additional buttons, modular customization, or improved audio options. It can be hard to pick what works best for your needs.

How we made our picks

So, how did we choose all the best Xbox controllers to include in this list? It’s easy – we personally tested many on the list.

On top of that, we spent hours researching user reviews, Reddit posts, YouTube videos, and more. But mainly, our first-hand experience is ultimately how we drafted our picks.

Choosing the best Xbox controller for your wallet and needs

Looking at first-hand experiences, reviews, and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best Xbox controllers you can throw your money at.

BONUS: Any controller on this list works natively with Windows PCs, so you can easily switch between your console and desktop.

Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 ($164)

While there’s no end to third-party controllers, maybe you want to keep everything Microsoft-designed.

The Elite Series 2 gives you all the customization of the best third-party controllers while keeping a Microsoft warranty.

The best part? It works just as well on PC as on the Xbox Series X|S. Microsoft even licensed SCUF’s technology, so you get the best of both worlds.

You get a modular, magnetic thumbstick, modular d-pads, hair-trigger locks, and four removable, remappable paddles on the back. You can also tweak the thumbstick tension for precision aiming.

PDP Wired Game Controller ($34.99)

Remember back in the day when you had that “guest” controller that you’d let younger siblings or friends that didn’t bring their own controller use?

The PDP Wired Game controller is the natural evolution of that idea.

It may not offer all the flash and glitz that other controllers on the list have. However, this Xbox controller is still pound-for-pound, one of the best if you are in a pinch and need a secondary controller.

What it lacks in additional features, it makes up in versatility.

Coming in a selection of colors and offering full button customization via the PDP app, this one still gives you a lot to work with without breaking the bank.

RIG Nacon PRO Compact ($49.99)

Much like the previous entry, the RIG Nacon PRO compact controller doesn’t offer an absolute truckload of extra benefits.

This one does offer something that none of the other controllers on this list do, and it can be a big deal.

This controller is one of the few certified for Dolby ATMOS audio.

That means plugging your headset into the audio will improve the quality over just about any other controller on the list.

Another thing that sets this controller apart from the rest is the shape.

While every other controller on this list more or less looks like the traditional Xbox controller shape, this one is almost more PlayStation-like.

HexGaming Make Your Own BLADE controller

Looking for a sleek Xbox controller that allows for full customization? We love our HexGaming controller with custom triggers and back buttons.

Customize every aspect of the controller, including the faceplate, buttons, triggers, and more. There are a ton of colors to choose from, and we especially appreciate the thumbstick options.

Pricing is what you’d expect from a custom controller, coming in at $159.99 for the custom version.

PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced ($44.99)

The PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced controller is likely the best “price per feature” option on the list.

Having the ability to look stylish, feel stylish, and help keep your eyes on the screen at all times, it’s pretty awesome and keeps it in the ranks of best Xbox controllers.

This controller lets you modify the RGB lights for the left thumbstick, right thumbstick, face buttons, and the perimeter of the controller.

Match the look to your game and the room, or just make it look as funky as you’d like.

The other great feature of this controller is the front-facing audio control and mappable back buttons.

You can map any of the buttons or L3 or R3 to the back of the controller without any software needed.

Victrix Gambit Wired ($99.99)

The Victrix Gambit controller is basically a mishmash of nearly all the high-end features on this list.

The selling point on this one is that there is a lot of customization, and has the fastest response time on the list.

With a selection of controller gates, thumbstick, and a custom d-pad, the Victrix already goes toe to toe with many controllers above and below this price point.

Surprisingly, this controller also includes the Dolby Atmos sound drivers, making it even more appealing to players.

The Victrix may be one of the gaudier controllers of the bunch, but the response and customization show that this is a function over design situation. It’s literally built for any situation.

PowerA Fusion Pro 2 ($89.99)

I like to refer to the PowerA Fusion Pro 2 as the Xbox Elite Lite controller. This bad boy also boasts some of the fastest response times on the list outside of the Vitrix.

My favorite feature of the controller is that it has mappable back paddles, just like the Xbox Elite 2 controller.

While it doesn’t allow non-controller button presses, it’s still lovely to map common buttons or L3 or R3 to the back so you can move while hitting those paddles.

The paddles are also removable, so if that’s not your thing, that can be ignored too.

The controller also includes two faceplates, one black with grips and one white without. This is a prime example of what looks good and feels good, plus it is seemingly always on sale.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma ($149.99)

There is a few “luxury model” controllers on this list.

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is absolutely the chromatic-painted Corvette with neon lights of the bunch here. But what makes it one of the best Xbox controllers?

For starters, thumbsticks with tension adjustment and a science-backed ergonomic design are two features you won’t find on any other controller on the list.

The additional six mappable input buttons that can also use customizable input commands give it just a little bit more value, as well.

The Raver Wolverine V2 Chroma may be more expensive than most controllers but offers nearly unmatched customization and tune-up options.

There is a reason this is a popular controller with streamers.

PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus Bluetooth ($99)

While technically not a direct Xbox controller, the MOGA XP7-X is meant for Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Having accurate and consistent Xbox-style control grips for Xbox Cloud Gaming on your phone is great.

The added bonus of being able to wirelessly charge your phone while gaming is even better.

If you aren’t on the go, the MOGA XP7-X also has a built-in kickstand, so you can lounge back with a normal-sized controller.

It’s worth noting that this works with any size phone too. I have a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, one of the biggest phones on the market. If it fits me, it will fit basically any smartphone out there.

eSwap Pro by Thrustmaster (9)

The eSwap Pro is a go-to controller for some of the best competitive players on Twitch. The features seem a bit lighter than some options on this list, but sometimes less is more.

Hot-swappable thumbsticks are the first noticeable difference from the other controllers here. This means you can completely change the layout of your controller by moving or adding additional nodes.

Are you more of a PlayStation user and are used to the symmetrical thumbstick?

No problem, you can swap it to match that. Want to add the XYAB buttons where the d-pad goes for prime button mashing? It can do that too.

Mappable options on the controller and lightning-fast response time also round this out to make the eSwap Pro one of the most attractive controllers on the list.

Turtle Beach Recon ($59.95)

Sometimes you don’t want to spend more on a controller than on a game, but you want awesome features. Turtle Beach Recon happens to be just that type of controller.

With a lot of built-in audio options and front-facing adjustments, Turtle Beach believes the Recon can improve your K/D by “over 40%”.

That means I’m looking at going from a 0.25 to a 0.4 K/D! Jokes aside, the adjustable audio options aren’t anywhere else on this list, and that says a lot.

The tool-free, adjustable thumbstick resistance built into the controller is probably the coolest thing, making it one of the best Xbox controllers out there.

SCUF Instinct Pro ($229.99)

Looking good, feeling good, playing good, and costing a small fortune is the SCUF way. The SCUF Instinct Pro takes the ideas of the Elite 2 controller and takes it a few steps further.

It includes four embedded, rear remappable paddles, three configuration profiles, switchable instant triggers, and interchangeable thumbstick.

The non-slip grip is also nice for some of your more serious sessions.

The SCUF Instinct Pro may be the most expensive on the list, but it is undeniably one of the best Xbox controllers. It’s not just a superior controller but also a major flex on anyone in your lobbies.

Razer Wolverine V2 ($77)

Razer’s latest Xbox controller has the all-important share button, while still being one of the cheapest controllers Razer has produced.

Paying less does mean you lose some features, but the Wolverine V2 still comes with two extra mappable trigger buttons and trigger stops for faster performance in shooters.

It’s wired, with no option for wireless play, but then you’re not at the mercy of the Xbox Series X|S wireless connection, which is still having issues with some controllers.

The best feature? Razer’s Mecha-tactile buttons are mechanical instead of membrane and have a satisfying click when pressed.

Remember that third-party Xbox controllers aren’t just “guest controllers” anymore

You’ve seen the best that third-party controller companies have to offer when it comes to Xbox controllers. You can toss that $70 basic first-party controller and put some real power and response into your mitts.

Now it’s just a matter of lining up your needs and price point to determine the best Xbox controller for you.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best Xbox controllers appeared first on KnowTechie.

I mean, who has time actually to go to the gym? Between traffic, days crammed with meetings, and family commitments, you were lucky to squeeze in a few laps of the pool before your three hours of sleep a day.

At least you’ve got space for a home gym, whether that is half of your home office space or beside the Tesla Supercharger in your garage.

There is a vast range of home fitness gear to choose from, and many options come with a personal training program.

That gets you all the benefits of guidance without leaving home. Adding smart tech to that equipment completes the loop, allowing your equipment to adapt to progress, track performance, and give you real-time feedback.

Best workout tech to add to your home gym or office

Whether you want to lift weights, work out your frustrations on the bag, or cycle as if your life depended on it, we’ve got you covered with the best in-home fitness tech.

LIT Strength Machine

Looking for a full-body workout machine that can be easily set up at home?

The LIT Strength Machine is a one-of-a-kind, all-in-one water rower, pilates reformer, and strength trainer that can perform 500+ exercises, including rowing, cardio, strength training, physical therapy, pilates, and more.

With adjustable water resistance and the ability to simultaneously workout with resistance bands, this exercise machine is perfect for increasing long-term strength, power, and stability.

The LIT strength machine can also be stored vertically, making it ideal in-home workout equipment for small spaces.

FORME

Yves Béhar has worked on some of the coolest tech gadgets of recent years, so you know that his workout gear will be great.

Forme was designed to blur the lines between home and gym, looking like a super expensive mirror when it’s not doing dual duty as a personal trainer.

Hidden away are two handles for anaerobic exercises and a 43-inch interactive display for everything from strength training to yoga, barre, and dance, with eight different disciplines.

All the workouts are filmed, so it feels like you’re in the same room as your virtual trainer, and the range of exercises is designed for a holistic view of fitness.

PowerDot 2.0

Prefer to work your abs while sitting and watching TV? The PowerDot is a tiny, portable, battery-powered muscle stimulator that can reduce your recovery times, increase your performance, and relieve pain.

The app shows you exactly where to stick the pads, the cables are magnetically attached to those, and you’re away vibrating like you’re doing mad reps.

It’s easy to use, has loads of preset programs for everything from injury prevention to performance and training, and is proven TENS tech for pain relief.

I’ve got a set that I use whenever my sciatic nerve acts up, and my recovery times have never been shorter.

Lululemon Studio Mirror

Lululemon’s Studio Mirror is like a high-tech version of the mirror in Snow White. It subtly hangs on the wall when you don’t want to exercise, transforming into an intelligent display when you do.

Firing up a workout shows the instructor in actual size, but you can also see your reflection to correct your movements accordingly. It also tracks your metrics, so you’ll be the fairest of them all in no time.

This is a perfect option if you want your gym equipment to, erm, not look like gym equipment. Bonus points for not taking up any floor space, except when exercising in front of it.

Peloton

Peloton might be more of a cult than a fitness regime, but that doesn’t mean that the equipment isn’t great.

Whether you prefer the stationary bike for those in-home spinning classes or the treadmill, the rowing machine, or the camera for strength training, the experience is still the same.

You get the Peloton app with thousands of classes, easy-to-use (and huge!) touchscreens, and a vast stable of popular instructors.

Oh, and never underestimate the allure of fighting for leaderboard positions. You’ll spend more and more time on the equipment once your rankings start trending upward, and isn’t that the whole point?

FightCamp

Want to work out your frustrations and get fit at the same time? Maybe FightCamp is the answer to your flabby arms.

They send you a free-standing punching bag (but not the sand or water you need to fill it), four foam mats, and punch-tracking doohickeys that you slip into your gloves as you pound the bag.

It does take up quite some space, so make sure your room is big enough to accommodate it.

NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill

NordicTrack has long been a class leader in fitness, and the new Commercial series continues that trend. Get varied resistance levels while running on a wide, springy belt that’ll suit many gait styles.

The 14-inch touchscreen shows workout plans from iFit, including guided walking and running sessions from top running coaches.

Set the speed between 0 and 12 MPH, and the incline automatically changes between -3% and 15% while watching iFit sessions to match the on-screen surroundings.

Eight Sleep Pod

A good night’s sleep is the most significant building block to exercise and recovery. The Eight Sleep Pod 3 or Pod 3 Cover helps you enable your best by letting you control the temperature of your mattress surface.

Prefer warm? No problem. How about cooler than ice? Well… not quite ice, but when you’re laid on it, that’s what it’ll feel like with the coldest setting.

Both Pods have sleep tracking, breathing tracking, heart rate tracking, and thermal alarm functions so you can wake up without the jolt of an alarm.

Even better, Eight Sleep has its early Black Friday sale right now, and until November 18, you can save $250 off the Pod or $100 off the Pod 3 Cover.

KetoneAid

If you want to skip the crushing brain fog that often comes after you finish an exhausting workout, chug a few ml of this exogenous ketone ester before you start crushing your workout.

A study showed it to have a benefit on executive function, so it’s worth trying to see if it works for you. I’m no doctor, but anecdotally speaking, it works for me.

Tonal

Tonal is another one of the home fitness companies attaching workout gear to huge smart displays to show you your workout, making it like you’re almost in the gym.

The wall-mounted screen has resistance training arms that use electromagnets to supply up to 200 lbs of resistance.

If you want the full experience, expect to open your wallet. You’ll need to add more to get the smart handles and bar that let you change the resistance of the arms and more monthly for the workout subscription.

Tempo

If weightlifting is your thing, Tempo Studio will be your best friend. It consists of two parts, the Tempo machine, which looks like an easel with a substantial smart screen, and an assortment of weights and bars.

It’s not cheap, but then it does replace your expensive gym membership, and you don’t have to deal with the stinky locker rooms. I call that a bonus.

You’ll need to shell out more for the guided workouts, but they feel like one-to-one instruction, so they’re cheap compared to hiring a trainer.

You’ll see things like rep count, rep rate, motion range, heart rate, and feedback cues on the smart display as you work out. That lets you can instantly correct your form.

Fitbit Charge 5

For proper feedback on your workouts, you need to track your metrics. Fitbit is one of the best in the business, and the Charge 5 is the latest and greatest.

You get a week of battery life, water resistance, and all the trackable workout types you could want.

It also features stress sensing, skin temperature tracking, a Sleep Score, so you know how recovery is going, and more.

Bob and Brad Leg Massager

You wouldn’t skip leg day, but at least you can dread it a little less with this awesome leg massager. You get full-leg massage and heat with two heat settings and four massage modes.

That’s a lot of recovery comfort for that day after leg day. Not that you can’t use them any other day to improve circulation.

Beats Fit Pro

Powering through sets in the gym usually needs powerful beats to keep your motivation high. With the Beats Fit Pro, you get the power of AirPods Pro, active noise cancellation, IPX4 water resistance, and quick pairing.

The winged tips will keep them securely in your ears, and the H1 chip means Siri will always be just a couple of words away. You get six hours of music playback, which is much more than you need for the gym.

LARQ Self-sanitizing water bottle

After all that exercise, you’ll need to hydrate. The thing is, most reusable water bottles are hard to clean and filled with germs.

LARQ fixes that problem with a UV-C lamp in the stopper, which can eliminate 99.99 percent of all bio-contaminates. Is it overkill? Maybe. But is it awesome? Absolutely.

In-home workout equipment continues to improve

If you are working from a home office, or just prefer to exercise from the privacy of your own home, these options will help.

Of course, workout equipment is anything but cheap, but if you stick with it, you are making a great investment into your future.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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• Review: Urevo exercise bike – a no-frills bike that doesn’t break the bank

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best in-home workout equipment appeared first on KnowTechie.

Getting a brand-new iPhone 14 is an exciting and expensive purchase. Finding the best case for your iPhone 14 is necessary to keep your investment in pristine condition.

We have put together a list of the best iPhone 14 cases on the market designed to keep your iPhone looking fresh and new.

While looking at the best iPhone 14 cases, you will see MagSafe-compatible cases.

Introduced on the iPhone 12, MagSafe is made up of magnets that allow you to connect various accessories to your device.

These accessories include items such as chargers and stands. But not all MagSafe cases are the same. The best MagSafe cases have built-in magnets to ensure a great experience.

Some manufacturers claim its cases are MagSafe-compatible but don’t include magnets.

While these cases technically work because they are so thin, it usually results in a weak magnet connection and a poor experience.

The best iPhone case is the one that provides your device with the most protection in the style that you want. All types of case designs tend to come in various colors.

Whether you are looking for an ultra-thin case, one built like a tank, or something in between, there is no shortage of cases on the market.

Here are our top picks for the best cases for the iPhone 14.

The Apple Silicone Case with MagSafe is a great thin-style case from Apple. It features a silicone exterior with a microfibre-lined interior to give your iPhone the protection it deserves.

In my opinion, it’s arguably the best iPhone 14 Pro case out there.

This case has built-in magnets within the case to securely hold your MagSafe accessories. It also comes in a variety of colors to suit your needs.

The smooth exterior can be slightly slippery initially but will become less slippery over time. The biggest issue with this case is that it can get dirty quickly.

The silicone does attract dirt and pet hair, so it may need routine cleaning. It’s available for purchase from Apple or Amazon for $49.

Mkeke’s range of iPhone 14 cases features a thin and stylish design. It has a 3.5mm raised bezel to protect the camera housing and a 1.9mm bezel to protect the screen from directly contacting surfaces. 

This Mkeke case, in particular, is made from a blend of TPU and Acrylic materials. This durable blend of materials is designed to give you military-grade drop protection and to prevent the case from yellowing over time.

The blend of materials creates a great grip, so you can be confident your phone won’t fall out of your hand. You can get the Mkeke iPhone 14 case from Amazon.

Additionally, the company has a variety of some of the best iPhone 14 cases out there. Check out their Amazon store for more options.

The CASETiFY Essential Case is another thin case with excellent grip.

With a clear back and colored edges, you can show off the beauty of your device. The backplate consists of hard plastic, and the sides consist of TPU.

The front of the case and around the camera ring have 1.2mm raised edges to protect those areas. The raised edges also do wonders for keeping your display from coming in contact with surfaces.

This case is not MagSafe compatible but is thin enough to support wireless charging.

The clear plastic back can scratch easily, and I’m not in love with the CASETiFY branding around the camera ring.

It is available exclusively from Amazon for $35.

The Classic Charm Mag is a unique case from Cyrill. Cyrill is the sister brand to Spigen. Its main feature is that it has two hooks on the bottom of the case where you can attach a shoulder strap.

It has built-in magnets to ensure great MagSafe compatibility. The case is made from Polyurethane Leather (PU Leather or vegan leather).

Depending on pocket size, the shoulder strap hook can become annoying if you put this case in your pocket. Other than the shoulder strap, there isn’t much personalization going on. It only comes in black.

You can get the case from Cyrill and Amazon.

The Gear4 Crystal Palace Clear Case by Zagg is built well to show off the full style of your iPhone 14. It’s constructed with D30, which is a thin and lightweight material.

It is military drop-tested and can withstand up to a 10-foot drop. The case has a beveled edge to keep your screen and camera lenses off the surface. The case supports wireless charging

The Gear4 isn’t MagSafe compatible. It also tends to get dirty and lose its clearness over time.

You can get the case from Zagg.

The Lupa Legacy Wallet Case is a high-quality case made from PU leather with handcrafted stitching. It can hold up to four cards and has an additional spot to hold your cash.

The case has a 0.5 mm raised edge around the camera, and a 1.6 mm raised edge around the main display to offer greater protection.

Unlike many wallet cases, this one supports wireless charging compatibility. This wallet case has a magnetic clasp to keep the case closed.

This case isn’t MagSafe compatible. You can get the case from Lupa and Amazon.

Mujjo hit it out of the park with its leather wallet case. This case leaves no edges exposed, can carry up to 3 cards, and features premium Ecco leather.

The buttons are made from machine metal, died to match the rest of the case. The camera lens and screen edges are raised and wrapped in leather.

Being made of leather, this case can show marks and scuffs that develop over time. The leather can stretch if more than one card is placed in each slot. This can loosen the card slot and make holding your cards less secure.

You can find the Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case at Mujjo and Amazon.

Otterbox is known for its indestructible cases. The Defender Series Pro XT lives up to that reputation and can withstand 5 times more drops than the military standard.

This two-piece case has a polycarbonate shell and synthetic rubber slipcover. It has port covers to block dirt, dust, and lint from getting into the jacks and ports.

The outside of the case has an antimicrobial additive that prevents the growth of bacteria. It has built-in magnets to work with MagSafe chargers and accessories.

You can get the case from Otterbox and Best Buy.

The OtterBox Symmetry Series+ is a thinner case compared to traditional OtterBox cases. This case is designed to withstand 3 times more drops than the military standard.

The case has an antimicrobial coating to prevent the growth of bacteria. It has built-in magnets, allowing it to utilize MagSafe accessories and chargers.

You can get the Symmetry Series+ from OtterBox and Best Buy.

The Spigen Ultra Hybrid MagFit case is made from a blend of PC and TPU for increased durability. It utilizes Air Cushion technology to provide military-grade drop protection.

This case is infused with blue resing to keep the case looking clear. It has raised edges to keep your screen off of any surface. This case is wireless charging compatible and has built-in magnets for MagSafe accessories.

You can get the Ultra Hybrid MagFit case from Spigen and Amazon.

The Guardian Shockproof is a slim profile case from Torras. The sides feature a soft bumper for enhanced grip and a nano-oleophobic coating to endure a silky smooth touch without being sticky.

Torras designed this case for ultimate protection. It is rated to keep your phone safe with up to three times more protection than standard military-grade protection.

This is not a MagSafe case, but it is wireless charging compatible. You can get it from Torras or Amazon.

Totallee iPhone 14 case is an ultra-thin case with a minimalistic design. At just 0.02-inches thin, Totallee claims that it is the world’s slimmest iPhone 14 case.

Its color cases and clear hard cases are made of polypropylene, while its clear soft cases are made of TPU. These can have MagSafe built-in, or you can get it without it (although they are so thin, it will technically still work).

These cases are thin but don’t offer the best drop protection. Totallee says it designed them to offer everyday protection from bumps, scratches, dirt, and minor drops.

You can get the Totallee iPhone 14 case directly from Totallee.

UAG built the Monarch case like a tank, rated to keep your phone safe from a 20 ft drop. It is comprised of five layers to keep your iPhone protected.

You get a shock-resistant core, signature armor frame, a layer of leather, kevlar, or carbon fiber, a polycarbonate plate, and impact-resistant rubber sides.

Somehow UAG kept this case relatively thin. It is capable of wireless charging, but don’t expect any MagSafe products to work. You can get the UAG Monarch from UAG and Amazon.

What type of iPhone case should I buy?

Buying the best iPhone case is a personal choice based on your lifestyle and preferences.

If you work in construction or engage in activities that can destroy your iPhone, you may want to check out the OtterBox or UAG cases.

Maybe if you like to take your phone running or don’t want the bulk in your bag or pocket, something from Torras, Totallee, or Spigen might do the trick.

If you want functionality, then a wallet case can protect your device and double as your wallet.

Do I need a case for my iPhone 14?

No matter how careful you are, the odds are you will drop your iPhone at some point. A case will likely be the differentiating factor if the device remains unscathed or a spider web of cracks.

Apple has done a remarkable job engineering the iPhone. But it still has glass on the front and back of the device and is susceptible to cracking.

These devices tend to hold their value incredibly well. When it comes time to upgrade your device, you may choose to sell your current one to lower the cost of the new one.

The best way to keep your resale value high is to protect it with a case. Keeping your device looking fresh and new.

Is a MagSafe case the best for my iPhone 14?

MagSafe cases may or may not be a necessity for you. You may not have any MagSafe accessories, but you may look into them in the future.

So getting a case today that includes MagSafe may be the future-proofing you are looking for. MagSafe is a critical component of many of the best accessories available for these devices.

You may not use the feature now, but you very well could in the future.

A case doesn’t need to be MagSafe Compatible to be a great case. If MagSafe does not interest you, then your options for a great case expand considerably.

The hallmark of a great case is how well it protects your device, not how well accessories attach to it.

Are iPhone 13 and 14 cases the same? Does an iPhone 13 case fit on an iPhone 14?

Sure, the iPhone 13 and 14 are basically the same size. They both have a 6.1-inch screen and are about 5.78 inches tall and 2.82 inches wide.

The difference in depth is only 0.01 inches, so you don’t need to buy a new case if you don’t want to.

Will the iPhone 13 Pro case fit iPhone 14 Pro?

However, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro is another story.

The iPhone 13 Pro and 14 Pro are different enough that they can’t use the same case.

The 14 Pro has a bigger camera, and the buttons are in different places, so an iPhone 13 Pro case won’t fit. So if you’re getting the 14 Pro, you’ll need to get a new case

The best iPhone 14 case for you

Any of the cases in this list can be at the top of our best iPhone 14 cases list. The truth is that the best case is one that fits your specific needs.

Just because I prefer a slim case that I can easily slip into my pocket doesn’t mean your tank-like case isn’t just as good.

A case is also a great opportunity to add your personal touch to your device. The list here represents the best cases we have found and the ones we recommend.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best Steam Deck accessories
• The best mechanical keyboards (2022)
• iPhone Clean Energy Charging: what is it and how does it work?
• New Best Buy program lets you get a new MacBook every three years

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best iPhone 14 cases appeared first on KnowTechie.

Mechanical keyboards are having a bit of a renaissance. But what exactly makes one the ‘best,’ anyway, and what do you need to look for?

We firmly believe you should spend more on the things you use the most. TVs, your car, and yes, your computer keyboard.

With a bewildering array of options on the market, we’re here to give you some knowledge and our picks for the best mechanical keyboards.

What is a mechanical keyboard?

A mechanical keyboard has small switches under every key. That’s different from how membrane keyboards are constructed, which have a membrane over the entire keyboard with small rubber domes.

They essentially work like your light switches. When at rest, the central slider of the switch keeps the switch contacts from closing. Pressing down moves the slider out of the way, allowing the contacts to touch.

That sends a signal to the microcontroller on the keyboard, which then sends the corresponding signal to your computer.

As the individual switch design enables customizations, mechanical keyboards can come in many layout options. The most common are Full size, with 104/105 keys; TKL, with 88 or 87 keys, or 60 percent, which have 60 to 65 keys.

Can a mechanical keyboard be wireless?

Yes, mechanical keyboards can be wireless. You can find wireless mechanical keyboards from many manufacturers these days.

Some use Bluetooth to connect to your computer, while some use 2.4GHz wireless with a dedicated USB dongle.

Some of the best mechanical keyboards on the market

To save you from that membrane keyboard that came with your PC, here are some of the best mechanical keyboards on the market:

Planck EZ

Maybe you want to delve into the world of ortholinear keyboards. See, normal keyboards are staggered to mimic the design used on typewriters to slow typists down to prevent jamming.

Ortholinear keyboards are arranged in straight lines, which are said to make it easier to type. Of course, you must unlearn the muscle memory from years of the usual QWERTY layout.

The Planck EZ is all the fun of a custom keyboard without the stress. Hot-swap sockets mean you can change key switches at will, and you can choose from 11 types of key switches at ordering time.

Das Keyboard 6 Pro ($200)

This full-sized keyboard has Cherry MX switches, and a dedicated media controls area with an oversized volume knob. It’s all-business, with a solid build and white-only LED backlighting for the keys.

We loved this keyboard when we reviewed it, with a 9/10 score. Adrift on a nostalgic trip, with the “sound of the brown switches remind[ing] me of typing on a typewriter.”

Logitech Pro X TKL ($150)

Logitech is known for its PC peripherals, but this TKL form factor keyboard adds something new to the range — hot-swappable key switches.

That means that if you don’t like the choice of linear, tactile, or clicky switches you bought, you can easily change them out.

You also get Lightsync RGB lighting, with the ability to save a lighting profile to the keyboard. That’s cool, so you can keep your favorite settings without having to install software on another machine.

ZSA Moonlander ($365)

Normal keyboards don’t always give you optimal ergonomics for typing, which is why split keyboards like the Moonlander exist.

You get all the keys of a 60-percent, split into two halves, and with some additional keys for ease of use.

Those keys in the thumb rest area can be programmed to anything you want, as can any other switch location. The Moonlander is also hot-swappable, with a dozen key switch choices at ordering time.

HHKB Hybrid ($322)

While most mechanical keyboards use Cherry MX or its clones, boards like the HHKB Hybrid use Topre switches.

These are electrostatic capacitive sensors like on membrane keyboards, but on individual keys, and with springs that help them feel somewhere between the two.

Topre fans love the mix of tactile sensation, accuracy, and the deep “Thock” sound. The ‘Hybrid’ in the name is because you can use USB-C or Bluetooth to connect to your PC.

Razer Pro Type Ultra ($160)

Did you know Razer makes professional peripherals as well as gamer-centric ones? Well, now you do. Using Razer’s own yellow switches, which are linear and silent, the Razer Pro Type Ultra is ready for some typing.

You get USB-C wired connectivity, or Bluetooth, or Razer’s 2.4GHz HyperSpeed dongle, which can also connect a Razer mouse at the same time.

It has fully programmable keys, 10-key rollover, and up to 214 hours of battery without the LED backlight on (up to 13 if using lighting).

Logitech G915 TKL ($230)

The low-profile keys on the G915 TKL might look laptop-esque but they’ve got all the tactile fun of mechanical key switches.

The best part isn’t the thinness, it’s the dedicated media controls, with a wide roller to handle volume changes.

Connectivity is handled by a removable USB-C cable, or Bluetooth, or Lightspeed 2.4GHz Wireless. YOu get 40 hours of battery life with the RGB backlight at full brightness, or substantially longer with no lighting.

Keychron Q1 (from $190)

Keychron designs custom keyboards that don’t require you to drain your bank account. You get a double gasket mounting design for a better typing experience with just the right amount of bounce.

You also get sound-dampening foam — and case foam — to remove any unwanted echoes. Most of their keyboards, like this Q1, are also hot-swappable for further customizability.

Roccat Aimo 121 ($160)

Roccat always turns out some solid peripherals, and this Aimo 121 is no exception. It’s got Roccat’s self-designed Titan switches, which are super-responsive, easy to clean, and show off your RGB lighting effects.

The brushed aluminum top plate and the Aimo lighting system both look great. Round that off with dedicated media keys, a remappable wheel, and macro functionality, and the $160 Aimo 121 is a winner.

Nuphy Air60

Nuphy Air60 is an ultra-slim mechanical keyboard that is completely wireless.

It features low-profile and hot-swappable switches, all wrapped up in an eye-popping design. And it works with just about any device.

Additionally, its ultra-thin design makes it the perfect keyboard for working within tight spaces in the office or at home. Not to mention, it makes for an excellent travel companion.

The Air60 offers performance, comfort, and style in a compact 60% layout. And at just $109, there’s a lot to like.

Read our review: Nuphy Air60 wireless mechanical keyboard review

Are mechanical keyboards really better?

Mechanical keyboards have a few improvements over membrane ones and one big drawback.

The benefits include the feel and sound of the key switches and NKRO or n-key rollover, which means your keyboard will register all the keystrokes you make.

The design means you can swap out individual switches if they fail. You might need a soldering iron with some keyboards, as not all have hot-swappable sockets for easy switch swapping.

Mechanical keyboards are also better for longevity. The switches last ten times longer than membrane domes and are replaceable. Many mechanical keyboards now come with metal enclosures, which last longer than plastic.

But not everything is perfect with mechanical keyboards. The main drawbacks are that they’re often more expensive and can be noisy when typed on.

Are mechanical keyboards better for typing?

Gamers love mechanical keyboards for the instant feedback when carrying out commands and the low reaction times. Those should translate to better typing ability, with a few provisos.

The biggest performance improver for mechanical keyboards is tactility. That’s true, whatever switch type you choose, from smooth linears, tactiles, or clicky switches.

That last type adds a click bar, which gives you additional auditory feedback when the switch is activated.

As with all tools, practice makes perfect. Buying a new mechanical keyboard won’t instantly make you a better typist. It might make you want to practice typing more, making you better.

The best mechanical keyboard for you is down to preference

We’ve covered a selection of our favorite mechanical keyboards. The thing about the mechanical keyboard hobby, is that it all comes down to personal preference.

Don’t like how one switch type feels? Fine, choose another one to slot into your hot-swappable keyboard. Same goes for sound, where it actuates, or even how the spring inside behaves when compressed.

We’ll cover fully custom mechanical keyboards in a future installment, but this should be a great jumping-off point.

What are some of your favorite gaming and work keyboards? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Das Keyboard’s MacTigr is a sleek new mechanical keyboard for Mac
• Review: SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini mechanical keyboard
• Review: Truly Ergonomic CLEAVE keyboard- interesting, but not great
• Review: Cooler Master SK622 Bluetooth gaming keyboard

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best mechanical keyboards (2022) appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you are a serious PC gamer, you probably understand that you need great peripherals to go along with your gaming PC. Finding the best gaming keyboard for you is a great start.

Without that vital piece of the puzzle, you’re basically buying a supercar only to put spare tires on it. And who would do that?

If the thought of spending hours researching gaming keyboards sounds terrible, don’t worry. We’ve spent time researching for you and have found the best options out there.

You’ll want something responsive, comfortable, and preferably with RGB to match the rest of your setup, and there are a lot of choices out there.

It can feel overwhelming if you are new to PC gaming or mechanical keyboards. Here’s what you need to know.

What are the best keyboard switches for gaming?

Before we begin, we’d like to discuss key switch choices. Firstly, you will want a mechanical keyboard, not one using membrane keys. It’s just going to be more enjoyable to use.

Then you’ll want to think about the type of switch you want, whether you prefer a linear response or a more tactile one. There’s also the option to go optomechanical, where the keypresses are registered by light.

The key point is that you can choose a keyboard that will suit your preferences to get the best gaming performance.

Don’t forget to consider which size you want and if you want additional features such as media keys or macros.

But that’s enough talk. Let’s see what the best gaming keyboards of 2022 look like.

Here are the best gaming keyboards for 2022

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini

We’ll kick things off with one of our favorites here at KnowTechie. The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini is a 60 percent form factor keyboard, packing all of the necessary keys into a compact size.

It features the company’s own Omnipoint 2.0 adjustable switches. This lets you set your own actuation point from 0.2mm to 3.8mm on every key individually.

Aside from adjustable actuation, the Apex Pro Mini is equipped with RGB, PBT keycaps, and an aluminum shell. Click the button below for more details.

Read our review here: Review: SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini mechanical keyboard

Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series

Corsair consistently delivers premium gaming keyboards, and 2022 is no different. The K70 RGB TKL Champion Series features Corsair’s popular dynamic per-key RGB for ultimate customization for your setup.

It comes with classic Cherry MX switches of your choice in another compact design. Built with competitive gaming in mind, the K70 Champion Series is a no-nonsense mechanical keyboard with a few extra bells and whistles.

It’s you can typically get this keyboard for $149.99. But if you keep your eye out, you can sometimes find it on sale for a great deal. Click below to find out more.

Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro

Razer has always made premium gaming keyboards, and the BlackWidow V3 Pro is our first wireless option on the list. It can connect via Bluetooth, a dedicated dongle, or with a wire in a pinch.

It comes with Razer’s own yellow mechanical switches. These are smooth switches with no tactile feedback and dampeners for a quieter gaming experience.

Or you can go with the Razer greens if you order from the website. That will give you a much more tactile and clicky experience.

The BlackWidow V3 Pro is incredibly durable with support for up to 80 million clicks. And you’ll want to utilize as many of those clicks as possible after forking over $229.99 for the BlackWidow V3 Pro.

Wooting Two HE

The Wooting Two HE might not technically belong on this list since it’s currently available only through preorder to ship in 2023. But we had to add this beast to our favorites.

The Wooting Two HE uses an analog switch allowing per-key adjustment, similar to the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini. It uses the company’s own Lekker linear switches that measure the entire keystroke, from top to bottom.

Another nice benefit of the Wooting Two HE is no unnecessary software downloads. You can customize the entire keyboard on board without the need for any extra programs.

It’s available for $194.99 from the company’s website. Click below for more information.

Cooler Master CK721

Next up we have a familiar name in the PC components world, but maybe less so when it comes to peripherals. Still, the Cooler Master CK721 is one of the nicest keyboards we’ve used this year.

This is another minimalistic keyboard, with a 65 percent layout for ultra-portability. It comes with a dedicated 2.4GHz dongle or you can connect it with Bluetooth to just about any device.

The keyboard comes with Cherry MX Blue switches, but yo. And what really helps to sell the CK721 is how nice it looks. It comes in a white-on-silver or gunmetal finish that looks absolutely gorgeous. And how could we forget individual RGB for every key?

For a wireless keyboard, the CK721 is available for a pretty modest price at just $119.99. It’s listed cheaper, just $99.99, on the website, but it’s currently out of stock there. Click below for more information.

Das Keyboard 6

While the Das Keyboard 6 isn’t marketed as a gaming keyboard, it deserves a place on this list. It’s a full-sized keyboard with Cherry MX switches and a full array of media buttons accompanied by a volume nob.

The keyboard also includes two USB-C passthrough ports that you can use to keep your devices charged or connect media to your PC. No RGB this time, but there is a white LED backlighting option to spice things up a bit.

We loved the Das Keyboard 6 when we reviewed it a couple of months ago. This professional mechanical keyboard is available for $199. Check it out below.

Keychron K2

Keychron is another brand making a name for itself with its wireless mechanical keyboards. The Keychron K2 is an 84-key layout, shoving tons of input into as small a form factor as possible.

It connects via a wired USB-C cable or its highly-reliable Broadcom Bluetooth 5.1 chipset. You can connect to up to three different devices at once and easily switch between them with the press of a button.

It also comes with a battery with up to 72 hours of typing or seven days of normal use. And for a wireless keyboard, the price is not too much at all, at just $79 on the company’s website.

Logitech G915 Lightspeed

Last on our list is the full-size G915 Lightspeed from Logitech. This keyboard puts a unique spin on mechanical switches.

The low-profile GL switches offer the performance and feedback of mechanical switches at half the height. The size and shape are also much closer to laptops or other membrane keyboards.

The G915 also offers full-range, 16.8 million color RGB backlighting for ultimate customization. Plus, it’s wireless with up to 30 hours of gaming time on a single charge.

One of the few full-size keyboards on our list, the Logitech G915 Lightspeed is a little on the higher price side at $249.99. But this is another option that you can find on sale pretty often.

Getting the right gaming keyboard is key to a good PC setup

After spending the big bucks on building or buying yourself a nice gaming PC, the last thing you want to do is fork over some more money for peripherals.

But you need a good gaming keyboard to make the experience even better. Making the jump to mechanical switches can be a game-changer, and you’ll want to find a keyboard with the right features.

These are the best gaming keyboards in 2022, but if we come across anything else we feel deserves a place, it’ll get added to the list. Now, all you need to decide is which one is right for you.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best Steam Deck accessories
• These are the best Spotify alternatives for streaming music
• The best Windows and macOS keyboard shortcuts
• Review: Das Keyboard 6 Professional mechanical keyboard

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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When was the last time you remembered to back up your digital devices?

No, we don’t mean that automatic backup to Google Photos or iCloud. We’re talking about an actual, manually-triggered backup to a digital storage device.

Losing your data is no fun, with irreplaceable memories, important documents, and other data gone in a flash.

Don’t fret if you aren’t diligent about data backup, it’s never too late to start a backup routine.

Except if you’re reading this after your device has already died, in which case it’s still never too late as you’ll want to start as soon as you get your replacement device.

Let’s put it another way. Hardware is getting cheaper. Your data is irreplaceable. If you’re not backing up your devices, it’s time to start.

Whether automatic cloud backups or backups to physical devices, it’s never too late to start. Unless your device has already broken, there’s a good chance your data is gone.

The best digital storage options available today

Now’s the perfect time to start if you have been slacking on backing up your valuable data.

And if you’re in the shopping mood, we’ve rounded up some of the very best options available today.

Some of the picks you’ll find below have different uses, and others are ones you can use daily. Regardless of the case, we’ll set you down the right path. Here are our favorite picks.

Seagate Exos X20

Let us start with the type of backup most people would think of. The humble hard drive inside a NAS.

With this, you’re basically building a second computer, which you transfer your precious data onto. That provides another copy of your data if something happens to your primary device.

Seagate’s Exos drives are enterprise quality, designed for always-on, data-critical use. They’re also available in a wide range of capacities, with this 20TB drive currently being the largest.

Your backup doesn’t need to be always online. It’s easier to back up without remembering to switch it on.

This is the NAS I’m currently using, with six bays, cache options, 10Gbe ethernet, and expandable memory. However, you might not need that much space at first.

Thankfully, Synology makes it easy to transfer your drives into another, larger unit when you find you need it.

SanDisk Professional Pro-Dock

I do a ton of photo transferring from the two SDcards that my Fuji XT-3 camera holds. Those are set up to record the same images as a first backup stage.

Yes, good-quality SDcards are built to last, but fakes have plagued the market.

Anyway, the whole point here is that you can load two (or up to four) multi-card readers, into this dock and pull data off those SDcards simultaneously. That saves time, making your backup stages easier.

If you’ve got other types of cards in your camera, SanDisk probably has a module that fits this.

Crucial X8

You can never have too many external drives. Ones that fit in your pocket, like this Crucial X8, mean your backup method is always on you.

Great for photo backup without paying for cloud storage or data plans. With read speeds up to 1050MB/s, restoring from your backups is speedy.

Kingston XS2000

Kingston’s XS2000 is also supremely pocketable, but it ups the speeds to a max of 2,000MB/s on both reads and writes.

You can get one up to 2TB, which is perfect for backing up your smartphone or laptop.

You could even use it for full system images of your laptop or Mac, so you’re never caught short if the unthinkable happens to your device.

WD My Book

WD makes some of the best consumer-facing backup solutions, and the My Book is great.

Available in single and two-drive configurations and with up to 36TB of storage, they’re password-protected and come with auto backup software.

They’re Time Machine compatible as well, perfect for your Apple devices. They’re also pretty stylish, so they don’t look like a boring brick on your desk.

WD Drive for Chromebook

Chromebooks need backing up sometimes, even if most of your documents live in the cloud.

Make sure you buy an external drive certified to work because you don’t want to take chances with your data. At $50 for 2TB, you can’t go wrong with this drive from WD.

Seagate Beskar Ingot Drive

This themed external SSD from Seagate is a perfect blend of two precious things – Beskar, and your data.

You might have noticed Beskar in The Mandalorian, where it’s one of the most precious things in the galaxy.

Well, your personal data is no less precious, so why not put it on a Beskar ingot? 2TB of speedy SSD storage in a collectible Star Wars drive with customizable RGB lighting – as Mando would say, this is the way.

SanDisk Pro 12TB G-Drive

Sometimes you want a single desktop drive to use for video editing or storing finished projects.

SanDisk has you covered with its G-Drive range. Up to 18TB of storage in a single, stylish aluminum enclosure can be had.

The best part? It’s plug-and-play, so no annoying setup or necessary software. Oh, and USB power delivery, so it can recharge your compatible laptop or MacBook while you transfer data.

Samsung Portable SSD T7 USB 3.2

Samsung has a host of external SSDs for those backup jobs that don’t fit onto a flash drive.

The T7 uses the latest USB 3.2 standard, so you can transfer your documents at the full speed of your USB ports.

That’s up to 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s to write data to the drive. Pretty speedy for an external drive, and you also get a nice aluminum unibody chassis.

You can get 500GB storage capacity for $99.99, 1TB storage capacity for $159.99, and 2TB storage capacity for $329.99,

Samsung Portable SSD X5 Thunderbolt 3

External storage doesn’t have to be slow these days. The X5 Thunderbolt 3 portable SSD is based on NVMe.

Yes, that’s the speedy stuff that makes your computer or console fly.

You can transfer data at up to 40Gbps when using Thunderbolt 3, which will take the wait out of backing up your camera roll.

You can get 500GB for $169.99, 1TB for $349.99, and 2TB for $599.99. That’s a lot of speedy storage for your most precious files.

It’s never too late to back up your devices with digital storage

Getting a backup solution for your digital data is not too late.

We’re here to gently remind you that even the most carefully cared-for device can malfunction. When it does, you’ll be glad you had a backup copy of any data.

Whether it’s your family photos or the critical infrastructure of your business, backing them up is the smart thing to do.

Remember that it’s also good practice to have two backups, one local and one in another location.

That could be as simple as having a flash drive with your photos at another family member’s house or regularly scheduled backups to a cloud storage provider.

Data loss could happen to anyone through accident, hardware failure, or even ransomware. Don’t let an incident destroy all of your important files. Back it up with some digital storage.

If you’ve made it this far in the article, then you’re well on your way.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best Steam Deck accessories
• The best places to watch free movies online
• Can you use an external hard drive with the Xbox Series X|S?
• How to automatically free up disk space in Windows 11 when storage runs low
• Best back-to-school laptops for college students in 2022

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best digital storage options for 2022 appeared first on KnowTechie.

It’s back-to-school time for college students, and in today’s university life, students will almost certainly need a laptop to complete their work. Let’s look at some of the best laptops for college students in 2022.

Choosing a laptop isn’t the easiest decision. Are you looking for a Windows machine, or are you more of an Apple fan? Do you plan on doing any gaming on your laptop?

If you don’t have access to a free government laptop, there are tons of different options out there for new laptop buyers.

So how do you know which one’s best for you? We’ve compiled some of the best laptops for college students on the market in 2022.

Whether you’re looking for a powerful machine to handle your more creative projects or just looking for something to get you by with notes and web-based schoolwork, we’ve got you covered.

Best MacBook for students: Apple MacBook Air (M1)

Kicking off the list we have an absolutely breathtaking machine for fans of Apple’s ecosystem. The MacBook Air M1 version is a great option for students working on multiple projects at once.

While Apple recently launched a new MacBook Air with its M2 processing unit, 2020’s M1 version of the MacBook Air still performs incredibly for today’s standards at a more appealing price.

The M1 MacBook Air starts at just $899, while the entry-level M2 is a bit more expensive, starting at $1,099

The MacBook Air M1 features up to an impressive 18 hours of battery life, which is great for college students constantly on the move. And the M1 8-core processor offers great performance for just about any project a college student could be working on.

Best Windows 11 laptop for students: Dell XPS 13

If you’re more of a Windows fan over macOS, then the best laptop for college students is the Dell XPS 13. It features a 10-core Intel i5 12th generation processor for powerful performance.

And if you want, you can upgrade to an i7 processor to squeeze a little extra juice out of the XPS 13, though it’ll cost you. The i5 XPS starts at $999, and the price jumps to $1,249 if you opt for the i7 option.

This 13.4″ laptop is lightweight and compact, with no bezels taking up any unnecessary space on your screen. And with up to 12 hours of battery life and a full touch-screen display, this is a great option for any college student out there.

Best premium laptop for college students: MacBook Pro M2

Looking to go above and beyond with outrageous performance that you’ll have to try hard to max out? Then the MacBook Pro M2 is definitely the laptop that you’re looking for.

The M2 MacBook Pro is Apple’s most powerful MacBook to date and is more than enough machine for college students.

While physically the same as the previous, M1 MacBook Pro, the M2 processing unit brings a decent boost to both performance and battery life. The M2 MacBook Pro has a battery life rated for up to 20 hours which is insane for a laptop.

But you do have to pay for the performance jump with the MacBook Pro M2. The 13″ starts at $1,299, but the price can quickly jump up to well over $2,000 for the larger screen and storage options.

Best budget laptop for college students: Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly for your back-to-school college needs, you might want to consider a Chromebook.

Since most of the work you’ll be doing for school won’t be too demanding, a good Chromebook, like the Lenovo Flex 5 can handle what you need.

The Flex 5 Chromebook comes with an 11th-generation Intel i3 dual-core processor.

It features a 13.3″ touchscreen 1080p display that can be flipped around and used like a table. It has a 128GB internal SSD and the option to add more storage via MicroSD if needed.

The one problem with the Flex 5 Chromebook is that it can sometimes be hard to find. It’s currently only available on Amazon for $469, but keep an eye on the Lenovo website and other retailers for it to come back in stock.

Best powerful gaming laptop: Razer Blade 15

If you do a lot of gaming alongside studying, then the Razer Blade 15 is one of the most powerful options that you’ll be able to find.

Outfitted with at least an Intel i7 processor, GeForce RTX 3060, and 16GB of DDR4 ram, the Razer Blade 15 offers gaming performance that would rival many of today’s desktop gaming PCs.

The Blade 15 is a 15.6″ gaming laptop with some of the latest gaming PC hardware on the inside.

It offers a minimum of 144Hz on a 1080P monitor, so all your games are buttery smooth. And with that kind of performance, it’ll handle anything that your college courses throw at you.

There are tons of different models of the Razer Blade 15, starting at $1,799 and going all the way up to $4,199. You can upgrade to a 3080 Ti, an i9 processor, and up to 32GB of ultra-fast DDR5 ram.

It’s a little overkill for your school work, but it will definitely help make your games look much better.

Best budget gaming laptop: Asus ROG Strix G15

But you don’t have to break the bank if you’re looking for a nice gaming computer to take with you to college. One option from a well-known brand in PC gaming is the Asus ROG Strix G15.

The G15 is a 15.6″ option from Asus featuring an 8-core Ryzen 7 4800H mobile processor and 16GB of DDR4 ram. It has 512GB of SSD storage and features a 300Hz 1080P display for smooth gaming and crystal clear visuals.

And the Asus ROG Strixk G15 starts at just $1,049.99. It’s currently out of stock on the company’s website, but you can find one for yourself on Amazon or Best Buy.

Best 2-in-1 laptop for students: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

And finally, to close out the list, we’ve got a laptop for those tablet lovers out there.

Tablets can be a great tool for productivity, but you’ll likely find times in college where you’ll need a full laptop. So why not get the best of both worlds with the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio?

The Surface Laptop Studio is the most powerful Surface Laptop so far with an 11th-generation Intel Core H processor. It features a 14.4″ crystal-clear 2400 x 1600 touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate.

This is the best option for creatives looking for a 2-in-1 tablet/laptop combination for their college needs.

The entry-level Surface Laptop Studio comes with an Intel i5 processor and 256GB of storage with 16GB of ram. Like many other options on this list, there are tons of upgrades you can choose from.

You can go up to 32GB of ram and 2TB of SSD storage. And you can even add an RTX 3050Ti for a little extra graphical performance.

These are some of the best laptops available for college students

When it comes to laptops for college, it’s important that you pick the best option for your specific needs. Typical laptops should last for around four years, making it very possible to go through your entire college life using the same laptop.

So decide what’s best for you. Are you a fan of the Windows operating system, or do you like what Apple has to offer better? Will you play any demanding games on your laptop while at college?

Whatever you’re looking for, one of the options on the list will suit you greatly during your time at school. These are some of the best laptop options for college kids in 2022.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Alienware’s new laptop display has a ridiculous 480Hz refresh rate
• The first-ever RISC-V laptop is now available for preorder
• New M2 MacBook Air appears to have an overheating issue
• Dell overhauls its XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop with new tablet design

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Best back-to-school laptops for college students in 2022 appeared first on KnowTechie.

That’s why I’ve got a home full of the best cleaning gadgets to clean my home from top to bottom.

Think about it; we all know our home is best when it’s well-maintained.

That includes cleaning, but modern life doesn’t give you much time to clean. Unless you want to use your whole weekend up scrubbing floors and countertops.

Outsource that scrubbing to robots, who don’t exactly care what time of day it is. There’s nothing quite like going to bed and waking up in a spotless house.

With all the pressures that modern life puts us under, isn’t it about time we had some tools and gadgets to lighten the load?

Here are our favorites for keeping your house clean from top to bottom.

Giraffe Tools Grandfalls pressure washer ($310)

A pressure washer is an essential tool for home cleaning. Your car, your siding, your paths, the kids’ bikes… The list is nearly endless.

The Grandfalls pressure washer mounts on the wall uses electricity instead of gas (which is great with current prices) and has something no other washer on the market can do.

That’s the automatic coiling of your hose when you’re done.

I mean, just look at this awesomeness. I wish everything in my home could retract like this. Showerheads, sink hoses, power cables.

No more snaked cables, no more kinked ones, no more knotted messes. Oh, and they have a normal hose version if you prefer that.

Hobot-298 ($529)

Nobody really likes cleaning windows. Outsource that dreaded task to one of Hobot’s robotic window cleaners and gain back sometime in the day.

They’ll leave your windows spotless, although they are better suited to maintaining already-clean windows. Just so you know.

The only minor annoyance? You’ll have to move it between panes or other windows manually. Maybe someone can invent a robot to do that next.

Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum ($700 with dock)

A robot vacuum is one of the best time-saving technologies for cleaning your house. They’ll keep your floors free of dust, hair, and anything you’d normally have to spend hours vacuuming.

The better ones, like this Q5+ from Roborock, can navigate around your furniture, map your floors, remember which floor they’re on, and more.

We feel this model is the best robot vacuum for most people. The combo of good suction and a self-emptying dock means it’s as maintenance-free as your floors will be.

WORX Hydroshot Ultra WG649 40V High-Pressure Handheld Cleaner ($390)

The best thing about this WORX pressure washer is that it is battery-powered. No, really.

That means all you need is a water source, a bucket, a hose, or a lake.

You can drop the feed hose for this washer into dirty water, and it’ll not pick up a single bit of dirt, so you’ll have a stream of clean, pressurized water to clean whatever you need to.

Add in some handy attachments, and you’ll be able to clean everything quickly and cleanly.

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra ($1,400)

We said the Q5+ was the best robovac for most people, but what if you need more?

The top-of-the-line robot vacuum from Roborock, the S7 MaxV Ultra, costs double, but you get more cleaning ability.

Now, you can also mop your floors with a self-cleaning and self-emptying dock which means all your floor surfaces need minimal maintenance.

This is currently on my main floor, and I’ve not had to mop, vacuum, or sweep the manual way since I got it. Bliss.

Dreametech D10 Plus self-cleaning bot ($500)

If white is more your home aesthetic, you might want to check out the Dreametech D10.

This stylish self-emptying robotic cleaner can vacuum and mop while LiDAR maps your floors for effective cleaning.

That cleaning can go on for 45 days before emptying the bag in the dock.

It’s also got a 5,200 mAh battery for 2,900 square feet of cleaning before needing to charge, and 4,000Pa of suction gets everything off your floors.

Roborock Dyad ($450)

Mopping sucks. It’s messy, and you must wait ages for your floors to dry again.

Roborock’s Dyad adds a wet/dry vacuum to powered mopping rollers, so your floors will be spotless and dry in no time.

I’ve got a robot vacuum cleaning my floors daily, and this upright still shocked me with how much dirt it sucked off my planking.

Cleaning off your hard floors is essential if you’ve got pets or kids.

Samsung AI Bespoke Washer and Dryer (varies)

Doing laundry ranks pretty high among the most hated chores in America.

Samsung put AI into its latest washer and dryer to take the hard work out of it. You can finish a full load in under an hour by washing and drying.

There are sensors to determine what fabrics you put in, how dirty they are, and even how much soap to use.

It holds up to 32 washes of detergent and softener, so everything is automated. Well, everything except emptying itself.

iRobot Roomba m6 robot mop ($350-400)

You don’t have to push an automatic mop around if you prefer. The Braava Jet m6 does all the mopping for you, with Wi-Fi control and more.

With a larger water tank than the non-Wi-Fi version, the m6 is perfect for larger, open-plan spaces.

This auto-mop can map your home, dry sweep, or wet mop your floors, and covers every inch while cleaning.

Oh, and if you have one of the I-, S-, or 900-series Roomba vacuums, you can use Imprint Link to coordinate all their cleaning tasks.

Roomba S9+ ($1,000)

Our founder, Kevin, swears by this robotic vacuum, and who are we to disagree?

Yes, it’s pricey. Yes, the auto-empty dock or gold accents might not fit everyone’s tastes. The thing is, who cares when it gets your floors this clean?

Why are we not suggesting the i7+, which is a more affordable option? It gets stuck sometimes, requiring a little bit of manual intervention.

That’s not what we want to see from a robovac that we can schedule for the middle of the night, so we’re marking it down.

BISSELL SpotBot Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner ($185)

For those unavoidable mini messes, the Spotbot is supreme.

Fill the tank with warm water and cleaning solution, put the automatic cleaning brush over the mess, and walk away. It’s that simple.

For more stubborn stains or upholstery, you can use the hose attachment to spray, scrub, then vacuum all the dirt away.

I’ve got a non-automatic version, and I love it, but I wish I’d gone for this with the set-and-forget brush.

Molekule Air Pro ($1000)

We all know that we should keep our surfaces clean, but what about our air?

After all, breathing is kinda important. Molekule’s Air Pro is a cleaning gadget that quietly and stylishly removes particulates from your air.

That’s not all it can clean, though, as it can destroy bacteria, mold, and viruses, thanks to its PECO tech.

You also can monitor your indoor air with Volatile Organic Compounds, Particulate Matter 1.0, Particulate Matter 2.5, Particulate Matter 10, Carbon Dioxide, and Relative Humidity, all measured continuously. Each filter lasts for six months too, so they’re of substantial value.

Dyson Omni-glide+ cordless vacuum ($369)

Dyson’s smallest vacuum for hard floors, the Omni-glide+, has some pretty sweet tricks.

It’ll go flat to the floor for cleaning under your cabinets. It picks up crud when pushed or pulled and glides around furniture.

You also get a light pipe crevice tool, so you can see what you’re doing in tight spaces, and it converts to a handheld for upholstery or your car.

Oh, and it’s got all the suction power and air purification you’d expect from a Dyson.

Yeedi vac max with self-empty station ($370)

Save your back, effort, and wallet with this self-emptying, budget-friendly robovac from Yeedi.

Featuring up to 200 minutes of cleaning from a single charge, room mapping, and the ability to set virtual boundaries in the app.

Vacuum mode boosts the suction on the carpet, and mop mode avoids carpet, rugs, or soft floor coverings.

The pairing with the self-emptying dock gives you thirty days of hands-free cleaning. That’s a lot of cleaning capacity for a very low price.

Phonesoap HomeSoap ($199.95)

What about those devices that are hard to keep clean, like smartphones, video game controllers, or those for your TV?

Enter the HomeSoap, a cleaning gadget that uses UV-C light to clean all the germs off your tech.

It’ll kill off 99.9% of all the germs on your remotes and other small gadgets, and it’s large enough to stick in remotes, tablets, or weird shapes like your game controllers.

Oh, and it amplifies audio when things are inside, so you won’t miss notifications while disinfecting your phone.

Westinghouse 32” 3-in-1 Bladeless Tower Fan ($300)

Air purification is more important than ever.

This Westinghouse 32-inch tower fan features a HEPA 13/14 filter to scrub your air’s nasty particulates, viruses, and bacteria. Then, UV light sterilizes everything, so there’s no buildup.

It’s also got a bladeless design and 80-degree oscillation to spread the clean air around your home.

An ultra-quiet 35W motor keeps the sound below 55dB, which is the same amount of noise as your fridge.

Now you’ve got some innovative ideas for gadgets and other devices to keep your home spotless.

Have fun enjoying your home now that the tech is handling keeping it clean.

Anything we missed? Do you have a favorite piece of tech to clean your home with? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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• The best energy-saving tech of 2022
• Here are the best digital storage options for 2022
• These are the best STEM toys on the market today

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best cleaning gadgets for your home (2022) appeared first on KnowTechie.

Before you jump in with your friends and play gaming gems like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey, you’ll want to pick up additional accessories to make your gaming time more enjoyable.

Let’s face it, while the Nintendo Switch is pretty great, there is a bunch of quality-of-life improvements that can be made.

For example, replacing the original dock with a more portable version, blinging your console up with a glittery case, or adding a carrying bag for your portable but oh-so-fragile console.

Oh, and don’t forget to add a screen protector because replacing a shattered screen is expensive.

From controllers to protection and everything in between, we’ve found the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy now. Well, let’s get to it.

The best Nintendo Switch accessories (2022)

Controller time ($80)

Look, we were going to look for third-party controllers to put here, but they’re pretty much all trash. The only notable exception is the $50 PowerA enhanced wireless range, because of their sweet licensed artwork.

If you need more controllers, buy Nintendo branded ones like the growing range of colored Joy-Cons, or the Pro Controller. Oh, I guess if you play lots of Super Smash Bros., get the PowerA GameCube style one, cause that’ll feel like you’re playing the original game.

Hori Split Pad Pro ($50)

You can get the full-sized controller experience in handheld mode, with this sweet split controller from Hori. The big bonus here? You get two customizable back buttons, so you can easily trigger your most used in-game controls. Hori also adds turbo functionality so you don’t have to wear your thumbs out mashing fire buttons.

Genki Covert Dock for Nintendo Switch ($75)

The dock that comes in your Nintendo Switch box is great if all you want to do is put your console behind your TV, but what if you want to use it while traveling? It’s bulky to stick into your bag and kinda looks fragile.

Enter Human Things yet again, with the new Genki Covert Dock. It uses GaN tech to stuff a USB PD charger, an HDMI output, and a USB port, so all the functionality of your bulky dock is shrunk into something the size of the Nintendo Switch power adapter. All you need to do is plug in some cables. Awesome.

We’ve been using one for some time now, and it really is a marvelous device. Ditch your dock, Genki is the future.

Nintendo Switch light up dock shield by PDP ($16)

PDP has your back if you still want to use the stock dock but feel it could do with some jazzing up. Each kit has two light-up dock covers like this one with the sheikah slate motif from Breath of the Wild to make the boring dock look awesome.

READ MORE: How to turn on dark mode on Nintendo Switch

They’re so cheap that you can get a few and change it up if you get bored of the pattern. Add 17 different color/pattern effects to the mix, and your boring gray dock will never be the same again.

Up-Switch Orion ($300)

Ever wished your Nintendo Switch screen was larger? Up-Switch has you covered with the Orion. Dock your console into the back, and you’ll get an 11.6-inch screen to play on.

The trade-off? You’re in the docked mode, so no touchscreen. You’ll also need an external power source, like a power bank. Oh, and the screen adds 1.5 pounds to the weight you’ll be carrying around.

Ammo Kinergy game cartridge holder ($13)

If you haven’t read it yet, you should totally go read the backstory of this nifty Nintendo Switch cartridge case. While Josh is pretty perplexed by the weirdness of the instruction manual, I’m all for it. I mean, how often do you actually get a device that’s both useful and mysterious?

It’s like the little snippets of lore found on weapons and collectibles in the game Destiny, and I love that game’s weirdness. Anyway, the Ammo Kinergy case also holds 18 games, both Joy-Con wrist strap attachments, and the mystery it holds. Sweet.

KontrolFreeks thumbsticks ($15)

While we love both the Joy-Cons and the Pro Controller here at KnowTechie, we’re less enthused about the thumbsticks used by Nintendo. I mean, besides the drift issues, those stubby little Joy-Con thumbsticks aren’t really usable by anyone out of grade school.

That’s where KontrolFreek comes in, with a full range of height-enhancing, grip-fixing extenders for those thumbsticks so you can finally play Mario Odyssey without wanting to throw your controllers more than Nintendo suggests.

SanDisk MicroSDXC memory card (varies)

Once you’ve put a few games onto your Nintendo Switch, you’ll find that the internal storage fills up pretty quickly. Even playing games from cartridge adds files to the internal storage, so you’ll find yourself needing a microSD card to add more space. This is one of the best accessories you can buy for your Nintendo Switch, and really should be the first thing you order.

Sure, you could just buy any old microSD card, but where’s the fun in that? SanDisk has some officially-licensed microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch, with Zelda logos for the 64GB size, a Mario Mushroom on the 128GB size, and an all-yellow Invincibility Star on the 256GB, so you can pack in more games in style.

Orzly Grip Case for Nintendo Switch Lite ($15)

If you’ve opted for the Nintendo Switch Lite, you might be wanting a protective case so you don’t smash it while you’re playing Super Smash Bros. outside of the house.

Orzly has a great grip case that covers everything except the buttons in protective TPU material. It’s got cut-outs for all the vents and ports, a kickstand, and even two hidden compartments in the grips so you can carry two additional game cartridges. That’s pretty darn cool.

Funlab Travel Carrying Case Compatible with Nintendo Switch System ($33)

Since most Nintendo accessories tend to be Mario-themed, why not switch it up with this Luigi-themed carrying case.

It’s designed to mimic his signature green and blue overalls, with the inside featuring an insert with sculpted sections to fit the Nintendo Switch, the dock, the charger, the Joy-Con straps, the insert that connects Joy-Cons into a normal controller, pockets for game cartridges, cables and more.

Whew, bet you didn’t know that the skinny Mario Brother could pack away the goods.

Ring Fit Adventure ($80)

Every Nintendo console in recent years has come with motion controls, and the Nintendo Switch and its Joy-Cons is no exception. That means it’s perfect for motion-activated games or in this case RingFit Adventures which Nintendo-fies your daily workouts.

Using the Ring accessory and leg strap, your two Joy-Cons turn your body into the controller, letting you jog, sprint, and throw knees through dozens of adventure-packed levels. Attack by throwing shoulders, refill your life counter by throwing shapes (yoga shapes, to be exact), and become a “master squatter.”

Oh, and don’t forget to play the minigames, which Nintendo is always fantastic at creating.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit ($100)

Ever wanted to turn your home into a Mario Kart circuit? Well, now you can, because this game kit gives you everything you need.

Place the cardboard gates around your home to make the racetrack, then turn your Nintendo Switch into an augmented reality controller to race the included RC car through the course you created.

Add more kits to race multiplayer cars around your living room, but look out for those virtual shells!

Nintendo LABO (varies)

Remember all the fun you had with cardboard boxes as a kid? Bring that fun back to the digital age, with the LABO kits.

Pop out the sheets of cardboard, put them together in the order the game cart tells you to, and enjoy some insanely fun augmented reality experiences.

Depending on which kit you get, you can turn your Switch into a race sim rig, or a VR blaster, or even a piano.

UGREEN USB Ethernet adapter ($15)

The wireless connection on the Nintendo Switch is good enough for most cases, but sometimes you want the stability of a wired network connection.

You could buy the official Nintendo Ethernet adapter, but this one is half the price and just as good. Plug it into the dock, and you’ll be brawling in Super Smash Bros. with low latency in no time.

HORI Compact Playstand ($22)

Nintendo put a handy kickstand on the back of the Switch for if you want to use the Joy-Cons without a TV. That’s cool, but they also put the charging port on the bottom, so you can’t keep your Switch powered up while using the kickstand.

HORI fixes that issue with its foldable, compact Playstand, which raises the screen to a better height for your neck while allowing access to the USB-C charging port.

These are our picks for the best Nintendo Switch accessories

There’s a lot here, we know. But no matter if you are playing from the comfort of your home or on the go, these are some of the best Nintendo Switch accessories money can buy right now.

And without a doubt, these accessories will certainly add another level of entertainment to the Nintendo Switch.

Did we miss anything? Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Which Nintendo Switch is best for you?
• Can you refund games on the Nintendo Switch?
• Can you gameshare with the Nintendo Switch?
• Which Nintendo Switch is hackable?

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best Nintendo Switch accessories (2022) appeared first on KnowTechie.

To coax out your inner driver, you want your sim rig to feel like the real thing. But that can be difficult. You might have screens instead of windows and wing mirrors. You don’t have the rumble of the engine or the screaming of tortured brakes.

What makes up for that is a quality wheel and pedal setup. A responsive, force feedback wheel with the right amount of weight behind it makes all the difference. So does a well-designed set of pedals, to make it feel more like you’re driving a real vehicle.

Then you can go even further, by adding those pieces onto a sim rig frame. That adds rigidity, but it also stops you from rolling away on your office chair every time you stomp on the virtual brakes.

Creating the ultimate sim racing rig

We’ve scoured reviews, our own experiences, and everywhere else to find the best sim racing gear you can throw money at. Let’s get on the starting line.

Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1 ($1,780)

If money is no object, Fanatec is the only name in sim racing you need. The Podium Racing Wheel F1 is officially licensed for PS4, so it should work with PS5 also. It’ll also work perfectly with PCs.

Because the wheel is detachable, you can get an Xbox-compatible wheelbase, and be off to the races there too. Or, swap on a different type of wheel, suited for rallying, GT, or whatever other racer you want.

This is the first direct-drive wheel for PS4, bringing unparalleled realism to your favorite racers. This one’s also officially licensed by F1, so you know it’ll feel like being inside the cockpit.

Thrustmaster T248 ($400)

Thrustmaster has long been one of the driving forces behind the sim racing world, and the T248 carries on that proud tradition. For the cash, you get a magnetic, triple-pedal set to go with your wheel, which feels great underfoot.

The hybrid-drive force feedback uses both gears and a belt to deliver some impressive power as feedback to your fingertips.

You also get some of the best shifter paddles I’ve ever used, even if they’re a little loud. You won’t want to be racing in the middle of the night, not without having a soundproofed gaming room.

Meta Quest 2 VR headset ($299 and up)

Why not take your racing sim into three dimensions? While there are many more expensive headsets, Meta Quest 2 strikes the best balance of price and performance.

You get high-resolution screens, which are at a high refresh rate. You also get a much larger library of other games, if you want to branch out from sim racing titles. Quest 2 isn’t as heavy as the competition, and it doesn’t need wires to connect to your PC.

Next Level Racing F-GT cockpit ($499)

One of the best pieces of sim equipment you can get is a cockpit. The market has many affordable options these days, but Next Level Racing is the best of the bunch. The F-GT can be set up in either F1 or GT configurations (hence the name) and has a ridiculous level of customizability.

It’ll work with wheels, pedals, and shifters from the biggest names in the industry. You can also adjust almost everything, from the wheelbase, to the shifter position, pedal mounts, and more.

MOZA Racing

Moza is a newcomer to the space, but that hasn’t stopped them putting in some solid review performances. After all, they know micro motors well, from their well-regarded line of videography equipment.

With multiple wheel bases, wheels, pedal sets, two digital dashboards, and a vast range of accessories, Moza Racing has something for almost every budget. Expect that range to grow, they’ve only been doing this since September.

Heusinkveld Sim Pedals Sprint ($692)

When you’re using pro-level wheels, you need some pro-level pedals. Heusinkveld is widely regarded as some of the best on the market. The main reason? Precision, in construction, design, and in use.

Adjustable to your preferences, a lot of design work went into these so they could be your perfect pedal. They also use load cells instead of potentiometers, so you get true linear output from your movements, and higher reliability over time.

Sim Lab P1-X Sim Racing Cockpit ($810+)

When you know that sim racing will be in your life forever, it’s time to upgrade your cockpit to the supremely adjustable Sim Lab P1-X. The secret is the aluminum profile sections, which means you can shift things around to your liking.

It’ll work with literally any wheel you want, has side mounts for shifters, and works with D-Box, which is a motion rig for when you want to raise your force feedback to the next level of realism.

Simucube 2 Pro Direct Drive Wheel Base ($1502)

Simucube’s wheelbases aren’t mainstream by any means, but that just means the company is a specialist. This is a powerful force feedback, direct-drive unit that’s almost road-rage-proof.

Other competitors are also great, but the reliability of Simucube’s offerings puts them in a league of their own. There’s a reason that professional and factory drivers use these in their own rigs.

Logitech G923 steering wheel and pedals ($300)

This is the best racing wheel to buy as a starter kit. Anything cheaper will put you off wanting to use it, and you don’t have to spend any more to get a quality set. You also get an excellent triple-pedal set, with decent physical feedback.

For your money, you get Logitech’s solid build quality, gear-driven motors for decent force feedback, and multiplatform support. Be careful when you do purchase, while both versions work on PC, there are specific ones for PS4/5 and Xbox use.

Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor – AW3423DW

The more lifelike you can make your racing, the better. Alienware’s new QD-OLED panel is insanely good, with 99.3% of the DCI-P3 gamut, and viewing angles that just won’t quit.

Add 1000 nits peak brightness or HDR 400 True Black, and you’ve got a color-accurate HDR beast.

Other important specs include a 3440×1440 resolution, 175Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync Ultimate to remove frame tearing. And don’t worry about OLED burn-in, it’s got all kinds of built-in mitigations.

Samsung 49-inch Neo G9 ($2,300)

Sure, you could go the virtual reality route to see the inside of your virtual racing car. Why bother having all that weight on your head when you could just blanket your entire field of vision in track? That’s easily done by the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 ultra-ultra-wide monitor.

Not only do you get the horizon covered in panel, what a panel it is. HDR2000, mini-led backlighting, quantum dot film for color accuracy, 240Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro support. Phew.

Racing sim gear is great, but don’t forget about the games

Now you know a little bit more about the hardware for sim racing. Now you’ll want some games to test things out on, and we’ve got you covered.

For serious sim racers, there’s only one option – iRacing. It takes sim racing as seriously as the real thing, even going as far as to build safety into the ranking’s algorithm. Yes, we know it’s only a virtual racetrack, but that doesn’t mean you should aim for other road users.

Off-road racing fans could check out Dirt Rally 2.0 or Dirt 5, or any of the WRC series.

More arcade-feeling titles include Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Motorsport (2022), or really any of the Forza titles. They’re less intimidating than the full-fat sims and are a great entry to the world of sim racing.

F1 fans will love F1 22, which has the latest cars and tracks. Almost any sim racer will have played one of these titles, before going down the rabbit hole to more realistic titles.

The best sim racing gear will make you feel like you’re really driving

So now you know what hardware you need, plus some great games to play on it. You can always play any of these games with a controller, but that does detract from the sim aspect somewhat.

The sim racing gear we’ve highlighted today will help take your racing games to the next level. From steering wheels and pedals to full-blown cockpits, these things will set you on the right course.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best cleaning gadgets for your home in 2022
• These are the best wireless earbuds of 2022
• The best Steam Deck accessories
• Some of the best energy-saving tech of 2022

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best equipment for your sim racing rig appeared first on KnowTechie.

Gift the dad in your life something that will give him more lasting enjoyment than socks or a tie. We’ve got some awesome tech-focused gifts, that he can enjoy on his own or make new memories with you.

This year, we don’t have to worry about noisy cicadas this summer on the east coast. That means it’s prime grilling time, and we’ve got some ideas for that. We’ve also got ideas for relaxing, getting the most out of his other tech, and more.

The best Father’s Day gifts and gadgets for 2022

Father’s Day is quickly approaching, so you’re going to want to go ahead and snag your father, grandfather, or son a gift sooner rather than later.

Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum ($699)

Every dad deserves a clean house. It’s time to give him the wonderful gift of a clean home this Father’s Day with the addition of a Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum.

The Roborock Q5+ gives you up to seven weeks of dust-free floors before you have to pop a new bag into the dock. On top of that, you get Roborock’s auto-mapping LiDAR and collision detection. Plus, you also get 2700 Pa of suction, enough for all but the thickest, highest carpets.

Brydge docks and iPad keyboards (varies)

If dad has a love for all things Apple, he deserves some accessories that fit the same design language. Brydge has some of the best third-party iPad keyboards on the market.

The new MAX+ brings a touchpad, drop protection, and a keyboard that wouldn’t be out of place on an actual MacBook. If he’s got a MacBook, the Brydge Vertical Dock is perfect to reclaim some desk space, while recharging that beloved laptop.

Gryphon AX router ($279)

Dad’s usually the de facto house protector, but he shouldn’t have to do all the work. Give him the peace of mind of a Wi-Fi router from Gryphon, and his home network will look after itself.

Packed with parental controls to protect little eyes from the unsavory parts of the internet. He’ll also get the blistering Wi-Fi speeds of Wi-Fi 6 (AX), so his streaming video watching won’t be affected by the rest of the household’s usage.

SCUF (varies)

Got a gamer dad? Show him how much you care with one of SCUF’s patented controllers and give him back some reaction speed.

The secret weapon? Remappable paddles under the back of the controller, so he can jump, bob, and reload all without having to move his thumbs off the sticks. Grab one for his favorite console and you’ll make his year.

Polar Pacer Pro smartwatch ($300)

For the sporty dad, a new smartwatch is always a welcome gift. Polar’s new Pacer ($200) and Pacer Pro ($300) smartwatches have everything he’ll need for fitness excellence.

Both watches have advanced optical heart rate tracking, long battery life, and accurate GPS. He’ll also have all the metrics he could want, to improve his pace. The Pacer Pro adds a barometer, rapid charging, and a faster processor.

Bartesian ($370)

Dad will turn into a mixmaster in no time if you get him a Bartesian. Think of it as a Keurig but for alcohol and you get the idea. It’s slightly fancier though, as it has all the assorted bitters, juices, and syrups that you need to craft cocktails in each pod. All you need to add is his favorite alcohol.

If he’s a tequila fan, we recommend picking up some CaliFino. Unaged or aged, it’s sure to be his new favorite in no time. Plus, Bartesian has a dozen mixers to suit any palate.

ScanWatch Horizon ($500)

Gift dad the luxury of a new watch, coupled with some of the best health monitoring in the business. The ScanWatch Horizon monitors activity, heart rate, pulse oximetry, and sleep – while having one of the only FDA-approved ECGs on the mass market.

Oh, and he’ll be able to wear it more than the other guys, because of the 30-day battery life. When was the last time you saw a smartwatch that could do that?

Roccbox ($500)

Stone-fired pizza is near-magical. With over 41 percent of Americans eating pizza every week, isn’t it about time dad could make his own at home?

The Roccbox is a portable stone pizza oven that can use either gas or wood to create perfect pies. Heating to over 932f, you can cook pizza in seconds that rivals the restaurants. Nice.

Ekster wallets (varies)

It’s kinda traditional to buy things like wallets for Father’s Day gifts, and Ekster has some of the best around. Easy access to cards via their nifty trigger button, quality leathers, and premium materials all combine to make these perfect gifts.

New for this year are wallets with a space to put in an AirTag for tracking. Ekster does make its own solar-powered tracking cards powered by the Chipolo network if dad’s not an Apple user.

A pellet grill (varies)

Whether dad’s a seasoned pitmaster or a newbie to the world of bbq, a pellet grill is the best tool for home grilling. Whether it’s one of Traeger’s WiFire grills or a Yoder Smoker, pellet grills keep the temperature to what you set, for worry-free smoking and grilling.

Get that wood-fired taste every day of the year, by buying dad a new pellet grill. The best bit? They’re big enough to cook for the whole family, so invite yourself around more!

Leatherman Bond multitool ($60)

Even if dad already has a multitool, I’m sure another will be appreciated for Father’s Day. I mean, it’s a Leatherman, and that just screams “I don’t know what might happen but I want you to be prepared for it.”

Leatherman gives a 25-year warranty on this thing, so it’ll possibly be an heirloom one day. That’s pretty cool, as are the 14 tools that run the gamut from a pocket knife to pliers, and the all-important bottle- and can-openers.

Apple AirTag and leather key ring (varies)

Dads are known to be pretty goofy and that can sometimes lead to things getting misplaced. Enter Apple’s new AirTags. The AirTag is a great gift to give to dad to help him out when it comes to keeping up with things, like car keys.

AirTags are integrated into the Apple Find My app, so they’re perfect for dads who are already part of the Apple ecosystem. You can find all kinds of AirTag accessories to go with the trackers so dad can keep up with just about anything.

Ambient Weather WS-2902C weather station ($180)

Is there a dad out there that doesn’t obsess over the weather? Give them the gift of amateur meteorology with one of Ambient Weather’s WiFi-equipped weather stations.

This kit has a solar-powered test kit, an LCD panel for displaying all the weathery goodness, and a companion app so dad’s house can be more accurate than AccuWeather.

Hex brands photography bags (varies)

A new camera bag is always a good gift for a snap-happy dad, and Hex has some of the best around for Father’s Day. They’re full of space, thoughtful pockets, and features like hooks to hang sunglasses on, and they’re much larger on the inside than they look.

I cram multiple lenses and my mirrorless Fuji into their DSLR sling bag, and still have room for all the accessories I need. Dad’ll love it.

Stündenglass ($599)

Hey, being a dad can be stressful sometimes. Sometimes a beer or a glass of wine isn’t enough to unwind from the daily obstacles a dad faces each day. This is where a nice smoking apparatus comes into play.

Stündenglass is a new water pipe that features a patented 360-degree gravity system, and it’s the most sophisticated hookah, flower, or concentrate smoking experience in the world. Kevin isn’t a dad, but he absolutely swears by this thing.

BenQ TK700 gaming projector ($1,499)

Gaming on a small screen is never the best, but most projectors aren’t up to the task. BenQ’s TK700 has 3200 lumens of gaming glory, and 96% coverage of the Color Rec.709 space. That’s not the best part though, as this projector does 4K at 60fps, with a super-low 16.67ms input lag.

That’s enough to play even the fastest titles without effort. That input lag can be slashed to 4ms, when downscaling to 1080p, at a refresh rate of 240 Hz. That’s on par with the best gaming monitors, but those are often only 24-inches across. The TK700 can project up to a 150-inch image.

V-MODA M-200 ANC headphones ($500)

Modern life is noisy. These futuristic cans from V-MODA cut through that noise, so dad can relax with his favorite tunes at the end of the day. Or during, we don’t judge.

Featuring ten levels of hybrid active noise cancellation, in-app EQ settings, and a sound quality to envy even the most jaded sound engineer, the M-200 has everything dad could want. Oh, and with 20 hours of battery life, he’ll never have to deal with wires again.

MANNKITCHEN cooking equipment (varies)

Get dad a literal Pepper Cannon for his cooking adventures, and his brisket will never be the same again. With a 1/2 cup capacity for peppercorns, and a 1/3 cup pre-ground base cup, he’ll never run out of seasoning stuffs.

Oh, and get him the matching Salt Cannon too, and maybe some of those utensils, or the oven mitt, or the apron… After all, he’ll have to find reasons to use all of these things, and you know he always cooks up a feast.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Check out these 11 awesome crowdfunding campaigns in May
• Marshall is releasing some tiny Bluetooth speakers
• This wearable promises to put you to sleep and stay asleep
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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Whether it’s turning your light bulbs off via voice assistant when you’re not in the room, or automatically turning off your sprinkler, small changes can make a big difference in the long run.

That could be as small of a change as using a reusable shopping bag when you get groceries. Think of how much oil and energy are needed to make a plastic disposable bag and get it to the checkout aisle.

On the tech front, there are many products available that can help reduce your carbon footprint, while also saving some money. From whole-house battery backups or thermostats that learn your routine, we’ve gathered the best energy-saving tech available in 2022.

The best energy-saving tech for 2022

Energy-saving tech is easier on the planet, easier on you, and easier on your wallet. That’s a triple threat against climate change, and we’re here for it. Here are some of our favorite energy-saving tools and gadgets.

Eve systems

Apple users will love Eve Systems and their premium HomeKit-connected, eco-friendly tech. I’ve got it scattered around my house to turn off my tech when I forget. I use the Energy Strip with its triple sockets to manage my TV and other A/V equipment when I’m not using it, and it’s Siri-compatible.

The best device for me is the Eve Aqua, which lets me schedule when my sprinkler system goes on and off, so my newly laid turf doesn’t wither away.

Google Nest Thermostat

For years now, I’ve had a Nest Learning Thermostat controlling my central air system. I always hated having to get up to change the dial on the thermostat, and now I can do it from my smartphone, or ask my voice assistant to change it. I’ve saved money too, with it knowing when I leave the house so it adjusts the temperature to use less energy while I’m not home.

Yes, it’s expensive to buy at first. That said, the Nest paid for itself within a few months, and it’s the first thing I’d suggest to reduce your energy consumption.

Itehil IT500 500W LiFePo4 Portable Power station with solar panels

There is almost no reason to have a gas generator for emergencies these days, with battery banks and solar panels being more affordable than ever. Itehil’s power station gives you 500Wh of storage, with two 120V AC sockets to keep your most important tech running in the event you lose power.

It’s portable too, so it’s perfect for camping trips when you want to unplug, but not all the way. Bundle one with some solar panels so you never have to worry about finding a wall socket.

LED lightbulbs from Philips Hue

LED lighting is one of the most eco-friendly things you can add to your house. They last longer than traditional bulbs, so they stay out of the landfill. They’re more energy-efficient, so use less power.

You can even get ones like the Philips Hue range that are wirelessly controlled, allowing you to change the color, and the brightness, or even schedule their on/off times. The best part for me? You can ask your voice assistant to turn off the bulbs if you forget before you leave the room.

Pale Blue rechargeables

Rechargeable batteries are one way to drastically reduce your waste profile. Unlike traditional NiCad tech, Lithium-based batteries don’t suffer from memory effects or weirdness when they’re at lower charge levels.

Pale Blue’s Lithium rechargeable batteries take things one step further, by packing the charging circuit into the battery. All you need is a USB cable to recharge, so no more lugging bulky chargers around. I’ve been using their batteries for a year or so, and am slowly replacing all of my other rechargeables because they’re just that good.

Sense home energy monitor

Maybe you’d rather know what in your house uses energy, so you can plan your own methods for reducing their usage. Sense mounts in your breaker box, and over time, learns which of your appliances and other electrical devices are doing, well, whatever they do.

Primarily telling you how much energy everything uses, you can also keep informed about when they’re using it. With a whole-house picture of your energy use, you can reduce your footprint and save money.

ChargePoint Home WiFi Enabled Electric Vehicle Charger

Tesla has their own wall plug for electric vehicles (EV), but what if you own another brand of EV or everyone in the family has a different car? ChargePoint’s Home Flex is the answer, with a 16 to 50 amp wall charger that works with every single EV. We like that. Everyone likes what they like, and what’s the point of green tech if not everyone can use it?

EcoFlow Delta Pro

Having a battery backup around for emergency use is great. The not-so-great part is that you usually have to recharge them from the wall, with energy that you have no control over the generation of. The Ecoflow Delta Pro gives you options to charge it up from home-mounted solar panels, movable solar panels, or even a gas generator in a pinch.

The wider ecosystem adds additional battery capacity, monitoring, and even the ability to wire it into your home to work as a backup if your neighborhood has a blackout. We really appreciate the ability to choose where your energy comes from, and where it goes.

Okai Neon escooter

Fossil fuel emissions are a huge source of pollution. For short trips, maybe consider an electric scooter, like this stylish Neon. With a top speed of 16mph and a 25-mile range, it’s perfect for running errands.

We particularly like the fact that Okai’s pedigree is tried and tested in the most rigorous way. How? They’re the OEM for many of the ride-sharing scooter companies like Bird or Lime. If they can survive commuter use, imagine how sturdy they’ll be for you.

LiveLarq reusable water bottle

One of the best things you can do to save your energy footprint is to switch to a reusable water bottle. The PureVis from Larq is coated stainless steel so it’ll handle being thrown around. The best part about it though is inside the cap. That’s a UV-C LED that disinfects your water while you’re not drinking it, so you never have to worry about bacteria or other germs.

Shrink your footprint while adding convenience with energy-saving tech

Whether you want to make your home an oasis of eco-friendly technology, or simply hate turning off light bulbs, we hope you’ve seen something that could fit into your lifestyle.

That could be monitoring your energy usage to manually change your habits, or even automating your energy savings so algorithms save you money.

These picks are our favorite of the best energy-saving tech we’ve used to date. We’ll revisit this every so often to make sure that our picks still make sense, or add to them as we see better options.

Our planet isn’t going away any time soon, but we could all do more to look after it.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best crowdfunding campaigns you should be checking out in April
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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Those skills are best learned and retained when taught with STEM toys that are hands-on, fun, and engaging, a far cry from the textbook learning of yesterday. Playing with STEM toys brings other benefits as well, including building frustration tolerance and perseverance, so-called “soft skills” that will be useful in whatever endeavor they turn to.

We’ve scoured the internet to find our picks of the current STEM toys and systems.

Here are the best STEM toys on the market because learning doesn’t have to be boring

AILA Sit & Play

Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) is a full learning system tailored for toddlers, wrapped up in a quirky protective case. All the content is developed by educators and innovators for worry-free screen time, and there are no adverts on the device. That alone beats similar tablet-based systems, but that’s only the start of the features packed into this system. Let your toddler drop into the virtual preschool, populated with some animal friends, and learn subjects such as the ABCs, Art, Collaboration, and Numbers. No curation needed, no worrying about what else they might navigate to, no junk. Nifty.

Snap Ships

If your kids are always flying their toys around and making pew-pew noises, adding some building and engineering skills into the mix is a great idea. Snap Ships are snap-together battle cruisers and other vehicles that also connect to a mobile app for Augmented Reality play, build instructions and a whole backstory that is available on the Snap Ships YouTube channel.

Create new ships for the two factions, or mix them up for some hybrid builds – the choice is yours.

codeSpark

If you’ve got a slightly older kid at home, codeSpark might be just what you need to keep them entertained while learning. The coding is all done with icons representing the actions, making coding as simple as solving puzzles. Once core concepts are mastered, there is a Game Maker mode where the budding game devs can turn their skills into games that others can play. Mini-games help to teach further STEM concepts, and there’s even a code-based Tamagotchi game where coding keeps virtual pets alive and happy.

Oh, and if you’re a teacher trying to navigate the new virtual norm, codeSpark is giving its product away for free, so kids can gain access and start their coding journey.

GoCube – the connected Rubik’s Cube

Ever looked at someone solving a Rubik’s Cube and wondered how the heck they did it? Well with GoCube, your kids can finally learn without you taking off the stickers and putting them on the wrong sections. The inbuilt Academy takes less than an hour to explain the concepts behind solving the Cube, and they’ll be competing against cubers worldwide in no time at all. Well, if they can get it out of your hands, that is.

KIBO

Coding with… wooden blocks? That’s the gist of KIBO, which lets your preschooler create code with push-fit blocks, then scan their creations with the KIBO robot, which then carries out the program. It’s designed to be easy for kids (and parents!) to pick up and get started right away, with additional kits that build on the functionality available with new sensors, outputs, and function blocks with more advanced coding concepts.

Every kid loves building with blocks, but usually, their imagination is needed to add motion. KIBO is a tangible link between imagination, learning, and play that the whole family can enjoy.

ROOT rt1 iRobot coding robot

You might know iRobot from its robotic vacuums, but did you know they have a whole educational wing aimed at teaching kids STEM in fun ways? Their latest coding robot is Root rt1, and it’s full of sensors and possibilities to teach through art, code, and music.

Root is responsive to touch, obstacles, light, and sound. What’s more, the accompanying app that teaches the coding fundamentals scales with your little learner, starting with graphical code blocks, then to hybrid code, then to full-text code as they learn. That’s pretty cool.

Geomag

Why not get their little synapses firing with a screen-free, engineering challenge? Geomag magnetic kits are an awesome mix of science, problem-solving, and hands-on fun; and magnets make everything better, right?

Now they come in glow-in-the-dark, so your budding architects can create even when the lights are low. Let their imaginations go wild!

Botzees

Botzees turns screen time into an interactive game, with buildable, codable robots that you can then use to solve Augmented Reality puzzles, or whatever your little learner’s imagination can come up with. The quirky robots are colorful, and can be turned into drummers, dancers, and a variety of animals. The best thing? If your child can put other building block sets together, they can use Botzees, and learn how to code in a physical way, with immediate feedback on their learning.

Jimu Robot MeeBot 2.0

The Jimu MeeBot 2.0 is one of the coolest kits on the market right now. He can dance, he can really dance, and he can also recognize colors, which adds a new dimension to the type of programs you can create with the companion app. Oh, and he’s got RGB eyes, because what kid can resist flashing lights? The six smooth servo motors introduce engineering concepts to your little creators, and they’re sure to love their new robot friend. I mean, think back to watching Short Circuit or Wall-E, didn’t you always want your own robot?

CreateOn made with Magna-Tiles

Magna-Tiles are cool enough on their own, with the magnetic building panels enabling budding engineers to create wondrous structures. Now combine those with printed images from beloved books from Eric Carle, or Sesame Street characters, or structures such as farms or rockets, and the fun multiplies. They’re also great for sneaky math tuition, with everything from sequences to triangular numbers easily represented in physical, magnetic form. If you want some learning ideas to use the kits with, CreateOn has a selection of sample plans on its blog.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Here are the best STEM toys on the market today appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you have a tech guru in your life that has plenty of items already, you’re in luck. While there are plenty of options to choose from, we’ve compiled a list of some lesser-known smart technology finds your loved one may not have yet. 

These are perfect gift opportunities, and as the holidays are just around the corner, now is the ideal time to buy them. 

GE Full Color Smart LED Bulb

GE is a known energy provider, and the company also has a lighting product line that wows customers. The CYNC Full Color Smart Bulbs allow you to be in complete control, scheduling lights to turn on and off and even controlling the bulb with your voice. 

Owners of these bulbs can choose from millions of colors, adjust the white color tone from warm to cool, and set the light to match your sleep/wake cycle. Your room can truly be transformed by using these bulbs when you mix and match colors and modes. 

Click and Grow Smart Garden

The Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 makes growing fruits, vegetables, and other items as easy as making a cup of coffee in the morning. It uses biodegradable, disposable plant pods that are preseeded, so you just set them and watch them grow. 

Because it’s an indoor garden, you can grow whatever you’d like all year. It comes in multiple colors, like white, gray, beige, and an illustrated color. Click and Grow also has a sprout guarantee, so if any issues arise when trying to grow your plants, the company will replace them for free.

WaterGuru Sense Smart Pool Monitor

The WaterGuru Sense is a smart pool monitor that makes average maintenance a breeze. It measures the chlorine and pH readings, not just on the surface level. 

It only takes a couple of minutes to install, and it comes with a smartphone app users can look at to determine if they need to add more chemicals to maintain their pool. The monitor is battery-powered and replaces your skimmer cover.

Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt

Schlage is a popular lock company, and it offers a range of products that fit with any smart home. If your friend or family member already has smart devices in their house, this lock is perfect for protecting their home from intruders. 

The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt makes getting inside so much easier than fumbling with a set of keys. Users can even unlock the door from their smartphones. Keyless entry is convenient and secure.

YogiFi Smart Yoga Mat

If you’re looking for a techy gift with a spin of fitness, look no further. The YogiFi Smart Yoga Mat allows users to track their performance, see personalized feedback and incorporate a virtual yoga instructor into each session. 

The mat is lightweight, so it can be taken on the go. The artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are ideal for tech gurus. Additionally, users can download a smartphone app to learn more about their yoga practice. 

LG Portable Full HD LED Smart Projector

LG has a hand in consumer electronics, and it has a full HD LED smart projector that can transform any room into a home theater. The LG PF50KA has a built-in battery and full HD resolution for the ultimate viewing experience. 

Smart Tech Gifts for Under the Tree

We’re well into the holiday season, so now is a good time to consider finishing up buying gifts for your closest friends and family. Tech gurus who already have plenty of things to enjoy may not have some of the items above. Consider buying one or more of them to wrap up 2021 in style.

Looking for some holiday gift ideas this shopping season? Be sure to check out our 2021 KnowTechie Holiday Gift Guide and Gaming Gift Guide. Holiday shopping isn’t easy; let our gift guides guide you on your way.

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• The KnowTechie 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for your pets

The post 2021’s 6 best smart-technology gifts for the tech guru who has everything appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you can’t find the things you want in stock, block some time out on your calendar that’ll be uninterrupted pet time, and then take them to the park or play with their favorite existing toys. Gift cards aren’t really an option for your pets, but you can pick them up for their caregivers if you’re buying for other families’ pets.

We’ve searched to the corners of the internet for our picks this year, with options from water trays to trackers and everything in-between so the heavy lifting of gift-giving is already done for you. Well, unless you’re buying something heavy, that is.

READ MORE: Petlibro’s Granary pet feeder gives you control over your pet’s diet

We’ll be adding more thoughtful gift ideas in the run-up to the holidays as they catch our eye. If you don’t see anything suitable right now, bookmark the page and return every so often to see what the newest ideas are.

If you have any gamers in your life and need some excellent gift recommendations, our 2021 Gaming Holiday Gift Guide should do the trick. You can also find our main 2021 Holiday Gift Guide here if you’ve still got humans on your list to buy for.

iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum

Unless your pet has zero hair, you’ll want a robovac to tame all of that shedding fur. The j7+ is “ideal for pet hair,” but what we really care about is that it’s self-emptying for up to 60 days. Yes, you can be lazy for two whole months. It’s also got advanced smarts to avoid those “packages” that little Fido might leave on the carpet.

Wisdom Panel Premium

Did you know you can DNA test your pooch? Yes, just like those ancestry-finding tests for humans, you can figure out which breeds your less-than-purebred is from. Unless you have a purebred, in which case consider this as a double-check against the lineage your breeder gave you. You also get over 200 health tests to ferret out any potential issues or drug sensitivities.

Whistle FIT

Ever wanted to know just how active your pet is? Stick a Whistle pet health tracker on their collar, and let the analytics flow into the companion app. It’ll tell you their daily activity levels, let you set reminders for things like flea treatments, and even get in-app tele-vet appointments. It can also monitor your pet’s health, monitoring for scratching, licking, and more.

HERTZKO Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

Most pets love having their fur brushed, and we love the lack of tangles it produces. Cleaning off those brushes is normally a real pain, but this self-cleaning brush retracts the bristles so all the hair just slides right off. Why isn’t anyone making this for humans?

Fi Series 2 smart collar

We all worry about our furry friends going missing, so why not slap a GPS tracking collar on them? Fi’s uses the LTE-M network for low-power, long-distance communication so you get about three months of battery life. It also uses Wi-Fi access points or Bluetooth to aid in detection. Neat. It’s also super quick to let you know if Fido has escaped past the fence, so you can get them back home safe.

PetSafe Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes

Okay, so this is really a gift for you and your pets. Possibly the worst part about having cats is having to clean up that filthy litter box. With these automatic self-cleaning litter boxes, you won’t have to worry about scooping that mess up anymore. These litterboxes will automatically clean themselves, and all you’ll have to do is empty the cleanup tray every couple of weeks.

Furbo Dog Camera

Do you ever have to leave your furry friend at home for periods of time but get worried about what they might get into? The Furbo Dog Camera offers 1080p video straight to your phone so you can check in on your pets anytime you’d like. With 2-way audio and a fun treat dispenser that you can use to launch treats to your pets, the Furbo Dog Camera can make it seem like you never left.

Orvis GripTight hammock seat protector

For those longer trips when you can’t leave your pets at home, the Orvis GripTight seat protector can be a life-saver. Pets can’t help but shed, and all of that fur is going to end up in your back seat when your pets join you for a road trip. With the Orvis GripTight seat protector, you won’t have to worry about that anymore. Just drape this across your seats to give your pets a nice little bed to lie in and protect your car’s seats at the same time.

Pioneer Pet Raindrop drinking fountain

Got a pet that just loves to drink water out of the toilet? What they really like is the fact that that water is running, even if they don’t know quite how nasty it is. The Pioneer Pet Raindrop drinking fountain offers an alternative to toilet water, with a constantly circulating flow and a built-in charcoal filter to make sure the water stays fresh. Give your pets the running water they want without having them drink up your toilet water.

MalsiPree dog water bottle

One of the biggest questions on those hot summer days is how are you going to make sure they stay hydrated? With the MalsiPree dog water bottle, you won’t have to worry about that anymore. The bottle is leak-proof and features a tray that lets you dispense out water a little bit at a time in a way that’s easy for your furry friends to drink.

Front Of The Pack Dog Supplements

We’ve got just the thing for any four-legged family members this holiday season: supplements from Front Of The Pack, formulated for happy, healthy dogs. FOTP is one of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer pet brands, founded in 2020 by a world-class Science Advisory Board with a focus on animal advocacy, sustainability, and scientific rigor.

Each supplement is $35.99 with free shipping. Here’s some of the things FOTP has to offer:

• Soothe: Created with 3 clinically-tested probiotics to improve dogs’ gut health and alleviate skin/coat itchiness, making for a healthier, more comfortable pup
• Move 2.0: A new formula with powerful collagen and fast-acting ingredients to improve joint health, mobility,  and mobility in our canine friends
• The One: FOTP’s classic supplement, The One supports eight essential health functions

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• The KnowTechie 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
• The KnowTechie 2021 Gaming Gift Guide
• The best games you absolutely need to look out for in December
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