There’s one week of DSF left and you’ve probably seen more than a handful of offers going on for all kinds of smartphones, tablets and TVs. So what we’ve done for you is compile a list of gadgets that take a step away from the usual categories. The list contains products that deliver considerable technology value — at a price point far lower.
1. Power Bank/Portable Charger
This nifty little gadget is an absolute essential. A power bank is essentially a portable battery you can charge your phone from. They come in various capacities and can charge your phone from one whole charge to many times over. Some even let you charge two devices at one and you can slip these in your purse or man-bag. They start as low as Dh50 and go up to a few hundred depending on brand name and capacity. What price wouldn’t you pay to stay connected?
2. Car Charger
Maybe you don’t want to carry a power bank because the idea of charging a charger to charge your phone (read that again) is a little ridiculous really! Another way to stay powered up is by getting a car charger. Yes, most cars have a USB port, but they charge slower and stop you from connecting that USB stick filled with your favourite album that won’t play on the radio anymore. A dedicated car charger will charge your phone faster, and some even allow you to charge two phones at once. Expect to pay about Dh100. Just make sure it’s 2.1A or 4.2A rated.
3. Bluetooth audio receiver
You have this amazing speaker system at home that you bought a few years ago. It still sounds and looks great. But the times they are a-changing, and all your music sits on your phone, or on the web, which you want to play via Bluetooth.
A Bluetooth receiver makes your system Bluetooth-enabled. Once powered, connect it to your system via a regular sound cable (3.5mm AUX), and stream your music to it from any Bluetooth-enabled device. For about Dh150, you just upgraded the connectivity on your sound system. The rest of the money can be spent on music!
4. Portable Bluetooth speakers
The music you bought with the money you just saved may play from your phone, laptop or tablet, but the sound quality on these devices doesn’t cut it anymore. If you want to be able to enjoy this music even when you’re out and about, or better yet, travelling, get a pair of portable Bluetooth speakers. The capabilities in terms of sound output and quality has increased dramatically with a size that you can throw into your backpack. Even indoors, most are loud enough to fill a small room. So if improved audio on the beach, or even in the kitchen, sounds like music to your ears (yes I went there), then an investment of around Dh700-1,000 can get you a solid product.
5. Smart TV stick/box
If the introduction of smart and connected TVs in the years gone by have given your perfectly capable but (for the lack of a better phrase) dumb TV an inferiority complex, worry not.
A smart TV stick or box can bring all smart TV capabilities to your existing TV for a fraction of the cost. These connect via HDMI to your TV and include capabilities to download apps for various entertainment sources. A smart TV stick can cost as low as Dh150, whereas a more expensive box like Apple TV or Android TV can go up to Dh400. It’s still pocket change compared to upgrading the whole TV set.
— Bhavishya Kanjhan (@bhavishya) is Founder and Editor of techview.me — a news site covering consumer technology, digital & start-ups from the Middle East.
