2021 was a less interesting year in tech than I originally thought it would be, however, that doesn't mean that it was a bad year. For Google, in particular, I believe they have laid the groundwork to have an even better 2022 hardware year than in 2021 with the advancements they made in software development. Think Jetpack Compose. The following are some items I purchased in 2021 or was released in 2021.
First up we have is probably my favorite device for 2021 and that's the Pixel 6. A clear upgrade over the Pixel 5 with a gorgeous all-new design, upgraded cameras, and a whole new UI called Material You. Google really went for it this year and it seemed to have worked out for them with the phone being mostly unavailable to buy. Although the Pixel 6 is not perfect I believe Google is moving in the right direction with design and software.
After introducing their first pair of truly wireless earbuds in 2020 Google followed up the Pixel Buds with an awesome entry-level pair of earbuds called the Pixel Buds A. The Buds A builds on the 2020 Pixel Buds and improves the number one complaint of most buyers and that was the connection reliability. Google replaced the main chip, kept the same drivers, and still included hands-free voice control all for $99. Personally, I was surprised that Google kept so much in while lowering the price. Great sound for the price, a good feature set, the same beautiful design, and excellent mic quality for phone calls. The one thing I wish they would have included is the swipe gesture for volume control.
The Nokia T20 is my surprise gadget for 2021. But in a good way. The T20 has replaced my Samsung Tab S7 and that should say a lot because I loved that tablet. The T20 is not a better tablet than the Tab S7 but it provides me with a stock Android UI which I prefer and is reminiscent of what you would get with a Pixel. It features probably my favorite new app from Google in 2021 Entertainment Space by Google where content is surfaced into categories in accordance with what you like. The tablet itself is fast enough, has a good display, and comes in at a low price of $249. The T20 comes with Android 11 and will only get better with Android 12L so I am hoping we get the update sooner rather than later.
The JBL Tune 660NC is my budget noise-canceling headphones of the year. With the 660NC, JBL got so much right while keeping the price pretty low at $99. Although, you can probably get them even cheaper right now. ANC on the 660NC does a decent job of keeping most noises out but tends to struggle a bit with louder sounds. The JBL Tune 660NC features 44hrs of battery life with ANC on and 55hrs with ANC off. The headphones sound good for the price and also feature Google's Fast Pair tech. A very basic set of headphones that perform well and is comfortable to wear even for those long listening sessions.
I've always had great internet and good coverage at home but always felt that the farthest most part of my home took a little longer to load video. No more! I purchased a Nest Wifi Point to add to my Nest Router and the Nest Point and the change is pretty significant. Video loads much faster and playing games on Stadia is more stable and reliable. A purchase I wish that I would have made sooner but happy to have it now.
The Nest Hub Gen 2 is a solid upgrade over the first-gen model. Improving sound and adding the ability to track your sleep without the need to wear a wearable which is good, in my opinion. I always felt that wearing a watch or fitness tracker was a bit tedious in that you would have to wear it and make sure it is charged. Too much to manage if you ask me. Enter the new Nest Hub and all that managing devices is over. Once you have it set up all you need to do is keep the Hub next to your bed and you are good to go. You get readouts in the morning with a pretty detailed summary of your sleep. Everything syncs to the Google Fit app with integration coming to Fitbit in 2022. The one hang-up I have is that the sleep tracking is free until 2023 and will be part of Fitbit premium from there on out. I wish it could be free but I guess it is what it is.
So, that is my list. Let me know what you think and share with me what your favorite purchases of 2021 were.
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