Best Gadgets for 2013
The year 2012 was one of the most exciting years for gadget freaks the world over, as it witnessed a barrage of new play toys being announced for all the geeks. Now, in 2013 these gadgets are slowly being rolled out, and are hitting the stores. Some gadgets from the previous year are still selling like hotcakes, and many are still out of stock in most stores, as they are snapped up the moment they show up for sale.
It has been a mad frenzy for both consumers, and manufacturers alike, with the former being treated to gadgets which would easily find their way into sci-fi movies of the 90s. What really brings a cheer to the faces of the consumers is the fact that these gadgets are now well within the budget of the tech-savvy people out there. The sudden surge in the demand for these goods has also got the cash registers ringing for the manufacturers, who are trying to draw in the customers with offers, and freebies. Here's a look at some of the most popular gadgets in the market today.
Top Gadgets This YearTechnology today focuses on providing up-to-date features, be it in computers, electronics, or the Internet. Take a look at some of the leading tablets, mobile phones, gaming consoles and digital cameras that are hugely popular amongst the masses.
| Gadgets | The Winner |
| Tablet Computers | iPad with Retina display |
| Smartphones | Samsung Galaxy S4 |
| Gaming Consoles | Sony PlayStation Vita |
| Digital Cameras | Olympus TG-2 iHS |
| MP3 Players | Apple iPod Touch (5th Generation) |
| Television | Samsung UN55ES8000F |
| Ultrabook | HP Envy 14 Spectre |
| E-Book Reader | Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 |
This list is of a subjective preference, but market trends also indicate that they were some of the most sought-after devices ever.
If you are a technology enthusiast, then these gizmos should definitely be on your list of must-have objects. If not all of them at least one of the top ones that are ruling the market today, ought to be on your list.
Tablet ComputersiPad with Retina display: In tablets, it's definitely the iPad with Retina display that's got 10/10 feature-wise, display-wise and portability-wise. An Apple product always causes mass frenzy, and when the fifth-generation iPad was launched, the situation was no different. This is a brilliant tablet that has some astounding features. It operates on the iOS 6.1.3, and has a 1.4 ghz dual core A6 processor with 5 MP rear-facing camera. The brilliant 9.7-inch display supports a maximum resolution of 2048x1536, with a mind numbing 264ppi. The camera has autofocus feature that captures blooming, great-looking pictures, which look absolutely stunning on the Retina display. Add to that the goodness of Siri, who makes everyday tasks super-smooth for you, and you have in your hands a stunning gadget which stands out of the crowd.
Price:
For 16/32/64/128 GB Wi-Fi only models - $499, $599, $699, and $799 respectively.
For 16/32/64/128 GB Wi-Fi + 4G models - $629, $729, $829, and $929 respectively.
Smartphone
Samsung Galaxy S4: Taking the legacy of its predecessor forward, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is every bit cut out for the task. At the heart of this beast is an Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset with Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 and Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPUs. That is enough processing power to completely decimate the opposition, and cement its position as the best smartphone of 2013. For capturing images, it packs a 13 MP rear-camera, and a 2 MP front-facing camera for video calls and self-portraits. All in all, the S4 sets the benchmark for the best hardware and software on a mobile device on the market today.
Price: approx. $749
Portable Game Consoles
Sony PlayStation Vita: This is the gadget to possess for all you gaming enthusiasts out there. The multi-touch display and motion-sensor technology offer a completely incredible gaming experience. This handheld device comes with a solid construction, and a brilliant HD quality display which makes images look vivid and sharp. Thanks to the dual analog stick control and dual quad-core processor it just enhances your gaming experience, making you never want to stop playing. This device also comes with 3G connectivity and has a front- and rear-facing camera.
Price:
For Wi-Fi only models - approx. $249
For Wi-Fi + 3G models - approx. $299
Digital Cameras
Olympus TG - 2 iHS: The Olympus TG-2 iHS is one tough cookie. Built to withstand a crush force of 100kg, resist water up to a depth of 15m, fall from a height of up to 2.1m, and temperature as low as -10C, it is rather safe to say that it will be by your side through thick and thin! On continuous shooting mode, the 12 MP camera captures images at 5fps at full resolution, and up to 60fps at a reduced resolution. It also shoots 1080p HD videos, and also record high-speed movies at up to 240fps (320x240 pixels). If that doesn't do it for you, it also features a unique microscope mode, wherein you can capture a subject at a distance of just 1cm.
Price: approx. $379
MP3 Players
Apple iPod Touch (5th Generation): The world's best music player, just got funkier. The 5th generation of the iPod Touch now comes in trendy metallic colors, and also features a new 'loop' to carry your iTouch wherever you go. It has an almost identical spec sheet as the iPhone 5, sans the GSM radio for voice calls. The Retina display on the device is one to behold, and images captured with its 5 MP iSight camera come to life on the screen. It runs on iOS 6.0, and brings along the goodness of Siri. You can also use the 1.2 MP front-facing camera to make HD video calls with FaceTime.
Price:
For 16/32/64 GB models - $229. $299 and $399 respectively
Television
Samsung UN55ES8000F: The Samsung UN55ES8000F is one of the best lookers amongst all LED TVs in the market today. It has a panel so thin and beautiful, that you would instantly fall in love with it. 55 inches of screen real estate , along with some of the deepest blacks on an LED screen makes watching movies an absolute treat. Although the SMART TV experience leaves a lot to be desired, it is loads of fun to play around with. The TV also boasts of impressive 3D picture quality, and good audio output.
Price: approx. $3,749
Ultrabook
HP Envy 14 Spectre: This is a top-quality Ultrabook designed for those who expect over-the-top diverse assets. It comes with amazing features like long-lasting battery life, and is stylish, thin and sleek. It ventures on a very powerful technology, that not only gives premium entertainment feel but also delivers a smooth computing experience. This Ultrabook uses Beats Audio element that has superb sound essence and comes with six built-in speakers and a sub-woofer with adjustable volume control. It is also equipped with a wireless audio and has a good deal of memory capacity and plenty of hard drive space. These features clearly boast how powerful and unique this Ultrabook is and why it still is amongst the top ultrabooks in the market today.
Price: approx. $1,199
E-book Reader
Kindle Fire HD 8.9": The latest version of Kindle, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" is by far the best dedicated e-book readers in the market today. The large HD screen (1920x1200) with a pixel density of 254 ppi makes both reading books, and watching high-def movies a real treat. At just 20 ounces (567 grams) it is extremely light, and has a very slim profile, with a thickness of 8.8 mm. It supports a range of media files, and has a marathon battery life.
Price:
For 16/32 GB - approx. $229 and $299 respectively
Below are some more gadgets that made their mark in the second and third place and are still neck-to-neck in competition with the above list.
| Gadgets | 1st Runner-up |
| Tablet Computers | Google Nexus 7 |
| Smartphones | Google Nexus 4 |
| Gaming Consoles | Nintendo 3DS |
| Digital Cameras | Sony Cybershot W570 |
| MP3 Players | Cowon D3 Plenue |
| Television | Samsung LN46D630 |
| Ultrabook | Toshiba Portege Z835 |
| E-Book Reader | Nook Simple Touch Reader |
| Gadgets | 2nd Runner-up |
| Tablet Computers | Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 |
| SmartPhones | HTC One |
| Portable Game Consoles | Sony PSP 3000 |
| Digital Cameras | FujiFilm FinePix F550EXR |
| MP3 Players | Creative Zen X-Fi 2 |
| Television | 3D Panasonic TC-P55VT30 |
| Ultrabook | Asus Zenbook UX31 |
| E-Book Reader | Amazon Kindle Fire |
Q4 of 2013 promises to bring in even more goodies, with most major companies set to launch their products in time for Christmas. For a geek, there couldn't have been a better time to be around! Cheers.
