First up on this list is the surprisingly affordable gaming monitor, Gigabyte's M32UC. And I say surprisingly because, in my mind, it's worth more than its price tag, and here is why. It’s a curved 32-inch 4K monitor that is specifically designed to cater to both console and PC gamers. There are two specs you can’t skimp on when it comes to gaming: refresh rate and response time, and this monitor absolutely delivers. It features a one-millisecond response time and a 144Hz refresh rate right out of the box. And get this, you’ll be able to overclock the panel via DisplayPort 1.4 to 160Hz refresh rate, which is incredible and probably overkill for most people, but it is there if you have the PC system to support a 160Hz refresh rate. The monitor also has an HDMI 2.1 port, cranking out 4K at 120Hz for console gamers. While the in-built KVM switch lets me instantly switch back and forth between keyboard, mouse, and joystick controller, there's even a USB-C port which can also upstream and deliver power up to 18 watts. At the modest 32-inch size, pixel density is really high, and it’s also well-lit, which is perfect for my darker desk setup in this particular room. It’s been a stunning panel to experience high-end games on, like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Metro Exodus, with great color reproduction, brightness, and performance. You can almost definitely feel the rapid response time and smoothness in faster-paced games like Counter-Strike GO. I think a game like this suits a 32-inch screen far better than it did with my 38-inch ultrawide. It was pretty tough to fault this monitor other than the subpar speakers and stand. But considering you can now find this monitor for $600 brand new, I’ll leave a link to it below – this is the budget 4K gaming monitor to beat this year. Make sure you add it into your gaming setup.

Next up is the camera I just cannot stop talking about – the Fuji X100V. If you’re looking to buy a new camera or upgrade from your phone's camera, this is the camera to take a look at. I have not stopped using it since I got it at the start of the year. Heck, I even created a new Instagram account dedicated to this camera, even though Instagram isn’t a picture sharing platform anymore, rest in peace. The X100V features an insanely crispy new fixed 23-millimeter F2.0 lens, equivalent to 35 millimeters full frame. But other than that, what makes Fuji’s mirrorless cameras so special is Fuji's digital film simulations. They give you access to a load of analog film-inspired looks applied directly to your photo, so I get these amazing-looking photos right out of the camera with zero time wasted on editing. Just check out some of these shots here I took earlier in the year during a getaway in Australia with my dog Arlo, then abroad in Thailand, which was a great backdrop for a custom film simulation I created with a lot of film grain and lens flare for a nostalgic look, and then more recently when I traveled around Malaysia. These photos I added a Zen and Bloom lens onto the camera for a natural bloom effect. Build quality is also terrific for the price – it punches above its weight with its tactile buttons throughout, and it’s just an absolute pleasure to use, not to mention an absolute good looker to boot. Recently, the camera has gone viral on social media and gained a cult following for its film simulations. It’s now my favorite camera of not just 2022, but of all time. I know that’s a pretty big claim, but it’s just that good. I’m really hoping to compare it to the Leica Q2 or even Q3 if it’s launched next year.

Smart lights are something I’ve loved using for years now, and this year I began to convert my entire smart light ecosystem over to Govee, and they’ve pleasantly surprised me. They’re not just more affordable than the Philips Hue lights I was using, they’re just as bright, if not brighter in lumens than Philips Hue. So it was a no-brainer change to me. The standout Govee smart light to me this year was hands down Govee’s T2 Envisual lights, the world’s very first dual-color camera-matching TV backlights, and a big improvement from the previous generation T1 lights. They're unique in that they use Govee’s dual cameras Envisual tech to scan the TV’s content in real-time on screen to match the colors it sees, and projects them via its light strip behind the TV, which features 60 rgbic light beads per meter, which is why the light strip is so bright. The T2 Envisual lights have just added so much depth to my screen while gaming, watching movies, and even more recently, watching the World Cup with friends. It’s not just wowed me but visitors too. The camera does surprisingly well to keep up with all the action on the screen when it comes to the World Cup, and even fast-paced gaming. It’s just a treat to use. Govee is a rapidly growing company, and definitely one to watch out for in 2023, in my opinion. They’ve cemented themselves as a feature-packed smart light for just a fraction of the cost of competitors, and I’m pretty excited to see what they do next year.

So, I’ve reviewed a lot of Apple tech this year, from the iPad Air M1 and iPad Pro M2, to the AirPods Pro 2 and MacBook M1 Pro, but there is one absolute standout Apple product that I fell in love with, and it’s Apple’s MacBook Air M2. When this thing came out, I wasn’t expecting too much of it. I haven’t used an Air in years and years, but as soon as I started using it as my daily, it was immediately clear that this is a special device. When you take its amazing portability in its all-new ultra-thin 0.44 inch build and feather-like three pounds, and then you add in a truly impressive powerhouse architecture, which is Apple’s M2, and you have then a very compelling reason to purchase this laptop. Yes, the base model’s SSD speeds are a step back, and performance throttling is still an issue, but considering the price price point for the person that Apple intends this laptop for, and then Apple’s most affordable laptop is a deliciously good proposition and one that’s impressed me throughout this year.

Okay, moving on to my new desk setup. I’ve moved into a dedicated office space this year and at the heart of it all is of course my new sit-stand desk that I’ve been absolutely loving. I chose Omnidesk’s new Ascent range of sit-stand desks, with this one here being the XL version made from solid, heavier wood, and redesigned white table legs that are motorized and more silent than ever. I’ve always been a fan of sit-stand desks in helping alleviate joint attention since I work pretty long hours at the desk most days. And then when you pair it with a good chair, this one here is the Herman Miller Aeron, something else that I absolutely loved and was a great purchase this year – I don’t know if I should include it into this list though because it’s not necessarily tech. But anyway, great chair. When you pair it with a great chair, you’ve got an ergonomic setup that your body will thank you for, for years to come.

Next, the CalDigit TS4 dock, which lives under my new desk, is the best dock I’ve ever used. I’ve used the previous generation TS3 Plus for years now, and the new TS4 blows it out of the water. When I plug the laptop into the dock, I’ve essentially got an insane 18 ports of additional connectivity. And that is a lot of different options and ports to use. To give you an idea, this dock has 8K display support, 98-watt charging, DisplayPort 1.4, and even a microSD card slot, which has actually come in handy. This dock has almost every port required in a single package, and there’s good reason why it’s known as the king of Thunderbolt docks. It was sold out in the first few waves of shipment. It was actually pretty hard to get my hands on this dock. And just be prepared as well for the price tag of $380. Yeah, it’s not cheap, but it’s been a worthy investment.

On the more affordable end though, the new Logitech Brio 500 webcam has pleasantly surprised me this year. It’s Logitech’s first full HD webcam after a decade and, priced at $129, it has ultra-wide capability up to 90 degrees, 60 frames per second support, AI auto framing, dual microphones, and then a built-in privacy shutter that feels great to retract. The true beauty in this webcam is in its performance, which does an amazing job in keeping you well-lit in all conditions, and then its Show Mode which lets me present sketches or items on my table by simply tilting the webcam down. It’s a great way to impress others on conference calls.

Another desk accessory I was really quite impressed with is Razer’s new flagship keyboard, the DeathStalker V2 Pro. I’ve always wanted a minimal keyboard that can be both perfect for work and gaming, and this keyboard delivers. The performance of this keyboard is second to none, with a polling rate of 998Hz, Bluetooth 5.0, and Adaptive Frequency. The zero input lag with this keyboard, and I mean there is – it feels like it’s wired sometimes – so it’s been really nice just using the one keyboard day and night for typing and for gaming. The pitfalls, in my opinion, are its red linear switches, which are a little too soft for my liking, and then the price tag of $250. It’s by no means a cheap keyboard but, hey, if you’re in the market for a high-end keyboard that’ll cover both your work and gaming needs equally, give this one a go. I’ve been using it since launch and it’s been great ever since.

Sonos has really impressed me this year. I’ve set up my entire new creative studio with Sonos speakers and I have zero regrets. They sound amazing, they work together seamlessly, and they look so good in the studio. But there has been one particular speaker that has been especially impressive – Sonos’s new Ray soundbar that launched mid-year and it’s a steal at $279, if you ask me. At 22 inches and just a little over four pounds, the Ray is smaller than the 25-inch Beam sibling and half the size of the flagship Sonos Arc. It may be small but it still gets two angled tweeters, mid-woofers, and four Class-D drivers, and it equates to some pretty good bang for buck sound. The Ray has a diverse yet well-balanced sound stage and well-articulated bass, which is especially impressive considering its smaller size and smaller price tag too. A big downside though, which has to be pointed out, is the lack of Dolby Atmos or HDMI eARC support. But it can be forgiven for its budget price tag. I think what the Ray has done this year is it basically offers a killer gateway product that may well get you hooked into the Sonos ecosystem. Otherwise, if you have the extra cash, the Beam is a worthy alternative that you might want to consider.

Moving on to gadgets outside of our offices and desk setups, I’ve said that Eight Sleep’s new Pod 3 gadget is probably the best tech I’ve reviewed all year, and I think this is still the case. This one absolutely had to make the list. It’s a state-of-the-art sleep tracking and multi-temperature controlled smart mattress. It’s something you have to try to fully appreciate, I think. Basically though, it tracks my body temperature and sleep patterns overnight with its 4,000 sensor points on the mattress. And with the quad-core CPU machine here, then it optimizes the different zones of the bed, so it’s the perfect temperature throughout the night. And I’ve been waking up every day to detailed sleep metrics. Sleep tracking is on the rise, and it seems to be more important than most people realize when it comes to their health. So yeah, I love getting behind tech like this because it brings big benefits to our daily lives and our health.

Onto the action cameras this year, a brand I haven’t previously used has impressed me, and it’s Insta360, specifically their new Insta360 X3 camera. So it’s able to record 360-degree video at 6K through the two ultra-wide lenses. And the ability to crop into any segment of the video in post through Insta360’s robust software has me frothing over this camera this year. A heads-up if you’re completely new to 360 footage: there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to editing this type of footage, and the videos must be processed before editing which is a little time-consuming. But this is the camera for the sporting or travel enthusiast who doesn’t want to miss out on a single shot without the hassle of setting up different tripods and different cameras to capture the scene from different angles.

And then, speaking of travel and portability, the Razer Atheris V2 has been a compelling add into the repertoire of tech for me that makes it onto this list for its performance, portability, and price. It’s a very small mouse, weighing in at little over 2 ounces or 60 grams without the battery, and then it runs for 950 hours over a Bluetooth connection. It has a fast and responsive 18,000 DPI sensor and is really tactile and has sharp clicks. It’s been surprisingly awesome to use when gaming, from Metro Exodus to Counter-Strike GO. There’s not much to dislike about this mouse at only $70, but it’s been great to use.

The Sony A7 IV has been the camera I’ve used most this year and the successor to the incredibly popular Sony A7 III. The A7 IV is an all-round capable hybrid camera for almost any situation as both a photographer and videographer. It has an all-new 33-megapixel sensor, insanely good autofocus capability, shoots 4K at 60 frames at 10 bit 4:2:2. There’s better specialist cameras out there for sure, but the A7 IV is the best all-rounder mirrorless camera on the market this year. It’s been so amazing being able to just pack the one camera and then feel confident that I’ll be able to take stellar photos and 4K video footage

Now the AirPods Pro 2, this absolutely caught me off guard as one of the best purchases of this year, and hands down the best earbuds I’ve used yet. It builds upon the already great AirPods Pro, throws in the H2 chip, and then paired up with Apple’s personalized spatial audio and you get this 3D audio experience that you have to experience in person to believe. Walking down the street with these in, it feels like a personal jam session with your favorite artist. The directionality of its audio is superb, and pair it up with the fact that they’re just 5 grams each – you forget that they’re even there, unlike over-the-ear headphones. I’ve been carrying these with me absolutely everywhere, from grocery shopping to airports. They’re a success for Apple, and it’s not surprising, but now if they only came in different color variations.