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Nov 28, 2023

The best tech and design in 2021

Chris Haslam Sophie Charara Adam Speight Jeremy White WIRED’s annual Gear of the Year list of the most essential tech of 2021 (and beyond) is back, featuring kit that’s been tried and tested by the

Chris Haslam Sophie Charara Adam Speight Jeremy White

WIRED’s annual Gear of the Year list of the most essential tech of 2021 (and beyond) is back, featuring kit that’s been tried and tested by the WIRED team – from shoes containing recycled materials to electric cars, robot vacuum cleaners to scuba kit, and intelligent kitchen-blenders to gin subscriptions, these are the products that got us through the weirdest year yet.

Black Friday has arrived and discounts on a wide range tech and gadgetry are now live. The WIRED team has sought out the top true savings on quality products. Here’s the best Black Friday deals.

Yes, it’s a Green Hornet reference, and the launch was soaked in suitably superheroic hyperbole, but there’s more to this futuristic frameless mask than a questionable comic-book tie-in. Designed to sit as close to the face as possible, Oakley managed to get rid of any superfluous plastic edging by tapering the Prizm lens to mimic frame thickness without impeding the wearer’s view. As a result the brow is thicker – and therefore more rigid – than around the eyes and cheeks. According to Oakley, it offers optimised coverage, a wider field of view, better frame retention and improved impact protection. The sunglasses also include an adjustable rake mechanism which tilts the lens through +/-30-degree angles to maximise the closeness of the lens against the face.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £241 | Oakley | Sigma Sports

From solar-charged jackets to carbon-fibre T-shirts, we’re huge supporters of Vollebak’s future-first approach to textile innovation – but while technically exceptional, much of their kit sits just the wrong side of “extreme” for our urban explorer tastes. But with Race to Zero they’ve created a running kit that’s brilliant for both park plodders and extreme endurance racers alike. The four-piece collection weighs just 552g in total – T-shirt,113g; shorts 127g; jacket 85g; and puffer 227g – and each item has a tiny stuff-sack stitched in so you can compress it down to miniscule proportions. A mix of recycled nylon and silver-based antimicrobial treatment prevents odours, a seam-free construction minimises chafing, and laser cut vents keep the air flowing.

Price: From £85 | Vollebak

Mont•Bell’s beautifully designed day-pack marries everything we love about Gorpcore style with highly functional design tweaks, hi-tech materials and performance to match. Despite feeling gossamer thin, this 20-litre roll-top pack is double-lined, with 30-denier rip-stop nylon (100-denier on the base) protecting the outer from tears, while inside, a highly waterproof removable liner keeps everything dry. Heavily padded shoulder straps and a supportive back panel make it comfy for hours, no matter what you stuff into its six storage options – including one for a water bottle, and two stretchy mesh side-pockets.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: €145 | MontBell

“Craft-club” embroidery, textured gritty soles, greige fabric... the Space Hippie isn’t what you’d expect from a 2021 Nike – and that makes us love it more. With 90 per cent recycled uppers (that greige), ZoomX foam footbed and a sole featuring ground-up rubber (that grit), Nike’s most revolutionary shoe of the year looks more WALL•E than Wide Receiver.

Price: £115 | Nike

This battery-powered air-supply buoy enables you to live out your Steve Zissou fantasies and explore the depths (down to 10m). Incredibly simple to use, its tankless system delivers compressed air along a 12m tube for up to 60 minutes. At the end of the tube, a sensor records the movement of a silicone diaphragm inside the Smart Regulator, and sends a signal to the pump which then delivers more air at precisely the right time. And before you panic about running out of air, when 5-10 minutes of battery life remain, the air to the regulator will signal you by gently pulsing.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: From $1,999 | Blu3

Yes, there is such a thing as a bicycle blazer. This sharp new commuter jacket from Milan-based Boggi has a detachable gilet and “technical cuff” to keep the sleeves from riding up. Made from the brand’s new B-tech fabric, the recycled stretch polyester means comfort, breathability and wrinkle resistance. And to top it all this piece is waterproof and wind-resistant, too. The idea is that whatever the weather, you arrive looking as if you have travelled by anything other than a bike. And if you like the eco jacket, Boggi also makes a whole range of clothing from the same material, including trousers, shirts and polos.

Price: £499 | Boggi

From a focus on running to builds that won’t take a bash from a mountain, your average fitness tracker likely won’t cut it for a keen climber. The Climbax bills itself as “the world’s first climbing tracker” – equipping climbers with two wristbands for extra-precise tracking. The bands aren’t made from plastic or some snazzy metal like your typical smartwatch but, instead, don abrasion-resistant nylon. For its tracking nous, the Mammut Climbax monitors meters of vertical, number of climbing movements, effective climbing time and more.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £170 | Mammut

Every Stitch Considered is a line of clothing that comes under the Nike Design Exploration department. Previous capsule collections have seen the brand delve into athlete performance data and digital design to create daily wear pieces styled using data. The result is seemingly genderless garments in neutral tones with fits informed by body-motion studies. "Based on decades of scientific study, paired with dedicated old-world Italian craftsmanship," says Kurt Parker, Nike’s VP of apparel design. Regardless of how they are made, the new collection drops October 26, and the jackets in particular have caught our eye.

Price: From £210 | Nike

Many years ago, WIRED saw a prototype for a wireless blender that used electricity from an induction hob to power its motor. It was, and remains, a great concept – but while we wait for that particular foodie future, there’s millo, the wirelessly powered 500W (12,800rpm) blender. Using a magnetic charging system similar to those found with electric toothbrushes, Millo has no moving parts on show, and yet manages to be four times quieter and twice as efficient as a standard blender. The 500ml Tritan plastic glass container is BPA free and makes blitzing up your daily smoothie both simple and sci-fi, with power controlled by sliding your finger around the rim of the aluminium base, or by using the app – which also takes care of any over-the-air updates.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £259 | Amazon | Millo

Walk into a kitchen with a Gaggia Classic and you know you’re in for a decent espresso. Celebrating its 30th birthday this year, it remains one of the most dependable bits of kitchen kit around, and while the competition wrestles with pods, grinders and touchscreens, this all-metal single boiler with chromed brass portafilter, oversized heating element and clunky buttons will still out-crema the best of them. To celebrate, they’ve launched this limited-edition model adorned with three acrobats designed by Italian artist Pierpaolo Gaballo – each machine comes with a signed print of the artwork, too.

Price: £475 | Selfridges | Gaggia

Predating the “glamping” trend by several decades, Japanese brand Snow Peak makes the most practical and desirable gear, and this all-in-one collapsible fire pit and barbecue with height-adjustable grill is great for all-year garden gatherings as well as adventurous weekends in the wild. Made in Japan from 1.5mm chrome-coated steel, all parts sit seamlessly together, with no superfluous fastenings or clips, just quality welded engineering. And what makes it all the more impressive is the fact it all packs down flat and slips neatly into a tough canvas carry case.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £343 | Snow Peak | Amazon

OXO range of hand-held chef tools are indispensable for kitchens, and are even MoMA-approved – its Swivel Peeler was developed for people with arthritis, but just happened to be better for everyone, and has been in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent design collection since 1994. OXO’s quest to make fiddly stuff easier includes creating the Strawberry Huller (£7.50), which uses stainless-steel tapered blades to gently rip the heart out of soft fruit; the all-in-one Mango Slicer With Scoop (£10.25), which features a finger-safe serrated blade to slice and score the fruit, and a scoop to scrapes every last bit of sweetness from the skin; and the Quick Release Multi Cherry Pitter (£23.70), which removes the stone from six cherries (or olives) in a single one-handed motion.

Price: From £7.50 | Oxo | John Lewis | Lakeland

A portable hot plate like no other, this induction ring offers standard temperature control as well as feedback-loop temperature regulation for precision cooking such shallow frying, slow cooking and sous vide. Choose deep frying mode, clip the temperature probe onto your pan, and it will automatically correct the heat as your cold ingredients are added, ensuring professional levels of consistency. Tucked neatly inside its cork base are the temperature probe, a pan mount, circulator (for sous vide), power cables and magnetic temperature-dial, all stowed neatly away.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £359 | Njori

Known as much for its beautiful bottle design as the award-winning gin kept inside, Isle of Harris Distillery has launched a monthly subscription refill service which swaps the sculpted glass in favour of aluminium, so you can keep your display bottle and simply top it up with a fresh 500ml every 30 days. Seventy-five per cent of all the aluminum ever produced remains in circulation, compared to just nine per cent of all plastics, and while glass is completely recyclable, manufacturing is considerably more energy intensive – but this stylish solution means the glass bottles enjoy a much longer life.

Price: £345.50 (one year) | Isle of Harris

First distilled in 1769, using the “clean” waters around Southwark in London, Gordons is now the world’s best-selling Gin. Given its global popularity, we’re keen to see what impact their first zero-alcohol version has, and if mainstream consumers are ready to embrace low-and-no alternatives. Made using the same botanicals as its classic London Dry gin, Gordons is keeping their method a secret, but we suspect it involves the grain spirit and botanicals going through multiple rounds of distillation to remove all but 0.015% ABV ofl the alcohol from the liquid.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £14 (70cl) | Amazon | Ocado | Gordons

Mashed, fermented, distilled and bottled on the same Scottish estate, Arbikie’s business model is already environmentally conscious – but with Nàdar they claim to have created a carbon-negative gin with a carbon footprint of -1.54kg of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per 700ml bottle, thanks to the power of peas. Yes, by using peas to make the gin, instead of wheat, barley or maize, they’ve been able to eliminate the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser which eliminates any negative impact on soil and waterways.

Price: £43 | Arbikie

It says much about the designers at Höfats that when they looked at a standard beer crate they thought "this is the perfect size for a small fire basket, right?" Despite the logical leap, they are indeed right. So they made their beer crate out of 2mm thick fireproof corten steel. The idea is you load up the beer box with brews to take camping, then, once there, drink the beer (the box has a handy integrated bottle opener) while turning the crate into a reusable, safe, small fire pit. But they didn't stop there. Add in the right accessories and you have a BBQ or a stool. It is stackable. That optional board to turn it into a sturdy seat flips over to double as a chopping board. Finally, the entire thing is 100 per cent recyclable, and develops a lovely rust patina over time.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £129 | Hofats | Amazon

With their transparent pricing – it costs them €275 to make this chair, and 29.4kg of carbon, which it offsets to zero – direct-to-consumer sales model and fastidious attention to both design and detail, Danish furniture maker Takt deserves your attention. There’s not a single misstep in their current collection, but our pick is the Soft Lounge Chair, which uses solid sustainably-sourced FSC-certified ash and molded wood veneers to create a chair with more than its fair share of eye-catching design details. The signature double curve, aside from looking fabulous, strengthens the overall structure and hides any fastenings while offering a host of tactile curves for comfort. Made in Europe and shipped flatpack, reducing shipping volume by up to seven times compared to ready assembled items.

Price: £449 | Takt

The new Apple M1 Mac Mini (£699) is a thunderously powerful desktop with more processing chops than most of us will ever need, but it is still rather lacking in the port department. Optimised for the M1 Mac Mini, Satechi’s stand-hub-combo doesn’t increase the footprint of the computer, but adds 3x USB-C data ports, 3x old-school USB-A data ports, micro/SD card readers, a headphone loving 3.5mm audio jack port, plus an internal SSD enclosure designed to fit M.2 SATA SSD drives, for simple-as-possible expansion.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £80 | Satechi | Amazon

Samsung has struggled to make much of an impact in robot cleaning – often cramming in advanced navigation, but forgetting about practical things like noise and size – but here’s hoping their use of a LiDAR 3D active stereo-type sensor and object-avoiding Intel AI will deliver an effortless clean. Its 3D depth camera, equivalent to 256,000 distance sensors, can detect obstacles as small as 1cm, which should, in theory, mean you can leave stuff all over the place and it’ll simply avoid them. Advanced filters trap 99.99 per cent of micro dust, including 0.5~4.2µm sized particles, and the dust collecting Clean Station ensures virtually no nasties are released back into the air.

Price: £1,299 | Samsung | PRC Direct

Pronounced “breathe”, presumably in a Cockney accent, Briiv is a beautifully different domestic air purifier that uses plants and biodegradable filters to suck the bad stuff from the air. Think of it as an app-controlled terrarium that is able to clean 36m2 in just an hour, using filters that have been grown, not manufactured, and that can be composted instead of sent to landfill. The active filtration system uses a combination of bio-plastics derived from elephant grass, active carbon to absorbs Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), a silk matrix (Vegan version coming soon) that traps particles as small as 0.3 micrometres, and finally a coir fibre layer made from coconut waste which captures pollen, dust, animal dander, mould spores and allergens. Topping it all off is a green lichen called “Reindeer Moss” which naturally absorbs particles such as allergens and other pollutants.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £349 | Briiv

Even with enough space for a full-sized ironing board, storing one still feels like a waste of a good cupboard, or creating behind-the-door clutter nobody wants. Thankfully, JosephJoseph has the solution in the form of a simple but impressively executed folding ironing board with integrated iron storage. The non-slip feet prop the board up enough to do your collars and pleats justice, and with a proper felt underlay and cotton cover it genuinely feels like a proper board, rather than a convenient compromise.

Price: £70 | Joseph Joseph | Amazon | Lakeland

Getting kids (OK, maybe it’s just mine, but still) to brush their teeth properly is a chore, but after testing every kid's electric brush, only this one one remains in our bathroom. The non-slip handle, small nylon bristled brush head, gentle sonic vibrations and timed buzzes every 30-seconds work brilliantly for my seven year old. I’d prefer a rechargeable battery instead of replaceable AAA, but I’m hoping this extends the life of the brush, which is often an issue with standard electric designs. The Quip watermelon-flavour toothpaste is an acquired flavour nobody needs, but subscribing to receive a fresh brush-head every three months ($5) means one less thing to remember.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: $25 | Quip | Amazon

Hyundai’s first premium EV is a worthy challenger to the Audi Q4 e-tron or Jaguar's I-Pace, with exceptional technicals and laudable looks that trick the eye into thinking it’s smaller than it is – and while it looks compact, at 4,635mm it’s longer than the Land Rover Discovery Sport. A 58kWh battery paired with a single 168bhp motor offers 0-100kph in 8.5 seconds and a range of 380km, while the top-spec model bumps that to 73kWh, adding 80km and shaving over a second from the 0-100kph. But, most impressively – relaxed ride and cavernous, tech-filled interior notwithstanding – you can charge from ten to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes with a 350kW charger, or get a 100km range after just five minutes.

Price: From £36,995 | Hyundai

With last winter’s season all but obliterated, WIRED is eager to get back to the slopes and test the mountains of new gear that was teased and then delayed due to Covid-19. And top of our list marked “fun” is the Evo, from French startup Skibrid, which transforms your snowboard into a mono-ski style stand-up-scooter-hybrid without the need for bulky boots. Mounted using standard binding plates, the Evo’s engineering means as you turn the handlebars, the board flexes, gripping an edge for easy carving. The whole unit weighs 3.5kg and folds down small enough to fit in a snowboard bag, while a clever quick-release junction on the crossbar will retract automatically if you fall on it, to prevent painful impalings.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: €995 | Skibrid

If there were Deliveroo drivers in Total Recall, they would almost certainly be driving the CE 04 electric scooter. It’s so rare for concept sketches and early renderings to resemble the finished design, but hats off to BMW for doing something different. The CE 04 will enter production in early 2022 and, in design as well as features, will remain virtually unchanged from the teased prototypes with a 42 horsepower electric drivetrain, 120kph top speed, 130km range from 8.9kWh battery pack, stability and traction control, anti lock brakes and a huge 10.25-inch TFT screen for comms and navigation. And when the battery needs a boost, you can use an optional quick charger to go from 20 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes, or full in just 100 minutes.

Price: From £11,700 | BMW

An altogether more serene way to hoon about in the snow without the deafening roar of a four-stroke engine, Moonbike is the world’s first all-electric skidoo, running almost silently, yet can still hitting 42kph as it ploughs through snow depths of up to 30cm. Front fork MTB-style suspension takes care of the bumps, while the 2.5kW battery (3.2kW dual battery also available) will give you an hour’s playtime in Sport mode, and an extra 30 minutes in eco mode. Engineered to be swift and light, it weighs just 87kg and is only 71cm wide, meaning you shouldn’t need a separate trailer for towing, but it will still happily drag you up 60 per cent incline groomed slopes.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: From €7,980 | Moonbike

When your core is finally strong enough to transition from millponds to swell, this premium 9’ long pro-laminate fusion paddle board set will offer all the rigidity you need to take on tidal waters yet still packs down into a stylish, dry-bag style 120-litre backpack. Suitable for riders up to 90kg, it takes less than 15min to pump up to 15PSI and benefits considerably from two fixed and one interchangeable fin that help you find the right balance between stability and maneuverability in different conditions, while the wing-tail shape helps you carve into the waves.

Price: £499 | Amazon | AquaPlanet

E-bikes are brilliant, but most still have all the aesthetic appeal of a Boris Bike. Cowboy is one of the few exceptions, offering a minimalist ultra-modern aesthetic and seamless power to aid your commute. The 18.9kg aluminium-framed C4 offers 50 per cent more torque than the previous model (which was no slouch itself) and runs on a 250W hub-mounted rear motor with a removable 360wH battery offering 70km of assisted power. It’s as close to an electric single-speed bike as we’ve found, with no unnecessary tech, just pedals and power, and the added simplicity of a built-in wireless charging Quad-Lock hub on the stem. Choose between standard or ST (step-through) frames, and each takes 3.5hrs to charge using the 100W charger.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: From £2,290 | Cowboy

These two devices show the company from Cupertino embracing its small-handed, small bag-donning fans – with Apple loading them with flagship features despite their tadpole-like sizes. The iPhone 13 mini is now showcases the same cameras as the iPhone 12 Pro Max from last year – as well as a boost to its battery to fix a key problem with its predecessors. While the iPad mini has finally had a modern design overhaul, mimicking the iPad Pro and iPad mini – RIP home button. It’s a pocket-rocket for TikTok, Netflix and the rest.

Price: From £679/£479 | Apple | Amazon | John Lewis

Maker of leather accessories (and more) Nomad has a track record of producing high-quality phone cases at a pretty reasonable price. Yes, you can get cheaper but, typically, you’d have to shell out a lot more to get the kind of refined look that Nomad’s kit offers. The classic Rustic Brown is the one to go for but stealthy Black or brighter Natural options are also available for a touch of flair. And, it’s MagSafe compatible too.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: $60 | Nomad

Asus and its Republic of Gamers sub-brand have been on a tear over the past two years, ever since the original ROG Zephyrus G14 was released, to show gamers a new way forward for portable PC gaming. The larger G15 built on that and, in 2021, the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 took things to the next level. Along with its AAA specs, it stands out for its sleek take on classic gaming looks – edgy but not an eyesore – while a stunning 16:10 display that helps this gaming laptop reign over all rivals.

Price: From £1,600 | Asus | Amazon | Currys

Okay, so it’s not a Switch Pro but what’s not to like about Nintendo’s hybrid console getting a swanky 7in OLED display upgrade? Along with the addition of the new crisp and vibrant tech (and a bigger screen size) the OLED model brings double the onboard storage, a wider stand, enhanced audio and, even, an Ethernet-equipped dock. It may not offer boosted performance but the screen and new White controllers spruce up Nintendo’s superstar for 2021.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £310 | Nintendo | Amazon | Argos

5G who needs you! With the Redmi Note 10 Pro, Xiaomi has produced a phone for under £300 that can stand toe-to-toe with competitors at two to three times the price. There might be no 5G here but what you do get is a gorgeous and silky 120Hz AMOLED display, a chunky 5,020mAh battery and a camera that puts other budget phones to shame. 33W fast charging is on hand to – boosting your battery from 0 to 60% in half an hour.

Price: £239 | Xiaomi | Amazon | Argos

While the tech world is still eagerly awaiting some higher-powered laptops and desktops from Apple, HP has spotted an opportunity. Apple’s latest iMac was impressively thin but failed to pack a punch – the HP Envy 34 has come to the party wielding 16-ounce gloves. It’s a device that isn’t all that more imposing than a widescreen monitor but can pack in up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i9 processor and Nvidia’s best mobile RTX 3080 graphics card. Can’t wait for an M1X iMac but still want a machine with style? This HP has to be in the running.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: TBC | HP

Fairphone isn’t your regular phone maker. Some may tout eco-friendly features and improved repairability over other popular phone makers but few would dare challenge Fairphone’s consumer and environment-friendly CV. The Fairphone 4 adds the most impressive line yet to its list of accolades – a repairable and modular 5G phone with dual cameras, decent specs. The real deal? You also get software updates, a warranty and affordable access to spare parts for five years. The French Repairability Index scored the latest iPhone 13 a 6.1/10, the Fairphone 4? A cool 9.3.

Price: From £499 | Fairphone

A smart home startup with serious pedigree, the Lumisonic 75W streaming speaker and LED light is the brainchild of noted industrial designer Morten Warren and audio engineering maestro and designer of the legendary Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus speaker, Laurence Dickie. The all-in-one flush-fitting in-ceiling design offers the perfect combination of multi-room convenience and clutter busting. There’s hi-res streaming up to 192kHz/24-bit with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Alexa, AirPlay and Spotify Connect ready to go, while the Zuma app also takes care of audio and lighting (555 lumen at 3,000K, 574 lumen at 5,000K) with an array of “wellness” features thrown in for good measure. Most importantly however, even a single unit sounds great, but when they’re installed in multiples the sweet spot vanishes and you’re bathed in glorious audio.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £375 | Zuma

Our favourite true wireless earbuds for 2021, Sony’s ovoid noise cancellers are now Hi-Res certified, feature a new 6mm full-range dynamic driver and upgraded amplifier, compatibility with DSEE Extreme (which claims to be able to transform any source content to “near” high-resolution standard). At 7g they’re not the lightest, but the extra heft is put to good use, with indulgent levels of detail, drive and rhythm injected into whatever you listen to. The features list is extensive, but standouts include the fact the “feed forward” mics automatically switch off when excessive wind noise is detected, “speak-to-chat” pauses everything when it hears your voice, and the superb app allows you to assign controls on each earbud, customise the ANC and tweak the EQ.

Price: £250 | Sony | Amazon | John Lewis

There’s not much LG’s G1 television can’t do but we think it’s a dab hand at gaming, in particular. This OLED TV offers 4K across 65in and is capable of using that resolution alongside a rapid 120Hz refresh rate – with VRR to keep that speedy frame rate in check. All four of this television’s HDMI ports support the 2.1 standard, meaning each one is capable of squeezing the best out of your PS5, Xbox Series X or gaming PC. The picture itself is supremely bright and vivid with impressive levels of black depth too. It hasn't been beaten this year.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £2,500 | LG | John Lewis

Limited to 500 units worldwide (for now at any rate) Naim’s first ever turntable might cost £16,000, but in high-end audio terms it’s something of a bargain. The design, made in conjunction with turntable specialists Clearaudio, comes ready to play, with a dedicated phono stage, power supply, and tungsten and carbon Aro tonearm. The plinth is crafted from 47 layers of wood, while the Equinox MC (moving coil) cartridge is machined from a single billet of aluminium and features a microline stylus that mimics the shape of the original cutting lathe heads used to cut the grooves in vinyl masters. And to ensure it sounds every inch a Naim product, a three-arm decoupling system isolates this island from the plinth, inhibiting any vibration, while the aluminum platter features a unique self-calibrating motor drive system.

Price: £16,000 | Naim | Peter Tyson

Excellence doesn’t come cheap, but this pixel perfect 55” OLED design from Sony towers over the competition. The A90J boasts the Cognitive Processor XR, which uses AI to apparently understand how humans see and hear for a more immersive viewing. Sony has also included their new, high-end streaming IMAX Enhanced content-toting platform, Bravia Core, while the Acoustic Surface Audio+ sound system – which transforms the entire screen into a speaker – is now impressive enough to replace the centre channel in your surround_sound system (there’s connectors round the back). And the result, when combined with the 4K 120Hz OLED screen is a picture of eye-watering realism and astonishing levels of contrast from an extraordinarily wide-ranging colour palette.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £2,699 (55”) | Sony | John Lewis

Designed to make the editing process for video creatives and digital artists more personal, intuitive and engaging, this set of tactile CNC machined aluminium modular buttons, dials, and sliders connect together in whatever configuration you want, and can be programmed to do virtually any editing task. Think of it as a more touchy-feely keyboard and mouse combination, where timelines can shift with a pinch and colours can be graded with a swiish of a finger. Shown here is the Master Console featuring a core module, three dials, three orbiter modules and two essential keys, but they also sell individual components to help you create your perfect productive desktop.

Price: $799 | Monogram

The original LS50 Wireless proved active streaming speakers could deliver sonically without the need for separate components, and with the second generation, KEF has improved them considerably, not least by removing the (shudder) physical connecting cables. The iconic Uni-Q coaxial drivers are powered by two amplifiers, 100W to the tweeter, 280W to the mid/bass driver, and the addition of a round piece of plastic behind the tweeter, known as Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), helps absorb unwanted soundwaves. Combine all that with hi-res streaming (up to 24-bit/96kHz), a vastly improved KEF app, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer and Spotify integration, plus AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon and Bluetooth and you’re guaranteed musical goosebumps.

By James Temperton

By Matt Kamen

By Matt Kamen

By Angela Watercutter

Price: £2,499 | KEF | Amazon | Richer Sounds

Playing with the concept of the “bookshelf” speaker, Bang & Olufsen’s second collaboration with Layer, has been designed to sit politely on a shelf, just like a hardback. The 6.7cm-thick Wi-Fi streaming wedge is suitably plush, featuring Kvadrat textiles, pearl-blasted anodized aluminium (in gold or anthracite black) and tactile controls. Audio streaming comes via the B&O app or Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Google Assistant, while the 120W amp, 4” driver, 1.45” mid-range driver and 0.6” tweeter serve up a beautifully balanced performance through 180-degrees.

Price: From £539 | Bang & Olufsen | Peter Tyson

There’s something unassuming about AudioPro’s approach to industrial design. It’s not showy like B&O, and looks more route-one than Sonos, but over the past few years it’s consistently delivered streaming speakers with fantastic audio, impressive connectivity and grown-up style. The updated C10, with dual 20mm dome tweeter and 13cm woofer, is arguably one of the most versatile multi-room speakers available, with the ability to stream to speakers all over the house in hi-res using Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 or Chromecast.

Price: £359 | AudioPro | Amazon | Richer Sounds