Every Friday, I’ll be highlighting a few new (or relatively new) tech products you should buy. From portable Bluetooth speakers to headphones and earbuds, TVs to content capture devices, phones, appliances, and more, these will all be devices that I have either already reviewed, are in the middle of reviewing and already enjoy, or plan to review in the near future.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max Wireless Earbuds
My review of these earbuds is coming soon, but I have been using them for the last several months and I’m impressed. I love that the case has its own screen and separate connection to your phone. Why? You can use it as a note-taker. Record meetings, interviews, lectures, conferences, even calls. Then, access a transcript in the app or even generate an AI summary. The buds themselves sound great with solid noise cancellation and ultra-clear phone calls. I have been using them in all types of scenarios, including on a flight, in coffee shops, while walking, and at home, and they fit comfortably and sound good. They’re especially great for students and business owners, or anyone who will make use of the note-taking function. If you don’t need that feature, I’d recommend the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds, which achieved a Guinness World Record for the highest speech quality score for those. That’s a huge bonus for those who make and receive a lot of calls on the go.
Buy the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max Wireless Earbuds for $319.99.
Buy the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro for $229.99.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Gimbal Camera
Another product I’m reviewing right now (stay tuned!) is this gimbal camera, an upgrade to the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 I have been using for years. You can read my review of the Osmo Pocket 3 and note that this newer version is just as great with useful upgrades. These include 4K video capture at up to 240 fps, clearer low-light shots (I took some fantastic videos of Canada Day fireworks!), and new intelligence tracking capabilities, which I’ve tested at my son’s baseball games. The Creator Combo with all the necessary accessories is the way to go.
Buy the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Gimbal Camera Creator Combo for $829.99.
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Headphones
Yet another product review I’m working on is for these headphones, which are an upgrade of the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4s. You get Hi-Res Audio certification with Snapdragon Sound, aptX Lossless Bluetooth, and improved ANC. So far, my listening experience has been positive with powerful bass and immersive Spatial Audio with compatible tracks. ANC is impressive, which I’ve tested on a plane, at home, and while out and about, even on outdoor walks. In fact, I’d rank these among the best wireless headphones for noise cancelling I have tested so far this year. They’re a great option for both frequent travelers and audiophiles who listen at home.
Buy the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Headphones for $569.95.
Shokz OpenSwim Pro Bone Conduction Headphones
These aren’t new, introduced back in 2024. But I was sent a pair for testing as we move full swing into summer in Canada. As it happens, I was attending a Canada Day pool party, which was the perfect opportunity to put them through their paces. I tried them myself as well as handed them off to family members to take a dip with. These folks ranged in age from 14 up to their 60s. Everyone absolutely loved them and couldn’t stop raving about the sound quality underwater. I love how easy it is to transfer music for MP3 mode, since Bluetooth won’t work once submerged. You need to have downloaded music files stored locally to transfer, though. With 32GB of memory, however, you can rip CDs or purchase online tracks to your heart’s content and save about 8,000 songs in desired playlists. It’s comfortable to wear both in and out of the water. Even when my son did a few cannonballs into the water, they didn’t come off. They might come askew if you do some rigorous swims, but you won’t lose them. These are a no-brainer if you have a pool at home or go swimming often and want some music while you do your laps.
Buy the Shokz OpenSwim Pro Bone Conduction Headphones for $299.95.
Rocketbook Pro Smart Notebook
I reviewed the Rocketbook Pro reusable notebook four years ago, but I’m happy to report that I still use it. While I don’t use all its features all the time, like being able to digitize and store handwritten notes, even just being able to jot down notes then wipe them away and start over again is worth it. Yes, it’s expensive compared to a paper notebook. But there’s no clutter. And when you amortize the price over several years and how much you probably pay for stacks of Hillroy lined paper books, you’ll notice that you’re saving. If you do need to keep anything important, just scan it into the app and save it to cloud storage, e-mail it to yourself, or even upload it to a messaging or organization app like Slack. Note that you’ll need to invest in Pilot Frixion pens, but I buy them in packs as needed (this pack of six that I have purchased several times is $15.49) and you can often find them on sale. One pen lasts for a good amount of time: I’ve purchase new packs three times since I have had the book, with pretty heavy usage at times. As for paper notebooks? I haven’t bought a single one since having the Rocketbook Pro.