Fun and functional gadgets for a more productive workspace

Dull desk? Boring work environment? Say no more! We’ve curated a list of gadgets that will not only add a touch of flair to your desk but will also supercharge your productivity.

From futuristic digital clocks to sleek wireless charging stations, these items are not just functional – they’re fun too. Dive into the world of desk upgrades and discover how these gadgets can transform your workspace.

Divoom Times Gate

The Divoom Times Gate is a scene-stealer on any desk. It’s a futuristic digital clock that has five colorful displays capable of showing pixel art, GIFs, and even notifications from different apps.

With the accompanying app, you can customize what you can display, create alerts, or set the display to show notifications if the Times Gate is paired to your phone. With the ability to sync with devices, you can achieve a cool ambient light effect that can get you in the mood to work or play.

Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

Self-watering plant pot

Taking care of plants or having some sort of greenery around you can be a great way to de-stress and boost your mood. And being away from home doesn’t mean you can’t take care of a little bud on your desk.

A self-watering pot takes the hassle out of plant care and if you’re in the office, it’s much more manageable.
Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

Anker 332 USB-C Hub

The Anker 332 USB-C hub can connect all of your devices to your laptop with just one cable.

It boasts a 5-in-1 setup, including a 4K HDMI port, USB-C and USB-A data ports, and a 100W PD-IN port for robust pass-through charging. With speeds up to 5 Gbps, file transfers are a breeze and with the HDMI port, you can attach up to a 4K eternal monitor.

Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

JBL GO 3

A small portable speaker is often a must-have in any work/school bag because, let’s face it, you never know when you need to blast something out loud. Whether it’s some me-time catching up on shows over lunch or a sudden office karaoke sesh with colleagues, the GO 3 can support.

The ultra-portable design JBL GO 3 is stylish, waterproof, and dustproof, and can churn out up to 5 hours of playtime on a single charge.

Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

Pomodoro desk timer

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that involves working in 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between. This timer can help you stay on track and avoid burnout and it’ll look pretty darn cool on your desk, too.

Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

Ugreen RoboGan 65W USB charger

This little guy is a speedy, efficient sidekick thanks to cutting-edge GaN technology. And the fun part – it rocks a quirky robot design, complete with an LED display sporting various facial expressions to tell you all about its charging moods.

With not one, not two, but three ports (two USB-C and one USB-A) and different charging speeds to choose from, it’s your multitasking maestro, ready to juice up all your gadgets simultaneously and never getting caught without juice.

Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

Divoom Ditoo Pro

Similar to the Times Gate but a little more subtle. Add a retro touch to your desk with this speaker and pixel art display. You can customize what it can display on-screen like an an angry ‘go-away’ emoji to warn your co-workers that you’re busy, notifications from apps, or even just sync to music while you work.

Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

HQOBZX Bamboo Wireless Charging Station

 

Elegant and functional — this bamboo hub not only charges your phone, AirPods, and Apple Watch but also sports a handy lamp and alarm clock. It’s a compact solution to declutter your space and stay organized. Crafted from eco-friendly bamboo, it adds a touch of style to your workspace.

Amazon US

Desk riser/organizer

There are plenty of these online but what’ll work best for you will depend on your space. Need something minimalist and aesthetic? Go for something eye-catching like this floating, backlit riser. Of course, you can always go the high-tech route and opt for something equipped with extra features like this one that comes with a wireless charger attached.

All else, you can go with something simple, elegant, and straight to the point.

realme Pad 2

Something we recently reviewed, the realme Pad 2 is an affordable pick if you’re looking for a simple everyday tablet. It’s capable of doing the dailies with no ease and packs a punch when it comes to visual and audio. Though not available in the US, you still have many options like the Xiaomi Pad 6 or an Amazon Fire HD tablet. Need something more full-powered? There’s always Apple and the iPad.

But generally, a tablet is a good addition to different workflows and workplaces since it can be used for a variety of tasks, such as reading documents, watching videos, and taking notes without the limitation of the tiny screen of a smartphone or the bulkiness of a PC or laptop.

realme Pad 2: Shopee PH | Lazada PH

Smartwatch

Not really a desk item but still a wonderful productivity booster with additional health features to boot.

As much as we’d love to suggest a specific smartwatch, there are multitudes to choose from and much of the decisions depends on your needs and style. Sporty and functional, go for a classic like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Want something a little more fashionable? Maybe something like the Huawei Watch GT 4. Simple and affordable? Can’t go wrong with something like the Xiaomi Smart Band 8.

Huawei Watch GT 4 Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Amazon US | Shopee PH | Lazada PH

Any way you go, the benefits of a smartwatch are already known: notifications keep you updated, health trackers help you monitor your fitness, and you have utility tools like timers, activity reminders, calendar pushes, and more features that are more than likely to find a place in your everyday work routine.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re hustling from home or conquering tasks at the office, investing in your workspace pays off big time. Elevate your daily grind with these cool and practical desk additions. Because a spruced-up desk is the first step towards a more productive and enjoyable workday.

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realme Buds Q review: Designer TWS made real affordable

10/01/2020

If you are one of the many people who have shifted to online platform for meetings and classes, and is a person who’s into earphones, then this product review is just the right thing for you. realme has just released the Buds Q wireless earphones, and it promises to be a great help for those who are in online classes and meetings, just like many of us these days.

Design

The sleek and elegant look of the device is designed by none other than the world-renowned José Lévy who, by the way, also designs for fashion brand Hermès. The smooth and classy design of the charging cradle is inspired by a pebble which explains its smooth design in a matte finish.

For build quality, its charging cradle and earbuds are both made of hard plastic. The earbuds are also created with rubber ear tips for added comfort.

What we liked about the design is its straightforward approach with a 3.6g ultra-light Body, the earbuds feel as light as a paper, which works well for a slew of activities. The device is coated in black which is stealthy and is something that you can put on and will blend with your clothes easily.

This particular device has three available colors: Quite Black, Quite Yellow, and Quite White.

Comfort Factor

As an in-ear buds, it took me quite some time to get acclimated to using the device because my ears get easily strained with prolonged usage of earphones, but the lightweight property of the Buds Q makes it very comfortable to wear.

We would confidently say that the Buds Q can be used comfortably when you’re gaming on your computer, watching videos on your phone, or listening to music while doing your errands. We used it a couple of times while doing online meetings at home, walking around, fulfilling errands, and doing regular exercises and were glad to share that it doesn’t easily fall off your ears, and is something that a person with sensitive ears like me, can wear for a long period of time. 

Audio Quality and Performance

The realme Buds Q is the company’s first in-ear True Wireless Stereo earbuds, with 10mm Bass Boost driver and a 119ms Super Low Latency feature. This gives users a great audio quality and offers a great experience for gaming and watching movies. However, the bass and treble are not quite balanced since the Bass Boost Driver tends to intensify the bass, this basically has a tendency to suppress the vocal’s clarity. But if you are into RNB or if you like thumping or resounding audio, then this will work well for you. 

The Buds Q also has a built-in microphone for calls and online conferences. As we’ve tested it out, there were no issues with the built-in microphones and online participants can clearly hear us talk. The Buds Q is also IPX4 water-resistant which could work really well during workouts. 

Both earbuds have touch functions as well, which can control play/pause media, answer/drop calls, and enter/exit game mode. Other functions may also be customized through the realme Link app.

It also proves useful during video chats which is part of today’s ‘new normal’. We actually had it on in most of our online meetings. This is a lot more convenient than having wired headphones because we can be away from our devices for about 10 meters more, and still be clear and connected to the virtual meetings we attended. With this, we were able to multitask and be more productive. 

Battery

The realme Bud Q also promises to have 20-hour battery life. Yes, you’ve read that right. These earbuds have longer battery life than the average wireless earbuds that are usually rated at about five to eight hours of battery life. 

We have tried using it during a full online class schedule as well as in long meetings and it did not fail. We were able to use the earbuds for four straight days without charging it and you just need about two hours to fully charge it.

Creature Feature

In our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find that one special feature of a device that makes it worth having — something that gives the product a slight edge from among its peers. For the Buds Q, it’s the instant connection that provides a smooth transition between devices, from PC to mobile phones, swiftly. This is something significant for us and our work, especially that we tend to switch from one device to another most of the time.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the realme Buds Q is designed to provide users the best wireless earbuds experience for only PhP 1,490. From its long battery life, an ultra-lightweight form factor, classy design, and all its useful features, the realme Buds Q has a great potential to be everyone’s go-to accessory during this time when it help to have wireless connectivity. 

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