[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/tech-gadgets\/tech-round-up-february-2021\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/tech-gadgets\/tech-round-up-february-2021\/","headline":"Tech Round-Up: February 2021","name":"Tech Round-Up: February 2021","description":"Pandemic or otherwise, a constant in every year is the sheer speed with which February passes. Yet, for such a short month, the leaps and bounds in which the latest in tech products are released are of an impressive scale, and volume! But given the reclusive nature of our lives this last one year, it\u2019s […]","datePublished":"2021-02-27","dateModified":"2022-06-29","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/aria-hernandez\/#Person","name":"Aria Hernandez","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/aria-hernandez\/","identifier":189,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/608bdd364ce3d8eeec63bc5678f7be7526d507ca0f5e84db530c1808f2e5c275?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/608bdd364ce3d8eeec63bc5678f7be7526d507ca0f5e84db530c1808f2e5c275?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1614282863594_news_techlineupfeb_Featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1614282863594_news_techlineupfeb_Featured.jpg","height":626,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/tech-gadgets\/tech-round-up-february-2021\/","about":["Review","Tech and Gadgets"],"wordCount":1344,"articleBody":"Pandemic or otherwise, a constant in every year is the sheer speed with which February passes. Yet, for such a short month, the leaps and bounds in which the latest in tech products are released are of an impressive scale, and volume!But given the reclusive nature of our lives this last one year, it\u2019s no surprise that tech products have gained a greater (than usual) significance in our lives. And with the continuing pandemic, which seemingly has no real end in sight, increasing our collection of high-end toys may be the only way to continue weathering the isolation of this era.\u00a0And true to the diversity that technology offers us, this month\u2019s selection alone is enough to please technophiles of every persuasion. New tech releases are also catering to our new digital lifestyles.\u00a0AudioKEF\u2019s Wireless EarbudsDespite its recognition as one of the best known audio brands in the world, KEF is only now entering the wireless earbuds foray with the Mu3.\u00a0KEFIn addition to boasting a distinctive design achieved in collaboration with Welsh industrial designer Ross Lovegrove, the earbuds in the Mu3 feature two 8.2mm full-range dynamic drivers tuned to deliver \u201crich midrange, detailed bass and crisp high tones\u201d. KEF\u2019s technological edge also enhances battery life, allowing for a whopping 9 hours playtime on one charge, with an additional 15 hours of charge stored in the case. A fast charge of 15 minutes offers 1 hour worth of listening.The Mu3 is retailing online at US$249 or S$329 at the time of writing.Planet Beyond\u2019s Fashionable EarbudsGiven the evolution of the watch from being an integral part of life as a timepiece to becoming an accessory of choice, often verging on being more fashion than functional, it was only a matter of time before the wireless earbuds of this era followed suit.Planet BeyondPlanet Beyond\u2019s PB01X earbuds come in a nautilus shape we\u2019ve never seen before, complete with accessories that will adorn your ears. The head turners come in bright silver, gold, and rose gold colours, and come with four different add-ons: constellation, leaves, shooting star, and supernova. There\u2019s little information where substance is concerned, although Planet Beyond has revealed each charge to give 5 hours of listening time, and 30 hours with the case.\u00a0Planet Beyond\u2019s PB01X earbuds start at $188 on their website.\u00a0Creative\u2019s Conference Calls Enhancing USB DAC and HeadsetCreativeMade over a pandemic-laden year and a new era of conference calls, Creative\u2019s Sound Blaster PLAY! 4 comes packed with smart communication features. The pocket-sized USB DAC when plugged into your computer comes with features like VoiceDetect and NoiseClean, which can help automatically mute and unmute you, and provide two-way noise cancellation. Expect high-res audio up to 24-bit \/ 192kHz playback.Buy the Sound Blaster PLAY! 4 online on Creative for $49.\u00a0Audioengine\u2019s Affordable A1 Wireless SpeakersAudioengineIf you\u2019ve always wanted an Audioengine product, perhaps the new A1 wireless speakers might be perfect for you. These speakers support all major codes, including aptX, AAC, and SBC, and come with Bluetooth 5.0. The wired input point available is a 3.5mm jack \u2013 the lack of a USB input point may be an issue for some. The A1 speakers are made of medium density fibreboard, and have 2.75-inch aramid fibre woofers and 0.75-inch silk dome tweeters.Buy the Audioengine A1 on Audioengine\u2019s flagship store on Lazada, for $369.\u00a0VideoFujifilm\u2019s Most Compact Mirrorless Entry, the X-E4FujifilmAn update over 2017\u2019s X-E3, the X-E4 is a contender in today\u2019s mirrorless camera space, boasting a new sensor, autofocus system, faster shooting, and improved video recording capability. With a significantly slimmer body and weighing in at only 364g, this is certainly a case of great things coming in small packages.The X-E4 is S$1,499 for just the body, and S$1,599 with the XF27mm F2.8 WR lens.The Sony ZV-1 Offers Users a Firmer Grip on VloggingSonySony\u2019s already awesome ZV-1 now has a firmware update that not only enables webcam functionality when connected to your computer, but also the Sony Xperia 1 II or Xperia 5 II smartphones which will allow you to livestream while on-the-go while also using your phone\u2019s screen as a secondary display.The ZV-1 is available on the Sony online store for S$949. The firmware update is available for both Windows and Mac.ComputersGo with the Flow with the Zenbook Duo 14AsusAsus\u2019 Zenbook Dup 14 goes with the likes of the Nintendo 2DS, offering a laptop with dual screens. Following up from its 2019 predecessor, the new Zenbook Duo 14 is an improvement which further enforces the functionality of dual screen laptops. The laptop packs an i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of low-power DDR4X memory, 1TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 certified USB-C port, and an NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU, all in its 1.69cm body, and weighing in at about 1.6kg.The Zenbook Duo 14 retails at S$2,598 exclusively on the Asus online store.Check our Razer\u2019s 10-port RGB USB DockRazerRazer\u2019s Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma is flashy, just how you\u2019ll like it. Four of its ports are USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, also compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices. Three other ports are USB-A ports, and they\u2019ve got USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, with the ability to offer 10Gbps each. To round it all off, there\u2019s also a 3.5mm audio jack and an SD card reader, which can read cards of up to UHS-II and SD 4.0.With all of the high-speed port features it\u2019s packing, and the Razer Chroma RGB lighting, it\u2019s no surprise that the dock requires a 135W power supply.The Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma is retailing at S$599 on Razer\u2019s online store!PhonesXiaomi\u2019s Mi 11 Lands in SingaporeXiaomiXiaomi faces off against other phone brands with their Mi 11\u2019s commitment to proving buyers can have their cake and eat it, too. In addition to Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and a unique LiquidCool heat dissipation technology, the Mi 11 is almost like the missing link between phones and computers.With an audio system by Harman Kardon and a 6.81\u201d AMOLED DotDisplay, the Mi 11 experience promises you a theatre in the palm of your hand.The Mi 11 retails at S$896 on Lazada.Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S21\/S21+ Goes\u2026 Smaller?SamsungAs luxurious as it may be to possess 256GB of storage in your pocket, the price point may be a tad higher than what customers may be willing to pay for that extra space. Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S21 and S21+, which initially hit retail at 256GB capacities, is now releasing 128GB variants for those more conservative in storage capacity and wallet capacity.The S21 is available in Phantom Violet and Phantom Gray colours with a retail price of S$1,178, while the S21+ is available in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Violet, retailing at S$1,428.WatchesGalaxy Watch Active 2SamsungIf you\u2019re hankering for an accessory to pair with your new Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 has now hit retail with a new Violet and Rose Gold pairing for its strap and case, respectively. Features include added automatic tracking for more exercises, advanced metrics, and a touch bezel among other things.\u00a0Retailing at S$398 on the Samsung store, the Active 2 allows you to literally communicate from the back of your hand.Catch\u2019em All! Baby-G x Pokemon\u2019s Collab WatchesCasioIn Casio\u2019s second time teaming up with Pokemon to bring Baby-G watches, expect baby pink watches with a simple and gentle camo pattern! The watch is made for fans who are looking to sport what is perhaps a less striking aesthetic than what the first wave presented – a black colouration with Pikachu bolt-motifs to decorate the straps.\u00a0This watch comes perfectly packaged in a Pokeball casing, and makes a lovely nod to the number 25! That’s Pikachu\u2019s number in the Pokedex.\u00a0Catch the Baby-G x Pokemon watches online, or at physical G-SHOCK stores!Join the conversations on THG’s\u00a0Facebook\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram, and get the latest updates via\u00a0Telegram."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Tech Gadgets","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/tech-gadgets\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Tech Round-Up: February 2021","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/tech-gadgets\/tech-round-up-february-2021\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]