Founder of lesterchan.net, a Singapore tech and gadgets blog running since 2002. An engineering leader by day and a WordPress plugin developer since 2003, with a soft spot for gadgets, smart home, and a good deal.
The HyperDrive 7.5W Wireless Charger USB-C Hub came from a Kickstarter in January 2018 that raised US$657,117. I missed the early-bird US$79 price, so my friend Kevin helped me get it; it finally shipped to me in July 2018.
Inspired by US YouTubers with their unboxing knives, I went hunting for one when an Amazon Gold Box deal on Kershaw blades caught my eye. I ended up with the Kershaw 1660 Ken Onion Leek.
Don Quijote runs a global online store at mpglobal.donki.com that ships to Singapore via EMS, with prices cheaper than Don Don Donki here. Singapore falls in Region 2, where a 1kg EMS parcel costs around S$14.
I discovered the UHA Mikakuto Croquette Snack while shopping at Don Quijote on a Tokyo trip. With tax-free shopping it's about S$1.70 a pack. I loved it enough to bring back 50 packets, filling half my luggage.
Ichiran is a famous Japanese tonkotsu ramen chain, with 24-hour branches across Japan, Hong Kong, the US, and Taiwan, dating to a 1960 Fukuoka stall. I'm hoping they reach Singapore soon; for now, there's this instant version.
ErgoEdge makes standing desks in Singapore, and the AmpDesk is its latest, a customisable, height-adjustable desk starting at S$650 with three years' warranty. I was sponsored a configured unit, topping up S$30 for the large dual-motor size.
The Sudio Niva is Sudio's first foray into true wireless earbuds, retailing for S$165 in black or white, with a complimentary tote bag. Shipping to Singapore is free via DHL, and the code lesterchan15 takes 15% off.
ErgoEdge also sells monitor arms under its Freedom brand, in single or dual configurations, with or without a laptop holder. The single arm is S$99 and the dual S$159, each S$30 more with a laptop holder.
I bought the Chrome MXD Notch All Black Sling Bag at Chrome's Tokyo Bay store for about S$131, or S$121 with the tourist tax refund. It features two compartments and two front pockets.
Wiha is a leading German hand-tool maker, founded by Willi Hahn in 1939 (the name from his initials). In October 2017 it partnered with Xiaomi to produce the Mijia Wiha 24-in-1 Screwdriver Kit, praised by Xiaomi's CEO Lei Jun.
Following my unboxing post, a few weeks with the Huawei P20 Pro left me recommending a case. The glossy back is a fingerprint and dust magnet, and the camera bump makes the phone wobble when tapped face-up.
The Huawei P20 series has two variants, the P20 Pro and the P20. The difference is the P20 Pro's triple Leica camera versus the P20's dual. The Pro also adds IP67, a 6.1-inch OLED, 6GB RAM, and a 4,000mAh battery.
Oddly, the official Huawei P20 Pro Silicone Case sells for S$28 on Lazada but S$38 at the Huawei Concept Store in 313@Somerset, even though both are run by the same operator, Jim and Rich Trading.
The Huawei 10,000mAh SuperCharge Power Bank, also known as the AP09S, retails for S$98 in Singapore. You can buy it from Huawei concept stores or the Huawei Online Store on Lazada.
A year and a half after opening its first Mi store in Singapore with ECS, Xiaomi is opening a second at Bedok Mall, this time partnering Era International, the Singapore subsidiary of Indonesia's largest telecoms retailer, Erajaya.
I backed the Innergie 60C USB-C Power Adapter on Kickstarter in October 2017. Initially codenamed the Innergie 55cc, its true name was revealed late in the campaign, which raised US$312,227 from 2,566 backers, far past its US$20,000 goal.
Google Home and Google Home Mini are now officially available in Singapore through a StarHub partnership, the same arrangement as Google Wifi. From 20th April 2018 you can buy them at StarHub, Courts, Challenger, or online.
The Aztech WIPC309HD launched in Singapore in March 2018 at S$69, marketed as a budget wireless IP camera without pan-tilt-zoom. It records 1080p over a 110-degree field of view, with 12 infrared LEDs for night vision.
Airtame plugs into any display's HDMI port and wirelessly streams content from a computer or mobile device, like a business-grade Chromecast. I call it 'business' because its price is steep for average consumers, being aimed at offices.
Soul Electronics began with the Soul by Ludacris headphone line before evolving into a broader audio company. The Soul ST-XS is its second true wireless earbud product, after the Soul X-Shock, bringing compact wireless audio to Singapore.
Apple Park t-shirts come in eight colours, with only the white and black featuring a multi-colour ring. Each costs US$43.60 with tax, or US$34.88 with the Apple employee discount, available from the Apple Park Visitor Center store.
The Amazon Echo Show was recently discounted 30% to US$159.99, down from US$229.99. Like most Amazon products, it doesn't ship to Singapore directly, so I used HopShopGo. It's the bigger sibling of the Echo Spot.