3,434 posts
since 2002
LEGO Architecture Singapore 21057 is the line's biggest skyline at 827 pieces, featuring landmarks such as Marina Bay Sands, Lau Pa Sat, The Fullerton, and Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove. I ordered it from Shopee for S$89.90.
After getting my Roborock S7, I wanted the Auto-Empty Dock, but it was perpetually out of stock. Checking daily finally paid off when Shopee restocked it on 29th December 2021, and I bought it for S$481.90.
I backed the Sonoff NSPanel Smart Scene Wall Switch on Kickstarter in October 2021, paying about S$85 all-in. It was perhaps the fastest Kickstarter to deliver, fully funded within a month and far exceeding Sonoff's goal.
Stack Overflow's The Key Macropad began as an April Fools' joke before partnering with Drop in September 2021 to make it real. I preordered it for US$58, with slow DHL only delivering it on 30th December.
Looking back at 2021, another COVID-shadowed year but one packed with more gadgets than 2020. On the smart-home front I added an ILife Shinebot W450 mopping robot and a Roborock S7, replacing my ageing Roomba 980.
The KAWS:HOLIDAY exhibition ran in Singapore in November 2021 at The Float @ Marina Bay, featuring a giant 42-metre inflatable of KAWS' Companion figure. Alongside it, the collectible KAWS:HOLIDAY Singapore Figure was sold.
The Apple iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe retails for S$89, dropping to S$69 during the 12/12 sale. I finally had a use for one after getting the UOB Absolute Cashback Card, which doesn't support Apple Pay.
FOREO is a Swedish beauty-tech brand best known for its LUNA facial cleansing massagers. I discovered it has electric toothbrushes too, under the ISSA line. The ISSA 3 is its third-generation adult toothbrush, retailing for S$246.
I'd used an ErgoEdge AmpDesk standing desk since 2018, well before COVID made working from home routine and triggered a surge in standing-desk demand. This review looks at my upgrade to the EverDesk Max standing desk.
After my MCO switches dropped off Z-Wave, I moved to Sonoff T2UK Wi-Fi switches. With most lights now on Sonoff, I added the RM 433 remote to control up to eight via 433MHz.
I picked up the Samsung Evo Select 512GB microSDXC UHS-I U3 during Amazon's pre-Black Friday sale for S$75.52, well below its usual S$120. After much research, it's the best-value card for the Nintendo Switch.
After buying a second set of Joy-Con, I needed a way to charge all four. The Dobe Joy-Con Charging Dock is cheap at S$12.90, with USB-C charging and light beams that glow red then green.
With many Nintendo Switch games supporting four players, a second pair of Joy-Con is worth having. Joy-Con come in nine colours across five pairs; since orange is my favourite, I picked Neon Purple/Neon Orange.
Apple stopped making folio cases after the iPhone 11, so for my folio-loving mom I turned to Moshi. The Overture Case with Detachable Magnetic Wallet for iPhone 13 Pro retails for S$77, in black or pink.
The Moshi Arx Clear Case is a cheaper alternative to Apple's iPhone 13 Pro Max Clear Case, at S$62 versus S$75. Unlike Apple's, it protects the phone's bottom, with soft TPU sides and a hard back.
My first Singles' Day buy was the Roborock S7 to replace my nearly five-year-old iRobot Roomba 980. Against an RRP of S$799, an 11/11 flash sale and stacked vouchers brought my price down to just S$598.47.
For over 11 years I shot product photos on an ageing Canon PowerShot S95, then briefly a Sony NEX-3N. With both showing their age, I upgraded to the Sony ZV-E10, despite still being a photography novice.
After procrastinating since 2017, I finally bought the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) once Li Xiang gave her blessing. Against an RRP of S$549, an 11/11 Singles' Day deal let me grab it for S$481.85.
My Apple Watch Series 3 is nearing end-of-life past the four-year mark, though Apple kept it alive another year. Rather than wait, I upgraded to the Apple Watch Edition Series 7 in 45mm Space Black Titanium.
The Ugreen 4-Port 100W Wall Charger is the brand's second 100W charger, a UK GaN unit with four ports. It retails for S$71.99 but tends to go cheaper on Lazada's monthly double-digit sale days.
The Ugreen Magnetic Wireless Charger is the brand's MagSafe-compatible take, at S$33.59, almost half Apple's S$58. Being only compatible rather than certified, it tops out at 7.5W instead of the full 15W wireless speed.
I backed Snactiv on Kickstarter in April 2020 at the Super Early Bird tier for US$18. Despite ongoing COVID, it shipped roughly on time. Snactiv is a clever fusion of tongs and chopsticks for snacking.