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since 2002
After dismantling my slow USB 2.0 Western Digital enclosures to reuse the bare drives at faster speeds, I needed somewhere safe to store them. To my surprise, dedicated hard-shell HDD storage cases exist for exactly this purpose.
I upgraded my three-year-old 4-bay Synology DS918+ to the 6-bay DS1621+, which Synology refreshed late last year from the DS1618+. The DS1621+ retails for S$1,244 and gives me more room to grow my storage.
The Smart Case bundled with the AirPods Max barely protects the headphones, so I sought a proper carrying case. I picked the cheapest well-rated OEM option on Shopee, a hard EVA shell case for S$15.19 that fits perfectly.
The Linksys Velop MX4200 is the brand's second Wi-Fi 6 mesh router after the MX5300 I reviewed. Despite the lower model number, it's not really inferior, and the two are physically indistinguishable in looks and dimensions.
My birthday came early when my brother generously gifted me the Apple AirPods Max in the flagship Blue. Retailing for S$849, he ordered it expecting a 6-7 week wait, yet it arrived within one week.
I picked up the ORIA Digital Hygrometer Thermometer Display during a Lazada flash sale for S$9.20. It reads temperatures from -10 to 50°C and humidity from 10% to 99%, running on two AAA batteries.
I dropped my Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) tip-first, snapping the tip and leaving part stuck inside. After extracting it, I needed a replacement. Apple's tips come four to a S$28 pack, more than I need.
I'd waited months for the Ugreen 65W GaN Dual USB-C Charger, which kept selling out. At S$34.19, it weighs 145g, about 1.5 times the size of Ugreen's 20W charger, with two USB-C ports of differing maximum output.
I needed a USB extension to run from my Aeotec smart switch's port, powering a Xiaomi USB fan for Li Xiang's plants. Ugreen offers USB 2.0 and 3.0 versions in lengths up to 5m.
UNI-T has become my go-to brand for cheap meters, after the sound-level meter I got in 2020. I bought the UNI-T Mini Light Meter (UT383) from Lazada for S$18.90, supporting both Lux and Foot Candle readings.
After nearly three years, my Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush died, refusing to power on despite charging. Rather than replace like-for-like, I opted for the cheaper Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 as my new electric toothbrush.
Synology, QNAP, and ASUSTOR are my three top-of-mind NAS brands, all Taiwanese. To complete the trilogy, I review the Asustor Lockerstor 4 (AS6604T), a 4-bay NAS on par with the DS920+ and TS-453D, powered by an Intel J4125.
The HOCE MagSafe Charger Holder is a no-frills aluminium stand for Apple's MagSafe Charger, retailing on Lazada for S$17.49. Available in black or silver, it holds the charger securely with no moving parts.
The Ugreen 20W USB-C PD Charger is an Apple 20W adapter alternative, retailing for S$15.99. As a PD 3 / QC 4 unit, it delivers the 9V/2.22A MagSafe charging needs, though its UK pin doesn't fold.
My Razer BlackWidow Ultimate keyboard doesn't support a combined headphone jack, so I needed a splitter. I got the Ugreen Headphone Splitter Cable from Lazada for S$6.99, with a cheaper non-aluminium variant available.
Martiangear is a new Singapore gaming-lifestyle brand entering the chair market alongside Secretlab, APOL, and Royale Ergonomics, with tables and peripherals also planned. This review covers their space-inspired Astronaut gaming chair in its fabric upholstery.
Unlike the QC15, the Bose QC35 ships with a single cable and no microphone. With travel gone, I'm repurposing mine for gaming, so I bought an OEM mic cable for the QC35 for S$5.99.
The LEGO Botanical Collection is a new range aimed at plant lovers. The first launch has two sets, the Flower Bouquet 10280 and Bonsai Tree 10281, each S$79.90, though I grabbed both for S$71.90.
The Sudio Nio is the brand's first product of 2021, available in four colours. It retails for S$119, or S$101.15 with the code LESTER15, and offers Bluetooth 5.0, IPX4 rating, touch controls, and 20 hours' battery.
The Sonoff Micro USB Smart Adaptor, S$13.99 on Lazada, lets you control any USB device remotely via the eWeLink app. I couldn't pair it on my iPhone 12 Pro Max, but a SIM-less Pixel 3a worked.
Looking back at 2020, the year I revamped this site to version 5. On the smart-home front I swapped failing MCO Z-Wave switches for Sonoff Wi-Fi ones, and built an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X gaming PC.
I was holding out for Apple's rumoured headphones, but once the AirPods Max launched at a steep S$849, I bought the Sony WH-1000XM4 instead. iShopChangi had a promotion, and with a coupon I got it for S$439.