Apple AirPods Max
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.
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since 2002
ORIA Digital Hygrometer Thermometer Display
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.
OEM Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) Replacement Tip
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.
Ugreen 65W Dual USB-C Charger
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.
Ugreen USB 3.0 Extension Cable
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 Mini Light Meter (UT383)
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.
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 Electric Toothbrush
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.
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 (AS6604T) Review
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.
HOCE MagSafe Charger Holder
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.
Ugreen 20W USB-C PD Charger
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.
Ugreen Headphone Splitter Cable
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 Astronaut (Fabric) Gaming Chair Review
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.
OEM Audio Cable with Mic for Bose QC35
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.
LEGO Botanical Collection
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.
Sudio Nio Wireless Earbuds
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.
Sonoff Micro USB Smart Adaptor
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 2020
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.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
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.
Crucial RAM For QNAP NAS
The QNAP TS-453D ships with only 4GB of RAM, too little for containers or virtual machines. I upgraded with a Crucial 8GB DDR4 2666 SODIMM, bought from Amazon.sg during a Black Friday sale for S$31.08.
QNAP TS-453D Review
Ten years ago I chose Synology over QNAP for my second NAS. QNAP wanted my take on the TS-453D against the Synology DS920+, so they sent one over. Both are 4-bay, Intel J4125-powered NAS.
Sonoff T2UK Wi-Fi Smart Wall Switch Review
Since starting my smart home in 2016, I'd relied on MCO Z-Wave switches, but my Series 4 units began failing after a year. This review covers my move to the Wi-Fi-based Sonoff T2UK smart wall switch.
Ugreen NVMe M.2 SSD USB-C Case
The Ugreen NVMe M.2 SSD USB-C Case comes in two variants on Lazada: S$31 with both USB-C and USB-A cables, or S$28.90 with just USB-C. Its space-grey aluminium enclosure feels solid, and setup is tool-free.