20 cutting-edge tech toys to invest in right now

Wafer-thin computers, smarter-than-you watches and ignore-everyone earphones — if the aforementioned terms have got you salivating then you've come to the right place. In case you need to upgrade your wishlist, then flip through the gallery (above) for our guide to some of the most covetable tech toys out there. These innovations have all your bases covered: a better-than-ever user experience, clear professional edge and, more often than not, a conversation starter.

Amazon Kindle Oasis Rs 23,999

The Oasis is compact enough to slip into a coat pocket and comes with a 6-inch e-ink display that is the closest thing we have seen to paper in digital form. Besides allowing you to store hundreds of e-books, browse and download free excerpts, it also tops Kindle’s already amazing battery life, letting you last almost a month on a single charge.

Canon EOS 1300D Rs 29,995

Lose your DSLR virginity to this sharp shooter. It might be targeted at beginners, but the 1300D packs some very powerful hardware, including an 18-megapixel sensor and Canon’s DIGIC 4+ image processor; plus Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. You can use pretty much any Canon lens with it—from macro to zoom. Oh, how those Insta likes will flow.

Gionee S6s Rs 17,999

Gionee has given 21st-century self-portraiture its seal of approval by adding a flash to the front-facing 8-megapixel camera, allowing you to click great selfies even in low light. It also packs in some decent hardware (an octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage) and is sleekly designed. Goodbye, grainy bathroom photography. 

Fossil Q Marshal Rs 21,995

The Apple Watch isn’t the only celebrity in town. One of its strongest competitors in the style category is Fossil’s Q Marshal. With customisable watch faces, the Marshal masquerades as a good-looking wristwatch until you see its Android Wear guts—a built-in fitness tracker, all your notifications, music control and lots more hide under the hood.

Dell XPS 13 Notebook Rs 89,990

The Dell XPS 13 has set new standards for how compact a notebook with a normal-sized display can be. Its latest edition makes use of a borderless infinity display that manages to squeeze in a 13-inch display in an 11-inch frame. The little wonder is also a mere 9mm at its thinnest point and weighs a grand total of 1.2kg in spite of a metal body.

Google Pixel XL Rs 67,000

While some might wince at the price tag, you’d best believe Google’s first phone is worth it. Its attractive glass-and-metal back is bolstered by top-notch hardware and the 12.3-megapixel primary camera has set benchmarks. Not to forget: Google Assistant will also answer your queries with stunning accuracy. The black model gets our vote. 

Bose QuietComfort 35 Rs 29,363

Sonic gods Bose bring their audio expertise to these excellent wireless headphones that utilise the company’s Acoustic Noise Cancellation technology. Made of glass-filled nylon and corrosion-resistant stainless steel, these headphones connect wirelessly to your phone. Add battery life that comfortably clocks close to 20 hours and yeah, go on, let the rhythm get you.

Fitbit Blaze Rs 19,999

Wearables might not have taken over our tech world as some had hoped, but fitness fanatics love them for the data mines they are. And the Fitbit Blaze is one of the best. It looks like a watch, measures calories and distance covered, hands out breathing-exercise advice and even pairs with your phone to send you notifications.

JBL Clip 2 Rs 4,990

JBL is one of the most respected names in the Bluetooth speaker industry, and the Clip 2 proves why. Incredibly compact, it comes with rubber housing that ensures it is waterproof. It also comes in with its own carabiner, allowing you to simply attach it to a bag and carry along. You can also connect two Clip 2 speakers wirelessly and boost the sound. Travel music sorted.

Apple Ipad Pro (12.9) Rs 67,900

The iPhone and Apple Watch may have made more headlines of late, but the iPad Pro is one of Apple’s most unique products. At a time when people are writing off the tablet, the 12.9-inch display of the svelte, lightweight iPad Pro proves that there is still place in our lives for good looks and better interfaces. 

Samsung Gear Iconx headphones Rs 13,490

The wireless earbuds come with their own special carry box, which also doubles as a charger. These little babies monitor your fitness and heart rate, and come with their own storage, which means they can be used as a standalone music player when not paired with any other device. What was that about good things and small packages?

Mi Power Bank 20,000 mAh Rs 2,199

You can have all the gadgets in the world, but they are of little use if they’re constantly dying on you. Enter this life-giving compact power bank from Xiaomi, which doesn’t take up much space in your backpack and has enough juice to recharge your phone several times. You can even charge your iPad or camera.

Logitech K380 Multi Device Bluetooth Keyboard Rs 2,795

The Logitech K380 is not your run-of-the-mill keyboard. It comes with well-crafted keys and can connect wirelessly to up to three devices at a time, allowing you to switch between your tablet, phone and PC with the mere tap of a button. It is portable enough to slip into a backpack.

Lyf Earth 2 Rs 19,999

Lyf Earth 2 features a five-inch full HD display, fingerprint sensor, gesture support and a very good camera, all at a surprisingly affordable price—and looks flauntable too. Radical data plans aren’t all that Reliance has to offer.

Microsoft Surface Studio, TBA

Whoever said desktop computing is dead didn’t see Microsoft’s Surface Studio coming. The 28-inch display holds 13.5 million pixels and thanks to a special hinge, can switch from desktop to studio mode, allowing you to scribble or sketch on it with the accompanying stylus. This sleek beast can handle everything from Adobe Premiere Pro to Autodesk. Hipsters, hark!

Sony PlayStation 4, Rs 32,990

Some might argue that the time of the console has passed. But if you’re a stubborn gaming nerd obsessed with graphics, there aren’t many that can beat Sony’s PlayStation 4. Use it to game or use it as a good old Blu-Ray player to watch films in amazing high-definition. Either way, you no longer need to leave your room.

Harman Kardon Go+ Play Mini, Rs 29,990

Loved Harman Kardon’s iconic Go+Play, but found it a tad too large for comfort? Well, you can now pick its compact brother. You still get tremendous sound and a battery life that will keep your head bobbing for eight hours. That you can charge your phones and tablets off the speaker is a happy, happy bonus.

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon, Rs 1,28,400

Lenovo’s ThinkPad series is regarded as one of the most reliable notebooks in the world. And with the X1 Carbon, the range scores some design brownie points too—it’s the lightest 14-inch ultrabook around. Take great battery life and hardware into account, and that’s the end of paper and pen for you.

Vivo: Vivo V3 Max, Rs 19,479

Vivo has a reputation for good design and excellent phone cameras, and with the V3 Max, it has upped the ante by packing in a massive 4GB RAM along with a Snapdragon 652 chip to ensure speedy performance. A 13-megapixel rear camera and an eight-megapixel one in the front sweeten the deal.

HP Spectre 13, Rs 1,19,900

The Spectre 13 laptop redefines portability—at 1.1 kg with a 10.4 mm width—and refuses to compromise on its features and good looks. What’s more, Intel’s hyperbaric cooling technology and the IntelCore i5 and i7 processors make sure it stays zippy.

All prices are indicative and subject to change.