Tech testing corner

Karl Puschmann tries out the latest
and greatest gadgets.

PSVR 2

As the name suggests, this is PlayStation’s second go at VR, and it's vastly improved. While the design looks similar, it's been totally redesigned. I found the new headset lighter, more comfortable to wear and easier to take on and off. The screens inside are also dramatically better which, when combined with the sheer grunt of the PS5, make for a smoother and more enjoyable experience. 

The PSVR 2 is cutting-edge tech and does come with a cutting-edge price, costing more than the required PS5 console itself. It’s certainly not going to be an impulse buy.

But no other gaming experiences come anywhere close to offering the undeniable thrills, realism and sense of complete immersion offered by virtual reality, and the PSVR 2 is one of the easiest user-friendly and powerful ways of joining the VR gaming revolution. 

RRP$999.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The new flagship phone from Samsung has constantly impressed. It's said the best camera is the one you have with you, and if you have the S23 Ultra, you’ll have the best phone camera currently available with you at all times. Its elegant design features an ultra-wide, two telephoto lenses and a 200-megapixel main camera. 

We also liked the customisable always-on display and the stylus tucked away for note-taking or doodling on its absolutely gorgeous screen. 

The phone’s also incredibly fast and responsive and easily handled everything I’ve thrown at it. Battery life was also impressive getting me through the day.

Everything about the S23 Ultra feels premium and it certainly earns its Ultra branding.

RRP$2299.

Microsoft Surface 5 Laptop

Windows laptops aren’t renowned for their good looks. With its Surface range, Microsoft has sought to change that reputation by showing what Windows-powered computers and devices can look like. Their new Surface 5 is an exceptionally good-looking laptop. For the past month, UNO’s been testing the flagship 16-inch model. The 14-inch comes in a range of stylish colours, but our review unit was a stealthy black augmented with a mirrored Windows logo on the front. Very classy. Thanks to Windows Hello, its Face ID feature, whenever you open the laptop up it’s ready to go. It sounds trivial but is one of my favourite features. The laptop’s vivid and bright screen also doubles as a touch screen, which sounds gimmicky, but was increasingly useful to quickly close a window or sign documents. Battery life’s also very good. Using it as my daily work computer I could get through a full eight hours without plugging in. The only real struggle I encountered was with more demanding gaming. But for casual or productivity users the Surface Laptop 5 is a solid, stylish choice. It’s quiet, houses one of the nicest keyboards going and has been a joy to use.

Starting from $2449 for the 15 inch.

Moochies Connect Smartwatch 4G

No one wants to be a helicopter parent but the cold hard facts are that the world is a more dangerous place than it was in the good old days when we grew up. The Moochies Connect Smartwatch is designed so kids can play and explore their world with freedom but you can still keep tabs on where they are at all times. If the worst does happen, like falling off their bike and needing your help, there's an SOS button they can press. The monthly plans come with 1GB of data and unlimited call minutes so they can call you directly from the watch if they need to. It's water resistant and tough enough to stand even the most rigorous play sessions making their watch one thing you won't need to worry about.

RRP$189.99, monthly plans from $15.95 a month.

eufy RoboVac 35C

Having two kids and a fluffy kitten running around the house meant vacuuming was a daily chore. No longer. Unlike more expensive models, the 35C can’t map your house or do anything fancier than schedule a daily start time. Instead, it randomly bumps its way around the house sucking up everything in his path. I was initially sceptical of how good a job this cost-effective model would do. But it’s been revolutionary. I’m overjoyed to report I haven’t used my handheld vacuum cleaner in weeks.

RRP$399.

Ōura Smart Ring

If you're wanting to get in on the health tracking benefits of smartwatches but already have a snazzy traditional watch you don't want to part with then this nifty device could be just the ticket. The Ōura Smart Ring provides all the same health data and habit analysis that a smartwatch would, all shrunk down into a discrete and stylish ring. This Finnish company says for health tracking your pulse is actually stronger on your finger than your wrist making their data as accurate as possible. With sleep tracker, body temp gauge, readiness scores, movement, steps and heart rate tracking, amongst many others, this little ring does it all. 

RRP$499.

Norton AntiTrack 

They may not be glamorous, but online privacy and data protection are important. Norton’s new AntiTrack subscription allows you to simply go back to not thinking about these things. It blocks all online trackers, personal data collectors and fingerprinting spyware from gathering any personal info as you surf the web.