Soon on February 23rd, which means that girls all over the country have already begun to puzzle over what to please their boys, so I will try to simplify their task somewhat. Knowing that the audience of our site is mostly male, I suggest (if, of course, you like my selection) to accidentally share a link with your girlfriend, wife, sister, and indeed with anyone from whom you expect a gift on February 23rd. If everything works out, write thanks to the mail!
Let's start!
Technological power banks
ZMI QB815 / QB820
Just in case, I'll start with the fact that ZMI is one of the sub-brands Xiaomi, suddenly you don't know, so you can trust these guys. A very sophisticated portable battery ZMI QB815 with 15,000 mAh is produced under this brand (there is also a QB820 with 20,000 mAh).
The main advantage of this model is a bi-directional USB Type-C port with support for Power Delivery 2.0 technology and a power of up to 40 W, which means that owners of new iPhone and Android smartphones will appreciate it. compatible with PD, because it can charge these devices at the highest possible speed, as well as owners of new generations of MacBooks, since they can also be powered from this power bank far from outlets.
Another feature concerns the owners of Macs without classic USB-A connectors – this is a special mode of operation of the ZMI “can” as a USB hub. We connect to the MacBook via Type-C, insert it into the two remaining Type-A peripherals and use it.
USB-A ports, by the way, support not only the classic 12-watt mode (5V / 2.4), but also Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, so the owners of the rest Android smartphones will also be satisfied.
Yesterday we just released a detailed review of this battery.
- Price: from 3000 rubles.
- Where to buy: in Russia, in China.
Baseus BS-20KP202
As an alternative for those for whom ZMI is expensive, I can offer the creation of the Chinese brand Baseus BS-20KP202. From the differences to the minus – the output power of the Type-C port is 18 W versus 45 W for the ZMI, which means that fast charging via PD will work on smartphones, but in the case of the MacBook, this will only be enough to support the current charge level. The difference is the plus: the price is half as much, there is a small display with technical information and charge level, as well as a fourth Lightning port for charging the “can” itself.
- Price: from 1 700 rubles.
- Where to buy: in China.
Fancy smart speakers
GGMM E2
Quite recently, I learned about such a Chinese manufacturer of smart music speakers as GGMM, and was surprised why there is so little information about it in the Russian-speaking Internet space. As far as I understand, these speakers are now popular on Amazon, as they work with their voice assistant Alexa, but GGMM, as it turned out, has a store on AliExpress, which will gladly send their devices to Russia. GGMM is interesting primarily because it produces inexpensive models in which the module Bluetooth is also supplemented with a Wi-Fi module, which gives them a sea of additional possibilities.
The ultraportable 10-watt model GGMM E2 costs about the same as the simplest JBL Go, but it only knows an order of magnitude more: here you have stereo sound, multi-room, and DLNA / AirPlay support (it has no MFI certification, but judging by reviews, AirPlay works), and autonomous work with streaming services and Internet radio, although not all are relevant in Russia, and even built-in Amazon Alexa, which is useful for those who can speak English with her.
GGMM M3
If the budget allows, then you can pay attention to the GGMM M3, made in vintage style from aluminum, wood and leather. There are already 4 speakers – 2 tweeters and 2 mid-low-frequency speakers with a total power of 40 W, a dedicated DAC, Apt-X, as well as all the wireless Bluetooth / Wi-Fi capabilities, like the E2. As I understood from the description in the official store, you can buy two of these speakers and set them separately for each left and right channel.
- Price: GGMM E2 – from 2,500 rubles, GGMM M3 – from 8,000 rubles.
- Where to buy: in China, in the USA.
Car holders with wireless charging and sensor
Touch car holder INTERSTEP
As a car enthusiast, I often follow interesting novelties among car accessories, and recently I came across an interesting touch holder from the domestic brand InterStep. Compared to classic holders, it has two cool features. First, there is built-in Qi wireless charging with a power of up to 10W, which eliminates the need to plug a cable into the smartphone every time.
Secondly, it is a sensory mechanism that, when the smartphone approaches, opens the “ears” and fixes the device itself, and to get the smartphone back, you need to touch the special sensor on the left side of the holder. The set includes both a suction cup mount for the windshield and a mount on the ventilation grill, and this is a plus, everyone will choose what they like best.
In order for fast wireless charging with a power of 5 W or more to work, you must use a charging block with Qualcomm QC 3.0 support, which is not included in the package.
- Price: from 3000 rubles.
- Where to buy: in Russia.
Baseus Touch Car Mount
A more modest analogue in price is offered by the Chinese brand Baseus, but of the critical differences – only the lack of attachment to the air duct. It seemed to me that an important plus of the Baseus accessory is the fixation not only on the sides, but also on the bottom – as it is somehow more reliable. Otherwise, everything is the same: a touch-sensitive auto-fix mechanism, support for charging 5, 7.5 and 10 W and the lack of the necessary QC 3.0 unit in the kit.
- Price: from 1 700 rubles.
- Where to buy: in China.
Multi-port chargers
When at home the number of gadgets that need to be charged begins to exceed the number of free sockets, you involuntarily think about buying multiport chargers. Quite good models for every taste are produced by Anker, Aukey and Satechi: here you have models with only classic USB-A, and with additional ports for fast charging QC 3.0, and even with Type-C and Power Delivery. All three brands are represented in Russian online stores, while Anker and Aukey can be found on AliExpress.
I will mark several models with a short line.
Anker PowerPort + 5. Model with 4 regular USB-A ports (5V / 2.4A) and one USB-C with PD support up to 30W. On Yandex Market it costs from 3,000 rubles.
Satechi Type-C 75W Travel Charger. Excellent charger from the “expensive-rich” category, which is appropriate not only to use at home, but also to take on trips. There are two classic USB-A (5V / 2.4A), one QC 3.0 and a 60-watt USB-C for charging any Power Delivery gadgets up to the MacBook. In Russia it will cost about 5,000 rubles.
Aukey 4 Ports Wall Charger. A simple block, with which I personally began my acquaintance with such devices. It costs up to 1,000 rubles, has 4 classic USB-A (5V / 2.4A) and is made in the form factor of an increased plug, that is, it does not have a power cord, like the devices above. This is convenient to use as a “night” charging at home, and to take with you on trips. There are no fast chargers or USB-C in this model, but for the price it can be forgiven.
Conclusion
Here is a small list of interesting gadgets that I personally would be very happy with. Supplement it in the comments with your curious findings. And with the coming holiday of all defenders!