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Let’s be real here: There is no one piece of tech that’s going to magically fulfill all of the hopes you may have for improving yourself in 2016. As always, sticking to whatever goals you’ve set requires properly managed expectations and a healthy dose of perseverance on your part. You can’t buy that.
None of this is to say that good tech can’t help, though. Per usual, the highest-quality gadgets will make your stab at self-improvement more enjoyable than it’d be with inferior gear. And at the very least, dropping the cash on something new should give you some motivation to make the most of that investment.
None of this is to say that good tech can’t help, though. Per usual, the highest-quality gadgets will make your stab at self-improvement more enjoyable than it’d be with inferior gear. And at the very least, dropping the cash on something new should give you some motivation to make the most of that investment.
Below we’ve rounded up a few devices that can help with some of the more common New Year’s resolutions. (Note that we’re sticking to hardware only, although free apps like Mint can certainly prove useful for some purposes.) While none of them will fix things overnight, if you use them properly, they can help you get there a little more pleasurably.
Amazon
If you can get around the sentimental value of holding a physical book in your hands, paying for a Kindle should be a positive investment for anyone hoping to read more this year. The basic model will be fine for many, but the best mix of price and performance belongs to the Kindle Paperwhite, what with its built-in backlight and a higher-quality display.
Either way, you’ll gain access to the most dependable library of e-books there is, and you’ll make keeping track of your own collection a little more convenient. Its battery lasts for months, lessening one of the usual blows of going digital, and that screen is a joy to read. The one notable downside — outside of the extra $20 it costs to remove the built-in ads — is that neither device is waterproof; if that’s an issue, the Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight Plus is a decent alternative at $130.
Kindle Paperwhite (WiFi, ads), $119.99, available at Amazon.
Either way, you’ll gain access to the most dependable library of e-books there is, and you’ll make keeping track of your own collection a little more convenient. Its battery lasts for months, lessening one of the usual blows of going digital, and that screen is a joy to read. The one notable downside — outside of the extra $20 it costs to remove the built-in ads — is that neither device is waterproof; if that’s an issue, the Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight Plus is a decent alternative at $130.
Kindle Paperwhite (WiFi, ads), $119.99, available at Amazon.
Amazon
Every year, people resolve to get healthier, and every year, the motivation to do so inevitably begins to fade. No fitness tracker is going to pick you up and make you start jogging again, but the Moov Now is the likeliest to keep those incentives alive.
Instead of collecting a bunch of metrics and making graphs, the Moov helps you exercise better, guiding you through you running/cycling/swimming/etc. workouts like a miniature trainer on your wrist (or ankle). Beyond that, it’s waterproof, it tracks calories burned and sleep metrics, and its battery is rated at six months per charge.
Being coached by your smartphone — which the Moov requires you at carry at all times, unfortunately — can be intimidating at first, but if you’re serious about running that half-marathon one day, it has the best chance of getting you to that level efficiently.
Still, if you already know what you’re doing, more traditional trackers like theJawbone Up Move or Fitbit Charge HR aren’t as hyper-specified in scope. Have a look at our fitness tracker buying guide if you’ve been thinking about jumping onboard.
Moov Now, $79.99, available at Amazon.
Instead of collecting a bunch of metrics and making graphs, the Moov helps you exercise better, guiding you through you running/cycling/swimming/etc. workouts like a miniature trainer on your wrist (or ankle). Beyond that, it’s waterproof, it tracks calories burned and sleep metrics, and its battery is rated at six months per charge.
Being coached by your smartphone — which the Moov requires you at carry at all times, unfortunately — can be intimidating at first, but if you’re serious about running that half-marathon one day, it has the best chance of getting you to that level efficiently.
Still, if you already know what you’re doing, more traditional trackers like theJawbone Up Move or Fitbit Charge HR aren’t as hyper-specified in scope. Have a look at our fitness tracker buying guide if you’ve been thinking about jumping onboard.
Moov Now, $79.99, available at Amazon.
Amazon
Along those same exercise lines, if you’re not confident in your current headphones to make it through a string of sweaty workouts, the Plantronics Backbeat Fit will be a fantastic substitute. They’re light, they’re sweatproof, they’re wireless, and they have a clear, smooth sound that should help you relax as your heart rate grows.
They are unsealed, though, which has its ups and downs. On the plus side, you can hear ambient noises while you’re wearing them, so you’ll be less likely to wander into oncoming traffic. On the downside, you can hear ambient noises while you’re wearing them, so the clinking and grunting of other people at the gym may be too audible for comfort.
If you think that’ll be a problem, the Jaybird X2 are a more traditional pair of Bluetooth earphones with a fuller, more accurate profile. Alternatively, if you just want something decent for cheap, try the tight-fitting MEE Audio M7P. Again, we have a more complete guide to workout headphones, so take a peek there if you’re curious.
Plantronics Backbeat Fit, $95.95, available at Amazon.
They are unsealed, though, which has its ups and downs. On the plus side, you can hear ambient noises while you’re wearing them, so you’ll be less likely to wander into oncoming traffic. On the downside, you can hear ambient noises while you’re wearing them, so the clinking and grunting of other people at the gym may be too audible for comfort.
If you think that’ll be a problem, the Jaybird X2 are a more traditional pair of Bluetooth earphones with a fuller, more accurate profile. Alternatively, if you just want something decent for cheap, try the tight-fitting MEE Audio M7P. Again, we have a more complete guide to workout headphones, so take a peek there if you’re curious.
Plantronics Backbeat Fit, $95.95, available at Amazon.
Amazon
If you’re making it a point to talk to your family more, a quality webcam like theLogitech C920 might be worth a look. It’s been around for a few years — this isn’t exactly a fluid market — but its 1080p video is crisp (and holds its own in low-light settings), its audio is clear, and it has a wide field of view for any group chats you may have.
You can always use the selfie camera that comes with your smartphone or laptop, of course, but if those are just too grainy for your liking, this is an obvious upgrade. For those on a budget, the 720p camera on the Logitech C525isn’t nearly as nice, but costs half as much.
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, $63.88, available at Amazon.
You can always use the selfie camera that comes with your smartphone or laptop, of course, but if those are just too grainy for your liking, this is an obvious upgrade. For those on a budget, the 720p camera on the Logitech C525isn’t nearly as nice, but costs half as much.
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, $63.88, available at Amazon.
Amazon
If you’ve already put your plans to travel more in motion, there’s plenty of tech that’ll make your lengthier trips more tolerable. We’ll highlight the Bose QuietComfort 25 here, though — they’re better at noise-canceling than any comparable pair of headphones on the market, and really it’s not all that close. That they also sound nice — not $300 good, but still decently clear and refined — and are superbly comfortable only adds to their appeal.
You really have to pay the premium for this (or the in-ear QuietComfort 20s) to get something resembling “true” noise-canceling. This isn’t a very competitive field, so anything cheaper will have obvious holes in its tech. Nevertheless, thePhiaton BT 100 NC are a decently powerful alternative that sounds very good for a $100 earphone. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B are a similar deal, only they come in a full-size frame.
Bose QuietComfort 25, $299, available at Amazon.
You really have to pay the premium for this (or the in-ear QuietComfort 20s) to get something resembling “true” noise-canceling. This isn’t a very competitive field, so anything cheaper will have obvious holes in its tech. Nevertheless, thePhiaton BT 100 NC are a decently powerful alternative that sounds very good for a $100 earphone. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B are a similar deal, only they come in a full-size frame.
Bose QuietComfort 25, $299, available at Amazon.
Amazon
Continuing the traveling idea, the Sony Alpha a5100 is a helpful companion for anyone hoping to archive their memories from here on out. It’s a great starting point to the world of mirrorless cameras, combining the compactness of a cheaper point-and-shoot with something approaching the image quality of a higher-end DSLR.
Its touchscreen and relatively easy-to-read UI make it digestible if you’re only just graduating from a smartphone, too. If you’re willing to trade some image quality for something more affordable, though, have a look at our recentaffordable cameras guide for alternatives.
Sony Alpha a5100, $498, available at Amazon.
Its touchscreen and relatively easy-to-read UI make it digestible if you’re only just graduating from a smartphone, too. If you’re willing to trade some image quality for something more affordable, though, have a look at our recentaffordable cameras guide for alternatives.
Sony Alpha a5100, $498, available at Amazon.
Amazon
It feels disingenuous to recommend any piece of tech to those trying to feel less stressed. If anything, disconnecting from the web’s endless content stream and focusing on what’s tangible is likely the healthiest thing to do.
That said, collapsing on your couch and falling into a good movie or TV show is a pretty proven form of downtime. Provided you don’t go overboard with the laziness, a good media streamer and a handful of streaming services should be your conduit to hours of relaxation in the long run.
For the former, our favorite is the Roku 2. Dollar for dollar, it’s the best value out there — it’s fast, it’s affordable, and Roku’s streaming platform continues to be the most convenient for the most people.
As we note in our media streaming buying guide, though, which is best for you comes down to whether or not you’ve committed to a specific ecosystem. TheAmazon Fire TV Stick, for instance, is a great alternative for people who use Prime Video first and foremost. The Apple TV, meanwhile, is the only way to go if you’ve built up a big iTunes library. And if you own a 4K TV, either the Roku 4 or Amazon Fire TV is your best bet.
Roku 2, $59, available at Amazon.
That said, collapsing on your couch and falling into a good movie or TV show is a pretty proven form of downtime. Provided you don’t go overboard with the laziness, a good media streamer and a handful of streaming services should be your conduit to hours of relaxation in the long run.
For the former, our favorite is the Roku 2. Dollar for dollar, it’s the best value out there — it’s fast, it’s affordable, and Roku’s streaming platform continues to be the most convenient for the most people.
As we note in our media streaming buying guide, though, which is best for you comes down to whether or not you’ve committed to a specific ecosystem. TheAmazon Fire TV Stick, for instance, is a great alternative for people who use Prime Video first and foremost. The Apple TV, meanwhile, is the only way to go if you’ve built up a big iTunes library. And if you own a 4K TV, either the Roku 4 or Amazon Fire TV is your best bet.
Roku 2, $59, available at Amazon.
Amazon
The physical, social, and sometimes legal benefits of turning down those last few drinks should be obvious. Carrying a pocket breathalyzer around may seem goofy, but if you’re convinced you need to drink less this year, it might be enough to remind you to take it down a notch.
The BACtrack S80 looks to be the best of these, with recommendations from hundreds of Amazon reviews and outlets like The Wirecutter for its accuracy and ease of use. There are cheaper options, but this is a field where the old “you get what you pay for” axiom tends to ring true. Still, taking any steps to curb a bad habit is better than doing nothing at all.
BACtrack S80 Personal Breathalyzer, $119.99, available at Amazon.
The BACtrack S80 looks to be the best of these, with recommendations from hundreds of Amazon reviews and outlets like The Wirecutter for its accuracy and ease of use. There are cheaper options, but this is a field where the old “you get what you pay for” axiom tends to ring true. Still, taking any steps to curb a bad habit is better than doing nothing at all.
BACtrack S80 Personal Breathalyzer, $119.99, available at Amazon.
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